The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-05-01
ENTERESTQ Question
Author Of the Bill 10 Give State the
Benefit Of Interest Explains State
TreaSurer'S Opposition

Z. &. Bratrud. one of the members
OF the house of representatives in the
last legislature from from Minneha-
ma, and an old line and real repub-
lican, and a friend of Senator Kit
tredge, introduced a bill in the last
legislature to put a 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 30. Had the Bratrud bill been
passed, 1t is estimated that the state
would have saved from $3.50 to
$4,000 a year. But the insurgents
hau other plans and SO the bill was
killed.
Mr.. Brtrud received the following
letter from J. E. Hotter, of Canton,
who wanted to know about the facts.
Mr.. Hotter writes:-
Canton, S. d., April IL. 1908. Hon.
=. Z. Bratrud, Sioux Falls, S. D.,
Dear Sir:-Will you have the kind
ness TO let me know what information
you may have as to the final DISPOSE
ton OF your bill No. 159-a bill pro-
Vldlng for repositories of state funds.
What or who prevented this bill
>>oAA' "a law Dlu ally Slbtc
Official have a hand in the proven
tlcn? Could o furnish me a copy
OF the Dill? Do you know whether
our state treasurer at the present
m 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 thy
socalled reformers of the last leg
lslature Kill his bill for a square deal
on the interest matter, has made the
following reply
Sioux Falls, S. D.. April is. 1908.
-. E. Hotter, Esq. Canton. S. d.
Ny Dear Sir:-As requested. en-
close you a copy of the bill | intro
duced at the last session providing
Tor state repositories.
lhls Dill nail in the commit
tee for more than three weeks with
out anything being done. | appeared
before the committee; SO did MI,
GassllL doing everything he could to
defeat the bill. l 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
ne 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 Cassiu's
term. giving him a chance to get his
interest on state funds for two years.
But OF course Cassill was figuring on
reelection, and If he could get the
interest on he state funds for four
years at the rate of three per cent
on an average of $500, 900 it would
mean about $4,000 a year or $50
900 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-
sill
z97 Z finally made a demand on the
committee for a report on the bill,
either one way Or the other. They
flnally yielded and reported the bill,
recommending that it DO NOT pass.
When this report came up for &C
ton on it the following day, | at
that the bill DO PASS. and also fur
the asked for a roll call. Nearly ev-
err insurgent VOTED AGAINST THE
MOTION AND THE STALWARTS
VOTED FOR 1T, which the record
shows.
Il do not think there is n ques-
ton but every state officer was on
posed to this bin. l know that some
worked and did all they could to
kill it.
THE only argument used against
this bill was that the t~reasurer's sal
airy was too small. | admit that; cut
we offered to introduce a measure
the treasurer a reasonable and jusr
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, l 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 c. H. Cassill as
vice president of the bank-a posi-
ton to which he was elected as soon
as he became state treasurer, and
which is currently reported to pay
him $4,000 a year. Mr.. Cassill does
nothing to earn this salary, discharg.
no duties to the bank, and is the
only vice president Of any Sioux
Fails bank who gets a salary. Mr..
Cassill does not live in Sioux Falls.
and has no duties to perform in con-
nection with his office. This bank
is the only one in this city which has
a state deposit. The inference of
naturally follows that Mr.. |
Cassill is getting this salary as in
terest on the deposit Of state funds,
and his activity against the Bratrud
bill is further proof of the charge,
which has often been made, and
never denied.
Suppose that the travelling passen-
ger agent of the Northwestern, for in
had "petitioned' Mr.. Kittredge
to vote against the railroad rate bill
in 1906, would he have been justified
in doing so and then setting up the
claim that he was needing the voice
the people?" When Mr.. Crawford