The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-07-18
WEDNESDAY, JULY Is, 1906.
DIR rHORNBER pRESCRIBES THE FAITH
CURE AS A REMEDY FOR ALL OUR
FINANCIAL TROUBLES.

Ipk HUN bEN PERSONALITIES ! = u
CURE AS A REMEDY FOR ALL OUR
FINANCIAL TROUBLES.
In a communication occupying three
columns OF newspaper space, Mr..
Thorn Der. one of the candida tes for
the republican nomination for county
treasurer, gives his views upon the
mater Of securing interest upon pub.
lie funds. II is a readable article in
come respects, and probably represents
the writer's honest convictions, but
there is really nothing in it to con.
denim the simple and direct plan which
has been under discussion by Chou
teau county voters and which is under
stood to be favored by most Of them.
The advice offered by Mr.. Thornber
is 70 pat our faith in the state legisla.
ture, and not do a thing to help
ourselves. We have been treated to
this form Of faith cure for the past
seventeen yearsland have not derived
any benefit from it. During that time
nine legislative assemblies have met
and adjourned: thay have spent
nearly 600 days in making new laws,
bu. there is not; in the Montana
statutes q siuglesclause that provides
an effective remedy for the loss OF in.
teres. or profits upon public funds.
After seventeen years Of the faith cure,
without deriviugiany benefit, the tax.
payer is advised to keep on taking it
and refuse to :adopt a treatment that
the patient can apply himself.
That portion: Of Mr.. T%hornber's
communication which refers to money
in the Chouteau county treasury, and
the interestsitscould earn at ! per cent.
Iii the banks would pay that a for
the temporary use Of it calls for brief
notice. 1t is figured that the sinking
fund, if placed in a bank at 1 per cent.
for fifteen years. would earn the hand
some proi..of about s35, 900, but as it
can be used TO pay & per cent. bonds
in 1911, it would be poor business
policy to keep it in the bank after that
date. The interest it may earn up to
that time belongs to the people.
MIR. T~hornber's claim that the peo-
pie cannot get profit or interest on
their ownlmoney until the legislature
explicitly gives them that power, is not
sustained by the Institutional provi.
sion which he quotes and which was
printed by the River Press several
weeks ago. This is the essential part
of il:
The making Of profit out of public
money or using the same for any pur.
pose not authorized by law, by any
public officer, shall be deemed a fel.
ony.
The above section prohibits any
public officer from making profit out
OF public money, but it does not for.
bid the owners of the money from re.
ceiving any profit it may earn. 1t has
been said that law is common sense
applied to the subject with which it
deals. A common sense view of this
interest matter does not sustain Mr..
Thornber's position.
l. is acknowledged by friends of the
proposed reform that q law requiring
public officers to account for profits
earned by public funds is necessary,
and they will work earnestly for the
e. enactment OF such legislation. But in
view OF the influences that have here.
sofore defeated such a proposition in
legislative assemblies, and which will
continue to obstruct the progress Of
such a reform as long as possible. it
seems prudent and proper to provide
q temporary measure Of s~elf.protec-
ton. Calliit an expedien. or a make.
shift, il you will, but its merits will be
best demonstrated by its practical op.
GRAFTON. In the absence OF any law
governing the matter, the people Of
Chouteau county have the moral right
the exercise of which is not forbid.
den by the law-to secure interest up.
on their:public funds.
The possibility that the uext legisla.
tive assembly may fail, as other Mon.
taua legisl atures have failed, to enact
q law covering this matter, suggests
. question which 1t is perfectly fair
and proper to present to Mr.. Thorn.
Der. In the event that he is elected
treasurer of Chouteau county, and the
legislature fails to enact the desired
law next winter, what will Mr.. Thorn.
Der do with the profits that can be
earned by the public funds in his pos.
session?
This is q plain and pertinent ques-
ton. A plain and pertinent answer
can be given in as little space as the
question occupies. and that space is
at the disposal of Mr.. ThOrnher for a