Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1908-04-30
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Author Of the Bill to Give State The
Benefit Of Interest Explains State
Trcasufer's Opposition

G. G. Bratrud, one Of the members
of the house Of representatives in the
last legislature from from Minneha,
ha. and an old line and real repib.
lican, and a friend of Senator Kit.
tredge, introduced bill in the last
legislature to put stop to the in.
terest graft. 1t was fought by Gov.
ernor Crawford and Treasurer Cas-
sill and was killed by a vote OF So
to 80. Had the Bratrud bill been
passed. 1t is estimated that the state
would have saved from $4,000 to
$4,000 a year. But the insurgents
had other plans and SO the bill was
killed.
| Mr.. Brtrud received the following
letter from ]. E. Hotter, of Canton,
who wanted to know about the facts.
Mr.. Hotter writes
Canton, s. D.. April IL. 1908. Hon.
G. G. Bratrud, Sioux Falls, s. D..
Dear Sir:-Wfll you have the kind,
ness to let me know what Information
ycl may have as to the final DISPOSE
ton OF your bill No. 159-a bill pro-
vidlng Tor repositories Of state funds.
What or who prevented this bill
from becoming q law? Did any state
official have hand in the proven
ton! Could you furnish me a copy
OF the bill? Do you know whether
our state treasurer at the present
time has business or official connec-
Iion with any bank at Sioux Falls?
Very truly j. E Hotter"
In reply to this inquiry. Mr.. Bra
trud. who was astonished to see ths
socalled reformers of the last leg
fslature kill his bill for a square deal
on the interest matter, has made the
following reply
Sioux Falls, S. D., April 16, 1908.
y. 2. Hotter, Esq, Canton, S. d.
| My Dear Sir:-As requested / en-
| close You a copy of the bill intro
duced at the last session providing
for state repositories.
This bill remained in the commit
tee for more than three weeks with
our anything being done. appeared
before the committee; so did Mr..
Cassill, doing everything he could to
defeat the bill. | offered to compro-
mise with the committee, and sug-
| gested that they report the bill, max
Ing. 1t take effect January /. 1908.
giving Cassill one years interest on
the state funds. which was refused.
Then | finally suggested that the
committee report the bill, making it
take effect January 1, 1909, SO as to
take effect at the end of Cassill's
term. giving him chance to get his
interest on state funds for two wears.
But or course Cassill was figuring on
reelection, and if he could get the
interest on the state funds for four
years at the rate OF three per cent
on an average of 100000 it would
nean about $4,000 a year. or $50
0oO for four years. The committee
could not see to the interest of the
state, for which they were elected
but were more interested in Mr.. Cas-.
sin
Il finally made a demand on the
committee for report on the bill,
either one way or the other. They
finally yielded and reported the Bill.
recommending that 1t DO NOT pass.
When this report came up for &C
ton on 1t the following day, I at
once got the floor and made a motion
that the bill DO PASS. and also fur
Their asked for a roll call Nearly ev-
err insurgent VOTED AGAINST THE
MOTION AND THE STALWARTS
shows.
Il do not think there is any uues-
ton but every state officer was on
posed to this bill / know that some
worked and did all they could to
.'The only argument used against
this bill was that the treasurer's sal.
airy was too small. | admit that: Int
we offered to introduce measure
allowing the people to vote on giving
the treasurer reasonable and iust
salary. The people would not hest
tate to pay $4,000 or $4,000 salary
provided, they are satisfied that the
state will get the interest which
would be several times the SALARY. \
Hoping this will give You the desired
information, am very truly yours.
c. C. Bratrud"
Mr.. Bratrud also enclosed To Mr..
Hotter the advertising card OF the
Sioux Falls Savings bank, which
prints the name Of G. H. CassiIl as
vice president of the bank-a post
ton to which he was elected as soon
as he became state treasurer. and
which Is currently reported to pay
him $4,000 q year. Mr.. Cassill does
nothing to earn this salary, lischarg-
es no duties to the bank, and is the
only vice president Of any Sioux
Falls bank who gets salary. Mr..
Cassill does not live In Sioux Falls.
and has no duties to perform In con-
nection with his Office. This bank
- the only one in this City which had
q state deposit. The inference OF
course naturally follows that Mr..
Cassill II getting this salary as in
terest on the deposit OF state funds,
and his activity against the Bratrud
hiy1 II ft,rf11on v,,,<~r,R ~ ftx> nhn~rc