St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-23
LOOSE BOOKKEEPING.
Patrick Ryan Finds Some Of
His Property Sold for
Taxes.
He Holds the Tax Receipts for
the Alleged Delinquent
Assessments.
Corser Creditors Meet for a
Lively Time This Aft
ernOOn.
Young Thieves Rounded Up
--SeandinaVians Sleigh
Riding.

Patrick Ryan, park commissioner, IS
preparing to institute an Investigation
which should result in thorough over
hauling of the books in the county treas
urer's office. 1t may result in the intro
duction of a better system of bOOkkeep-
ing in that Office. For a long time
property owners have been complaining
of loose business methods in vogue in
the county treasurer's Office. When
partisan politics fomented con-
spiracy against H. 0. Peterson, late
county treasurer, all the COM
plants which had been started up
in the minds of taxpayers were launched
at the head of Mr.. Peterson. He af-
tirmed, all his friends insisted, and
ali sober minded men i'll general be-
lieYed, that the errors found at that
time should be charged to the
methods in vogue in the office man
agement rather than to Peterson.
Peterson had followed the prevailing
system of the Office. and had done as his
predecessors had done, but politicians
never organized the conspiracy against
his predecessors such as was launched
against him, hence he was made TO suf-
fer for all the SINS. both Of omission aud
commission, Of his predecessors. But
Patrick Ryan has his blood up now. and
he will not stop until something falls.
Mr.. Ryan was notified a few days ago
that he could redeem certain property
OF his on payment OF $3.50. His property
had been sold for taxes, the notice said.
Taxes assessed against it for four years,
1855. 1859, 1890 and 1891. had never been
paid. The property had been sold for
the taxes in consequence.
Mr.. Ryan began to think. He was
not in the habit of allowing his taxes to
lapse. He had always paid particular
attention to maintaining his property
titles free from flaw on account OF I'M
paid taxes. He had never heard that
his taxes on tniS particular piece of
property were unpaid. AS a matter of
fact, he was certain that he had paid the
taxes on this very lot facing Main street.
He looked among his papers, and. sure
enough, he found the tax receipts.
MIR. Ryan feels sure that he has paid
the taxes on that lot for the four years
mentioned for deIinquence in which the
lot has been sold without MS knowledge.
That he has paid the taxes for three of
those years is an absolute certainty, for
he holds the receipts. The receipts are
regular, giving the proper description
OF the land and bear the signature of
y. L. Monroe, who was formerly an
emplOye Of the treasurer's office under
Jones, Peterson's predecessor, and I'M
der Peterson during the early part of
his term. Mr.. Ryan will not~allow the
county of Hennepin TO sell his property
for delinq uent taxes when he holds the
receipts TOR those taxes.
MIR RYAN moi, 9IOOp in this matter
a number OF property owners have a
like complaint. They will JON hands
with Mr.. Peterson and demand full in
YeStjgatiOn of the treasurer'S office. If
such an investigation be instituted. in
spite of the political pressure which
will be brought to bear to prevent it. it
Will extend over a period longer than
one or two years.
j. l.. Monroe, the name signed 10 Mr..
Ryan'S tax receipts. will be remembered
as the name which was dragged into
publicity in connection with the Peter
son investigation. When the charge
was made that County Treasurer Peter
sons accounts were snort, and that taxes
had been paid and never credited, MIR.
Peterson said that j. L. Monroe, his
former employee, was responsible.
Peterson was unsparingly denounced by
partisan papers for mentioning MOnroe's
name. He was accused of trying to cover
his own tracks by attempting to throw
discredit upon a former employee. What
Mr.. Peterson said then may be received
in d different light now. Anyhow. this
affair Of Mr.. Ryan's will probably re-
suit in an Investigation, when Monroe
will be given chance to tell why he
did not credit Ryan with the sums
Maid for taxes