St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-04
ADDITIONAL ST. PAUL NEWS.
MIR. REFS, srRENGrH.
why All Property Owners Vote fol
1ha

why All Property Owners Vote for
the Treasurer.
To the Editor Of the Globe.
On behalf of the present treasurer, George
Refs, who is n candidate for reelection, the
writer would offer for the just consideration
of the public what seem to him cogent rea-
sons OF policy and principle why Mr.. Refs
should be retained in the responsible position
which he has filled with honor to himself and
to the more than satisfaction of our citizens.
The duties OF the Office are multifarious, and
involve not only the handling of the city's
money, but what each citizen Is more person
ally interested in, the collection of special
assessments for all public improvements.
These assessments, unlike the annual taxes
become a lien at any and all times, and cover
in the course of Il year many thousand de-
scrptions of property. 1t becomes the duty
of the treasurer to be able at any time and in
q moment to inform property holder as to
assessment liens on any lot of land he may
own within the city limits, and he is required
to certify as to assessments, forty deeds u
day, and to answer as many more inquiries of
those examining titles. 1t will be readily seen
that this requires an elaborate system OF as
SeSSment index records, neceSS1tating the
noting of transfers of property us made, in
order that proper notice may be given to the
person interested. The system of advising
property holders OF assessments, both by
postal card and personal service, especially Il
second personal service on those whose prop
erty is about to pass into others hands land
which latter has been undertaken by Mr.. Refs
voluntarily, in the absence of legal provision
for it) has been 50 tar perfected by Mr.. Refs
that in the past year and a half no resident,
and very few non-residents, have suffered
loss of property, under an assessment law
which, if executed by careless or inexperi-
enced officers, would be ten times more dan
gerous to the property holders than the law
rOU npnint for hnAr II
when an assessment is likely to be made,
while every one expects to pay taxes annu-
ally. So carefully has the work in this par
tfcular been done by Mr.. Refs that property
owners have been wont to rely wholly on the
treasurer in the matter, not exercising some
times ordinary vigilance. Any change which
would result in laXity in the method of in
forming people OF assessments, (al-
though it be from inexperienced would
be sorely felt by them, especially
as they have been recently exercised
over tax matters under the general law. 1t
has been generally stated that Mr.. Refs has
been for many years in control Of the office.
1t is true that he had been employed under
preceding treasurers, but only for the past
four years has he held the Office himself. 1t
is admitted on all sides that his administra-
| ton has been satisfactory, and it would hardly
accord with ideas of civil service now gener-
ally in vogue to depose faithful official be-
| cause he has held the Office long enough to
| thoroughly master its details and meet the
demands of the public. 1t would certainly
seem that the community at large should sup
! port him,