The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-05-29
THE LATE CITY TREASURER.

| The committee appointed to examine
the books of the city treasurer made a
report rejecting somwhat on MIR. Witt
man, the late treasurer. 1t is but due
to Mr.. Whitman that his explanation of
the discrepancies said TO exist should
have the same publicity as the report OF
| the committee. 4 mans reputation is
sacred and even if facts cited go to prove
dishonesty, judgment should always be
suspended until both sides are fully
heard. Mr.. Whitman does not owe the
city one cent to-day, nor did he at the
time the committee made their report, as
he was the holder of negotiable paper in
trust for the city. fully the equivalent of
the amount said to be due the city from
him. We were made acquainted with
these facts this week. Mr.. Whitman fully
convinced us that the city at TO time
was in danger of losing one cent through
ing practice said to be long in vogue
in this city the entire fund was not
available at the time of his retiracy from
Office. This practice referred to w.ts the
taking of notes in lieu Of cash from some
of the heavy property holders of the city
who at the time Of the collection of taxes
were unable to meet the demands made
upon them by the tax collector. Mr..
Whitman did not inaugufate this system.
When he took charge of the Office he
received a number of these notes as cash,
and some of these he holds to-day for
which he last Monday paid cash into the
city treasury. Mr.. Gelbke, properly
enough, refused to take these notes as
cash and if his refusal does away with
the practice, he is to be commended for
it. But the unfavorable position in
which Mr.. Whitman was thus placed was
entirely undeserved.
At the time Mr.. Whitman settled with
Mr.. Gelbke he held in notes $ll90.65,
the amount being notes received from
tax payers. lie WAS also responsible for
tax certificates to the amount of Sl5. ID,
which were out Of the treasury simply
for the accommodation of q person who
promised to return them or pay cash III
Il short time As Mr.. Whitman realized
from the notes held he paid the proceeds
into the city treasury. Payments We're
made as follows: April q, $50; May 5,
$750.39; May 5. So; May 7, $l20; May
26, $233.39. 1t will be seen that the
payment of May 26, iquidated the whole
amount including the tax certificates
amounting to $15.l3. Those payments
would have been made sooner, but that
the makers Of the notes found it difficult
to obtain the money on short notice.
Mr.. Whitman believed, in pursuance of
the practice obtaining so long, that these
notes would be accepted as cash. They
were not, and he was placed in an unen-
viable position from which he has extri-
Gated himself with honor and with con-
siderable financial loss to himself.
One other point necessary to be touch
ed upon before closing. The committee
report the loss of certificates to the |
amount of $63.0G. Of this amount Witt
man paid in cash last Monday $1513. |
The remaining certificates were never
in the Office to his knowledge and were |
in fact illegal. The taxes on Block 1T, |
Lot 8, were paid to the county treasurer,
then j. c. Eggers, though the land was
taxes We're paid by s. a. Wood. The
taxes on lots Il, II and %, Block 259,
were paid to the state treasurer by Louis
Warneke, John p. Wickert county
clerk, certities that these certificates were
never presented for redemption.
We have not attempted to distort facts
for the purpose of indicating Mr.. Witt
man. We have simply made statements
that bear the unmistakable impress of
truth. We have simply said in defense |
of an officer what sense of Justice i'm
PEELED and knowledge Of the facts made |
We deem it the duty Of
a paper to correct false impressions !
injurious to the character of any officer. !
be he democrat or republican. This is
our only apology for having written
at such length On this subject.