The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-04-03
f.. s.. MILLS AND THE TAX CASES.

published in last weeks ADVANCE our
readers noticed a paragraph relating 10
the land tax cases which were brought
by order Of the Commissioners to test
the question of their being taxable
These cases have been in preparation
for some time and should have come
before the court at the recent term,
but they failed OH account Of the neg
llgence of Auditor Mills in not certify
Ing to the tax books before they were
turned over to the treasurer. The
lands therefore have been put on the
tax lists again and the work must be
done oyer, thus postponing decision
for several years more.
Our readers must also have noticed
that the report Of the Committee was
not given. The other reports, Of School
Superintendent and Board Of Audit.
were given i'll full, but this report on
the railroad land tax matter, for some
reason, WAS suppressed, and brief
paragraph inserted in its stead. We
therefore give the report below just as
it was made to the Board:
TO the Honorable Board of County
Commissioners, OF Mobiles County,
Minnesota:
We tn, undersigned commit, tee. ap-
pointed by your Honorable Board 1T
your last meeting to confer with Hon.
vhOs. Wilson aud obtain his advice
and service on the part OF said county
on and III the tax cases now pending in
the District Court OF said county
against certain railroad lands in this
county, would respectfully report that
on the day of February, 1884, we met
said Thos. Wilson ut MankatO, by ap-
po,ntment, and after laying the matter
fully before him and exhibiting to him
the objections to said tax filed in said
case by said railroad company, he ad-
viSed us to dismiss said tax proceed
ingS because, OH account OF the tax
books not having been certified to by
the County Auditor before said books
we're turned over to the County Treas
urer, we wOuld be defeated in said ac-
ton on the start and before the ques-
ton we desire most to test will have
been reached. Said Wilson advised
that said lands be again put upon the
roll and done so in proper II amer and
properly certified to. Then to test the
power OF the State to tax said lands
Said Wilson is strongly of the opinion
that we have the legal right to tax said
lands.
Respectfully submitted this March
Goth, 1884
&s2,y{. &n%; ": !T1i*1: M'5*Gs' Con-.
1t seems that the Board instructed
their clerk, Auditor Mills, to give the
reasons why suc', cases had failed. In
the report of the proceedings as handed
in last week. lie did 50 III the following
paragraph:
In accordance with ab,yc directions +, s.
Mills, County Auditor Of Mobiles county, ihimn..
hereby respectfully report chat from the best
able to obtain. an led t. the conclusion that
said suit was diScon >inued principally Oh az
count of the above named commit teemen, in
charge Of sal case; having free l"s cs over rai'
reads in which said defendants are la,gc'y in
tereSt'd. Com She'll admitted that they both
ha free transportation to Mahkato to consult
with said attorney and return.
| Respect uiiy submitted.
This paragraph was afterwards Or
dered to be left out Of the report OF the
commissioner proceedings, but we give
it just us at first set up and in the same
type, SO that the full history of the
matter may be put on record.
OF course this is Il contemptuous fling
ut the committee, Messrs. Wilson and
Shell, and on Il par with much that
Auditor Mills is now doing to make
himself obnoxious to other officials and
to wreak personal spite u;on those
whom he considers his enemies. His
continued attempts to dictate to the
Board are common talk. and while lie
is their mere clerk, he has openly detied
the board aud they have submitted
Thus III the matter OF giving school no.
tices to the sheriff to post, we are as
sured by several persons who heard
him, that he swore he'd ''be d-d''
if he would give them to the sheriff.
The question arises whether. under
the law, the Board is compelled to re-
tain this refractory Auditor rs their
clerk? Can't they remove him and EN-.
ploy secretary who will carry out their
wishes?