The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-09
LOOK At THE BOOKS
School Directors Confer With
County Treasurers.
NO SUSPICION OF wRone-DoinG
A Peep at DIR. Mitfen's 'sJumbo'-Bow
Douglas Young Dodged "a PsnaisS
-Heaton Hits Back.

expectancy ., -
rectors George RI. King and An1re~ Lnll-
berg and W H white. attorney ioI We
board. a. conference n the once o. the
county commissioners yesterday morning.
In the gathering there were hAi5 84si-
nateIy acquainted with the system o. cor
ductlng the treasury. and ~ addition %
the gentlemen above mentioned there were
present Deputy County Treasurer 4. -
padden Ex-County Treasurer A +. Nit
ter. Fx-County Treasurer Byron phelps,
County Auditor Benan. Commissioners
Gasch. Nlekerson and Heaton, ProSeclt-
ing Attorney HASTE and J0hs Ripiinger
and william ". Kirkw0od. both Of whom
had been employed during two adFninlstFa-
tons IN the treasurer's office u was re-
rnarkabIe that among the experienced men
who had had charge Of The books. there
was not tie slightest di1farence 81 opinion
"a 70 the correctness in the manner OF
keeping the accounts
Nessrs King Chlberg and White also
experienced a surprise 81 learning that
Or Mittca's Jumbo" had never been Bis-
placed. but or the contrary Was IN the
office and had been vigorously inspected.
along with all other papers BY the eE-
porting committee. The discussion OF the
law governing the coaaty treasurer Was
earnest and at times quite animated, out
everyone present preserved the best OF
humor alr. King and Mr.. White quoted
the statute a number OF times, emphasiz-
Ing the provision that a treasurer must
give a receipt showing AMOUNT ana GAZE
OF payment"
eft ought 10 be observed anyway" OBJ
served Mr. white Mr. King Insisted that
in carrying out the statute the treasurer
would have 10 come 10 the principle that
no money could be received Hniess he
could al the time give a receipt AR. Phelps
made one observation that cauaad smile
10 20 around. "Hindsighs Is a poor thing,
he said.
During the early part OF the meeting Mr..
Phelps made a statement covering the
points already given iH the Post-Intelli-
gencer. showing the methods IN use in the
treasurer office. there being no difter-
ence OF opinion as 10 what should be done
about the penalty and interest collected
on delinquent taxes. Since the decision OF
the supreme court says the school district
should have It. there is but one thing 10
do. The county has had the use Of II
and should bear the expense Of computing
Il so the county treasurer can transfer II
20 the school fund.
DR.. Mitter concurred In what Mr.. Phelps
said and while they were defending the
system in vogue during their terms Mr..
Padden, present chief deputy in the treas
urer's Office, came In and said he was pur-
suing the same plan. viz That OF receiving
taxes prior to delinquency and sending out
receipts as soon thereafter as possible and
dating the receipts when sent out Mr..
White. attorney for the school board. said
it was wrong 10 do so. and II the law gave
a man months la which TO pay his taxes.
the taxpayers had no right 10 put 1t off til
the last day. DIR. Mitten asked Mr.. Chill
berg what ne would do IL ne came on the
last day and offered 20 pay taxes and his
money should be refused because receipt
could not BE given him at once.
Mr.. Chllberg's answer was.
fy,4pn 4 la gaf IL NJ uHaf
treasurer that would not pay interest nor
penalty"
Or Mitten's Jumbo" about which so
much has been said was brought in and
the method of keeping the mail account
which includes all payments in advance
20 save penalty, interest or rebate. was
explained.
Not only were Mr.. White and the mem
hers OF the school board surprised TO
learn that Or. Mitten's Jumbo" had
never been lost, and that the county ex-
perts had had every book and paper neces-
sary 70 investigate his term OF office. but
they were also astonished 10 learn that
the county experts had called attention
20 Just what Douglas Young was claiming
his discovery. An examination Of this
showed what neither Mr.. Phelps nor Or.
Mitten has denied. that payment was ac-
cepted prior TO delinquency and receipts
sent out as soon ns possible every fea-
ture Of each transaction appearing the
date OF receipt. how received, ann the
date OF return OF the receipt. the latter
corresponding with the date on the entry
on the cash register Several months Of
the latter part Of Mr.. Phelps term was
IN the same book.
Mr. King and Mr. White then made a
valuable suggestion. which was approved
by both Mr. Phelps and pr Niltten II
was that both the stub and the receipt
should have stamped upon their face the
words. Money paid prior 10 dglin-
quency."
The number of citizens or King county
Who have taken advantage of the accom-
mediation rule" adopted by all the treas
urcrs relative 70 payments OF taxes on
the last day Is verv encat. Among them
are two who. an the light Of the present
sensation" viii probably oe thought
couSpicuour. and they are shown IN the
following memoranda:
Nellie Phlnney March 2i. tSal leposlt-
ed four checks. amounting 20 g e.0 70, re-
ccipts issued ApyN 81 fs.4t money Foooxf-
FL by nouglas Young. cheeks signed Nv
A Burleieh. attorney.
Scandinav ar-Amcrt,au hank. - which
Andrew Chi,hers. ~ THE SCHOOL hoard Is
president. February r. 1Vt deposited
through maIl check No. 2.1eN frr S39o sC. -
pay 1894 personal tax ~ S5o IS recent
made and mailed Eehrsary q. tSe5. ana re-
hate saved % the hank
county Commissttner FTaaton vrsterIav
sent letter so She Tost-tntcll eeucer de-
nNing the correctness ~ an alleged inter-
view. The letter follows.
ITO The Editor: This evenings Times
did not contain = correct report % the in-
terview hal with me bv p man who intro.
duced himself as a representative ~ mar
parer. tie informed me that he bad been
told that Nas i0 possession ~ a rntnarifv
report OF the expert committee ana that I
hal refused to disclose !ts contents - the
- .a#sa at tfas Sara