The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-05-07

Received. Paid put
1899. s5o.so $1,ss4.221.se
1912........ 1~,44S,24s.42 1,4S6,107.7s
1913........ 1.551,221.17 1862 23.1s
1914........ 1,711,494.7 1~,689,127.37
Capitol Maintenance Fund.
An excellent example of the unre-
liability n unfairness of the figures
submitted by Senator Dwight and his
colleagues is found in the statement
concerning the capitol building main
tenance fund. All Montana knows
that in the year 1915 the state capitol
is more than twice as large as the
building that was maintained out OF
the appropriation for 1911 and 1912;
the addition of the wings doubled the
size of h building; naturally it lou
bled the cost for light, fuel, water and
equipment that is constantly requiring
replacement. The appropriation for
the maintenance of the old building for
two years was $4,000. and it required
all of that none to keep the building
in proper condition. The a%ppropria-
ton for the new building, doubled in
size. was only increased $4,000. max
ing a total Of $4,000. Every thinking
person must realize the necessity for
a larger appropriation for the mainte-
nance of the larger building. Two
years ago there was submitted to the
legislature a deficiency appropriation
of $4,000 for the capitol building main
tenance fund.
Capitol Building ENLARGED.
This yea the deficiency appropria-
tinp cI,hp,iffo1 hr Tho Ioo~l ~
lners amounts to only $4,000. In point
of plain fact, the state board of ex-
aminers is carrying the present i'm
mense capitol building on a much
moro economical basis than the old
building was maintained for. When
h building was doubled in size there
was only an increase of three janitors
to care for the added floor space. An
additional engineer was required when
the new building was put in service.
Every n knows that a building of
that magnitude necessarily has to un-
dergo constant repairs and upkeep.
The records show that several hum
dred dollars have been expended out
of the appropriation in this work of
maintaining the new part of the CAPT.
toll building.
State Highway Commission,
The statements submitted regarding
the expenditures made by the Montana
highway commission are Of the char.
acter conforming to The general I'M
fairness and unreliability made in ref
erence to most of the other depart
ments Of the state government. The
Iq rfiSon ronor< voicronrooan<e <ha -
tual facts to the extent Of $1,198.S4.
It charges the expenditures Of that
much more none than was actually
expended. as shown by the state treas
urer's books. There is absolutely no
excuse in this instance for this mis-
representation. 1t was impossible for
the so-called Investigators to have in
nocently made this mistake. The fig
ures are not involved, the bookkeep-
ing is not complicated, and the real
situation could have been arrived at
by any school child in Helena.
The truth is:
Amount appropriated by the..--
way commission .......sgs.. 2.466.3s
Balance turned back to the
general fund .............. 2,5SS.61
! The statement submitted by the par
tisan committee misrepresents the ex-
penditures in the following amount:
Expenditures according to
i committee report ...........$3,664.11
Expenditures according to
state ~treasurer's report..... 2,466.3a
A Misrepresentation of....... 1,198.S4
Without going into detail concern.
ing the efficiency Of the value Of the
work performed by the highway com
mission. We desire to record this state
ment: That a saving OF more b a
100000 was effected to the Taxpayers
Of Montana during he life of thu
present state highway commission. al
the result Of the commissioners &C
tons in securing a reduction Of from
three to Jour cents per pound upo1
approximately two million pounds o
steel products purchased by the tax
payers of Montana for the construc
ton of culverts and bridges in thi;
state.
Further. in addition to paying GU
of the receipts the expenses inciden
to the conduct of the work Of tn
commission, a sufficient saving wa
made to purchase eight spans Of first
class draft horses, harness and equip
ment, hat r now employed In high
way work for the state.
Fifteen thousand copies Of road map
for the use Of the various counties o
Montana were prepared and publtshe
by the commission. The best detail
map of Montana that has ever bee
prepared has been completed by tn
highway commission, and is now bein
published. This map is absolutely In
~dispensible in the present CROWN
condition of Montana. It Is the mos
lpretentious, complete n serviceabl
:. publication Of the kind ever under
taken by any authority In Montana.
The Tax Commissioner.
4 The utter unreliability and the gros
unfairness of the report under dis
. %cussion finds convincing expression !
. the item relating to the tax commits
sioner's expenditures. The partisa
d report submitted states that he e1
t penditure for the tax commissioner
s office. salary not ~lud We
+ e, 20S.67. This is utterly false. tn
statement is not warranted by n 81
: of figures on file in any office In tr
state house. Had the truth bee
sought, it could have been easily OF
0 tained by the so-called investigator
s The cold facts are: h tax con
m~issioner's office expended $4.S11.'
for the period quoted, and h repul
lican report submitted by the gentl'
e men misrepresents the facts to the e
tent Of 81. 397.67. and there Is left III