The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-05-27
WEDNESDAY, NAY ~, 1908.
THE N

THE TAXPAYERS MONEY!.
1t is quite probable that the Chou.
teau county plan of deriving revenue
from public funds will be put into
effect in other parts of the state. The
matter is becoming a subject of dis.
cussion among the taxpayers of Teton
county, and a. soon as the political
campaign becomes active it will doubt
less receive attention from other Mon.
tana citizens whosare interested in the
cause OF good government.
The Chouteau county plan has
proved itself worthy of adoption by
other communities. It produces q
evenu that is about equal to the
salary of the county treasurer, and in
addition to that gratifying feature Of
the propositionit eliminates an element
in the management Of county aft airs
that encourages graft and frequently
results in most unfortuna ate complica.
tons.
For the information of those who
are moi familiar with the subject, it
may be stated that the Chouteau
county plan requires the payment of
interest on its public funds and the
revenue from that source turned into
the public treasury. 1t is q departure
from methods heretofore prev ailing,
and is secured by obtaining q signed
pledge from candidates for the Office Of
county treasurer, which is made a mat
ter Of public recordiby filing the docu.
ment with the county clerk. There is
q question as to whether such Q pledge
is legally binding upon the candidate
who attaches his signature to it, but
It forms q basis upon which the matter
might be taken into court and the Of
fender be placed in q most enbarrass.
ing position. The plan thus briefly
outlined is more effective than party
platform promises, and in the absence
of proper Legislation upon the subject
is capable of %effecting the desired re.
suit.
There is no improperly whatever in
demanding such q pledge from candi.
dates for the Office of county treasurer.
Public oticersIare the employees Of the
taxpayers, and there should be com.
plete understanding as to the terms OF
employment. 1t is perfectly fair and
proper that, in selecting a custodian
for the public funds, the taxpayers
have an agreement as to the DISPOSE
ton of their profits that may be earned
by the money under his care. No as
pirant for public Office can take ex-
ception to an arrangement which con-
templates fair treatment for the inter-
ests of his employers and no injustice
to himself.
In making such an agreement with
q prospective county treasurer, it ia
proper that he be assured the full
compensation provided by law for
that Office. tin q measure enacted by
the tenth assembly, which requires the
payment of interest IN state funds, i,
ia providedithat the premium on the
bond Of the Estate treasurer shall be
recognized as part of the expenses OF
his Office and be paid by the state. A
similar condition should obtain In re
gard to county t%reasurers who give
proper service to their employers, and
an understanding to that effect should
be had.
This matter ia OF considerable i'm
portance to Montana taxpayers, and
should receive their earnest attention,
The magnitude OF the interests affected
is indicated by the fact that on the
first day of the present month more
than a million dollars was in the care
of three county treasurers in the state
aud the total in all the counties i,
probably seven times that amount
This money, amounting to severa
million dollars al all times of tn,
year, has an earning capacity, ant
the profits derived from it belong t,
the taxpayers. They a secure thes
profits, just as the taxpayers O
Chouteau county are doing, by de
handing proper business methods O
the part of their public officials.
CONGRESS SHOULD MAKE GOOI