The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-12
SIMON JACOBS CASE
The Question Of Settlement Is Worry
ing His Bondsmen.
MR.. FRANK IS ALL READY
There IL a Possibility That the
Tangle OF Affairs May Result
in Closing the Public
Library.

Butte, May 11.-One of the conse-
quences OF the tangle in the affairs of
the late city treasurer may be the
shutting down OF the public library for
a few months. 1t is sincerely to be
hoped II will not be found necessary to
take this step. but Mayor Thompson
stated to-day that he would consult re-
garding this matter with the members
OF the board of library trustees as soon
as he could get them together.
'All the money can find." said the
mayor, lis between $1,000 and So, 900
in the First National bank. There
should be a sinking fund of $4,000,
which seems to have disappeared, and
there should be some $500 in the IL
brary fund and some $4,000 in the book
fund. The total shortage I estimate
at close to $51, 900. but of course this is
only an estimate. 1t may be very wide
OF the mark. But at any rate. there IL
not more than $11. 900 or 900 availa-
BILE for the city's use that we know OF,
and we must husband this most care
fully until we know exactly what the
situation is. / am of the opinion that
the library should meanwhile be closed,
but / shall not decide on this step until
after full consultation with the trus-
tees. / think that II the library is not
tOIlDltltit CiDccu IL Snouiu DC run On
a modest scale during the summer
months. Some of the assistants should
be dispensed with and the library run
on a minimum of expense until the
money that should be in the library
fund is replaced"
In reply TO question Mayor rhomp-
son said that IL the bondsmen of the
late city treasurer put up the missing
money at once II would not be neces-
sary TO close the library, but he antlc-
ipated that the settlement would be
long delayed. and IL might be months
before the money that should be in the
treasury is repla ed. The library he
considered the only part OF The city
government which could be shut down
for a few months. The other depart
ments are indispensable. and must be
kept running in any event.
The experts began work to-day on
the books OF Mr.. Jacobs, but most of
private from his official papers. and
clearing the ground for careful ex-
animation of all his accounts from the
day he assumed office, six years ago.
The examination may not consume
more than 10 days, but is more likely
expected until the labors or the experts
are completed.
What makes delay more probable be-
fore q settlement is made by the bonds
men Is the dispute which Is likely to
arise as TO the time when the shortage
arose, and as to what particular set OF
bondsmen must make good certain
am cunt. The bondsmen of the past
two years, for example. Will object To
settling for a shortage which may have
arisen In the previous two years, and
the bondsmen of 1891 to 1898 will object
TO settling for shortages which may
have occurred between 1889 and 1891.
Next TO ascertaining the total amount
of shortage the most important duty
of the experts will be to ascertain at
what period and under what admins
ages occurred. This is likely to compli-
cate matter a good deal and delay the
final settlement. The bondsmen OF ST.
men Jacobs. from 1889 to 1891, were w.
A. Clark, Joseph X. Clark. John Ca
plice and II. l.. Frank; from 1891 to
1898 were w. A. Clark and II. l.. Frank:
and from 1898 to 1896 they were III. L.
Frenk. John o'Rourke and w. p.
Gwin.
Mr.. Frank has already agreed to set
tie his share of the shortage as soon as
Il Is ascertained what his share Is. and
as his name is on all the bonds no diffj-
Guilty Is anticipated in his case. II
may prove difficult to determine in the
other cases who must settle for the
balance of the shortage. whether the
last bondsmen must pay all or whether
a part or the whole of the shortage
should be made good by old bondsmen.
the bonds of the late city treasurer to
the new city clerk and took his receipt
for them.
Hoods Sarsaparilla gives great bodily
nerve, mental and digestive strength.