The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-09-11
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. II, 1907.
THE STORY OF A REFORM.

WEDNESDAY,, SEPT. IL. 1917.
THE STORY OF A REFORM.
The taxpayers of every county in
Montana are invited to "sit up and
take notice. OF the fact that the peo.
pie of Chouteau county are receiving
interest on their public funds. 1t is q
source of revenu to which all the
owners of public money are entitled,
but heretofore they have failed to get
it.. The receipt of 81, 30e by the treas
ury OF Chouteau county, representing
profits on public funds for the past
six months, is believed to be the first
instance of its kind In the financial
records Of any county in Montana.
Most OF the people Of this part Of
the state are familiar with some of
the incidents connected with the cam-
paign for better business methods in
regard to handling public funds, but
the circumstances connected with the
initiation of the movement are not go
we'll known. The opportunity to SO.
cure the desired reform was presented
by the adoption of the direct primary
law by the voters OF Chouteau county.
Soon after the adoption of the new
method of nomin ating candidates for
county offices, it was suggested that
Hko ~~rh1ovr ~ cno,sn~ Sr<ouooH ,,r1n
public funds could be solved by OBJ
tanning personal pledge from each
aspirant for the county treasurer
nomin alton, such pledge to be filed in
the county clerks Office and be made
. natter of public record. The matter
Was taken in hand by q committee of
. few taxpayers, who presented II to
other residents of Chouteau county
for consideration. The proposed plan
was ridiculed by q few as ineffective
and irregular, but it was carried into
effect, and each candidate for the Of
fee was requested to enter into the
following agreement:
This is to certify, that in the event
of my nomination and election as
treasurer of Chouteau county, all
public funds entrusted to my care will
be deposited in such banks as will
pay q reasonable rate of interest
thereon, each of said banks to pro.
tect me with good and sufficient SC.
curity for the safe keeping of such
funds; that the interest upon these
funds will be turned into the county
treasury and be accounted for in my
official reports to the county commits
sioners; and that Twill not solicit or
accept, directly or indirectly, any
compens alton or gratuity to influence
the deposit OF public funds. l further
certify that q signed copy of this
pledge will be filed with my nomina.
ton papers in the county clerks Of.
fee, thus making it a matter of public
record"
The result oflthis campaign was the
nomination and election OF a candi-
date who gave the above pledge, but
there existed in the minds of many q
doubt Is to whetherlthe promise would
be fulfilled. This doubt has been dis.
PEELED by the receipt OF interest money
for the past six:months,: an official en-
try Of such receipts being made upon
the public records ofChouteau county.
The taxpayers of Chouteau county
adopted this unique method of secur.
ing q square deal because Montans
lawmakers had neglected to give them
the desired means of relief. A mea.
sure that would have accomplished the
came end was introduced in the tenth
assembly by Senator T. Nj. Everett,
Of this county, but was killed by the
committee to which it was referred. In
the absence of legislative regulation
OF h matter, the Chouteau county
plan OF securing interest money is sub
mitted to the consideration of othe,
communities.
In this connection it may be stated
that the tenth assembly enacted a Law
relating to interest upon public funds
in the state treasury, the measure TAX
ing effect July Is. The first fruits O
this legislation appear in a recent Of
fetal report of the state treasurer, ir
which the sum of 81, $780, ~ is credited
Is interest received upon deposits o
public funds.
The progress made in securing thi,
reform Is due to efforts OF the citizen,
affected. and further advance may b,
made by persistent demands for wha
is right and just.
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION