Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-04-30
STIoN PUT TO SLEEP
THEINTERESTQUESTION
Author Of the Bill to Give State The
Benefit Of Interest Explains State
TreaSuref'S Opposition

OF the house of representatives in the
last legislature from from Minneha-
ha, and an old line and real repub-
hcan, and a friend of Senator Kit
tredge, introduced a 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 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 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.
Y. &. Bratrud, Sioux Falls, s. D.,
Dear Sir:-W!ll you have the kind
ness 10 let me know what information
you may have as to the final DISPOSE
tion OF your bill No. 159-a bill pro-
vidlng for repositories of state funds.
what or who prevented this bill
official have a hand in the proven
tcn! Could you furnish me a copy
OF the bill? Do you know whether
our state treasurer at the present
tlme has business or official connec-
tion with any bank at Sioux Falls?
Very truly j. e. Hotter"
In reply to this inquiry, Mr.. Bra
trud. who was astonished to see the
so-called reformers of the last leg
islature kill his bill for a sqhare deal
ON the interest matter, has made the
following reply
Sioux Falls, S. D.. April 16, 1908.
II. n. Hotter, Esq, Canton, S. d.
My Dear Sir:-As requested. / en-
close, you a copy of the bill l intro
9uced at the last session providing
Tor 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..
Casslll 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 l. 1908.
Ewing Casslll one years interest on
the state funds. which was refused.
Then l finally suggested that the
committee report the bill, making it
TAKE effect January /, 1909, so as to
take effect at the end of CassilIs
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 the state funds for four
years at the rate of three per cent
on an average of 100000 il would
mean about $4,000 a year. or $50
QUO for four years. The committee
could not see to the interest of the
state. for which they were elected.
put were more interested in Mr.. Cas-,
Il finally made demand on the
committee for a report on the bill.
either one way or the other. They
recommending that it DO NOT mass ass
When this report came up for ac-
ton on it the following day, at
once got the floor and made a motion
that the bill DO PASS. ard also fur
Their asked for a roll call Nearly ev-
err insurgent VOTED AGAINST THE
NOTION AND THE STALWARTS
VOTED FOR 1T. which the record
shows.
Il do not think there is any oues-
ton but every State officer was OBJ
posed to this bill. l know that some
worked and did all they could to
kill it.
''The only argument used against
this bill was that the treasurer's sal
airy was too small. / admit that; but
we offered to introduce measure
allowing the people to vote on giving
the treasurer reasonable and jusl.
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
| am very truly yours.
G. G. Bratrud."
Mr.. Bratrud also enclosed to Mr..
Hotter the advertising card of the
Sioux Falls Savings bank, which
prints the name of C. II. 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
to earn this salary, discharg-
es no duties to the bank. and is the
only vice president of any Sioux
Falls bank who gets a salary. Mr..
Cassill does not live in Sioux Falls.
and has no duties to perform in con-
necton with his office. This bank
is the only one in this city which has
a state deposit The inference of
course naturally follows that Mr..
Cassill is getting this salary as in
Lerest on the deposit of state funds,
md his activity against the Bratrud
bill is further proof of the charge,
which has often been made. and
never denied.