The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-10-03
Injunction Filed Against Classification Graft

md in this way the farmers Of S.:~r:-
Ian county will be making lay. for tic
7!.:irc state.
One peculiar and interesting angle
# this case is the fact that County
Auditor O'Grady has refused to audit
he claim amounting to oven $500
already presented to her against the
county for work already done. and
she has protected the interest of the
taxpayers against this ridiculous
waste Of the peoples money by dis
the same and Lockwood &
Blakcslec have filed suit through
their attorney, Howard NJ. Lewis,
against the county for the collection
of the same, and County Attorney
Gunthcr, also by virtue of his Office,
must defend the county against this
claim. Or the county attorneys Of
ice must in one action defend the
contract and in another must oppose
it. The County Attorney has no
choice in this ma, ter but must be gov
crncd By the law. However this is
one Of the tanEleS Of th;s case and
will add Il great deal of interest to
the litigation. A,>orn, y Howard NJ.
Lewis, however, : ii probably take
the big part in tie defense OF the
classification contract, leaving the
County Attorneys hands united to
defend the county against the suit of
the classification contractors for pay
mcnt for the work already done.
The case has been brought in the
name of Clair Stoncr of Outlook and
will be financed by the farmers.
1t is rcpoyted that this case is At
tracing interest all over the staye,
for if the classification is stopped in
this county it will be stopped in ev-
cry county where the cost will cx-
coed the sum Of $4,000, and this nice
juicy plum will be picked out OF the
teeth of many happy classification
contractors.
The cost to each land holder in
Sheridan county, holding 500 acres
of land will be $6.4O. This on the top
Of already high taxes. And it is
claimed that the county commission
crs, had they been looking after the
interest Of the taxpayers of this
county could have put this work in
the hands of the County Surveyor and
the County Assessor and the work
could probably have been done for
$4,000 at the most, as the assessors
could have secured the data for this
classification while they were assess
ing, and the County Surveyor could
have made the necessary plats as
part of his duties as county surveyor
but no such judgment or act of in
telligence could have been expected
from the commissioners who handled
this little steal, and who even let this
contract without the both of such
thing as bids, and where bids are
not asked for in cases of this kind
there is uually a reaosn with cap
ital R. The county commissioners
sidcstep bids on these juicy contracts
Il by long established habit.
In order to secure the means of
fighting this last fragrant steal of
the peoples money, it is necessary
to call again upon the farmer and
, taxpayers for subscription.
| In order to stop this thievery At
torneys must be hired and paid.
The farmers are calling on all who
feel that they can afford to spend one
dollars to save six, and to send that
dollar to the Classification Fight
Fund, care of the Producers News.
1t is necessary to raise $3.50 at once.
Two hundred and fifty people send
ing one dollar each will do it. Clip
the following coupon and send to-
gcther with your check. Do it now.