The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-06-21
FRIDAY, JUNE ii, 1912.
PADDY NORTON

The Forum has had occasion to call
attention to the methods of some of
the i~nsurgent leaders in the past. The
reading public Of, the state is some
what familiar with the records of In
surgent Stockwel ~ and Insurgent
Bickford.
Some months ago The Forum had to
apply the CAD to Paddy Norton, secre-
tory of state, to get a report on the
automobile license funds. After the
matter was given considerable pub
licity-Norton let go the money and it
was distributed to the different oun
ties.
At the recent insurgent feed in Bis
marck Norton-like the fellow. who
rushed in where the angels feared to
set their trilbies-made some comment
on the state depesitary law.
If all state officials handled public
funds like Norton there would be no
necessity for a state depositary-for
the funds Of their Offices wouldn't
quickly reach the state treasury-to be
deposited. They would be for months
in individual banks-without any in
terest accruing to the state.
When Norton held the 100000 auto
license funds so long-that money was
not, earning any interest to the state.
There was another high-handed
manner in which Norton handled state
funds. There is a law requiring every
corporation in the state t make an
annual report and pay a fee. The sec
rotary of state is to deduct from the
fund thus created, the expense of car
ing for this. work-and after it has
been approved by the state auditing
board-turn the rest over to the state
treasure. On June 80 of each year
this report Is supposed to be filed.
Morton has not yet filed the report
for 1sli-and only a few days remain
till the one for 1912 should be filed.
Absolutely no report-as required by
law-has been made by Norton.
1T seems to be necessary to stir Nor
ton up ON this fee fund as it was on
Ia licenses, He Is employing his
sister at $125 to do what was done for
hts predecessor at SIS. Miss Norton
devotes a part of her time to the work
for which she is Paid $125.
Here's another way in which the
state depositary law-that Norton at
tacks-didn't prevent him from keep
ing the state put of public interest. In
January 1911, his predecessor turned
oyer to Norton over $4,000 in fees.
Morton sent this money Jan. IL, to his
own bank in Hettinger and let it re-
main there tin Aug. 4, when 1t was
turned over to the state treasurer
without a cent of interest to the state
for the use Of this sum for practically
seyeR months.
Would a conscientious official have
had this money all these months in
mis- OWE bank-and not have paid the
state any interest?
Here's another Norton way: Aug.
t1,-1sll-the secretary had about $4,000
in fees for his once. He deposited
$4,000 with . Dickinson bank-and so
far this account has never been turn
~ CfSA W LhS SIdlS LESdSuTGks
Did the fact that Norton borrowed
$4,000 on his personal note at Dickin-
son account for the long time this
$4,000 of state funds have been per-
united to remain there And still the
state Is getting no interest on this
$4,000.
Ian view Of such transactions as these
1T can readily be seen that Norton
doesn't think much Of the state depos-
itary law.
II lily becomes the insurgent party
with it's Stockwell-its Bickford-its
Norton-to muckrake on the records
ofa man like L. B.. Hanna. 1t would
seem the part of wisdom for them to
evade records-and especially so, for
Norton.