Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-03-20
LEwIsTowN, MONT, Mar. 20, 1901,
WHERE TIE MONEY COILS.

~ ANA'' 49,
tributed among the districts Of the
state. Fergus county gets sl.olo. Of
which samc sag5 will find il way into
the Golfers Of district No. L.
This district is greatly iuncrI Of that
amount aud several more just like it.
for last Saturday there was bat slls.l9
to the credit Of the district, part of
which may have already been appropri-
ated but the warrants not presented for
payment. As the school term viii not
close for two months aud more IL will
be readily seen that the treasury needs
replenishing.
Strange that speaking OF bribery
funds should suggest school trustees.
but while we are considering the source
of the money received it might be rs
well to consider for what it is paid.
Years follow years, special taxes and
more special taxes are voted. increased
leyies are made and school district cx-
penses attain mountain heightA. but
the long.suGering tax payer trods on.
asks few questions and the trustees
never talk. No: they do not aspire to
that office for the purpose of talking.
a law provide, that in districts in
which the receipts of a Single year
reach $4,000 reports of finances shall
be published by tine trustees every Six
months, but inasnuch a. very unfor-
tunately for the schools-as we'll rs for
the trustees-thc receipts do not reach
that amount, the long-lookcd f%urreport
will be published without the order Of
the trustees and without any reference
to the section of law referred
to, for if anyone will inform the
people Of this district what law is rec
ogniaed by the trustees they will doubt
less be pleased to learn,
&c. tainly 1t is not that section mum.
bered $50? of the Political code, which
reads: at shall be unlawful for any
trustee to have any ~pccuniary interest,
either directly or indirectly. in any
erection of school houses, or for warm
ing, yentilating, furnishing or repair
ing the same, or he in any manner con
nected with the furnishing of supplies
for the maintenance Of the schools or
to receive or accept any compensation
or reward for services rendered as trus-
tee"
Possibly, however, that section does
not appear in the edition of the codes
used by the board. or IL SO the page has
in some way become torn out and de-
stroyed.
Running back over account of the
board. as they appear on the books of
the county treasurer. it may he seen
that since April LIST. ls9s-thrcc years
back "a total of S3.l23.i9 has been
turned from the district treasury tothe
pockets of trustees, including in the lat
ter the firm of Cort, Worden 4 Co.
of this total 81, i55.s5 was paid Robt.
jackson for salary" services"
superintendent, repairing" rent"
'Sheridan order and some other things
denoted expense out of the kind
ness of his heart and the plcthoric con-
dition of his purse Mr.. jackson, capital
list and philanthropist, very consider
ately discounted for or acquired in some
other manner orders granted by Con,
tractor Sheridan for SilG.50, which goes
to make up the aforesaid total. Mr..
jackson was superintendent" about
this time and also drawing 1916 there.
for, some 5000 for rent while he was
h%urrying the new building, and Incl,
dentally $3.50 for repairing and s3i.si
for something else.
Not to be outdone in consideration by
any other member of the board Chair.
man Cort was also in the banking bust.
ness, managed in connection with his
job as superintendent" and his lucra.
tive law practice. He had orderst to the
amount Of s76l.7i paid Cort & Worden
on sheridan's account, drew down $50
for superintendent and the firm got
sse.Gj more for miscellaneous services. =
The middle member Of that firm OF
Cort. Worden & Co. got a total Of SOP.