The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1906-07-06
COME Let US REASON TOGETHER.


4 Fin honest business principles as an
3 other taxpayers.
The change I advocate will not en-
danger the safety of public fund
nor will it add to the treasurer's du
Ties, but it will help the people an,
protect thehonest officer from charge
of wrong doing.
The present deplorable system O
the care of the public funds is no
to be blamed on the treasurers no
the banks; the law is at fault; Coun.
ty treasurers cannot remedy tn
fault; we must have a change in the
law.
Our senator misrepresentation are EN-
powered to amend our laws and are
paid for the service, they are anxious
to serve the people and if they know
the peoples will, they are surely
eady to obey it.
| will now give the sections of the
constitution and law bearing on this
question, SO that you can judge for
yourselves
Section II, Art. XI, Constitution of
| Montana says:
The making Of profit out of public money or
! using the same for any purpose not authorized
by law, by any public officer shall be deemed
felony and shall be punished as provided by
law. but part Of such punishment shall be dis
qualification from holding office.
This is rigid foundation for the
safety of the public funds and an
admirable foundation for law that
will place our public business on a
business footing,but the present law
is not such law.
Section 1857, Montana Political Code
reads:
County treasurers must not loan state pub-
lic) funds.
The county treasurer must keep all moneys
belonging to the state (public) in his own pos
session until disbursed according to law.
So we see that the treasurer is NOT
authorized by law to use the funds for
profit, but he is prohibited under the
most severe penalties from so doing.
We must have the present law re-
pealed and in its place enact one that
will wisely do justice to all the par
ties concerned-the treasurer, the
banks and the PEOPLE.
This law should require as strict
an accounting of the interest as of
the principal; it should provide for
an equitable distribution of the funds
among all the banks of the county
and should require the supervision and
approval of the board of county COM
as the latter part of the
section of the present law requires.
Such a course will help to elevate
county politics to something higher
than talk of graft" graft graft
1t will undoubtedly save the taxpayers
$4,000 to $4,000 year, and it's ben
efits can be secured in one way and |
IN ONE WAY ONLY, viz: the repeal
OF the above clauses and the enact
ment of thenore up-to-date and bust
ness plan outlined in the above words
I HAVE NOW ARRIVED AT A
POINT AT WHICH I HESITATE.
L have reviewed the cause that has
occupied the attention of the taxpayers
who desire to lift our public business
% higehr level.
| have given the sections of the con-
'titution and the law bearing on this
subject that every voter may form
lis own conclusions, based on a
knowledge of the subject
| have offered a plan that I believe
O be RIGHT, and that is not only
but that it is the ONLY
RIGHT PLAN.
l expect differences of opinion, II
m ready to concede too that those
Who hold contrary opinions are just
S honest, just as sincere, as I am
myself. I became a candidate for the
ffice of county treasurer more to
,gitate this question than from a de-
ire to holdtheoffice. |,
Six weeks ago one of the county
'apers spoke in favor of saving the
interest on the public money, but ,
outlined a plan that would virtually, 6
or two years at least, defeat the a. 6
option Of a just law, for the pur-
use Of trying an experiment; a make t
hift f
[ saw at once that the plan had s
many objections; viz: That it would {
elay the remedy for two years {
While the experiment" was being t
riod. That the PROMISES were unlaW- 7