The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-08-15
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST IL, 1906.
INTEREST ON PUBLIC FUNDS.

INTEREST ON PUBLIC FUNDS.
Although there has been very little
discussion of late upon the subject Of
securing for the people the interest or
profits earned by their public funds,
the matter is still a live issue and de-
serves careful consideration by those
affected. 1t is the belief of this news
paper at the present time, a. it has
been heretofore. that the proposed re-
form can be accomplished If the PEG.
pie insist upon It.
The taxpayers of several states are
given a square deal" in this matter
by the enactment Of laws that require
c%ustodians of public funds 10 collect
interest upon deposits Of the peoples
money and pay such interest into the
public treasury. Montana has no such
law, nor is there any assurance that
such a law will be enacted il the near
future. With large cash balances in
the hands of public officials at all
times, there has been 20 statutory re-
quirement that the c%ustodians of such
funds take advantage Of their earning
power and give the owners Of the
money the profits to which they are
clearly entitled. Whether the banks
have free use of public funds placed
in their care, or whether public OFF,
Gals get a rake-off from the bankers,
is q question which this newspaper is
unable to answer, but the public rec.
ords show that the owners Of the funds
get none Of the interest that should be
paid.
So far As the people Of Chouteau
county are concerned, q practical
solution Of these unsatisfactory con.
ditions has been offered by suggesting
that candidates for the Office of county
treasurer 60 on record regarding this
matter. They have been asked to
state their position-to say what they
will do with the profits upon public
funds in the event OF their election to
Office. The people, as the prospective
employers OF these aspirants for pub.
lie Office, have a right to be informed
upon this question. 1t 10 such infor.
nation al q merchant or any other
business man would expect from any
applicant who sought q position in
his establishment.
A communicate in reference to
this m after was mailed July 6 to each
aspirant for the county treasurership
nomin alton. for the purpose Of calling
his attention 10 it before his nomina.
ton papers were filed. The time for
fling such papers expired last week,
and examin alton Of the documents
shows that only three Of the candi-
dates have made official declaration
OF their intention as to interest upon
public funds OF which they each wish
to be the custodian. These three candi.
dates, in the alphabetical order Of
their names, are:
LEWIS, GEORGE r.
LOCKWOOD, D. G.
STATION, a. G.
Each OF these three candidates has
filed a declar alton in the county clerks
Office, in which he pledges himself to
deposit surplus public funds IN banks
thai will pay a reasonable rate of in.
terest, and to account for such inter.
est by placing it in the public treas.
ury. If either of these candid ates is
elected TO the Office OF county treasur.
err, We believe his promise will be
kept. In the event of any evasion OF
the pledge, this newspaper will assis,
in compelling strict compliance with
it.
There is nj question as to what any
Of me candidates would do, in case
the !enth.legislative assembly enacted
a law requiring tha, custodians Of
public funds account for the profits
earned by the peoples money. The
candidate who is elected would be
compelled to obey the law. Blu. il
the absence OF such statutory regula'
tions, the people are left to devise
come plan that will accomplish tn,
desred result, and the one propose,
is believed to meet the situation.
Chouteau county voters have tn
matter in their W. hands. They ar
in . position to help themselves, o
they can wait for the legislature I,
help them-just as they have beel
waiting for the past seventeen years
IRRIGATION IN EARLY DAYS.