The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-07

\ straight statement
"A large part OF the letter Is devoted 20
informing me Of the laws relative 70 the
collection OF taxes. ] made myself fafnii-aF
with these laws and collected the taxes a.
strictly in accordance with the law as II
was possible TO do The first matter COM
planned Of In the letter IS that the penalty
and interest on the taxes, due 10 th,s
school district No. l. were turned IN lot
the general fund and not credited 10 sch5ol
district No l. This is true. and the same
was true as to Us other school districts IN
the county, all OF which are entitled TO i
under the decision OF the supreme court
The eighty odd road districts ~ the couh-
u and all other special funds would De
entitled TO lie same Distributed ioi-
lowed the custom Of all my predecessors,
the Same being the custom IN all other
counties ~ the state. / am informed. The
county general fund is now In possession
OF funds belonging to the various scnool
districts road districts and other speclai
funds The county is certainly responsive
and the matter ought 20 be adjusted WIFI
out difficulty.
.grbe next matter complained of IS the
issuance Of receipts after penalty and IN
terest had accrued. without having charged
the same Ny explanation Of this Is mat
upon the last day or days during when
taxes may be pad without penalty ana m
terest, many people, having ascertained
ment together with money, checks or
drafts and await their receipt, because IL
is absolutely impossible in consequence OF
the rush, TO make out their receipts lnIne-
dlately. Right here ] want to call the al
tention of the people TO the statement OF
Z. Z. Padden, the present chef deputy IN
County Treasurer Naples office, printed
in the Times last evening, which is as foi-
lows:
on the 3ist OF March last $4,000 was
taken in at the cash window OF the treas
urer's office. and no receipt was issued
The sums were noted, and as soon as the
employees could get around 10 1t, were en-
tered on the rolls and receipts Tor the same
mailed TO the payers
This shows that the custom IS sun IN
use. and. indeed, II IS unavoidable. II
man comes 10 the treasurer's office on the
last day OF payment it IS no fault OF his
if a receipt cannot be issued at once.
Therefore il was our custom TO issue the
receipt as soon as possible, and date the
receipt the day Of issuance, because the
payment must 20 upon the casn register
the day of the issuance OF the receipt 10
have dated the receipts back TO the day OF
payment would have d.sarranSed our cash
register and shown a disposition TO mis-
lead or deceive the people. 1t was simply
the best that could be done under the CIR
cumstances, both in justice TO the county
and the taxpayer. During my term OF e.
flee, In not one single instance d1d ISSUE a
receipt without having the money, nor I'D
l ever accept payment of taxes one day
after penalty and interest accrued without
charging and collecting the same.
As to the Rebate.
Touching the matter of rebate the same
rule applies If a man owes 500 of taxes
and the rebate is 49, and he deposits S91 on
the last day Of payment, he Is entitled TO
a receipt in fun. even If the tax receipt
cannot be issued for several days. The
school board calls my attention particular
ly to the date OF receipts, in consequence
Of this rebate and penalty and interest
clause for which reason ! have given the
above explanation. I believe that the school
board is honestly endeavoring 10 ascertain
what amount. If any, Of money is due
school district No. !, and no man is more
willing or anxious that it should recover
every dollar due it, and to the fur
therance Of this object 1 shall offer II every
assistance in my power
What do you think of the statements
OF Ferdinand Chrlstman and Addison
Smith. two OF the experts who examined
the treasury books?"
Chri~tmnn's False statement.
Il had no acquaintance with any Of the
experts and never had any conversation
with either of them. excepting Mr. Christ
man, and that occurred in the county COM
missioner's office after their report upon
my books had been filed with the COM
missioners. / then complained TO Mr..
Chrs.man OF the injustice OF the report
touching this very matter Of rebate, inter-
est and penalty giving him the same eX-
PLANTATION which | have now made a
above il will be recalled that these So
called experts declared over their own
signatures that I had accounted for and
/ turned over 10 my successor every dollar
Of taxes collected 10y me. As to the con-
versatton which Mr.. Chvistman alleges TO
have occurred in regard TO favoring large
taxpayers over small taxpayers. in the
matter OF accepting payment and issuing
receipts later on. | think my word viii
he taken In this community when | say
that It IS absolutely false No such con-
versation occurred. Mr.. Smith remem-
hers three men whose tax receipts We're is
sued after penalty and interest accrued.
payment having been made prior 20 the
date upon which interest and penalty be-
gan. II is a little singular that his memory
should serve him only as 10 Republicans.
He could just as easily have found Dem
ocrats 20 have named along With these
men. and possibly Popuhsts also. The
columns Of the newspapers would certain
Is have been open to these EXPERTS and
they coull have then complained OF that
which they now bring before the public"
what can YOU tell about this book that
bears the title Of Jumbo. and which rs
missing"
II rcceiptcd TO Mr. Phelps for ii and
Mr. Maple receiptei 90 me for IT, The
Importance % tho book has been ovcres.i-
mattel and as Nir Vhristman SAYS the
loss ~ 10 dl NOT eut much ~ a figure :
regret very much thar Il IS lost because 7
arm anxious THAT every facility should Ne
aTa~3e3 for the completest possible i'm
vtst.S8.ton of the office"
W Question of Dishonesty
81 r. White. attorney for the school
.He.a