The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-02-08
TO SAFEGUARD EsTRAY FUND.

The Montana livestock interests are
assured q nor satisfactory disposi-
ton of the estray fund, q measure
providing for an entirely new system
having been passed by the legislative
assembly aud signed by the governor.
The substance OF the new law appears
Ia these provisions:
Section l. That all unclaimed mon.
ey which is now in the hands OF the
state board of stock commissioners,
or in the possession OF the secretary
or treasurer OF said board, received
from the sale of estray cattle or
horses, shall be fully accounted for
and paid owe to the state treasurer
of the state of Montana within thirty
days from and after the passage and
approval Of this act.
Sec. 2. Immediately upon the pas.
sage Of this act the state examiner
shall Investigate the books of account
Of said board and it's officers, respect.
ing the methods OF administering said
funds in the past, and after the com.
pletion of such examination be shall
at once make full and complete report
with reference thereto to the governor.
Sec. 3. All OF said funds which
| shall have been in the possession OF
the state board OF stock commissioners
or its officers for q period of two years
or over shall be by the state treasurer
at once deposited to the credit of the
stock inspection and detective fund to
be used and expended as provided by
law.
Sec. 4. The proceeds derived from
the sale OF all estray cattle or horses
sold within or without the state shall
hereafter at once be transmitted to the
state treasurer OF the state of Montana,
together with q statement of the net
proceeds derived from the sale, and
such proceeds shall be paid and turned
over by the treasurer 10 the owner of
the recorded brand on the animal upon
request of ths secretary of the state
board OF stock commissioners and at.
ter the approval of the state board of
examiners; it being hereby intended
that as to the ownership OF the animal
sold determinable from the brands re.
ported on such animal, that the secre-
tary OF the board OF stock commission.
ers, or the board of stock commission,
ers shall first determine the ownership
of such animals sold and that the re-
turns shall not be paid to such owner
by the treasurer until after the state
board of examiners shall first have
passed upon and approved such pay.
ments.
Sec. s.. A full description OF the
estrays for which the proceeds derived
from their sale remains in the hands
OF the treasurer unclaimed shall be
published for the period of four ION.
secutive issues next after May l OF
each year, in four newspapers, one OF
which shall be published In the city Of
helena. and the others in the cities OF
Billings, Miles City and Fort Benton,
and when such publication shall have
been made and the proceeds from the
sale Of such animals shall have re.
manned In the hands Of the state treas,
urer for . period OF two yesrs, 1t shall
be by the treasurer ct once placed tc
the credit Of the stock inspection and
detective fund.
Another section provides that, when,
, ever 1t shall appear that the brand or
an animal cold and reported a. al
estray was not recorded or IL blotohea
or dim, no person shsll be paid there
, for by the state treasurer until tn,
board of stock commissioners shall
fret have investigated the case ant
determined ownership. and II sale
board OF stock commissioners determ
ines that the animal was without own
ership possible of Identification there
; upon the proceeds from the sale o
such animal shall at once be place,
to the credit Of the stock inspectio,
and detective fund.
Fine Book and Job Printing q spe