The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-17
HANDLING THE COUNTY FUNDS

HANDLING fE COOIs ONDS'
The frauds which were committed
on the taxpayers of this county
through the county auditors office,
and for which one of the criminals is
now spending a term of Imprisonment
in the state penitentiary, could never
have been consummated had the
county treasurers or any Of them in
office while the thieving was in prog
ress, done their entire duty.
Since 1895 the county treasurers
office had been in Republican control.
That included the era of fraud in the
county auditors office. Peter ]. Metz
dorf, the present Democratic incum-
bent of the office, was elected two
years ago. There has been no fraud
committed since Mr.. Metzdorf came
into office His entrance into Office was
distinguished by the exposure of the
tax certificate robberies.
1t is not generally known, but it is
the fact. nevertheless, that County
lions share of the credit for unearth
ing the tax certificate steals. 1t was
he who put the state auditor on inqui
ry. II was his official refusal to issue
warrants without full compliance by
the applicant with all the requirements
OF the law which led to the inquiries
that resulted in showing the network
of fraud which had been woven around
the taxpayers of the county.
Mr.. Metzdorf's administration of his
office has given unqualified public sat-
isfaction. That is due to his giving the
Office his personal attention, to his be-
ing a sound business man, capable
accountant and in all respects reliable
public official.
The Republican politicians are now
trying to get control of the office
which they handled for six years with
such lamentable results. They have
put UP a candidate who has never had,
so far as the community knows, one
hours experience in the discharge of
obligations or duties such as those
imposed on the county treasurer. To
do this, of course, they must first turn
County Treasurer Metzdorf out of
office. Are they prepared to do that
to risk return to the errors and dan
gers OF the past; to throw out tried
and competent official for one who
cannot be said to have any claim on
their consideration which any other
citizen of good standing might not
have who had been picked out at ran
dom for the position?
TIL e Glob thinks that the people
a great deal during the past six or eight
years as to the kind of men they want
in office. We think they have learned
that when they have an honest, COM
petent and Woodworking official like
Mr.. Metzdorf in charge of their i'm
portant interests they should not dis
card him to make an experiment with
somebody else. If they have not learned
that much they have not learned any
thing. 1t is mere matter of personal
and party gain with the Republicans
who try to supplant capable and hon
est Democratic officials in office by I'M
tried men. But it is a matter Of grave
financial Importance to the taxpayers
that private interest and welfare shall
be made in such cases to yield to sound
public policy.
Looking back over long period of
years, The Globe feels at entire
liberty to say that the taxpayers of
this county have never had a better,
safer or more worthy man, Democrat
or Republican, in charge Of the county
funds than Peter J. Metzdorf. We
doubt, indeed, whether they have ever
had as good a man, at least in recent
years, in that position. The proposal
that he shall now be turned out of of
flee involves a reflection on the good
sense of the voters and taxpayers of
this county.