The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-04-21
THE REFORM SCHOOL.
Building To Commence a. soon as IL Sit
j. selected and Plans Accepted.

IbuiltinS Ia commence i- soon :~ II site
il selected and Plans Accepted.
The Jot Yesterday interviewed
Hon. {. K. Middleton one of the trustees
OF the state reform school. in regard to
the prospects Of the speedy erection of
the building. Mr.. Middleton had Just
returned from a visit to Helona. a part
of his business there being an inquiry
into the status of the S21tNO appropri-
alton for the reform school. granted by
the last legislature. AS the information
gained is Interesting in its detail we will
let Mr.. Middleton tell it in his "
words. He SAID:
The trust, = of the reform school had
been advised scmi-oficially that ma part
of the appropriation would be available
before December lst next, on account of
there being DO money III the state treas
urs applicable t. tits purpose. Not
w~ithstanding the fact that the reform
school bill had passed and was approved
by the governor several days before the
general appropriation bill reached a like
stage of maturity. which would seem
10 have given our bill procedure 81 that
the reform school appropriation would
be available. the state ipard uf eXamin-
ers We9e oi The opinion that the items Of
the genera Appropriation bill We're of
that character. that under the proyis-
IONS of the constitution. sufficient money
must be retained III the treasury To meet
them. After a consultation with the
state board Of examiners. which Is com
posed OF he governor. secretary of state
and attorney general. i'll which they in
dicated 10 me that any and all bids that
We're approved by the board of trustees
of the reform school would be audited
by the board of examiners. and il found
To be correct. warrants would be drawn
on the state treasurer fer the amount.
to the extent of the appropriation il
necessary. then Went TO several Of the
banks in Helena. and 10 dealers in bonds
and securities for the purpose OF ascer-
tanning whether the state warrants
could he negotiated. and If SO. AT what
rate OF discount. The best offer was
able TO obtain was gsc.. conditioned on
the warrants being delivered in blocks
of not less than $1,000 at a time. Being
satisfied that this would be impractic-
able | again went before h state board
and after consultation arranged with
the bOdlu 10 duuit I'LL accounts that
were approved hs the board OF trustees
of the reform school. and if allowed. di-
rect the state auditor 10 draw warrants
for the amount have the warrants pre-
sentenced to the treasurer and regis
tered nc paid for want of funds" after
which the state shall buy the warrants
at par and pay for them out of the gen
eral school fund. a fund in which there
is now oven 100000. and which the state
is authorized to invest in such securities
as it may deem advisable TO purchase.
The stale warrants when registered by
the treasurer drew interest at six yer
cent per annum so thai by investing in
them for the general school fund. that
fund viii have the benefit Of the interest.
Gov. Richards expressed himself as de-
sirous of making the state reform school
the pet and hobby of his administration,
and his excelleney. as well as the other
members of the state board. each and all
expressed themselves as realizing the
urgent need of immediate action on the
part Of the state in erecting and putting
in operation a reform school. and fur
ther assured me they would do anything
in their power to and the doard of trus-
tees in expediting the work of con
struction. Today on arriving home, l
advised the other members of the board
of the fact above stated. whereupno
Judge Streyell as chairman Of the board
called a meeting at > O'Clock. when the