The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-03-12
THE PEOPLE SUPREME.

That the people are supreme and that
officers are their servants and not their
masters. are truths which have recently
been emphasized by the grand jury in
our sister county of Choteau. Many
readers of the TRIBUNE are familiar with
the ease in point but as its termination
points a moral for the edification OF
boards of county commissioners, and at
the same time adorns a tale with which
some members appear to be unfamiliar,
the TRIBUNE will briefly refer to it. AS
may he seen the history of the case shows
that while county commissioners propose
the people dispose and that in h end
the latter assert their supremacy and
often to the discontinue of the former.
The Choteau county readers Of the
TRIRuNE are particularly interested in
this particular case.
About IA year and IA half ago the coun-
~ commissioners of Choteau, influenced,
it is alleged, by Commodore Power. made
"A verbal contract with Barnard Brown
of Helena to examine the records of
Choteau county and report thereon.
The animus of this examination, it is
further alleged. was found in the fact
that the democratic county clerk and re
publican treasurer had opposed the cleo
ton of brother John" to the state SEN
ate. and il was to their books that the
expert" chiefly directed his attention.
The commissioners made no written con
tract with Mr.. Barnard Brown. or il they
did the terms of such contract did not
appear in the recorded proceedings of
the board. The people Of Choteau pro-
tested against such high-handed pro-
ceedings upon the part of the commits
sioners, but their protests were ignored
and Mr.. Barnard Brown entered upon
his mission of labor and love.
After much delay and revision the re-
port was brought down to Fort Benton
and submitted to inspection. Before it
was acted upon by the board Mr.. David
&. Browne. one Of the most accomplished
accountants in the state, ran over the re-
port and found something over 150errors,
some of them being in simple addition.
The errors were pointed out to the
board. but that body. apparently intent
upon carrying out the wishes of a IN
resident adviser. accepted the report and
drew a warrant in favor of Mr.. Barnard
Brown for the sum Of SLIGO. Its pay
ment. however. was enioined. and the
matter was thrown into court.
At the last session of the grand Jury
for Choteau county. which finished ITS
labors and adjourned last Saturday,
Judge Du Bose of that district charged
that body to examine the report and
embody it's conclusions in its final report.
The grand jury WAS composed of five re-
publicans and two democrats. with Hon.
William Il. Ralston as its foreman.
After a thorough examination Of the
document the grand jury reported as
follows:
And TO anticipate the question which
the reading public will here ask, the
grand jury states its conviction that the
so-called Barnard Brown report is incor-
rect. inaccurate and wholly useless for
any purpose it was intended to serve.
The grand jury does not find that the
report contains any evidence to sustain
the statements therein made rejecting
upon the official conduct OF the county
officials.
This is the rcbuke the grand jury.
coming directly from the people and
representing them in the discharge of a
high and responsible duty, administered
to a board which had snapped its fing-
ers in the face Of its tax-paying constitu-
ents and. following it's own sweet will,
had declared il would give 81. 100 Of the
peoples money for-nothing. The re-
buke il Il singing one. and. doubtless.
most richly deserved. 1t is the first in
stance, we believe. in the history of the
state. in which a republican grand jury
had So signally rcbukcd "A republican
board Of commissioners. In allowing q
a bill Of al.l00 for a report
SO full! Of inaccuracies. 80 repletC
with evidences Of its worthlessness. the
commissioners Of Choteau county show
ed a total disregard Of the interests Of
the county. cquallcd only by that dis
played by the commissioners Of Cascade
in awarding IA contract to the highest
bidder. The grand jury Of Choteau
county has taught its commissioners
that the people are supreme. The lesson
should be emphasized in Cascade county
THE gold bugs were defeated. horse
foot and Dragons, in the house the other
1ay The silver men outyOtpd them tw,