St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-01
MILLER'S MAD MIX,
Rocky Bookkeeping Evil
deneed by the TreasuP-
er's Official Report.
Perplexing Discrepancies APP
parant in ALMOST Every
Statement.
Taxpayers Assessed for the
Sixth Street Bridge Kick
Vigorously.
Mr. Miller Attempts to Ex-
plain By Unfolding a
Queer "Plan."

tNhiiPL Oii IliO phit vi IVY 80
urer Miller to divert moneys collect
ed on assessments to funds ocher
than the proper ones. held meeting
yesterday. Assemblyman Reardon was
chosen chairman, and all members Of
the committee with the exception of
Aid. Copeland were present. The
property owners, several of whom were
in attendance, were represented by A.
E. Boyesen, of the law firm of MuHne
Boyesen d Thygeson.
The first matter considered by the
committee was a communication adj
dressed to the committee which called
attention to the fact that money collect
ed on account of the Sixth street bridge
assessment since June 6, 1892, had not
been credited to the proper fund. In
speaking of the annual report Of City
Treasurer Miller, the communication
stated that all statements of the status
of collected and uncOlected assessments
and amounts paid on contracts, as re-
quired by charter, had been entirely
omitted from the report. The balances,
the communication said, did not agree.
Some were left out entirely, while 9TH
erS showed great discrepancies. Pages
>, and Of the treaSurer'S report pur-
ported to show fund balances of every
fund in the treasury correctly given to
correspond with the proper account.
This, however, was not the case, and
the communication went on at length
TO show some of
The More GiarIRg Errors.
Something like $1,000, which should
have been credited to assessment funds.
are omitted in the reports. The reading
of the communication had not proceeded
far before Aid. Zimmerman. who had
desired the same read, objected and
said this was matter in which: the COM
lnittee had no authority, and he sugges-
ted that the criticisms on: the nanller
in which City Treasurer Miller had
kept the books be laid over to some
other time. This was agreed to and
The petition of property owners regard
Ing the sale OF property assessed for
the bridge On which Judgment costs had
not been paid was taken up.
Assistant Corporation Attorney Phil
lips, when asked to make statement
of the muddle, inquired us to how much
of a statement the committee wanted.
He was told the desire of the commit
tee was to get at the facts in the case,
nothing more and nothing less.
Mi. Phillips said the assessment for
the bridge was made at time when the
Legislature was in session. and bonds
were issued 10 cover two-thirdS of the
| cost. The contract for the SubStructura
was paid out of the bonds and all but
| 100000 of the cost of the SuperStructure
| in the same way. This $500 was as
sessed against the property owners BEN
Gifted and as there were sixty lots, the
assessment was about 900 a lot. The
property owners took the case OF as
seSsment INTO the courts and Judgment
was ordered against the lots. AS the
owners talked about all appeal it was
understood that in case no appeal was
taken the owners could pay the face of
the assessment and the judgment,
costs and penalties would not be ell
forced. BY some mistake
Judgment Was Entered Up
in the clerk of the courts Office before
the owners, relying on the agreement,
paid in the amount Of the original as
| sessment. Mr.. Phillips, in reply to ques-
| lions of the members, said, while there
was no written agreement it was under
stood that by nos appealing the case the
| original amount of the assessment
would be accepted in full payment
without the additional costs and penal
ties. At the time, however, neither the
property owners nor the legal depart
Inent knew the judgment had been en-
tered.
Mr.. BOyeson interrupted Mr.. Phillips
to say that, although there had been no
agreement in writing, it was distinctly
understood the judgment, costs and
penalties would not be enforced in case
the appeal to the supreme court was not
taken. Mr.. Phillips admitted to the
committee that if there had been an ap-
peal the city would have certainly lost
the case, and re-aSSeSSment would
have had to be made, which would have
kept the city out OF the money for from
six to twelve months, and then no pen
alties or costs could have been col
lected.
Guy Treasurer Miller, who, owing to
his efforts to make political capital fer
himself, is ready at all times to charge
| eX-1reaSurer Refs with criminal intent,
commenced a statement about Wnat the
city treasurer should have done in the
case. Mr. BoyeSon, however,
Called VII. MILLER Down,
and said the best thing for the CON-
mittee to do was to keep the fight be-
tween Miller and Refs out of the affair,
and to cOniine the investigation to the
rights of the property owners in this
particular case.
The question was raised as to whether
the city could refund to the property
owners the amount which has been
paid i'll for the penalties and interest in
The ease. TO this, Mr.. Phillips replied
that when more than the cost of the i'm
proyemeut had been paid in, the city
council could, if it saw fit, refund the
surplus to the property owners.
inns brought 10 the front again the
| charge of the property owners that City
| Treasurer Miller has diverted the
| amount paid in during the last year to
some fund other than the proper one,
| and by 50 doing had prevented any sur
| plus from accommodating.
| 1t WAS suggested that the city treas
| urer submit report showing how the
| fund stood, and if there was any sur
! plus. To this Terrence Kenny, who is
| one of the property owners interested,
| objected, and said Mr.. Miller was not a
| III man TO make the statement, for"
| he added, ANY man who will take
! money which should be credited to one
| fund and credit it TO another, thus
| cheating the taxpayers in order to make
| political capital, is not a tit one to make
! such report"
L Queer Littic ssEoIan.o
Mr.. Miller explained that he and the
| comptroller had plan by which all
!! penalties and interest paid on any as
sessment WAS not credited to the fund,
but to the interest and sinking fund,
| and by this means there would not be a
surplus in the Sixth street bridge fund
! or any other fund.
MI. BOyesen asked il this was the
| case what would be done with the
! money now due Oh the assessment when
paid in.
MIR. Phillips came to the rescue of the
city treasurer, and explained that any
surplus would go into the general fund.
Assemblyman SandelI wanted to
| know if there was any money ever re-
! turned 10 property owners owing to
there neing surplus in any fund.
TO this Mr.. Phillips said not that he
ever heard Of.
a resolution was finally passed direct
| ing the city attorney 10 report to the
commitree what surplus there was. if
any, in the fund, and what steps Should