Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1908-04-30

Author Of the Bill to Give state Inc
Benefit Of Interest Explains State
TreaSgrer's Opposition

C.. G. Bratrud, one Of the members
of the house of representatives In the
| last legislature from from Minnehar
ha. and an old line and real repub-
lican, and q friend Of Senator hlt-
| tredge, introduced a bill In the last
| legislature to put stop to the IN
terest graft It was fought by Gov
ernor Crawford and Treasurer Cas-
sill and was killed by vote OF OF
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 j. e. Hotter, of Canton,
who wanted to know about the facts.
Mr.. Hotter writes:-
Canton, s. D., April IL, 1908. Hon.
G. C. Bratrud, Sioux Falls, s. D.,
Dear Sir:-Win you have the kind
ness to let me know what information
you may have as to the final dispoSf-
ton of your bill No. 159-a bill pro-
viding for repositories of state funds.
What or who prevented this bill
from becoming law? Did any state
official have q hand In the proven
ticn? Could you furnish me a copy
our state treasurer at the present
time has business or official connec-
ton with any bank at Sioux Falls?
Very truly j. E Hotter"
In reply to this inquiry. Mr.. Bra
vxy3,n or lob -
socalled reformers of the last leg
islature kill his bill for square deal
on the interest matter, has made the
following reply
Sioux Falls, S. D.. April 16, 1908
u. E Hotter, Esq, Canton. S. D.
My Dear Sir:-As requested. I 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
out 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
tho state funds. which was refused.
Then | finally suggested that the
committee report the bill, making it
take effect January /, 1909, SO as to
take effect at the end of Cassilrs
term, giving him 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 1t would
mean about $4,000 a year. or $780,
0oo for four years. The committee
could not see to the interest of the
state, for which they were elected,
DlI were more interested in Mr.. Cas-
II 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 it the following DAY, I at
once got the floor and made a motion
that the bill DO PASS. and also fur
ther asked for 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 any cues.
ton but every state officer was op-
posed to this bin. / know that some
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 a measure
the treasurer a reasonable and jus.
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 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 year. Mr.. Cassill does
nothing to earn this salary, discharg.
es no duties to the bank. and is the
only vice president Of any Sioux
Falls bank who gets q salary. MI.
Cassill does not live in Sioux Falls.
and has no duties to perform in con-
necti0n with his Office. This bank
is the only one In this city which ha1
= state deposit The inference 81
course naturally follows that Mr.,
Cassi1l Ii getting this salary a III.