The producers news., 1927-07-22
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By CHARLES E. TAYLOR -

By CHARLES Z. TAYLOR :


Commissioners recently brought in several coun-
ties throughout the State, and other actions
against them, based on their alleged collection of
illegal fees and their proneness to exceed the Con-
stitutional limitation in their expending of more
than $4,000 for any one purpose without submit
ting to a vote of the people, which was interest
ing
The Tribune was of the opinion that it would
be wise to thus open the throttle and let these
officers run wild, because Commissioners deserve
better pay than they get, holding that the
present compensation does not attract men of the
proper caibre to the commissioners office
That may be so, but in most countless there are
hordes of who aspire to this office for one
reason or another.
The trouble with the County Commissioners here
come to head at last, as the trouble with the
County Commissioners came to a head in Sanders
county last year and it has in Lincoln county
In the past few days, where custer proceedings al
so have been filed, for the same reason and on
the same charges in all cases.
The trouble with most boards of County Com
missioners and most individuals elected to that
office is that they take themselves altogether too
seriously. Just common, ordinary, sensible de-
pendable, in private walks of life when ad-
vanced by their fellow citizens to this office seem
to take great Importance and become poten-
tates in comparison with which the Czar of all the
Russias becomes a mere flunkey They become
greater than the LAWN fact they become law
unto themselves, from which there is no appeal:
they become legislature, attorney general govern
or and the supreme court. Their opinions and
desire becomes law, and there is no rule. regula-
ton or custom that is above their contempt-thus
does small tOads swell into great elephants.
1t seems that capable men, whom the Tribune
talks about, get locoed when once in the office
of Commissioner.
The men filing charges against the Sheridan
county board, against Iverson and French Com.
kahle having resigned rather than 90 up against
the gaff, the preliminary battle when Judge
0tong OF Billings who was called in to take the
place OF Judge Paul who disqualified himself. over
ruled the motion to quash, held the charges suf-
LclehC II true to remove, and set the trials down
1or July Both and August 1st The trials had
been set by stipulation for July 10Th, but when
Cne motion to quash was overruled, the ATTORNEYS
VINO mad been blowing about the street in loud
basso, that they had huge sums to bet that the
motion to quash would be sustained and were pre-
pairing for a big celebration were not pre-
pared to go to trial or were afraid to and wanted
time. They represented to the Court because Of
a slight amendment to the pleading, that their
whole line of defence was upset and they needed
time to interview witnesses and prepare their
cases-saying they were going to call forty wit
nesses. In spite of the fact that the state had
called a witness from Minneapolis to testify on
'the good faith" of the defendants, Charles Lun-
deen, the Court because of the plea of the attor-
neys for the defense, granted tim as above, after
both Iverson and French in open court waived the
forty day limit.
The commissioners are charged with collecting
fraudulent and illegal fees in charging per diem
and mileage for inspecting roads and overseeing
road construction work done by men hired bv the
county
The commissioners of Sanders county last year
were removed on these grounds The State Asso-
clatlon OF Commissioners at their meeting at Hell
ena last winter caused bills to be introduced in
the House to allow the commissioners to do these
thlngs which the Attorney General in an extended
opinion had held they could not do, and which one
Judge had removed set of commissioners for do
ng' and these bills, known as the Donaldson bills
passed the house and were sent to the Senate. In
the Senate they unanimously killed bv
unanimous report OF the senate committee on coun-
ties and towns.
Inc commissioners of Sanders county who had
appealed their cases to the supreme court with
M
mlssioners of Sheridan county, decided that the
Judge and the Attorney General were mistaken
and went on with their program of road inspec-
tion.
Inc present predicament of the county commits
sloners IN this county may be that the commits
sloners have been guided by very inferior legal
advice, If it can be termed legal advice at all and
II they have they the victims of their own bad
judgment-and its too bad
The trial July SOth, will be mostly the introduc-
ton of records by the State and the proof of good
faith and value received, by the defence. the
only defense, it is understood, the Commissioners
have.
1t is well that the controversy is going to be
settled for once and all, now in this state. SO that
the officers may understand clearly Just what
their powers and duties are-if they do not uet
enough. pay the legislature should pass law
paying them by the month, and not by the oues
uonable method of inspecting roads.
DO you remember how enthused the people were
pack IN May, 1927, when flye. by the name of
Lindbergh made an airplane flight from N Y 70
Farls Huh, the gang was LAUGHING abou+ - +1;