The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-12
He is SHORT ONCE MORE.
City Treasurer Walkers Bondsmen
are to Be Compelled to Put
Some $479 So.
Some Very Plain Talk In the Coun-
Gil About the Sit
uation.
Parties Delinauent on Licenses Must Pay
No Rent for The Ltbrary-Other
Proceedings.

The affairs of the city treasurer's office
were before the city council once more az
its regular meeting last night. When re-
ports of officers were called for W. Il. heo-
tor, who is charge of the city treasurer
office. that officer being away. submitted
one showing the condition OF the municlpai
finances. The report showed a balance on
hand OF 1884. $50. % on Sept. 10 last; received
since S., $50. o3; total $37, 4l4.3l. Under the
head of disbursements appears the Hollow
ing: Warrants paid 81. Deposited IN
Merchants National ban $22,9l3.7o; de-
posited in First National bank S9,I5a.o2:
cash in drawer S73.35 and a balance OF
S479. so due from the treasurer, and made
mn IA follows: Balance due from treasurer
Sept. ID last, $780, 20, check paid First Nat
ional bank amount treasurer since
settlement 500. so, total $7o5.79 less the
following items received from IL. d.
Palmer: Cash and checks IN drawer sept
IA last $1,000 warrant on street funa Sizo'
warrant on general fund $l.2o, total SZZo.1''
showing the S479.52 shortage. Ihis snort
soe with The otler items under the head OF
disbul sements, makes up the total OF co.,
4i4.31 charged against the treasurer as tne
amount on hand to the credit OF the citv'
The receipts of the general fund were Sza'-
1872, disbursements S7,39S.oI. balance
Slb. 74S. o5. Warrants on general fund Tor
$40, 663. II we're called but not paid. and in
terest has ceased on them. Inc
fire fund showed: Receipts $1,000.
disbursements S1,33S3.1 ID. balance 80
666.s7; warrants called but not PAID
"a. 1888. AZ, interest having ceased. Sewer
fund.-: receipts $1,2o1.97, disbursements
1924. 40. balance $577.57; warrants called
but not paid, $1,649 40, interest having
ceased. Street fund: Receipts S7,o2I.22'
disbursements Sc, 125. balance S9o2.22; war
rants called but not paid 1851 10, interest
ceased. Library fund: Amount overdrawn
S11.S6. Redemption fund: Receipts 81
s12.9s. disbursements $1,470.72. balance
ri. 342. %: warrants called but not paid
s572. 81. interest ceased. Interest and sink
inc fund; Receipts $9,000.0S. warrants
called but not cancelled $4,000. The trial
balance at the end of she report shows
amounte to credit of the different funds OF
a33 237 O5. Against this are the
Library fund debtor $l1.S6; deposit Mer-
chants National bank $50, 9l3. 70; deposit
First National bank S9,75S.62; treasurer's
shortage $4I5.3zi cash III oA""oi %'"o"' "
tai S33, 237. 05.
"A soon as the reading of the report was
concluded Alderman Fuller asked what was
meant by the treasurer being short $4,000.
Mavor Curtin explained that FL. L. Palmer
had given his check for S676.29 the amount
of shortage in the treasurer's accounts ac-
cording to the report of the experts. W..
Rector. of the treasurer's Office, had de-
posited the check to the credit of the city.
subsequently a check was drawn by James
n Walker on the Merchants bank Tor
S676. 20. in favor of H. b. Palmer. The
check had been presented and aid The
O iQinal shortage Of $676.29, the MAYOR far-
ther explained, WAS reduced TO S4'9.oz nS
creditino the treasurer with the Items
shown by that officers report TO have been
receiyed from h. B. Palmer. as follows:
Cash and checks 800. O2, and warrants
SIG. %, and adding the $3.50 check paid
bv the First National bank on account OF
the g. easursr. -
That's q funny state OF efalrs," was sae
comment from Alderman Harrlty.
well, yes" replied the mayor. It's
like having money into one hand II pay
it out of the other"
"lhe proper plan ia for the council to de-
mand the money of the sureties, exclaimed
Alderman Lissner.
ut is to be presumed that that 10 what
will be done" replied the mayor.
AlUeTIEdh Il i SSp
Alderman Lissner was cooling of. when
we GET this treasurer's Office straight" said
Alderman Fuller, II think 1T would be &
pood plan for your honor to declare a
special holiday"
II think it Is desirable said Alderman
Har ity, ito have not only q settlement,p
a new treasurer as we'll"
Alderman Hundiey said this matter had
been hanging fire long enough. and it was
time to take some steps to settle 1t ana
bring 1t directly to the point.
City Attorney Mcintire said he thought 1t
would be in order to ask the bondsmen of
the treasurer to pay the shortage, and if it
was not done to bring suit for it. AS to
Diminishing the treasurer, the couaoil had at
q previous meeting withdrawn that recon-
mendatlon.
'At that time we thought the treasurer's
accounts were evsn," said Alderman Har-
Fifty. -,
ain order to bring the matter to a head"
said Alderman Haniey, Il move that the
city attorney notify the treasurer'S bonds
men of tho shortage, and demand its pay
ment."
This motion was adopted.
The on taxesand licenses made
report on the communication OF Mayor
Curtin relative to the delinquent licences.
The report SAYS: I'VE find all the material
points IN tue communication to DO cor ect;
that our collection of licenses was being
sadly negla cted, particularly tor the three
quarters ending Aug. 3 last. Since tnat
date, for the current quarter, We hnd q bet
ter condition of things III the collection OF
licenses. From Aug. 4 to Oct, 3 we hnd
300 licenses have been issued, amounting to
$3.50. Still we find a long line OF delln-
ouents. We would recommend that the
cltv council direct the treasurer TO proceed
at once against all parties who are delin-
uueut.'' The liss of delinquents show thht
some have not paid for all the way from one
unnrter TO SIX quarters, whIie there ID no
record that some of them have paid at all.
In answer to a question as to who was to
blame the mayor said shat it was the duty
of the CITY treasurer to COLLECT the licenses.
The Export was adopted.
City Treasurer Walker presented a bill
$240.02 for commissions on licenses. which
was referred.
When the council went into session for n
few minutes as a boald of equalization If
was found hat the city treasurer was not
present WITH his books. Two complaints
were made against assessments. but as ona
of the parties could not furnish particulars
without seeing the books, the question OF
holding another and final meeting of the
board of equalization was brought up.
Some of the aldermen we've opposed to hay
ing any more meetings Of tbs board oil
equalization, preferrln2 to receive the com.
plants and refer them to the committee or
taxes and licenses. 1t was explained that
no one but the board of equaliza-
tion had any right to reduce
assessments. Az there were no books or
hand the council decided to hold one NOR,
meeting of the board of equalization. Th,
board ordered the following reductions: G
l.. Kemp, $3.50 on improvements; Nels Yaw