The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-29
DOES SOME DIGGING
THE GRAND JURY INQUIRIES INTO
SEVERAL MATTERS, ACCORD
ING TO REPORT.
ASSESSOR SENG is QUIZZED.
AshED ABOUT THE WORK OF HIS
OFFICE AND HOW 1T is
DONE.
LICENSE INSPECTOR MALoNEy. roo
Some Question as to Wbnt ts,.uno,,
OF His Work Was Under In
terrOGatiOn.

The grand jury held a long and lively
session yesterday. Rumor has it that
IL was one Of the hottest times that
sraho jury has experienced in several
years.
1t is an open secret that this grand
jury is by no means a harmonious
oouy. IL comprises twenty citizens.
ana they are not, it would appear, pull
ing together with the unanimity that
has distinguished some Of the preced-
ing bodies.
There was much speculation about
the court house yesterday as to what
was taxing place in the grand Jury
roon' IN view of the identity Of the
witnesses closeted with that body.
Among them were County Assessor
Seng. County Auditor Sullivan and the
clty's license inspector, Thomas B. Ma
loney. 1t was whispered that Mr.. Ma
loney was called in to explain wbv
liquors were openly sold within a GER
tain prohibited and aristocratic district
Of st. Paul.
But what did the grand Jury want
10 elicit from the county assessor and
county auditor? That was what set
the knowing ones to thinking. That
some important information Of an Of
nclal character was desired was evil
dent as Messrs. Seng and Sullivan
both carried books Of record info the
grand jury room. The assessors nres-
ence indicated that the grand i,1rv
sought information concerning assess.
ments. 1t was also surmised that the
county auditors books contained dato
relating thereto.
II was rumored that the Assessment
OF the Jobbers was being inyestieata6
oy the grand jury. Another report was
circulated to the effect that the grand
Jeiy IS also investigating the matter
oI the license fee Of $40 for each street
car paid to the city treasurer amman,
py the st. Paul City Railway companv
IL Is Wen known that the last pavment
VI tnls annual license fee for IFS cars
amounted to $3.50, which would ind
cate only 1876 cars.
Inc grand jury adjourned at 5 n m
unlH next w ednesday forenoon at $40
Wnen final report is expected.
county Assessor Seng was seen 1ar+
night and admitted that he had hear
called before the grand jury. That
august body, he said, had asked oil
xmas or questions as to the plan and
manner Of making assessments. The
number of deputy assessors EMPLOYED
Tue NUMBER or clerks necessary to pre-
pare the books and the condensation
OF the employees was inquired into All
OF which Mr.. Seng said he had an
sWered to the best of his ability
=. None Of the questions put to him NV
Seng said. would justify any report
that the matter Of assessing the iobhers
mao been taken up by the grand i,1rv
ana that the officials of the countv
were to be investigated on this a.
count; He would not say that the
grand jury might not consider this
matter, but if they had or intended IN
1t was news to him. It had been tho
practice, he said, Of allowing the ioh-
bers' union to assist the assessor AZ far
as possible in making up the assess
ment in that the association agreed
among themselves as to about tha
amount the several firms should re-
turn Tor assessment. After this haa
been liked upon each firm made q ra-
turn under oath to the assessors off,
&c. This plan, he said, had been in.
augurated years before he was annoint-
ed to the office, and it had worked fo
the satisfaction Of the county as well
as to the jobbers. About all st. Pau1
had In the way of business, Mr.. Sens
said, was the jobbing houses. and r.
attention was paid to lot Of croakers
and the Jobbers assessed and taxed out
Of sight the result would be that the
city would suffer in the end.