Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1859-02-23

Treasurer. are absolutely overwhelming IL
does seem TO ~ that there u not one important
duty imposed on him by the charter that be
has complied with. paid any attention to-
Every duty that required labor, industry ADD
ability, he has violated Tie has done nothing
that did not DO Itself. lie has remained quiet
aud witnessed the city lose thousands Of dol
lars by his own inaetion. lie has made him
self and bis securities Individually responsi-
tle TO the city for hundreds of dollars, which
he, az City Treasurer. by most reckless neg
Hgeuee. has failed to collect. He has follow
ed no condition OF the Law that VAS imperative
upon him. and has acted in violation TO the ex-
press instructions Of the Common Council
He has displayed a degree OF stuOborness,
IN a public officer. and seriously at war with
the best interests Of this city.
Bot TO the fscts-wby do we make the above
assertionsg Are they trues We ASK the care
ful attention Of our readers TO the following:
/ We deal only with the City 7reassro-wIth
his efFeisl acts In May. i-s7. he was elected
to this important post. In the proper time the
tax duplic-te came into his possession and
he proceeded to the collection Of the city reve-
nue. II is but little trouble TO collect taxes
when the people come TO the Treasurer and
ray. but for those who 90 not pay in pre-
scribed time. the law points out how such
taxes shall be collected. SEC 50 Of the amend
( ed City Charter having reference to this very
matter. reads as follows:
Sec 50 Aner the first Monday in Sepiem-
her ami before The first Monday in November
( the treasurer shall proceed la collect the taxes
on his duplicate either by seizure and sale Of
/ the goods and cia'lels of the owner thereof.
or by sale If the lot or parcel of laud. or 80
much thereof as NAV be necessary, upon " hich
+ the taxes are in whole or in part levied. to
pay the same and taxes assessed on the per
sonsl property Of the owner thereof. together
With the costs accrued To sccure in adver
Using. sslling and conveying the lot or land
/ PTouided. tha, the treasurer may. AZ any time,
after the first Monday in November. seize and
sell the goods and chsurls of any person on
such duplicate II be deem IL necessary TO Sc
cure the tax against any such person"
1t is interesting tn know how our City
Treasurer has complied with the conditions Of
I this s.ctisp. 1t is remarkable how. in this
particular. this official has neglected hi- duty
lie never has, between the times specified by
the charter. proceeded to collect the taxes ON
his duplicate by Seizure and sale Of the goods.
or any other way. lie has paid no heed TO
this law. but acted in open violation 10 it.
The charter further is. that after he has thus
sold The goods aud chattels Of those Who have
neglected TO pay their taxes in accordance with
the above section. he shall then, in accordance
with section 50. do as follows:
Sc SIS Such treasurer shall. by the first
Monday of March in each year. make return
Of the tax lst and warrant To him. with full
account of the doings thereon. aud make n n
nal settlement With the common council of
such city. Such .eturn shall state specifically
/ the aggregate amount of money collected and
received. and the amount remaining unpaid on
such duplicate. with the names Of the cefault
er~. aud the cause of The failure To enforce
I ayment thereof. and shall be verified by the
affidavit OF such treasurer"
Now the duties imposed upon this officer by
the above sections. are the most important he
has 10 perform. In fact. they embrace all the
oneTous duties aPpertaining to his office
The other duties Incumbent on him. and
which he has discharged. merely nominal
requiring no other effort than that necessary
to receive money and check it his hook
But after careful examination Of the Clerks
books we find. that up TO this hour. almost
one year since IT should have been done, the
Treasurer Of this city mas never made ere
fgrn Of the far list and ,rarranf 10 him, WITH 4
FULL ACCOUNT OF THE DoiNGs THEREON" He has
never, since he has been in office. "madc f.
nal settlement rih The Common Council" He
has never made retarn that STATED specific
oily the sesregsis smsast Of money coll cfed and
reeeired By him. and the amount reraaiaiae unpaid
and fhe cause Of fhe failure 10 enforce payment
fh,reef" Aud he has pevar "vraFirD run
ssxK nj ms AFriDavlr''-nor he never will
Has there ever been much reckless disre-
gard Of duty as We here find in this city off,
cial. In fact. We can hardly hrd one single
duty he has performed properly. He refuses
to make any exer,ion TO collect the taxes. but
appoints deputy to do il. and then has the
unblushing sudaeity 10 ask the Council to
pay this very deputy for his services out Of
the public treasury. The Council refuse and
ne believe the depniy is dismissed. and thus
the taxes OF the city 90 uncolleclcd 10 scsor.
dance TO the law. owing to the negligence OF
the Treasurer. and the fact the Council
will not employ second person to do. Just
VIA, the people elected the Treasurer to do.
And yet he says he is ready to settle with the
Common Council at any time. All but the
duties imposed on him are conditions prece-
deut, which he has to perform before he Is in
. condition to make n settlement. He must
make his return uerifed BY eFSera. 10 aceor.
dance with sec 81. before the Common Council
can settle With him. When this is done, then
he Is in condition to settle. bat not before.
In consequence Of This inefhciency and neg
l'genes in this officer. the city has lost thou
sands Of dollars that oeght 10 have been col
lecied on The duplicate. aud il this Council
viii not, Ne trust that IN few months We
will have one tia, will inqaire. with an eye
to strict justice. into this official neglect, and
see IL the Treasursr's bond is Sufficient to
make the city whole.
or course. We expect no explanation from
the City Treasurer in relation to this mailer.
but IL there are any reasons for this negli
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