Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-12-30
Emmons County Finances
Are In Serious MIDDLE
Bank of North Dakota Refuses Honor Checks Drawn
By Treasurer Ataa, No Matter for
What Purpose

Although Emmons county has near
ly $4,000 on deposit in the Bank Of
North Dakota to pay current expen-
-ses, it is impossible for persons hav-
ing money coming from the county
to get their checks honored by the
bank that has their funds. Treasurer
Atha reports that he has been writing
large number of small checks for
actual expenses of the county, and
that they are invariably being turned
down by the management of the Bank
of North Dakota. One check for
$33 90, given P. G. Rocks for en-
velores, was protested by the great
farmers bank, adding bunch of pro-
test fees. The Emmons County State
Bank failed to secure payment on a
check for some $40 or $50 which they
advanced to take needy sick person
to a Bismarck hospital, and which the
commissioners ordered repaid.
G.. A. Lenhart, of Hazelton, sent a
check to cover some taxes, but includ-'
ed enough to pay for one quarter that
had already been paid. Treasurer
Atha states that he attempted to
make change" by keeping Mr.. Len
hart's check and giving him check
in return on the Bank of North Dako-
ia for the amount overpaid. The
Bank of North Dakota got. Mr.. Len
hart's money, all right, and then
turned down the, check written in re-
fund.
There never was time when the
Bank Of North Dakota promised any
real benefit to the people of North
Dakota. In the referendum election
in 1919 the editor of this paper
stumped Emmons county against the
referred laws, and laid particular
stress on the dangers lurking in the
bank act. Later developments have
demonstrated that we were only too
painfully correct. State funds have
been shamelessly used to play politics
with. Liquid funds belonging to the
political subdivisions of this state
have been invested in long time loans
or permanent enterprises. And, now,
in time of stress, instead of being
a benefit to the state, the Bank of
North Dakota is proving to be a
most grievous burden financially. 1t
has Stabilized credit" by getting into
such shape that it can't meet it's
obligations outstanding without going
broke. The bank may have been a
good thing politically for Townley and
Lemke, but it has been a horrible
lemon to the people of the state.
OF course, with it's control of vast
sums of public funds which have been
redeposited in various small banks,
many Of those financial institutions
are on their knees to Cathro, ct al.
Cathro can demand the funds and
many of the banks were short-s:ghted
enough to get in a position where
they can't pay.
The report of the auditing board
that is in charge of the banks exam
ination has not been made, but we do
not hesitate to venture a guess that
the result will show the Bank of
North Dakota pretty well tied up with
most of the banks that have closed
their doors during the past few
months.
Each and every farmer owning land
in Emmons county or North Dakota.
as well as other property owners, will
yet see the day when they will be
called upon to make good the money
Of this state that has been squandered
through this same Bank of North Da-
'kota. This is prophesy. Just cut
it out and pin it in your hat. It will
be something interesting to think
about on a stormy day.. II,
Mr.. Atha has written the Bank Of
North Dakota officials scathing let
ter, protest against the arbitrary
and anarchistic treatment being ac-
corded this county in respect to. its
funds. He closed his letter with the
statement that the bank authorities
need not think they would thus intim-
idate him into depositing future col
lections in the Bank of North Dakota,
for, he proposed, while treasurer Of
Emmons county, to see that he did
not deposit any Of Emmons county'a
funds in any hole that he couldn't get
them out Of again. The rick of cash
ing county checks is becoming SO
great that it is probable that within
q short time Emmons county checks
or warrants will not be negotiable fol
the reason that no agency will cash
them. II Emmons county were bank.
rupt, we could issue warrants and g