The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-13
lax COLLECTOR IN TROUBLE.
HE is ACCUSED OF FAILING TO
TURN OVER FUNDS PROMPTLY.


A Tie the ResuIt OF the Vote of Full
ton COunty's Commissioners on
the Question of Presenting the
Collector to the Governor for Re-
mOvaI-One Commissioner Absent
From the MeetIng-The Money Left
Lying i'm Bank That Is Not
State Depository.
Atlanta, Ca Oct. 12.-The board OF
county commissioners held a meeting to-
day, which may result in sensational
expose of the affairs Of the office of the
state and county tax collector. A. p.
Stewart.
The board cast a tie vote on the PROPOSE
ton to present the tax collector to the
governor for removal, and for this rea-
son. the facts are still held back. One
member of the board, ]. J. spalding, was
absent, which made the tie possible.
When he returns the matter will be taken
up again.
1t has leaked out that the board some
time ago employed an expert accountant
to examine the books Of the tax collector.
Similar Investigations of the books of
other county officers had led to the dis
covery of large discrepancies in the office
of the clerk of the board of county COM
missioners itself, and the board therefore
determined at the beginning of the pres
ent year, to look through the affairs OF
the whole county.
In order to prepare the tax collector
for the investigation last October, the
board passed a resolution notifying him
that he was expected to follow the law
regulating his office to the letter. When
fHa n,1o htrf Iaaa rcfp
finished his report last Thursday, 1t
showed an apparent shortage on the books
Of the collector, amounting to about s50,-
600. OF this sum, about $1,000 was due the
county. and the balance to the state.
An intimation of the result of the ex-
animation was giving to Tax Collector
Stewart, and he Immediately produced his
bank book. showing the commission that
he had funds on deposit in the Merchants
Bank OF this city sufficient to meet the
apparent shortage. This book was verified
at the bank, and then the fact was de-
veloped that the tax collector, instead OF
turning the money over TO tSe state ana
the county when he collected 1t as re-
quired, had been violating the law by al
lowing 1t to remain in the bank for tho
use Of the bank, the president of which is
his bondsman to the county.
Under the special law under which tho
tax collector of Fulton county acts, no
is required to turn over his funds to tho
county treasurer as fast as he collects
$4,000. and under the state law, he Is re-
quired to make deposits with the con-
trolier general whenever his collections
amount to 5000 Upon his failure to do
this, It is made the duty of the county
commissioners to report him to the gov
ernor, who orders his removal.
The report of the expert showed that
Tax Collector Stewart had allowed some
Of the back tax funds due TO the state
to In In, Ho
Merchants Bank since 1892, the state ana
county losing interest upon 1t during this
time.
When the tax collector was apprised OF
the report of the expert he paid the state
$4,000 last Saturday and $1,000 again to-
day on this old account. but there is still
a balance due the state OF $4,000. The
county's part was also paid
1t was stated TO the commissioners to-
day that the bank was not In position TO
check out this balance on demand, but to-
night President Porter denies this. He
declares that the money will be paid the
state whenever Collector Stewart draws
his check for It. The Merchants Bank
was state depository up to the COM
mencement of Gov. Atklnson's adminis-
tration, but It refused to pay any interest
on the state money and its appointment
was revoked.
The matter before the county commits
sioners to-day was upon the preferring OF
charges to Gov. Atkinson against Tax
Collector Stewart, for the purpose Of hav-
ing him removed but as stated, the COM
missioners were equally divided as to this
course, and It still hangs fire awaiting the
return of the fifth member of the board.
Tax Collector Stewart Is one OF the most
highly esteemed men in the county. He
has filed the office for years, and is so
popular that he has never had opposition