The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-04-24
WEDNESDAY, APRIL "a, 1907.
ESTRAY CATTLE FUNDS.

ESTRAY CATTLE FUNDS.
Owing to the failure OF former state
legislatures to enact q law regulating
the custody and disbursement OF re-
ceipts from Montana estray cattle
sold in eastern markets, there has been
considerable diss at sfaction-especial'
" among the smaller stockmen-re'
gsrding this matter. The absence OF
any method of publicity caused a|
feeling of suspicion that the funds
might be manipulated for the advant'
age of others than the legitimate own.
ers of the money. In fact, it has been
alleged as a matter Of gossip, unsup'
ported by reliable evidence, that an
immense sum of estray money was in
the hands of the state board OF stock
commissioners which should by right
be in the pockets OF owners OF the
estrays that were sold.
A defective system OF tracing and
identifying cattlessold as estrays con-
tributed to this feeling OF dis satisfac.
ton. Errors on the part OF inspec-
Tors caused confusionsin the accounts,
an description Of a brand
by the inspector making it impossible
to determine the owner Of the animal
and sending him the proceeds and &C.
count of sales. GThese were exception.
al cases, butllthe system that made
them possible w~sskunjust to the stock.
men affected.
The enthusiastically took this matter
in hand, and enacted laws that prom.
jse to accomplish the purpose desired.
One of the new laws provides for a
system of inspection and tally OF
brands at time of loading, as we'll as
in the eastern market, which should
result in establishing the ownership
OF all animals lin the shipment. An
other enactment calls for wider pub
licity of the brands for which no own.
er can be found, and for the disposi.
ton of estray cattle funds that remain
unclaimed.
1t was also provided that the state
examiner make a thorough investiga'
ton of the books of the board of stock
commissioners and report his findings
to the governor. This report has jus
been made, that portion of it relating
to the estray funds being in part t
this effect:
l append al table showing the re
ceip:s from estraysscattle in the pas
fifteen yearssand the disbursements ir
the same period by your secretary a:
secretary of the Stockgrowers' as
sociation. The total,receipts are s.,
Bill, 500. 73. TheI total disbursements
are 81, SAT 81. Balance turnei
over to the state treasurer, $50, 1914
l think thelpublic .tbecame confused
concerning the amount OF money de
rived from estray,cattle by the system
OF reporting all cattle mot owned b.
the shippers as .estrays. For instance
lind that for the years ofll902.3-4 AMI
5, the stockmen of;.Montana shipped
to eastern marketsithel round number
Of one million hesdsof cattle, Of whicl
e%ighty.two thousand, sor s per cent. 0
the entire shipment lwas returned Il
this Office Is estray, whereas onl,
about six.tenths Of one per cent. Q
shipment were reallysestrays. Instea
OF the estrays numbering eighty-tw'
thousand, they only numbered abou
six hundred and fifty for the fou
years.
II the interested stockmen and other
would get this into their minds ther
would not be so much talking abou
the large amounts of money cOntrolle
by your board and your secretary
Here after proved owners of estray
will present their claims through 20
to the state board of examiners VIII
will authorize the state auditor to dra'
his warrant on the stock detective an
Indemnity fund for the same.
found in my examination that b,
tween IS and 90 per cent. of the cattl
you call estray are settled for by tt
commission men at the eastern ma,
kets upon the certificate of your stoc
inspectors located at those sever,
points, and the owners are paid a
the balance from your Office exec
about one.half Of one per cent, Il
which no owner can be found.
THE Florida Legislature has adopt.
q resolution declaring the fourteen
and fifteenth amendments TO the n