The Bemidji pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn.) 1896-1917, 1900-08-02
THAT BECKER co. CASE.

II tiles has evidently not changed its at
4 titnde towards Mr.. Street, scored the
4 independent and insinuated. as gently
HI as possible that our attorney was
4 neither honest or efficient. II brought
4 up the Becker county case TO prove
\ that said Street had shone as a wall
flower while piling extra expense up
Il the county BY employing other counsel
4 to do the work To those VINO are
i familiar with the history OF said case
and the character Of the News, any
comments by as is unnecessary. But
i for the benefit Of new settlers and the
uninformed we wish to state few
i facts in the case and let the reader
Judge whether Mr.. Street deserves
5Ecredit or censnre.
i The county was organized in 1891,
and Frank e. Dudley, wv. s. Bran
non and 4. K. Bergland have been
4 commissioners ever since, though 81.
1 q. Bagley served for about three
months and resigned. Frank Street
was the first county attorney, and he
/ found the county confronted AT the
start with an empty treasury and no
power to raise more than six thous-
/ and dollars per annum by issuing
orders. Becker county also set up
| q claim against the new county for
upwards Of 81, 900 for old ohic al sal
aries Of her officers acting for Beltrami
county. Under q law passed at the
session Of 1897 permitting counties to
issue bonds to take up outstanding in
debtedness the county commissioners
of Beltrami county issued sI2, 600 in
bonds, and received the money for
them, acting on the supposition that.
the county was liable for the Becker
county orders. The 81, 900, however
did not cover the whole amount issued
by the Becker county officers, but only
those issued prior to July, 1885. The.
total amount outstanding in June 1897
was about ST., 900 which with interest
to date, would now amount to over
$40, 900.
The Beltrami county officers were
hardly warm in their chairs before
the First National Bank Of Detroit
presented about seven thousand dol
lars Of the Becker county orders 10
our treasurer and demanded payment.
County Attorney Street for the first
time had an opportunity to examine
the orders, and Immediately directe d
the county treasurer to refuse to pay
them, taking the position that they
were not In such form q to be d legal
charge upon this county. The county
commissioners supported him In his
position, but quite an element In the
county and In BemIdii most Of whom
have since and do now constitute the /
Populist party Of the county and vii
lage, ridicnled the idea that he could
succeed in his position, and urged
that the county was throwing money
away to follow his advice.
The first National Bank brought
suit on the orders, and iii both the
Ramsey county district court, where
the suit was brought, and id the SUI
pleme court, Mr.. Street won out
though opposed by some Of the ablest
laWy ers in St.<Paul. The county al
loved him $500 to employ additional |
counsel, but Mr.. Streetdid the whole
Of the work himself, simply using the
advice and counsel Of Mr.. Morris Of Il
st. Paul in the preparation Of the
case. III was wise on his part and on
that OF the county, to employ addi-
tional counsel in so important a case,
and the wonder is that SO little addi- 4
tional money was expended In the
case. The facts seem to be, that on
an expenditure for personal expenses
in attending court at ST. Paul and for
counsel, of less than $500,
Mr., Street has saved the county Overt
SIC, 900. And If it should hereafter be I,
found that for any cause that has not
yet arisen in the matter, the county
should finally be holding any portion
Of the Becker county debt, still, the !,
county Of Beltrami has had the use sof
The So, 900 bond money, at times when
y could not have done business with
out it. The money and interest at !
ger cent is now in the treasury butt
you'd long ago have been expended
or roads and bridges but for the ex-
olicit directions OF a Populist state
to the county treasurer that
tmust not be drawn upon for that or
my other purpose but that OF paying /
he Becker county orders.
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Metealf's x-Ray, of West Duluth, Il
5 as original as its name implies, So
'riginal in fact that it dare expose Il
ONE of the rottenness in the party It'll b