The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1939-01-19


State Examiner
Helena, Montana
Dear Sir:
The. office of the State Examiner
has made a report Of its regular
annual examination of the County
of Lincoln, Montana. The report is
dated November II, 1898, and is
signed by A. E. Williamson, First
Assistant State Examiner, E. r
Kuhla, Deputy State Examiner and
III. E. Strong, Deputy State Exam
liner. That report has been pub
lished in the Western News, the of
fetal Lincoln County newspaper
Included in the report are four pages
of criticisms under the heading 4Ex-
aminer's Notes" We do not OBJ
ject to constructive criticism; we
welcome it. But as we are required
to publish your report we think your
office help should use extreme care
and be sure OF their facts and the
law before they criticize. Unjust
criticisms are calculated to do great
harm to county officers and after
your report is published it is i'm
possible to secure full correction in
the public mind.
In your report of November IT
1888, there are several statements
not in accord with the facts, and
the truth could have been readily
learned if your deputies had then
taken time to inquire of the officers
criticized. Being of the opinion that
you will welcome our views of the
criticisms in your last report we
submit the following to you
Treasurer's Trust Fund
Your report says, There is nc
lawful authority for such a fund.
The so-called Treasurers Trust
Fund was established in the office Of
the county treasurer January l3
1888, without the knowledge. of the
county commissioners. The com.
missioners are informed that it was
established by the then county treas.
urer Lud Ludvikson at the sugges.
ton of Deputy State Examiner A. NJ
Johnson. Its existence was never
brought to the attention of our pres.
ent county attorney until short
time before your examination was
made. The county attorney Their
told County Treasurer Don E. Orr
newly appointed, that there was nj
lawful authority for such fund Of
for partial payments on taxes, ant
to discontinue the custom He die
this before your report was writ
ten, and the county treasurer ha,
complied. The fault for carrying
such fund is directly chargeablt
to A. NJ. Johnson, the deputy from
your office, who made the regulai
annual examination of Lincoln
4 County in 1895, 1886 and 1887. You
present .GEitie sof- the county treas
urer for doing what he was told II
fdo by one of your deputies is, w,
think, unfair.
Claims in Excess of Budget
Your report says, I'VE find Roat
Claims aggregating $8,309.30 ans
Bridge Claims totaling $2,049.31,
total of $10,358.6l, covering habili
ties incurred in excess of the bud
get for. the year ending June &c
1888"
That statement is without an,
foundation whatever. The truth i
no budget appropriation for the yea
ending June 30, 1888, was exceede'
one penny.
There was such an excess for tn
year ending June 30, 1897, and tina
matter was covered in your repor
Of September Is, 1887, the repor
having been written by A. M. john
son, deputy state examiner.
Your report says, I'VE find tina
your county attorney filed an actio
in the District Court--civil case NJ
1903 on February 81, 1898, in Whlc
ne apparently represented the abov
claimants, asking that a court or
der be issued ordering and direct
ing the Board of County Comm$S
Isioners to pay these illegal claimN
referring to the claims incurred /
excess of the budget for the yea
lending June 30, 1887.
The truth is that the county con-
missipners ordered the county al
torney to bring an action In tn
district court in order 10 obtain
judicial decision of the right Of tn
county commissioners, to pay size