St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-31
Why Treasurer Rois De-
manded a Street Railway
Statement.
City Attorney Lawler Gives
the Legal Aspects OF the
Matter.
A Bevy Of Washington Jokers
Who Failed to Make
d Go.
Their High-Priced Telegram
Came Carefully in by
Train.

The street railway company, as al
ready stated in the GLOBE, has declined
TO furnish City Treasurer Refs with the
detailed statement giving the specific
sums earned by the various lines of
street ears operated in the city during
the year 1891. General Superintendent
Scott states that he has complied with
his Interpretation of the franchise pro-
visions when he made an accounting of
the aggregate gross earnings, but Mr..
Refs is not satisfied with this. As he
stated to 4 GLOBE reporter yesterday,
he fancies that the gross earnings of the
system in the Twin cities have been
confounded. In SubStantiation of this
theory, he quotes Minneapolis papers
account of the earnings in that city,
which is nearly twice as much as in st.
Paul.
Il cannot believe" said Mr.. Refs.
''that it is right. There is too wide
q discrepancy, and fear the boOkkeep-
ing system Of the company has not kept
the accounts of the two cities separate.
l nave asked for a specific accounting,
to show the gross earnings of each sep
Rrate line in St. Paul. Mr.. Scott says
he does not think the law cOntemplateS
anything Of that kind. Yet the state
gets such itemized reports from the rail-
way companies. and no one, it seems,
has attempted to evade it. l must IN
SiSt upon an itemiZed report from the
street railway company"
Yesterday forenoon the street railway
company sent certified check to the
city treasurer for 81, 066.94 in payment
of its taxes of 8 per cent upon the gross
earnings as had been reported by Supt.
Scott. That is on the gross earnings
after the deduction of regular taxes.
Mir. Refs simply explained that he could
not give q receipt in full of the entire
tax, but he was willing to accept this
money on account. The clerk who had
been delegated to make the tender re-
fused to accept anything less than re-
ceipt in full for the claim, and he took
the check back to his superior. In the
afternoon, however, he returned for
the second time, and, presenting the
check, asked that it be applied on ac-
count. This was done. and the case is
in no way prejudiced. 1t is now the
aim of the treasurer to get full state
ment, and should that show that the
corporation has kept faith with the city
he will feel perfectly satisfied, and he
will have the CONSCIOUSNESS that he has
discharged his full duty in the interests
of his office.
Corporation Attorney Lawler was
asked relative 10 the legal rights of the
city in the case.
IF the treasurer has good reason to
believe that the street railway company
has not reported the full amount of the
earnings of the corporation in this city,
he can begin legal proceedings and
force the company to produce its books
in court. Circumstantial evidence"
said Mr.. LaWler, might be ac-
cepted as sufficient ground for
suspicion, and, if it is
as you say, that Minneapolis
returns are nearly twice as much as in
ST. Paul, that might be accepted as a
good circumstance. However, have
had no opportunity to inquire into the
facts, and L should dislike to give full
opinion until everything is laid before
me. Has Mr.. Scott refused to exhibit
his books for the treasurer's ins pectiOn?
Virtually so? Well, that, too, might be
construed as suspicious circumstance.
Still, think the company will show up
the books when it is shown to them that
such a course will be necessary to satisfy
Mr.. Refs"
In addition to the opportunities of
bringing the books into court. it is un-
derstood that the common council has
the right to demand certain things from
the holder Of a city franchise, and some
official action may be taken by the board
Of aldermen Tuesday evening.