The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-03-06
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1907.
A STATE DEPOSITORY BOARD.

tenth assembly the past week, anu
which received favorable action in
the house, was q measure introduced
by Representative Allen, of Deer
Lodge county, providing for the sub.
mission to the voters an amendment
to the constitution relating to the care
and management of public moneys
and providing for q state depository
of state moneys In the possession of
the state treasurer. The bill pro.
vides:
"Section /. That there shall be
submitted to the qualified electors of
the state of Montana at the next gen.
eral election, an amendment to Sec.
ton IA of Article XII of the state con.
stitution, relating to the care and
management of public moneys in the
hands Of public officers, and provid-
ing for a state depository board to
direct the depositing Of state moneys
in the possession of the state treas.
urer, so that said Section IA will read
as follows:
Section IA. The governor, state
auditor and the state treasurer are
hereby constituted a state depository
board with full power and authority
to designate repositories with which
al funds In the hands OF the state
treasurer shall be deposited, and at
such rate of interest as may be pre-.
scribed by law. When money shall
have been deposited under direction
Of said depository board and in &C.
cordance with the law, the treasurer
shall not be liable for loss on account
Of any such deposit occurring through
damage by the elements or for any
other cause or reason occasioned
through means other than bis own
neglect, fraud Or dishonorable con.
duct. The making Of profit out Of
public moneys, or using the same for
any purpose not authorized by law,
by the state treasurer or by any other
public officer, shall be deemed a fel.
ony, and shall be punished as pro-.
vided for by law and part of such
punishment shall be disqualified alton
to hold any public Office
Il 4
Another measure relating to the
custody of public funds is known as
House Bill No. Is. introduced by Rep
resentative H. N. Blake, OF Deer
Lodge county, which amends Section
TO of the Penal Code. The proposed
amendment is to this effect:
Section 40. Every officer of this
state, or of any county, city, town or
district of this state, and every other
person charged with the receipt, safe
keeping, transfer or disbursement OF
public moneys, who either
l. Without authority of law, ap.
propriates the same, or any portion
thereof, to his wi use, or to the use
OF another; or
,. Loans the same, or any portion
thereof, except by deposits in the man
ner authorized by law, or, having the
possession or control OF any public
money, makes profit out of it, or uses
the same for any purpose not author
lied by law: or
). Fails to keep the same in his
possession or under his control until
disbursed or paid out by authority of
law; or
4. Unlawfully deposits the same,
or any portion thereof, in any bank,
or with any banker or other person:
.. Knowingly keeps :any false &C.
count, or makes any false entry or
erasure in any recount of or relating
TO the same: or
6. Fraudulently alters, falsifes,
c~onceals. destroys or obliterates any
such account: or
7. Wilfully refuses or omits to pay
over, on demand, any public moneys
in his hands, upon the presentation OF
. draft, order, or warrant drawn upon
such moneys by q competent authority:
or
s. Wilfully omits to transfer the
same when such transfer is resuired
by law; or
9. Wilfully omits or refuses to pay
over to any officer Or person author
lied by law to receive the same, any
money received by him under any
duty imposed by law, which compels
him to pay over the same is punisha.
BILE by Imprisonment in the state pri.
son not less than one nor more than
ten years, and is disqualified from
holding any Office In this state.
Section 2. All acts and parts OF
acts in conflict herewith are hereby
repealed.
Section 3. This act shall be in full
force and effect from and after its
passage and approval by the cover.
o
A man occasionally interferes with