The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-12
VIOLATIONS AND ABUSES
Caustic Criticism for Silver
Bows County Officers.
THEY ARE CLEARING EVILS.
A Sharp Letter From Governor Smith
Based Upon Examiner Morony's
Report The License Law Is
Not Enforced.

/ received Ions report from State EX-
aminer j. G. Morony on the affairs of
the various county officers on the first
or last April. The examiner takes oc-
caslon to make some timely, though Sc
| we're, remarks on the lax manner in
which the license law has been enforced
IN Butte for several years, and his re-
port is accompanied by very caustic
letter from Governor Smith on the same
subject. The governor writes in this
language:
Il have read carefully copy of the
| report made to your board by State
| Examiner Morony. l notice the glaring
| violations and abuses of the law which
he points out, and 1 trust your board,
in justice to, itself and to all the rest of
the citizens of your county and state,
! will see that the license law is lived up
| to. l do not believe in a dollar of Ii
| cense to raise revenue except on intox-
! icants, cigars, cigarettes, ETC., but as
| long as we have such system make
| them all pay according to their BUSH
ness and as the law directs, and if the
| treasurer won't do his duty, fire him
| and get one that will. Twice have APP
| peared before your board to get you to-
| raise assessments on the wealthy cor
4
my recommendations. / hope this third
appeal will meet with a better fate"
Although both the governor and the
/ examiner refer to present conditions
i their criticisms really apply to past adj
| ministrations of the treasurer's office,a as
the present treasurer, j. G. Holland,
| was in office less than month when
the examiner made an examination of
| the county offices. and Hr. Holland had
recognized the evil complained of and
had started vigorous remedy before
Examiner Morony had made his report
| and recommendations.
| The examiner says in his report. 1.-THE
license collections in Silver Bow county
are in very bad way, indeed The
| actual collections are by no means
what they should be. Scores of people
| liable for licenses pay none at all. and
dozens who do pay do not pay what
| they should. The Western Union and
Rocky Mountain Telegra phi companies
never have paid a license. They are
liable for license of s. a quarter for
each instrument in use since March,
| 1895.
"Of 10 or more lawyers practicing
| law in Silver Bow county but 80 are
| paying licenses. Not more than one
half of the doctors and dentists in the
county pay license. Not over two
thirds of the lodging houses pay a IL
| cense. There is not a licensed assayer,
| hackman or peddler on the treasurer's
| books.
"Of the coal companies and their
| agents who are doing business in Silver
| Bow county only two Or three pay a IL
| cense, and that on very small amount
of business returned as being done
| The examiner names a large number
| of business firms. the license paid and
the amount of business reported by
them to show that the license is far too
small. He mentions the Butte Butch
| ering company, NJ. J. Cornell company.
John Caplice company, the Continental
on company. ]. 7. Carroll, Hennessy
Mercantile company, Newbro Drug
company, j. b. Oppenheimer Parchen-
DAchuel Drug company, Symons Dry
| Goods company, ]. A. Stromberg, Butte
| and McDermott hotels and j. j. Hag-
| gerty.
Continuing, Mr.. Morony says:
t. Inc above gentlemen and firms 7 Sc
lected from the license register because
L knew of their business and amount
done per month by general reputat ton
ana Tor the reason that common repute
mas 1t that the business done in dollars
and cents by the aforesaid houses is
vastly greater than the amount upon
winch they are charged for license pur-
pose, and on that score they are not
| the only ones by any means. On tbe
| contrary, there are. without doubt,
many others. [ may be wrong in as
Stunning that all of the business houses
| heretofore listed are not paying suffi-
clent Incense, but to determine that
every business firm or corporation do
ing business as described in section 4O64
of the political code. should be required
to hle a statement under oath with the
county treasurer showing the amount
of business done by such firm and an
immediate revision of such business
licenses should be made to the end that
oh :, ir,
license proportionately with the smaller
ones, which condition. I am justified in
promising. does not now obtain in Sill
Yer Bow county
Under the provisions of house bill
NO. 1862 laws of the Fifth assembly, all
gfocers and others selling liquors in
certain quantities are liable for license,
the collection of which the grocers, both
Wholesaletand retail in Silver Bow
county resisted, setting up in defense
thereof the infirmity of the bill. Suit
was brought to determine this matter
AGAINST aga THOMAS F. Courtney in April.
1898, by the court. To the complaint
therein the defendant, in MAY. 1888
filed a general demurrer, which de-
murrer at this time has not vet been
disposed of. I cannot believe that Mr.
Courtney or the Grocers' associa ton
are in any particular hurry to have
this case pressed or the demurrer set |
down for hearing. If never disposed
of they would no doubt be satisfied, for
in that event they would not have to |
pay, but it is pretty hard on the county |
to have matter of such importance |
hung up indefinitely, for I believe the
county is interested in this particular |
case to the extent of $4,000 or $l5 900 in |
back licenses. This law may be of no
effect, but it is a fact that in every |
county in the state except Silver Bow |
this particular class of license is paid |
without question.
Concerning the suit against Mr. |
Courtney, I spoke to Mr.. Connolly. the |
county attorney, and he said he would |
have the demurrer set down for the
earliest date that the court could hear
it. But really it is high time that |
this matter was being brought to de-
termination.
Very much in the same condition
are numerous tax suits brought by the
county against various persons