Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-18
HOW the THING Looks to "F0ir Play

Ho,U the Thing Looks to "Fair Play
To the Editor of the Globe.
II appears the origin of the difference be-
tween the county auditor and treasurer is the
fact that the former receives salary OF 81 500
for himself, and believe three competent
and thoroughly experienced assistants, and
MIR. Rice $4,000 per annum, who only en-
one assistant. To put it plainly, the treasur-
low camel. BE claimssthat "the looseness,
carelessness and Irregularities he has OBJ
served in connection with the bridge fund
make him doubly cautions and careful of
public interests. thus highly complimenting
the commissioners, and with this visw hs de-
clines to pay bill allowed by them, en-
bracing VIM. Dawson, VIM. Lindeke, Thom-
as Cochran, Jr., r. Knapheide and Joseph
Thornton, for services rendered by S. Lee
Davis, amounting to $50.
If he had been equally solicitous about the
general funds the following bills would
never have been endorsed by him and paid
out of the public treasury:
January 81. 1879.
Ramsey County to r. Dougan, for collectin e
personal taxes for 1877, from 145 persons,
81, 184.45. In ascertaining Names of parties
lected, $4,000. Time spent, one-half of
months beginning with September and ending
with December, 1878.
| certify thst the foregoing account is just,
and that the services performed were neces-
sary.
81. M. RICE, Co. Treasurer.
Also another bill of similar tenor, dated June
16, 1879, for $3.50, for collecting ST.
1868, buggy hire, &c, &c.
Sec. SIS, chap. 1, Gen. Laws. 1878, says:
"All unpaid personal property taxes shall be
deemed delinquent on the LIST day of March,
after they become due After the 1st day of
March, the county treasurer shall Immediately
proceed to collect all delinquent personal prop
perty taxes, and If such taxes are not paid Oh
demand, he shall distrain sufficient goods and
chattels," &c.
Sec. So. ''lf the county treasurer q unable,
for want Of goods or chattels, whereon to levy
to collect by distrain or otherwise, such treas
urer shall file with the county auditor on the
LIST pay of June following, a list OF such taxes,
with an affidavit OF himself, or bis deputy,
stating that he made dilligent search and in
quiry for goods and chattels,' &c.
Instead of Immediately proceeding, after
the first day of March, to collect all delin-
qsent personal taxes, and filing G list of such
taxes unpaid with ths county auditor on
June 1st, he employs Mr.. Dougan, in the
months of September, October, November
and December, 1873, paying him $3.50 to
collect 81 ,1S435, and in the year 1879 $1S7.-
so for collecting S1,436.9S, or over 121 per
cent. According to chapter PIG, special laws
of 1873, the salary and compensation OF
saiG treasurer shall be $4,000 per annuln
and no more; all clerk hire necessary for
said treasurer shall be paid by him out of
the above sum; all fees Or conlpensations re-
ceived by said treasurer over and above said
sum shall be paid into the county treasury
for the use of said treasury.
1t is claimed by many that the great ser
vices of Mr.. Rice to the city and his mis-
fortunes entitle him to the Office he now
holds. Without trying to find out the ma
ture of these services, I woald simply say
that. whilst fully realizing the high honor
bestowed on tho county in having an ex-Sen-
ator for treasurer, the honor could be dis
pensed with if the treasurer require the tax
payers to pay any portion of his clerk hire,
and good and true men would fill the Office,
do all the work cheerfully, and not approach
our Senators asking for an increase of sala-
ry or require a private room adjoining his
Office, which was nearly the means of the
taxpayers having to pay for new court
house, but this little scheme was frustrated
and traced to it's source.
Lee Davis has proved himself an expert
enced and faithful officer, of modest and
civil demeanor, and I demand
FAIR PLAY.