The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-15
mir. M'CARDY'S IDEAS
HE SUBMITS HIS ANNUAL DOSE TO
THE CONFERENCE COM
MITTEE
HINTS FOR LEGISLATORS

Revision of Tax Laws Is Suggested,
With HaIf-Indorsement of the
ToFrens System of Land Trans
fers-EcOnOmy i'm Expenses His
Main Theme - Remove the
WOrkhOuse From Como.
Comptroller McCardy came to TIE
front at the regular meeting Of the
conference committee yesterday after
noon with a number of suggestions.
The committee had approved the
minutes Of the last meeting without
reading, had accepted the monthly re-
ports from the several departments
also without reading and the motion
had been made TO adjourn when the
comptroller interrupted long enough to
read the following:
Now since the election IS over and every
body !s satisfied more or less. ard as the
legislature vii soon meet IL will DO well 70
consider some matters OF a general and spe-
la nature which might possibly receive leg
islative attention.
An attempt was made At the last session Of
the legislature 10 codify and revise the gem
eral laws regarding taxation The tax laws
have been amended from time 10 time and
decisions rendered which makes the present
system very complex. and in some cases very
unjust Our delegation should use every ef-
take this matter up. ] do not believe, nor
does any one believe who knows anything
about the matter, that It Is wise or prudent
TO have laws which require the county TO
pay IL per cent interest; yet, such is the
case. Under the present law, should tax
Eale for any reason be set aside on account
OF informality OF irregul5rity IN any manner,
the holders Of certificates purchased at such
sale are entitled 10 the return Of their money
from the county, together with 10 per cent
per annum. Upon receiving from the county
auditor a warrant on r. treasurer FOR the
sum due, and upon presenting the same for
payment should there not be money in the
treasury applicable TO the payment OF this
warrant, II is the duty Of the treasurer to
stamp the warrant with a statement that
there are funds applicable 20 the
payment OF the warrant, and from that day
II draws interest at per cent per annum
until paid Ramsey county has At the pres
ent time $50 600 Cf such warrants out
standing This brought about by an out
rageous munder OF the county authorities in
tax proceedings regarding the sale OF de-
Hnqucnt taxes for the year 1892 they having
failed TO comply with the law in designating
a newspaper In which TO publish the delln-
quent tax list.
Another matter that ought 10 receive the
attention OF the legislature would be that OF
simplifying and reducing the expenses IN the
transfer OF real estate. Our Canadian neigh
bors are much ahead OF US IA this They
adopted what is generally known as the
''TOrrens system" OF transfer which reduce
the expenses OF transfer TO a minimum and
very materially facilitates the handling OF
real estate.
While speaking OF county matters. there
are some other lines In which the expenses Of
the county could be reduced. IL may not be
generally known that under a special law
Ramsey county pays its coroner 50 500 per
annum, the same amount that the city OF ST.
PAU pays 20 It's comptroller. Another Item
Of interest Is that while the city OF st. Paul
pays 80 per cent OF tho operating expenses
Of Ramsey county. Il has no voice in regu-
leting those expenses.
The law also should be amended so far as
the city Of ST. Paul IS concerned, 30 that
the assessments for local imprcvg menta would
be placed uTon the tax duplicates and COL
lected by the county treasurer at the same
time that general taxes are collected; me
present seriously leopardzcs tho tile 70
property which Is liable al spy time to be
swept away from the owne~ practically with
out notice. Several ipstances have occurred
many thouss rs OF dollars has been seriously
affected gy sprinkling assessment OF less
- ! ave dollars II Is an injustice which the
legislature should remedy.
Before many years 4 viii be necessary to
remove the workhouse from its present To-
cation. II occupies part OF the grounds OF
81 present the matter should be considered
for the future II is a serious problem as 20
what Is best 20 be done with some OF the IN
mates Of the workhouse ia the way OF keep
Ing them employed. ard l think II would be
4 good idea 20 consider the removal OF the
workhouse 20 the grounds occupied BY the
Rlmshouse and put both institutions under
the control OF the worlhouse board Instead
OF hrnB labor 10 run the farming opera
tons NJ the poor farm. which consists OF 160
acres, this labor could be performed by the
workhouse authorities. The average number
Of inmates OF the almshouse during the year
1877. was seventy-three per day. They were
maintained at per capita cost OF s. u per
week. Beth Institutions could be run under
one management thereby saving considerable
money, IL rs perhaps not out OF place TO re-
mark here, that Il would be a good thing
Tor the tax payers n the prisoners In the
Is paid, were boarded az the work house.
whore prisoners board costs less than Is
cents per week Even AZ this rate OF Is cents
per week. last year after taking an account
OF stock, u Was found that about og
pounds more OF prisoner had been dlschsrged
than had been received az the work house
ANY one who has travelled about the city
recently has not failed 20 observe many signs
OF Improvement Many new houses have heen
built this summer and an uuuspalIv lsr~e
EumbCr have been painted There are So $50
names Tn the directory and the population Of
the city Is increasing. as may be Inferred
houses.
There are some public improvements need
Cd, but FIRST Of ali In the public schools II
Is necessary 20 have three or four new school
buildings. also 20 have considerable repairs
DO not think "a Is fair or iust 20 rSonSrs
the present generation 20 pay FOR all the i'm
ProVements that are needed at the present
Tune, ana therefore suggest that provisions
should b. made for issuing a limited amount
OF bonds for such extensive permanent re.
pairs and new buildings as are absolute In
necessary. And while matters pertaining N
public schools are being considered Ii woull
De wise IN my Judgment 10 inRueurate a sys-
TEN that would provide free text books In the
public schools
The application for Judgment for assess
ment IN the Phalea park c&se. having been
deried BY the district court Is now In a.
supreme court. There would probably NOT
have been much objection 10 acquiring this
park, bad IL not been for the excessive valu-
alton that was allowed the owners OF the Land
taken for this purpose. The properly was
fairy worth one-third of the amount allowed
eTest many % our citizens believe THAI the
decision q the district court Was right. and
hoge Il VIII be affirmed by the higher court
lhese - no question but what this park
~ -