Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-06-18
PUBLIC BUSINESS sEoRECY.

PUBLIC BUSINESS SECRECY.
With regard TO the methods Of city
ofticiala In collecting public funds ana
expanding the same without giving
the people any information on how
the money Ii collected and what 1t IL
expended for the people have no
knowledge, and the law In openly
violated in Withholding that know
ledge from the public. There Il not
taxpayer IN the city who has an OPP
portunity TO see the treasurer's re-
port unless he goes to the city clerk.
Il p not published quarterly accord
Ing to law and as required by statute,
and we defy the treasurer or any
oilcial to produce one publication
within the past four years, AS the
council has estimated that Il win re-
quiFe $4,000 to cover public expens-
% the coming year II il time that II
require the treasurer to publish
complete statement every three
months a. the state law demands,
To fail to do so is evidence OF fear
Of publicity. II the city treasurer
and council know nothing of the law
we quote It below that they may see
their duty and ask them il they I'M
tend to give the people the lnforma-
tlon required by that law or continue
It's violation:
Section 1890. II shall be the
duty Of the treasurer OF such towns,
cities and villages to cause to bo pub
liahed for at least one insertion In
some newspaper within said town.
city or village. between the first and
second Mondays In January. April,
July and October OF each year full
statement Of the receipts and expend-
lures OF said town. giving the source
from whence received, to what pur-
pose applied and TO whom paid
That ought to be plain enough for
tho city treasurer and prove that
when he says the Press fatalities he
Il ignorant Of the law or openly vio-
latea II as q public oflcial. The Leg
ialature did not stop with defining the
dnties OF the treasurer In this respect,
but went further TO make the publica-
ton more binding by defining the du-
ties OF the council a. follows:
Section 1871. For the purpose
OF causing these reports to be pub
llahed as required the council or trus-
tees Of every city, town or village
shall make such provision az may be
necessary"
IA the treasurer. has neglected his
duty will the members OF the council
do their duty and soc that the people
are given the information as to the
source of the revenue and the expen-
ditures In detail SO that those who
are 10 be compelled to pay ave dol
lars In city taxes where they paid one
dollar Last year may know what Is
being done with the $4,000 which
Il II proposed to raise. This Ia q
right 20 which the people are entitled
regardless of the efforts of the Jour
nal 10 hide such matters and defend
the violations of law to keep the
people in the dark regarding public
affairs. II there is nothing wrong
there Is nothing to conceal. and the
onlcials ought TO be anxious for pub
licity, Comply with the law and
satisfy the people.
The Press does not charge any city
ofleial with crooked work. a. claimed
In the organ. but Il does charge them
with neglecting their duty and ignor-
Ing state laws, a. specified above.
and thereby keeping the people In Is
noTance of what Is going with their
taxes. There was no money for the
library which the ladies Of this city
have labored 80 hard 10 build up. bat
there Ia money 70 spend In hiring q
keeper and feeding two deer. all Of
which the Journal approves. either
because some one pulled the strins
and 4 had 20 jump. or because Il ID
opposed 10 public libraries. II dares
not criticize one act OF a city ofaeial
and has not done %. and win not d