The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-06-13
WEDNESDAY, JUNE IL, 1906.
WILL CHANGE A BAD SYSTEM.

There is every reason TO believe
that the efforts of Chouteau county
citizens to secure a change in the sys.
ten of handling public funds will
meet with success. The people ap.
preciate the fact that the public bust
ness should be: conducted on correct
business principles: they also realize
that each individual taxpayer is per.
sonally affected in this matter.
There is a little opposition to the
proposed method'by which an attempt
will be made to effect this reform. L,
is criticized as being irregular, and
as a method that is! not contemplated
by the Montana statutes, but if it will
accomplish thes:desired result these
objections will have no weight what.
ever. When asked to suggest some
other and a better remedy, these
critics are unable to advise anything
except the enactment Of a law by the
legislative assembly.
It may be stated that it is the pur.
pose Of the friends Of this movement
to urge the enactment of such law by
the state legislature next winter, the
law to affect all c%ustodians Of public
funds, and if such legislation is Sc
cured all the people of Montana will
be relieved from the present indefen-
sible conditions. Q In the event that the
next legislative assembly fails &c act
upon the matter, the voters of Chou
teau county, by securing pledges from
the various candid ates for county
treasurer, will have obtained some
measure Of protection. As the EN-.
ployers of0public officials the people
have the fright to insist, and should
insist, upon faithful and efficient ser.
vice in this connection.
1t is believed that every citizen Of
Chouteau county comedies the justice
OF the demand that The taxpayer
should receive the profit or interest
earned by his own money, but should
there be any who hold views TO the
contrary. the following remarks by
the Chinook Opinion should appeal to
their sense Of what is right and just:
The interest on the Taxpayers money
belongs to the taxpayers as much as
the profits from the use Of capital
In private enterprises belong e the
owner Of the capital and not the sal
aried employe in the concern. If the
employe OF a private business con-
Germ taxes all Of the profits OF the
business and sticks them in his pocket,
he is committing a theft and the ehad.
ow OF the ~penitentiary hangs over his
head.
1t is time the taxpayers received in.
terest for the use Of their money by
the banks. The law is not complete
on that point and so a movement has
been started TO require candidates for
county treasurer to pledge themselves,
that if they are elected they will &C
count for the interest on public funds
and will turn it over to the treasury.
There is no use in waiting for the
legislature TO act for legislatures are
uncertain affairs. If the public will
a be accomplished by some other
method Immediately, i. should be
done.
An effort has been made to befog
the issue by calling the movement one
to sell the Office to the highest bidder,
or by saying that some Of the candi'
dates are trying TO bride the tax
payers. You do not bride a mar
when you promise to give to him what
belongs to him. You don't buy your
job when you promise not to keel
what does not belong to you but agre.
to turn it over to the real owner who
is paying you a salary to look after
it.. The argument is too nonseusica
to fool many voters. The people hav,
q right to have a pledge from candi
dates as TO what they Will do whe,
they take office and it is just and ex
pedient to demand that candidates 70
county treasurer shall publicly pledg
themselves to account for the interes
on deposits of public moneys. Unles
they do, don't vote for them.
PACKERS AND THE STOCkMEN