Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-25

1876, tax Judgment was entered against
lots 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, block GO, and lots T., 8,
and 10, block 70, Dayton and Irvine's ad-
dition, and also divers other parcels of real
estate belonging to himself. Said lots were
sold for taxes Dec. 16, 1876, and
the natural superstition would be that SO
scrupulous critic OF others would, at his
earliest convenience liquidate the tax with
the penalty added. Instead of doing
this Mr.. Rice resorted to the courts, and by
a legal technicality secured decree of the
district court on the 4th of January, 1879,
setting aside the sale. The grand jury
might perhaps have made sensation by
announcing the situation of this tax at
$50 P. NJ, "on the last day of their session,
January 49," 1t would have been half an hour
later than the breathless tidings relative to
the auditors taxes, which, by the way,
were finally paid loith the penalty.
The inside and outside grand jurors pro-
coed to ceusure the county commissioners be-
cause during term of several years they
have allowed the county auditor certain
sums for extra services, which aggregate
$1,000. II will be remembered that dis
pute arose between the county and State
relative to the payment of certain taxes
which had been absted by the county.
The settlement of this matter occupied MI.
Davis time for five months, in addition to
which he had his regular duties to discharge.
IJ,oo he ole al fL~aa he
with this extra work, the result
being that ne saved the county
$4,000, which the State claimed
from US. For this service, which was prac-
tically the same as placing $4,000 in the
pockets of the tax payers, Mr.. Davis re-
ceived $3.50, while in Hennepin county the
Auditor secured attachments of but $4,000
and was paid $40 extra. Another portion
of this 81, 200 was paid to the Auditor for
acting as purchasing agent for the entire
county government, a position which we be-
lieve has since been abolished. This pay
ment was according to lew and was allowed
by Commissioners r. w. johnson, VIM.
Lindeke, VIM. Lee, 81. J.. Brainerd, Daniel
Kelly, VIM. WEIGH and J. T. Maxfeld.
Still another portion OF the ST. 200 was
for service on the board of equalization and
abatement.
AS these inside and outside grand jurors re-
viewed, the action of the county commission
erfor the ''past three years" We are surprised
that they should have failed to censure the
county board for allowing the following bill,
which has not, as yet, reached its birth day {:
January 81, 1S79.-Ramsey county to H.
Dougan, for collecting personal taxes for 1877,
from l45 persons, 81, lS4.45. In ascertaining
names Of parties absent, and from whom taxes
cannot be collected, $3.50. 90. Time spent, one
half of months beginning with September and
ending with December, 1878.
l certify that the foregoing account is Just,
and that the services performed were neces-
sary. 81. NJ. RICE, Co. Treasurer.
Still another bill of $3.50 to Mr.. Dou-
gan for collecting $1,436.9S for the county
treasurer has been paid, notwithstanding the
law especially fixes the salary of the treas
urer at $4,000 and provides that he shall
pay out of this sum all clerk hire. We are
surprised that these vigilant inside and out
side grand jurors should omit these recent
items and still be able to recall and censure
the payment of sums three years ago, which
withal were legally paid.
As these.gTand jurors had full access to
the books of the county officers, and further
more called to their aid the Public Exami-
ner of the State, it is surprising that they
did not ascertain the discrepancy existing
between the report of taxes of 1879 on
hand Dec. 31st, which was made by the
county treasurer, and the showing of his
books. The county treasurer reported in
the Board of Education fund $1,156.42,
while his books show that on Dec. 23d there
was $4,906.42 in that fund. He also re-
ported $3,641.29 as due the city, while his
books on December 23d called for
was at the very time borrowing
money at eight per cent. to keep the schools
in operation, while some $3.50 stood to
their credit on the county treasurer's books
in excess of what was reported. The city
treasury was behind some $4,000 of the
amount which it should have had, according
to the treasurer's books. 1t is singular that
these two shrewd inside and outside grand
jurors should have allowed discrepancy of
fifteen or sixteen thousand dollars to escape
them without at least endeavoring to ascer-
tain where the money was and why such an
aching void existed.
These grand jurors discover that some
years ago there were names of parties omit
ted from the delinquent tax roll who had not
paid their taxes st the time the list was
made. Under the previous law a host would
call upon the last day of grace and desire
to pay their taxes. 1t icing physical i'm
possibility for the county treasurer to make
out their statements, record was made and
statements furnished as early as practicable,
and those who had endeavored to pay we're
not recorded as delinquents but allowed to
settle as quick as statements were ready. We
find in this list several of the late grand
jury, including even the immaculate Mr..
Driscoll. Under the present law moth
ing of this kind is done and there