Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1898-03-30

At the last session of the county commits
were allowed:
J. NJ. vrooman. printing. etc....--...ssl5 81
J. D.. Waite. board prisoners............. 80 DO
do mileage. IA ~
do do 123 so
D. w. Slayton. com'rs ay................ ITO 90
Sam Phillips. do ......... I'D 90
For his services as commissioner Mr.. Corbly
only received 81, consequently his allowance
cannot be designated as extravagant whenc COM
pared with the sums drawn by his two asso-
ciates.
Both Commissioners Phillips and Corbly
live in Lewistown, yet the former for his Off
cial services thus far draws $i2o while the latter
receives only s72. How did Sammy work this
anyhow
The above item appeared last week
in the columns of the jaundiced sheet
up the street. Not daring to say
that there had been any unreasona-
BILE amounts paid for these services,
he placed it in such a way as to give
that impression.
What are the facts?
So far as the bills OF the ARGUS for
printing, blanks, advertising, job
work, supplies, ETC., and that of
Sheriff Waite for board of prisoners,
mileage, etc, is concerned, we shall
not itemize or seek to uphold the le-
gality of all these charges. Be it
sufficient to say that Commissioner
Corbly carefully examined these bills
and pronounced them all right.
Surely his testimony should he sufti-
cient for the Democrat.
But what degree of justice did the
item show to Commissioners Stay
ton and Phillips. About as much as
he is capable of-nOne whatever.
He compared the bill of Mr.. Corbly
paid at h March session and which
was for services from December 18th
to that date, with that of Mr.. Stay
toms for the period from the date he
took office in November. AS a mat
ter of fact Mr.. Slayton's bill paid at
the last session amounted to $40,
which was Tor ten days attendance
as commissioner and $50 for mileage,
while Mr.. Corbly for the same time,
(see bills allowed December 18th and
March 14th) drew $136 from the
county treasury. Did we have no
more sense of justice than the editor
Of the Democrat we might inquire,
how did "Jakey" work this any
how? But the reason is plain.
Mr.. Slayton did not attend the De-
cember session. Mr.. Slayton drew
exactly the same amount as Mr..
Corbly for each days attendance,
and in addition $50 mileage.
Concerning the difference of $4S I'm
the amounts allowed Messrs. Phil
lips and Corbly, the reason therefor
is very apparent, to anyone who de-
sires the truth. Mr.. Phillips, as
chairman. is required to sign the
warrants, not only al each regular
quarterly session, but on the first of
each month. For this service he was
entitled to one days pay for the
months of December, January, Feb
ruary and March, which at So per
day, the amount allowed by law, is
$50. To this must be added one
days service for taking inventory of
the county property at poor farm
and one days service in drawing ju-
rors, both of which acts are the du-
ties of the chairman. These two
days at SIS per day, amount to SIG
and make up the balance of $4S, the
difference between the amounts al
lowed Messrs. Phillips and Corbly.
The taxpayers need not fear. Mr..
Corbly is carefully watching for the
least excuse to inform Mr.. Johns of a
"~steal," and on the other hand,
Messrs. Phillips and Slayton care
fully audit all bills and there will be
no opportunity for Mr.. Corbly to
make the charges for which he is so
eager.