The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-11
THE OFFICE NOW VACANT
Commissioners Will Appoint a
New Administrator.
BEEN AWAY SIXTY DAYS
Abbott Has Gone to the Philippines
With the Montana Troops-Two
Applications for the Position
Already Received.

BY the operations of law the Office OF
public administrator of Silver Bow
county has become vacant. Alex c.
Abbott. who was elected to that office.
has gone to the Philippines with the
Montana regiment. and the law pro-
vides tina when a county official alb
sents himself from the county for 60
days. his Office shall be declared vacant.
Before leaving the state Mr.. Abbott re-
signed as administrator of the various
estates which had been in his charge,
but he did not resign his office as pub
lie administrators. His absence has ex-
ceeded now the 60 days mentioned in
the statutes and the county commits
sioners have announced their intention
to declare the Office vacant and appoint
a new administrator.
Two applications for the appointment
have already been received. one from
w. Il. Headings and the other from
Mat Brown of Centerville. Mr.. Brown,
in his application for the place. said
II herewith submit to your honorable
body my application for the office OF
public administrator. as / understand
the III IL VACANT Giu NlldA 1ou 4
In need OF a good man to fill the place.
l am willing to make the sacrifice. i
am a democrat. slightly inclined to
populism.
"P. ST. am a distant cousin of John
Brown of Harper's Ferry"
The commissioners viii probably
make an appointment in a day or
two.
The county commissioners yesterday
compromised the East Butte tax ques-
ton with James A. Murray and &C
cepted 2.250 in full payment of the de
"linquent taxes due for the years 1891
to 1896 inclusive, with a 10 per cent
penalty added. In 1895 the addition was
withdrawn from the market. and since
that year IL has been used and assessed
as mining ground only. In 1892 the
whole addition was sold for delinquent
taxes and was bid in by the county.
Since hen several lots have been sold
to various persons and the delinquent
taxes still stand against such property.
but Mr.. Murray has agreed TO pay of
those taxes also. The total amount OF
taxes due on the East Butte addition
for the wears named was something
over 81 500, and there has been a ques-
tion of law whether penalties and in
terest could be charged, owing to the
fact that the property was odd only
in one year. The county treasurer and
the assessor were of the opinion thai
MIR. Murray could not be charged with
penalties and interest subsequent To tn,
sale of 1892, and Mr.. Murray took thu
same position. Tax Collector Shea
however. figured 1t out hat the prop.
erty was subject TO the regular 30 pc
cent penalty and . per cent a mont
interest, which would bring the tota
amount up to about IS. 100. Mr.. Murra,
did not care TO go TO law about tn,
YanNtn.s on1 nanda anNrnna1 nrnnnGfftn Inn
to settle through a compromise. Thu
commissioners yesterday morning re
ferred the question to Chief Deput.
County Attorney Connolly, and he CAV
this opinion on II:
"I desire to say that I think Their
is no question that under section 423
Of the political code, and it's subdivis
ions, the board OF county commission
ers ave authority to compromise tn
question of the delinquent taxes in Eas
Butte addition
Upon receipt OF Mr.. Connolly's opin
lon, the commissioners decided to &C
cept Mr.. Murray's offer and a minut
later he paid the treasurer 81. $50. /
is generally conceded that he practi
cally made a present to the county o
several hundred dollars by compromis
ing the case. but he lost nothing by II
for within an hour after he la settle
the tax matter he sold a small porto
of the ground to the Northern Pacifi
railroad for s.. 800.
The commissioners have for sewers
days been attending to the wants G
the county's poor and listening to tn
appeals for aid which are made eac
month. Several delayed complaint
about excessive assessments were re
ceived yesterday. but no action coul
be taken on them. az they were mad
to late.