The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-05-23
WEDNESDAY, MAY %, 1906.
PROFITS on PUBLIC FUNDS.

PROFITS On ~ Blu lNUSs
It is the opinion of the Butte Miner
that an acknowledged public wrong
calls for legislative remedy, the latter
to be applied after two additional
years Of the injustice shall have been
permitted to pass. To such a propo-
sition this newspaper cannot assent.
No extension of time should be grant.
ed to anything that is opposed to the
welfare Of the community: no custom
that perpetrates injustice upon the
people has any right to continue. To
devise and apply an effective remedy
at the earliest possible date is the
course suggested by common sense.
If anything wrong should develop
in the business department of the
Miner. would the latter tolerate its
continuance for two years, for two
months, for two days, or even two
hours: Would it not0put into effect,
at a. early a date as possible, such
regulations as would assure proper
business methods and protect its own
interests ia the matter?
The position oftthe Butte Miner is
defined In these editorial remarks:
The River Press, of.Fort Benton, is
making a strong demand that the
custodians of public funds shall turn
owe the interest derived from depos-
ting such moneys in banks to the
people, or, in other words, place such
interest in the treasury for which the
Official is responsible.
In Chouteau county this fall the
River Press willIgive the various
candidates for treasurer under the
direct primary law an opportunity to
pledge th~emseIvessin this respect.
The position of the Fort Benton
paper is unquestionably correct, and
this is particularly true as far as
state funds are concerned. 1t is un-
derstood that the position Of state
treasurer Is by long odds the best
paid official Job in Montana, because
that officer gets the interest paid by
various banks in which the common
wealth's money Is deposited. This
has been considered q perquisite o.
that Office.
II Is presumed that democratic state
~treasurers have accepted this interest
Is their own personal property, and
that when. as now, q republican is
filling that position, the same thing IL
done. This custom should be stopped
and this interest should revert to thu
state.
There has been a disposition on the
par, of the press of Montana hereto
fore to let the matter 60, because tn.
newspapers belonging to the two lead
log parties have probably felt tina
turn and turn about is fair. 1t ma,
be fair from q political standpoint
but it is not fair to the citizens of tn
state.
There is no use in trying to disguis
the fact that when a democrat hold
the Office. it is naturally embarrassing
to the members Of that party to sugges
this reform. and when q republican
fills the position the members of tina
organization do not feel disposed, a
a general thing, to agitate the matter
Probably the best way to adjust tn
situation would be to have the mex
legislature pass an act covering tn
case, to take effect two years after
convenes. Those running for the pc
sition would know then just exactl
what they could expect, and as n
member of the legislature could pos
lively foretell to what party the treas
urer might belong, it would appear t
be probable that they would all joi
in passing such q measure.
Actually, of course, in the iuteres
Of the people, this question should b
adjusted without delay, but it hardl
becomes = democratic newspaper t
urge action OF that kind when q re
publican is filling the Office and den
ocrats have enjoyed this perquisi,
unmolestedly. Such action might
taken as craftsmanship, and that
something that most newspapers d
sire to avoid in the honest discussio
Of matters that purely relate to Il
public welfare.