The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-29
10 PAY THEIR BONDS
STATE OFFICIALS sWILL4sAsk THE
COMMONWEALTH TO PAY
THE CHARGES
WILL NEED A SPECIAL LAW
r. stOrney General Douglas as Rem
lered to Bank Superintendent
Pope Yesterday Other Officers,
=. However, Charge Their Prin-
cipaIs for the Cost of Such Bonds.

Attorney General Douglas yesterday sub
mitted written opinion to Bank Examiner
| Pope regarding the application of section 5,948,
General Statutes of 1884, to the bonds of
county, city and municipal officials.
At present there is no law on the statute
books which authorizes the payment of the
premiums on bonds of public officials out of
the public moneys, although the section above
| referred to allows assignees, receivers and
trustees to charge the premiums on their
bonds up to the estate of which they hold in
trust.
Gen. Pope was of the opinion that this sec
ton would take in all public officials, both
county, city and municipal, and asked for an
Interpretation OF the statute by the attorney
general
The section reads as follows: Any re-
ceiver, assignee, trustee, committee, guardian,
executor or administrator or other function
airy required to give bond as such may in
clude as part OF his lawful expenses such
reasonable sum paid such a company for
| such suretyship not exceeding one per centum
per annum of the amount of said bond, as the
head of department court, judge or officer
by whom, or the court or body of which he
was appointed, allows; and in all sections or
proceedings the party entitled to recover costs
may include therein such reasonable sum as
may have been paid such company for exc
cutting or guaranteeing any bond or under
taking therein
Mr.. Douglas yesterday took the matter up
with Mr.. Pope, and after a consultation gave
a written opinion. to the effect that 1t would
be necessary to include an amendment in the
law specifying the public officials to be bene-
fitted. Although the terms of the statute were
a little misleading, there was nothing in the
section to warrant the payment Of these
premiums by the state or local treasurer.
The matter is one Of general interest to
county and city officials all over the state,
as well as the state treasurer, bank exam
iner, and state auditor who all execute large
bonds. The other state officials, through
whose hands no considerable amount of
money passes during the year, give merely a
nominal bond, to Insure the faithful perform
ance of their duties.
Gen. Pope, while discussing the matter with
The G o b yesterday, said that some effort
would be made to secure the passage of a
general law which would provide for the pay
ment of the premiums on the bonds of all
officials out of the public treasury.
The Tory bill, introduced in the house some
time ago, was along this line, but it only
provided for the payment of the premium of
the bond of the state treasurer. Mr.. Pope
said 1t was desirable to include all county,
city and state officials in the bill. The wisdom
Of the measure could be readily seen. The
state treasurer and county treasurers of the
three large cities of the state were compelled
to give a bond Of nearly half million dol
lars. The banksawent as bondsmen for the
officials and as consequence would expect
some favors in return and favoritism to the
detriment of the state might result. The
premium on the state treasurer's bond was
$500 per year, and appropriately high for the
county officers, who were heavily bonded. The
bank examiners rbond was 600 with a
premium of nearly $50 per year. Taking the
urers would run nbout 100000 per year. The
premium would come out of their own pock-
cts If the bonds were not signed by friends
or friendly banking institutions, running all
the way from $100 to $500 per year. The
larger the bond the smaller is the premium
in proportion.
Gen Pope believes that It is an injustice
to compel officials to pay this out Of their
salaries, and asserts sthat the interest of the
state are best conserved when the money
comes out of the public account rather than
from the individual. oniceholder