Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1900-01-26
The Settlement - Mads was Strongly
{. Urged by County Treasurer w
%'g Meyer.
\ He Had Signed the Receipts But His
Name Was Erased When Mecusler
2&'.~ y Wanted Him.
IF the Mecusker Plan Had Worked There
i Would Probably Have Been Prof
it in the Deal.

unanimously recommended by the
county commissioners, approved by
the state auditor, and then held up
by the county treasurer upon the
demand of Landlord Mecusker OF
the Hotel Buchanan, was hnally
closed by the resigning OF the docu-
ments by Treasurer Meyer and
their presentation to Mr.. Landau,
whose offer had been accepted.
Since 1892 no taxes had been paid
on the Antlers, and the total back
taxes, penalty and sinterest had
reached the amount of $500. 1t had
been assessed at about six-sevenths
of the amount assessed against the
Buchanan hotel, while at no time
was it in use or would it command
on the market One-quarter the
amount that the Buchanan would.
The owners or no one else for years
would pay the taxes for its use, and
it was asource OF expense to all
connected with it, and 1T promised
to remain so for years. Local rail-
road changes made It possible that
the hotel might be put to some use,
and the former owners and:others
decided to put a little money into
clearing up the title. II. Landau,
representing himself and Others In
terested, made a formal offer In the
usual form to the county board to
pay $500 for the back taxes, and
$l21 for the current taxes. His OFFER
came before the board on the fore
noon OF the second day OF the SEES
sion. after the printing matter had
been disposed Of. The four commits
sioners present, Jacobson. EnKe,
LaFonl and Gross, ns:dered an
discussed the matter for some time.
County Treasurer Meyer was pres
eat an took part in the dlseuSsion'
and strongly urged the commissioners
to accept it. lie revived the con-
dition of the property, its compar-
alive marketable value. and the de-
STABILITY Of getting 1t on the live tax
books again, as we'll as the advantage
of obta ming over 1000 in taxes. He
took a seat at the commissioners
table, next to Mr.. Enke, and especially
addressed his arguments to that men,
Der, who hesitated about recommend
ing the abatement. Enke finally
yielded to Meyers arguments, and
decided to vote to accept the offer.
The other commissioners arrived
at the same conclusion. and it was
approved by the board and endorsed
by the county auditor. At that
time there Is no question but all the
county officers thought they had
acted for the best interests OF the
county, and obtained just amount
of taxes for property involved.
Mr.. landau employed Attorney
J. H. Rhodes to take the documents
to st. Paul to secure Immediate ac-
ton by the state auditor, us certain
parties who proposed to become ill.,
terested desired to begin immediate
nego tiations for making some use OF
the property. Mr.. Rhodes went to
st. Paul and the state auditor, as
usual, en- 1orsed the action OF the
county officials.
1t soon developed that Land ord
Mecusker. Of Hotel Buchanan, felt an
interest in anything pertaining to Il
possible rival hotel, and at noon he
learned OF the action OF the board.
1t is understood that he then de-
clared that he would give more than
81, 500 for the h otel. 1t is also under
stood that a telegram was sent to
State Auditor Dunn later asking
him to reject the application. This
request was not from the county
board or with their Knowledge. The
next day Mr. Mecusker gave Meyer
a check for - 800, as Ibid" on the
property, and Mr.. Meyer refused to
deliver Mr.. Landau the receipts and
documents in the case, although he
had signed them. Senator Buchanan
went to st. Paul to induce State
Auditor Dunn to change his action
in the matter. and Landlord Me
.cusker went before the county board
to urge them to reconsider their &C.
ceptance of the matter. The state
auditor refused to reconsider his
action, as he had approved and re.
turned the papers, and the matter
was q ttclosed incident as far
rs his office was concerned. Land
lord Mecusker went before the county
board. and asked them to reconsider.
Probably knowing that Enke had
had the greatest hesitancy about
taking the original action he asked
him by name to move to reconsider.
This was in the presence of County
Treasurer Meyer, who also urged
Enke to make such a motion. MIR.
Enkc emphatically declined to do so,
and informed Mr.. Meyer especially
that his (Meyer's) urging had in