The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-07-01
CITY OFFICIAL PAPER.
THERE MAY COME A TIME.


Falls for the especial purpose of in
vestigating the alleged malfeasance
in office of several of the Cascade
county officials, had not the courage
of their convictions, but have prob
ably given recalcitrant offcialdom
scare which may result in their less
openly ignoring the laws and their
moral obligations. The jury failed to
indict, but formally requested the
county auditor and the commissioners
to resign and let trustworthy men fill
their places. The gist Of the report
follows;
Our attention has been called to
the number of days the board of
county commissioners has been in
session each month We find that
the affairs of the county under the
control of the county commissioners
can be transacted in much less time
than is being consumed. From the
Sth of November until May 31st, 1902,
the county commissioners have
\ drawn from the county treasury, in
per diem and mileage $2,927.90. Com
missioner Roalswick received $986.30
or $14100 per month; Commissioner
Delphy received $1,f9160, or about
$40 per month, Chairman Cooper re-
ceived $4,000, or about $120 per
month From the most reliable in
formation obtainable, we are led to
believe that the extended monthly
sessions can be attributed to one Of
two causes only, viz, that the board
is either incompetent or that the sal
airy Of $500 per day is pecuniary
induccment, and we are forced to
believe it to be the latter.
If the county affairs are conduct
ed in the future as they have been
since last November, the result at
the expiration OF the term of Office OF
the present board will, in our opin-
ion, be deplorable
Feeling confident that no improve
ment in these anatters can be look
ed for under the government and con
troll of the present board and auditor
we feel it our duty to recommend
and insist, that the designations of
the county commissioners and the
county auditor be requested, and
their vacancies filled by thoroughly
competent, trustworthy, conscien
tious and reliable men.
In the matter of the new court
house under construction, we find
that the cost will far exceed the
amount of bonds voted by the PEG
pie; for this, however, we see nc
remedy
In our judgment the county offices
could be operated with less force
than is at times employed, without
detriment to the service, and we
charge the board of county commits
sioners with the duty of investigat
ing this matter from time to time.
We find that the field work of the
county surveyor is very unsatisfac
tory
We find that the towns of Bel
and Stockett have more officers OF
the pay roll than are necessary, ant
we suggest that the board of county
commissioners curtail this unnec
oeSo2ry expense.
In the matter of mileage paid tt
officers who travel on passes, we flint
that it is directly contrary to law 70
officers to receive money to cover ex
penses not actually incurred, and w
strongly condemn this practice"
A report more fully covering condi
tons in Flathead county could have
hardly been presented. But the breatl
of public investigation in this count,
is not yet sufficient to stir the straw
to indicate its gathering strength
However, there is an undercurren
among the county people, who ar
denied the tips and favors of the in
which may relegate them to the rank
with an opportunity to work for lily
ing. There may come time