The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-09-14
Another Chapter in the City Treas.
urer Case.
THE OFFICIAL REFUSES TO ALLOW
BOOKS EXAMINED.
Mayor Bibber and Bank Examiner Will
sons Call Was Fruitless-Treasurer
Palmer Says City Must First Withdraw
Its suit-Declares That 1t Is Simply q
Case Persecution,


Its suit-Declares That 1t Is Simply a
Case Persecution.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1
Bath, September 13.-The question Of
an examination of the books of the city
treasurer by Bion Wilson, the National
bank examiner, to which the PRESS re-
ferred last week, has caused a good deal
of talk, and discussion for several days,
and it has been said that there was very
likely to be some excitement before the
matter was settled.
Treasurer Palmer comes from family
of we'll known ship builders and owners
which possesses no little grit and back
bone. Mr.. Palmer has certainly inherited
his share of the family trait, and when
he believes that he is in the right he will
stand everything rather than to "baok
water"
This the city fathers learned when they
endeavored to make him give up the I'M
collected taxes to Collector Charles H.
Greenleaf, when the offices Of treasurer
and collector were divided, and Mr..
Greenleaf was elected to the latter. Mr..
Palmer then claimed that the city had no
right to compel him to give them up,
that they were committed to him and that
he should keep them. This he has done
up to date.
People have been wondering what the
treasurer would do when Bank Examiner
Wilson arrived and they found out this
morning when he and Mayor Bibber en-
tered the Office of Treasurer Palmer and
made their business known.
Mr.. Palmer plainly informed the gentle
men that he did not care to give them &C.
cess to his books until the city withdrew
its suit for the back taxes before referred
to. Mr.. Palmer remained firm and locked
up the safe and no persuasion would get
him to open 1t.
His father, Augustus Palmer, was in
the office at the time and sustained the
action of his son.
Finding that arguments did no good,
Mayor Bibber and Examiner Wilson with
drew.
A short time later the PRESS CORE
spondent saw Treasurer Palmer, who
said in answer to the question as to what
had been going on in his office: Mayor
Bibber and Mr.. Wilson called at my office
and demanded the books that they might
examine them. I refused to allow them
to examine them until the suit brought
against me by the city should be with
drawn. The books they can't get at until
that is done.
When asked what 1t all meant, Mr..
Palmer said: 1t is only continuation of
the old scheme to get rid of me- They
have been trying it for years but they
haven't succeeded yet. They have tried
about everything even to cutting down
the salary, hopeing, I suppose, that If 1
didn't resign it would drive me to steal
ing. Now they have started this thing
which gives people to infer that am
defaulter, and want an examination of
my books.
When anyone says that the books have
not been given an examination since
held office they are telling that which is
not SO. The finance committee and city
auditor have had all of the opportunities
eA~e eHSy AoHAAOA W 500 Uuhb OIL Was
straight and my books have been audited
annually. know where to lay the blame
for this last attack. They want an ex-
animation and they may get it before we
get through with this case. I know what
am doing and shall stand my ground.
The treasurer is considerably stirred up
over the matter and his friends all claim
that the action is done simply as q
political trick to injure Mr.. Palmer and
to try to drive him out of office.
The action of the official has created
considerable surprise, however, and
people areEwondering how it will come
out. Some say Palmer will never give in,
and that the only way the mayor will get
the books will be to blow the safe open,
while COOLER headed people believe that
legal steps will be at once taken which
will compel him to produce the books.
The chances are, however, that he has
consulted good authority before taking
this step, and the result Of the confess is
awaited with great interest.
Mayor Bibber was seen this noon by the
PRESS representative as he alighted from
his carriage. The Mayor did not care to
make much talk concerning the
case. In answer to the query
of the PRESS, as to what the
next step in the matter at City hall was
likely to be, he replied that he was unable
to state at that time, as he should first
consult legal authorities upon the matter.
Some people say that the fact that the
Mayor has stated that he was not expect
ing to find any shortage in the accounts.
but simply desired a settlement, may
discount his right to employ stranger
to examine the books which they claim
should be the work of the city auditor.
Physicians Wife Suicides.