The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-14
Butte Department.


any claim or demand upon or against
| the treasury or any fund thereof, in
violation of any of the provisions Of
this chapter, are liable in person and
upon their official bond Section 264t
of tho code reads: The treasurer pay
ing any claim authorized, allowed OF
audited In violation of the provisions
of this chapter Is liable on his official
bond [, refund the same to the county
treasury BY reference to the forego-
ing provisions, you viii observe that
you have neither authority to authorize
the supervisor to perform over 100
days work in each year, nor have you
the authority to allow excessive COM
pensation for such services. Even
though the claimant be the real broth
er-in-law of the worthy chairman, I
think my adjustment of this claim will
meet with the requirements of the law. -
road is much improved.
Another bill for road work was also
disallowed, Mr.. Winters explaining his
action in the following. which was at
tached to 1t: THE within claim against
the county has been presented to me
for official consideration. 1 have dis
allowed the claim in full; first because
the claimant is a county official. and
1 have been informed by the county
attorney that officials cannot acquire
a claim against the county except for
official services. My second reason for
disallowing this claim is that the
amount claimed is in excess of the
amount provided for this class Of serv-
ices. Section 1885 of the political codes
provides that no county official can ac-
quire a claim against the county, ex-
cept for official services. Section 1862
of the political code provides the COM
pensation for road labor. In disallow-
ing this bill I think 1 have acted ac-
cording to the prescriptions of the law.
and l trust that my action will meet
with the hearty approval Of our econ
omical board of commissioners"
The auditor next disallowed the
April bill of Matron Hare Of the poor
farm and county hospital. Mrs. Hare
Is a sister of Commissioner Lloyd. Mr..
winters has this TO say about the poor
house bill: II regret the necessity of
returning to you herewith without my
approval. the bill for the care of GER
tain persons sent to the county hospi-
tai without the consent of this depart
ment. and without any proof to show
that the persons mentioned in the bill
are qualified county charges. 1t is my
duty to take charge of all applications
made to the county for aid and inves-
tigate the business Of the claim and
determine whether the applicant is en-
titled to aid, either at the poor farm
or other places in the county. / have
reasons to believe that a great many
people have been sent to the poor farm
by members Of the board of commits
sioners without the least Investigation
as to the rights of such persons to live
comfortably at the expense of the peo-
pie. ] have been informed that people
have been sent to the poor farm sim
ply TO Increase the bills of the matron
and bring patronage to the establish
meats of certain members Of the board
or commissioners. l am not willing to
accept such as being facts until you
are given a show to present proper
credentials for the people whom YOU
have sent to the poor farm without
first referring them TO this department
for investigation. would also like to
be Informed why you never took occa-
sion to discharge people who have
been sent to the poor farm; know II
to be a positive fact that able-bodied
men have been sent to the poor farm
and allowed to remain there until IL
suited their pleasure to leave. You
have on several occasions, however,
taken exceptions to the small amounts
allowed to deserving widows and or
phans. Have you concluded that inso-
far that the widows and orphans do
not buy their supplies from your es-
they are not profitable
charges to be on the county? Have
you also concluded that II the matron
Of the poor farm bought her supplies
from your establishments II would not
be profitable for you to discharge her
star boarders? A little information on
this subject will be gratefully re-
ceived."
Governor Richards was made an ex-
cuse for disallowing a bill of Richards
< Lewis for 1876 for insurance pre-
niums. The commissioners recently
placed 100000 insurance on the court
house against the advice of the audi
tor, who claimed that the building was
not worth more than half that sum and
hat II could not be recovered in case
II loss. so that II was needless expense
% pay such heavy premiums. In dis
allowing the bill Of Richards & Lewis,
he auditor said: ut pains me to be
,alled upon at this time to inform you
hat in the discharge of an official |
luty. ii becomes necessary for me to |
lisallow the claim of Richards & Lew |
s against the county OF Silver Bow
or insurance issued on the order of
he board of county commissioners to
,over our magnificent court house
and contents. I believe that
{ is really unfortunate for the taxpay-
influence of the chief executive of this
tate. by reason OF not being at liberty
o interest his honor to the extent of
Il least half Of the insurance on the /
curt house. In case of fire you would |
reed the influence of the governor and |
very other successful politician in the \
tate to recover even half the amount
hat you have insured for. / dislike to
eject this claim. but as l have been
.a-e.s .ssNl 49, q
'ublic officials cannot acquire claims
.gainst the county except for official
ervices. feel that l should pay strict
iced 10 the legal gentleman's advice.
nd chop to the line and let the chips
all where they will. What say We?
thanking Z you in advance for your
sual prompt concurrence. 1 am your
ordial friend"
The latter was the only one of the
les llOUad hills that the nnaiSSinnarQ