The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-20
MUST CONE AFTER IT.
COUNTY TREASURER SToPS DEIJv-
EaTSG PAYMENT OF CITY TAXES
An 04rSal Breach Between City
Treasurer w~a~ham and His Coun-
~ Contemporary Over = Trfns-
Mru Eaufs Finally Was the Salt
Brought Against Her by J. A.
HOshor-SeUx of the Courts.

A ve-y rice question III commercial law
and usage, cr1cerning the weekly pay
rnenty Of taxes collected for the city oy
ths. county treasurer. has arisen between
County Treasurer Charles +. 8hfttlesHJ
and City Treasurer George r. 8eacSaHl-
'Fs... txsue raised between these two off,
clsl IL mas Of such a nature as - hkeiy
10 take them and their troubles into the
cosir.s. bat the controversy Is. neyerthe-
less. interesting.
Her~tofore fl has beau the custom Of the
county treasurer since the COLLECTION OF
the city taxes was made the 62ty of that
official, to remit by cheek every MONDAY
the amount Of money collected during the
preceding week Or Monday. June I. the
county treasurer sent down TO the city
hall a check for sls.sle being The amount
solle.rtssg on account OF the city during the
week preceding Mr.. MeachaUa sent back
4 receipt, Acknowledging that he had re-
celysd a check for 1890 from the county
treasurer"
Mr.. Whiissesey is a stickier for form.
and the receipt "for cheek Gid not
strike him very favorably. He telephoned
down W the city treasurer, explaining his
objections to the form OF the receipt, ard
asking that receipt for the money be
rendered him.
sTrv Treasurer Ieacham took the stand
that his receipt was good under the cir
cuulstances. In this way controversy
began as 10 the usage that should be en-
plnyed be-, tween the officials In their rela-
tons, which ended by the announcement
made by the county treasurer that In fi-
ture when the city wanted its money IL
would have to send 10 the courthouse for
IT,
This impressive uitimatum was issued
from the building on the hill after more or
less talk had passed between the two
rfnftt<% -
the city treasures's office was not shatter-
ed al all By the ultimatum. and last Mon
day Nr. Meacham confidently expected
the representative of the county treasurer
TO show up with the accustomed remit
lance. But the letter that he looked for
nsvsr came"
The matter drifted along In this way un-
iii few days ago. when Mr. Meacham and
Mr. WhittIesey had a conference. Each
maintained the position he had taken. The
county treasurer declared that In future
he would expect the city TO call for its
money at his window at the courthouse
every Monday. when Its portion Of the
taxes collected would be ready for deiiv-
cry in the shape of coin ~ the realm
VIII City Treasurer Meacham spend s
cents' car fare and present bis demand at
the country treasurer's office tomorrow for
his weessiy stipend under the law This
Is the question that agitates official circles
at the courthouse and also at the city hall
The county treasurer maintains his posi-
ton with djgnstied and solemn determine
ton and says he VIII not bulge Mean
while. Mr.. Meacham has examined the
statutes and the authorities 10 ascertain
II his duty Is compatible with trip every
Monday tn the courthouse and a personal
appearance before the county's august
money Keeper.
Mr.. Meacham said last night that he
would obey tho law. His action In receipt
ing for the remittance rs a check was
done SO as To protect himself. He said
that there was hardly more than one
chance in thousand that the receipt of
check instead of coin would cause him
any trouble. but he wished to observe ey-
cry precaution. He said that II the law
commanded him 10 80 after the money
every Monday. he would do SO. Thus the
matter stands.