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

THE SCHOOL BOARD CLAIM.

The attorneys for the school board have
Mitten and Phelps. for certain moneys said
70 be due the board. An effort is being
made to give the appearance 10 this that
there has been some wrong-doing in the
matter. Yet until the recent decision OF
the supreme court there is probably not
one man in King county who. Sc elected
treasurer. would not have done rs they
and all their predecessors have done. and
as almost every county treasurer In the
state has done. including j. w Maple. II
ia only a few weeks ago that a legal de-
cision was rendered under which Mr.. Md
pie returned to the city treasurer that pro-
portion Of interest and penalty which he
longed TO the city. Nobody supposed for
a moment that Maple had pocketed the
money: nobody really supposed that Byron
Phelps or A. 7. Mitten robbed the treas
ury.
How do they know Because the ex-
perts say that the receipts We're dated the
day the money was entered. not the day
II was received. II there was any fraud
intended. the treasurcrs. by dating the re-
celpts the day money was received instead
OF the day II WAS entered up. could have
efrectually ana forever covered up any
fraud. 1t does not take $Ls0 experts 10
ascertain that.
What the fault realty was-and every
taxpayer in this aud In most other commu-
mites knows how II is-consistcd in the
treasurer accommodating taxpayers by al
lowing them 10 send in blank checks 10 be
uned Ia. The law allows up to certain
date to pay taxes In Every man in the
county has tho right to wait till the last
DAY. bat II he did 81 would he utterly inn
possible for the clerks 10 attend TO them.
Taxes come phnrlng IN, as & Is. on the
last days mail. checks. postoniCe orders
ana registered lettgrs. At the same time
the office IS thropeed by people every one
Of whom Is In a hurry 70 get away. and
81 was no uncommon thipg TO see people
throw money IN an envelope with their
Tax stateincnt over the hea3s of those In
front OF them. These things happened ev-
cry year: Il IS familiar scene in every
Tax collection eftlcc
An examination ~ the books WIS mn le
~ three experts who attac,5d thelr
names 20 a reaer, that tAo books balanced
ID cont Those reports were punished,
tie public who paid r5yaly Tor the SCR
vice ot those experts. BAD a rizht - doe
man1 % them a frank and trlchfal re-
fsrt II they uyre compelled 81 sign ere
they dl nd< approve az. There were ave.
nues thraleh wHtcA thcy ca,gd have made
the TRAITS know,i- 3at IL sscus not a vorI
- any irrrsahrlty was beard autu oar *
them nunt',3 f5r another SOD. ans Then
BE suggested a ratco Tor his engagement.
We nee3 hardly s5x thst q man Who c7a
Dec anoe perSHssisi q color q report & rat
tie tlad of man wanted on farther suv,s-
}usslge 10 sty thal while. as matter %
business. Zee mEhf seek enrlay-ent as an
expert. ne has never bcsn accused ysi -
leing hir, - ss@a a rcgsart De 3ls net '.e-
love in. II There has been any white
WASHING ta tho paest the cN9er.s Who 1tf
81. or suffered Il ~ theft FiieDc~. arr ra,
worthy ~ further confidence. ara their
siatenents-Waich are only s0ru-lsss 40
t,est-n'sy well lse taken 10 ,,snuretion MIR
the occasion they believe IL % or.r Cor
f.rts,r work fov 'aem.
Tha other matter referred 20 in wh'a
a Mur8ay's letter -. as every neesrsnyr
p aacr knows. rot as '1uuatcH thai ere
t-easarers took tAe money. bat that they
arc l'able Tor TIRE errcr taey male in ray-
i-r thc delinquent penalty sr1 interest
SEQ ere ren5raI furt ln Ia-ia. i-s.sai
90 srsresa;ins u into the several funds.
Dor Instance. SUPPOSE the Penalty coz
l.e.s4 as se2ss. lie tssAsarers tos tosS