The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-09-29
Friday. September %. 1893.
STOCKMAN'S GRIEVANCE.
Ed. YELLOWSTONE JOURNAL:

Ed. YELLOWSTONE JOURNAL:
Will you be kind enough to inform
YOUR readers what the special tax on cat
tlemen will amount to this year. and In
what way is the money expended! How
many inspectors are there in st. Paul
and Chicago. and as all cattlemen are
taxed to hire inspectors, can you give
the reason why they have been ordered
not to notify the owners OF such stray
cattle! There is a very large sum OF
money now in the treasury OF the Stock
Growers Association which has accu-
INFLATED for some years. and under the
present system of inspecting will con.
tinue to accumulate if the owners of
strays are not notified when and where
their cattle are inspected. Also can you
inform your readers why one should be
taxed for something he receives no ben
efit from!
A SUBSCRIBER.
The writer Of the above evidently has,
or thinks he has, a grievance. Ordi-
uarily a con munication of this nature
would be passed over. but as the writer
raises some points on which it is reason
able to suppose he is honestly seeking
information. the usual rule OF ignoring
ANONYMOUS communications is broken.
md an effort made to enlighten him and
others. so far as we are ourselves in
formed
To begin with. the writer believes that
the machinery and operation OF the
estrav bureau of the Montana Stock
---.o. ,D,tinp ic uc paarIy 1prfecf
as human intelligence and experience
can make it. and that what it lacks OF
perfection is due to the failure of parties
interested to cooperate with it. 1t Is
not necessary here to go into an eXhaus-
tive explanation of the workings OF this
bureau. Suffice 1t to say thai the Asso-
citation maintains a corps OF eleven In
spectors-three at Chicago. W. at st.
Paul. one each at South omaha Sioux
CITY, Standing Rock and Cheyenne
Agencies, one at the points where
Strengthening is lone for the construc-
ton force of the Darlington x Missouri
road in Wyoming, one on the Great
Northern road. and one at Miles CITY.
Every point where it is possible to eXer-
else an inspection over range cattle en-
route to market or slaughter. seems to
be as well covered as the means at hand
will permit. And as to those means. our
correspondent asks what will be the
amount collected for this purpose this
year. This. of course. cannot be def
uitely answered. 1t will be whatever
the mill and d half tax will realize. and
Judging by the past t will aggregate
from $4,000 to $4,000. This money is
expended in the payment OF salaries and
expenses of these inspectors and others
engaged on special service. and as most
Of the inspectors are engaged by the
year it will readily be seen that twelve
or fifteen thousand dollars will not pay
the whole bill of salaries and expenses
Transfers are made nearly every year
from the STRAY fund to the expense
fund. to enable the Association to carry
On the thorough work that it has in.
augurated.
Our correspondent refers to the very
large sum hat accumulates IN the
hands of the treasurer of the associa,
ton. and intimates by implication that
the same energy snot used in disbursing
il that is used in collecting it. This
complaint is. We believe. without foun'
dation. The greatest trouble arises from
the fact that many small owners have
not their brands recorded, or at least not
all of them. and when d STRAY is re.
ported OF a brand whose owner cannOt
be found by reason of the brand not be
ing recorded. it naturally follows that
the proceeds of the sale OF the animal
must lie in the hands OF the treasurer
unclaimed. and eventually be transferred
to the expense fund for the purposes in
Dictated herein. and from such cases
arises the large accumulation referee tt
by our correspondent. Last year, If ouI
m serves us, the amount OF un'
claimed proceeds Of strays was sls.OoO
but large as this sun is. il is only a 1.-THE
OF the STRAY" money that finds its way
into the pockets of rlghtful owners
through the workings Of the excellent
system Of the Association. Between
100000 and 100000 is annually distrib
uted by Secretary Preuitt in this way.
Now. il Subscriber can see by the
brief explanation we have offered thai
he has been remiss in any respect him
self. his communication and this reply
will have served a purpose. II he is still
aggrieyed through no cause OF his W
let him write to Secretary Preuitt al
Helena. setting forth his case fully ano
clearly; if be believes that he has beer
aofranded Let him tel the secretary