Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-04-03
Fergus County Hrgus.
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY
JOHN N. VROOMAN, Editor aud Proprietor.
HALSEY R. WATSON, Business Manager
CLEAN TINE AUGEAN STABLES.


In the last two issues of the ARGUS
we have presented in a general way
some facts in regard to the manage
ment () of the school matters ofdistrict
No. l during the past few years. Since
our last issue we have come into pos
session OF other facts regarding the
school, and particularly in regard to
the finances of the school, which seem
to require an investigation on the part
of the patrons Of the school and ex-
plantations on the part Of the board.
In the two years ending August 3lst'
1900, there has been expended, in the
conduct and management ofthe schools
proper. the sum of sl6,l39.s4. Besides
that amount there was expended by the
board during the same period FROM the
special fund. the sum of s3l ,096.G6, of
which last amount the sun of 9,903. SO
was in payment of bonds and interest.
leaving a balance of SCI, 1872. 81 of money
actually spent by the board, which, to-
gether with the above named sum eX-
pended in the management of the
schools. makes a total Of S37.3?5.G,
which the people of this district have
actually paid or for which they have
issued bonds.
We a%pprehcud that no business in the
state of Montana, in which there has
been an expenditure of that amount Of
money. va ever SO carelessly run or so
grossly mismanaged as is the financial
end of this school district.
The codes of Montana provide, as far
as they can, for the management of the
finances Of schools. and amongthe most
explicit provisions in that regard IS the
section which prohibits any member of
the board from being in any way inter
ested in any contract with. or cxpendi-
turc Of. the district. Nothwithstand.
ing this explicit prohibition several
members Of the board have found it to
be a source of profit to them to be mem
bers Of the board. or its clerk.
An examination of the accounts Of
the district show that Il. &. Jackson,
who is now n candidate for reelection
as a trustee, has received from the dis
trict the sum OF more than s., 500 since
he has been a member OF the board. of
this amount something over $500 waS
paid To him for rent " his building on
the east side Al the rate Of 30 per month,
a rental which any reasonable man
knows to be grossly in excess of its
rental value, and which prior to the
time il was rented by the district, aud
since the district vacated It. probably
has o brought more than one.fourth
of that rental, the total amount of which
would have more than replaced the
building. To other amounts, such as
s,ii for superintendent" and SIS 80 for
~ianitor work and repairs, all of which
are clearly illegal, we have previously
referred.
Another master builder who was a
member ofthe board. Trustee Cort. was
paid the sum Of $50 for 20 days work aS
superintendent of the high school build
ing. This also was clearly an illegal
expenditure Of the peoples money and.
so far as Is known, was wholly without
consideration to the extent that Mr..
Cort is not known as a man in any sense
qualified to perform the services for
which he charged the district 81 per
day. The firm Of Cort & Worden APP
pear in the accounts TO the tune Of
s4G3.si. by warrants drawn in their
favor. Whether the services were rend-
cred or not, and whether the charges
therefor were reasonable or not, it goes
to show that the firm of Cort a Worden.
one Of whom is a trustee and the other
member is clerk thereof, have made
their official positions n source of proft,
which is in direct contravention of the
statute. Besides these mounts paid TO
Mr.. Cort and the firm of Cort& Wordcn,
Clerk Worden has had warrants issued
TO him to the amount of over 500.
These payments, and others like them.
seem to call for a careful and rigid ex-
animation of The financial affairs Of the
school district by the patrons of the
schools, who are paying the taxes.
During the time that all Of these cX-
penditures were made Messrs. jackson
and Slater, both of whom are seeking
reelection OF Saturday of this week.
were members of the board. and il i,
lint nntnrnN thnI thnr ,hn.,ll ru.l ~.