The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-26
FAULDS QUIT LOSER
His Printing Office Is Closed Under
an Attachment.
THE GRAND JURY REPORTS
All of the County Officers Are Com
pIimented. Except One Com
missioners Mildly Reproved-
Excitement in Stevensville.

a QdN OF VI eAiN
court of RavaHi county. The trial of
the case of the state against Lezotte.
charged with grand larceny, was re-
sumed at o'clock in the morning and
occupied nearly all day. Al about
O'Clock it was given TO the jury. Court
then adjourned until o'clock that ev-
ening. In the evening 1t became sus-
pected that the grand jury would PROB
ably make a report upon county al
fairs and the public expectation was
worked to a fever heat. AT O'Clock
court convened and the grand jury,
headed by Foreman John S. Robertson,
filed into court after five days OF con-
tinuous work and careful investigation
into the affairs OF the county ofilceS
and records, under the supervision OF
Special Prosecuting Attorney r. A.
O'Hara and w. S. Fortiner, an expert
accountant. They filed their report
with the clerk, to a house full OF ex-
pectant auditors: 1t is as follows:
ITO the Hon. Frank II. Woody, Judge:
THE grand jury, impaneled ana
sworn to examine into the affairs OF the
county and the existence of crimes
therein and to report thereon, beg
leave, at this time, to report on Sucn
matters as have come before us ana
upon which we were instructed 10 act
upon the advice and opinion OF X a.
O'Hara, duly appointed special county
attorney, and respectfully submit the
following report:
I'VE have made a careful examina-
ton and investigation of the charges
of tampering with sealed bids made
against County Clerk Lew Z. Williams
and County Commissioner John F. Hen
bricks by the editor and publisher OF
the Northwest Tribune, and, after
searching inquiry into the matter and
an examination of all the papers ana
records In the case. and all witnesses
. eA n
at the request of either party connected
tlherewirh, we are OF the unanimous
opinion that there Is no foundation
whatever upon which the charge could
rest.
I'VE have also made an examination
of the manner and conditions OF the
letting of the contract for the county
printing by the present board of coun-
ay commissioners at it's March session
in 1895, and, while Vt Is apparent TO US
that the contract was let TO the news
paper having the lowest bid before said
board. and that the commissioners act
ed in good faith in letting said contract
TO the Ravalli Republican, yet, in view
of the fact that certain officers or the
county were owners OF part or SAID
newspaper at the time that the BIDS
were submitted and considered, we be-
lleve that II was the duty of the COM
mlssioners TO have rejected all bids,
and 10 have readveTftised for bids for
the county printing; and We believe
that the county commissioners are SUD-
tect to grave criticism for their action
therein; and we censure them for what,
in the opinion of this grand jury, was
an undue favor shown by them TO the
Ravalh Republican.
I'VE caused an examination of the
charges made against ]. r. Faulds, as
publisher of the Northwest Tribune, to
the effect that while he had the con-
tract for county printing prior to April
/, 1895, he overcharged the county for
printing done under his contract with
the board; this investigation was made
at our suggestion and under our super
vision, by w. S. Fortiner. an expert
accountant, and, as a result thereof, We
find that said FNaulds. while under con-
tract with the county TO furnish all
blanks and do all printing, did over
charge the county on various items in
sums amounting to a total of $420, and
we would recommend that the proper
officers OF the county take such steps
as they may see proper to recover the
same. Mr.. Fortiner's statement is at
tached hereto.
Charges have been made that the
present county printer was charging
the county a price in excess of the con-
tract for work done by him for the
county. We have given the matter a
careful examination and are satisfied
that the county is not paying more
IMAM Vne price any WOTk
now furnished by the Ravalh Republi-
can.
"Our attention has been called to the
expenditures of money by the county
commissioners, during the year 1885,
for bridge and road purposes. the total
amount of which exceeded $40. 000 and
we believe that this amount was I'M
reasonable. taking into consideration
the hard times a vast majority of the
taxpayers of this county are now ex-
periencing.
1--WE would also recommend to the
commissioners for their consideration
that the preparing of plans for bridge
work and making estimates thereon,
and the supervision OF any considera-
BILE work be left 10 the county sur
veyor. and done under his supervision,
and we do not think II wise to expend
any large sums of money for road and
bridge work at the present time.
We have made a careful examina-
ton OF the manner in which the sew
eral officers of the county conduct their
business. and we believe that the en-
tire force are using their best efforts
10 conduct the same in proper man.
fler. and we desire to commend them
upon the neat condition and appear
ance of their respective offices.
I'VE would recommend to the COM
missioners that in view of the fact that
the work in the offices OF the county
clerk and the treasurer is becoming
of more Importance, and that the rec
ords Of these offices are accommodating
20 a great extent, il would be advisable
for them TO make some arrangement
whereby more room could be secured
I'VE are not satisfied with the man.
ner in which the affairs of the public
administrators Office are carried on, as
IT occurs 10 US that his records are not
properly kept. and we would suggest
that. IL unable 20 properly keep the ac-
counts of his Office. he secure the serv-
ices of some one who is competent 10
do 50. (Signed).
John S. Robertson. Foreman
The report of Mr.. Fortiner, the ac-
countant. is as follows:
ITO John s. Robertson. Foreman OF