Ahh, controversy, long has it waved
Despite the attention focusing on such topics as the HD 12 vote recount and ensuing legal battles, the Kootenai Lodge subdivision proposal, smoke-free ordinances, Bush bashing, soaring gas and fuel oil prices, zoning, four lane vs. super two highway, water rights, etc., controversial issues in Lake County are nothing new.
Things were heating up around Polson during the Great Depression of the 1930s as the Unemployed and Taxpayers Assn. passed a resolution criticizing the Lake County commissioners for having the audacity of hiring women to fill some county jobs!
The UTA circulated a handbill headlined "HELP WANTED! Only Married Women with Able-Bodied Husbands Need Apply."
And the text read: "Lake county's Commissioners and Recorder are employing married women — who have able-bodied husbands, capable of earning the family living — in county offices, depriving unemployed husbands of work. This association condemns such policy as unjust during these starvation times. Also, as taxpayers, we believe that an excessive number of high-priced deputies are now cluttering up the courthouse.
"Evidence is before us that the board of commissioners has unlawfully misspent county funds (even paid themselves illegal fees). Charges are now pending in our court that they have fraudulently expended hundreds of dollars of county funds.
"Our 'MODEST' county attorney, who in the last issue of the press, has apologetically told us how rapidly HE will secure us our new court house by the fall of 1934 (when President Roosevelt wants the money expended to save the suffering unemployed for this winter of '1938'), staunchily [sic] and officially defends these officials and their conduct as against the taxpayers. (The examiner states that Brower, too, has taken illegal mileage).
"WARNING! Take heed.
"Is it necessary that a grand jury be summoned and court action taken? We are determined to secure justice and protect the taxpayers and unemployed."
Before the present day courthouse was building during the '30s, county offices were housed in the Pend Oreille Building, which also housed the Security State Bank and now is headquarters for the Tribal Natural Resources Dept. Apparently there were lengthy delays that perturbed the UTA. The organization printed another handbill stating:
"Lake County Court House Again Delayed! WHY?
"Quite a while ago the Board of County Commissioners were supposed to hurriedly file an application with the Government to build us a Court house — the purpose being to economize on our taxes and save rental costs, and also to provide needed employment.
"After a long journey by devious routes, the application was finally submitted. Red tape! Who is responsible. Again we are advised of further delay. The first petition was faulty, yet there seems to be no hurry to rectify the issue. This committee and association now learn that a new petition must be filed — and one of the county officials advises us that it will be spring before work will commence (if ever).
WHY THIS DELAY? Let's have an explanation from the county bosses. Are our county officials rarin' for this new court house? Let the taxpayers call upon our officials and demand action. We insist that they get busy. We want no more delay!"
In support of their claims the UTA reprinted a letter from James E. Murray, chairman of the State Advisory Board in Helena, to M.F. Burnside of UTA. It read:
". . . I wrote you September 9th regarding the Lake County Court House project. Mr. D.A. McKinnon, the engineer in charge of this office, informs me that the application for this project is not in proper form and he has written the county attorney telling him what is necessary to be done in order to make a proper application. If you will consult with the county attorney, he will show you the letter and you will then understand why the Lake county project has not been acted upon. We are powerless to act as a board of advisors until the county has submitted an application in conformity to the rules. When such an application has been filed and passed on by the engineer it will then be turned over to us for action.
"If the county attorney desires a conference with Mr. McKinnon the latter will be glad to give him advice and assistance in the preparation of his application …"
The UTA closed its protest saying, "Call upon the County Officials and demand action, an no more procrastination!"