The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-26
WILL co TO THE COURTS
Controversy Between the Auditor
and the Commissioners.
AID FOR SOLDIERS WIVES
Many Think They Have Something
Coming Whether They Are Deepen
dent or Not-Funds Have Not
Been Distributed.

1t is very probable thai the contro-
versy which has arisen between the
county auditor and the commissioners
owe the question of extending aid to
the wives, mothers and other depend
ents of soldiers will find it's way into
court n hat some disagreeable mat
tiers will crop out of it. The auditor
will not allow any bills against the
county that were contracted on or
ders issued by the commissioners, ex-
| cept In cases where Investigations We're
made and where the applicants were
found to be deserving. The auditor
claims that large orders have been Is
sued by the commissioners to persons
who are conducting profitable business
es and where the applicants have in
dependent incomes Of $50 to $b a
month. Considerable of the existing
difficulties ave arisen through q mis-
understanding on the parts of the APP
p~licants themselves. Most Of them
who call on the auditor for aid do SO
under the impression that Q large pub
lie fund has been raised out of which
they were to get a pro rata share re-
gardless of the fact whether they were
in need or not. There are several n
for the relief of soldiers wives n
families, but no one seems to have au-
thority to distribute the n Au-
ditor Davies stated yesterday that
about $500 had been raised by some
committee from public subscriptions
and hat the money was still In the
hands Of the treasurer and no efforts
were being made to distribute 1t.
Sheriff Regain also had 1910 as ne
proceeds of a Short Line picnic given
a month or six weeks ago. The sheriff
anaz mt EnnW what RI 40 with the
money and is anxious that some n
authorized TO do so will take ii off his
hands and distribute il among the per-
sons who are entitled to IL. Auditor
Davies said that there have been a
lumber of instances where persons
have applied TO him for their share of
such funds, and when they learned
that there were none in his keeping.
they declined to accept orders on the
poor fund. Mr.. Davies said he regret
ted the misunderstanding that has arts
en-. and suggested that some society or
committee take In charge the distribu-
ton of the money In the two funds
contributed for the benefit of the SOL
diers' families.
M auditor yesterday also disallowed
a bill of another character Of an order,
which the commissioners had issued in
spite of his objection. The bin il from
the Hennessy company and is for 81.
. ne county mas a contract VIII AlIss
Mcdonald, matrOn of the poor house,
whereby she is to furnish clothing for
all inmates Of the poor house and hos
pital. some time ago a man named
Kelly not only demanded from the
county an order for a suit of under
wear. but also one admitting him to
{ he poor house. Mr.. Davies said he
could rave one or the other. but not
both. Kelly Immediately went before
the commissioners and they not only
gave him an order and all he wanted,
but threw in an extra suit OF under
wear for good measure. When the bill
came in the auditor disallowed IL and
yesterday sent 1t to the commissioners
with the following endorsement:
This bill should be dlsallowed, be-
cause William Kelly. the person for
whom the order for the goods herein
specified, was issued, was admitted TO
the county hospital by order of the
board OF county commissioners on June
2S, the date upon which the enclosed
order voucher was issued. In my judR-
ment, the board in issuing this order
10 provide an inmate Of the county TO
assume an obligation, which, under the
terms Of the existing contract with the
matron Of the county hospital she
agrees and should be required to as
sumo"
a suit viii probably have to be
brought to recover the mou Of me
bill. 1t has been a custom Of the com
missloners formerly to send all disal-
lowed bills to Judge Lindsay and ex-
pect him to act as a SCR of superior
auditor, but some time ago he stated
that he would not act In that capacity
any longer and The disallowed claims
would have 20 go the way Of other
claims against the county, by an ap-
peal 10 the court where they would be
tried.