The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-08-16
KRAMER REFUSES
TO PAY EQUA[|zERS
Warrants of County Members
Are Held Up on Claim They
Are Not EntitIedto Pay.

Warrants issued to the county rep
fesentatives on the board of equaliza-
ton, which were to have been deliver
ed yesterday, are being held up by
County Auditor Krahmer.
Mr.. Krahmer gave as his reason for
holding UP the warrants that he be-
lieved the county officials had no legal
right to draw pay for their services
as members of the board of equaliza-
ton, and he will not deliver the war;
rants to them until he has secured an
opinion on the matter from County
Attorney Kane.
The members whose warrants are
being held back by the county auditor
declare he has no authority for his act,
and some of them said some unpleas-
ant things about him.
The board completed it's labors yes
terday morning. and the announce
ment was made that the warrants
would be ready for the members at the
county auditors Office upon calling for
them.
County Commissioner Nash was the
first one to call for his warrant and it
was handed out to him without pro-
test County Commissioner Wright
also received his warrant, but. for
some reason. after paying these war
rants, the auditor declined to give out
the warrants to any more Of the coun-
ty members.
Shortly after Commissioner Wright
had received his warrant. and before
he had left the auditors office. AS
SCISSOR ConIey requested his warrant.
I'm sorry" said Mr.. Krahmer, "but
have decided to hold these warrants
for time. I am not quite satisfied
whether or not you are legally entitled
to this money l will have to secure
an opinion from County Attorney Kane
before l give out any more Of the war
rants"
County Commissioners Gray and
Pottgieser were the next to be turned
down.
but Nash and Wright have their
warrants" said Mr.. Gray.
Il changed my mind after I had
given them out" explained the county
auditor. Il have no doubt. If l am
right in my opinion, and it is found
that the county members have no right
to the money, that they will return it
to the county"
Mr.. Krahmer delivered warrants to
the members who represented the city,
but he held that the county members
were not entitled to any pay.
Il find that the statute provides that
the salary Of the county officials shall
be so much and no more" explained
Mr.. Krahmer. land I do not believe
they are entitled to pay for any extra
work"
The action of Mr.. Krahmer in hold
ing UP the warrants of members of the
equalization board establishes prece-
dent, which is freely criticised by those
affected as well as by others.
The statutes explicitly provide for
the organization of the board of equali-
cation and they also provide that each
member who serves on the board shall
receive SO per day.
Mr.. Krahmer. however, contends
that the laws fixing the compensation
OF the county officers are subsequent
laws, and he is Of the opinion that he
is right in holding up the warrants
Il guess we will get our money all
right" said one of the members of the
board last night. "Mr. Krahmer has
some queer ideas regarding the con-
struction of the law. If you remember,
when he first went into the auditors
office he established precedent in
the matter of pay for county officials
That was when he drew his own war
rant for his first months pay. and in
eluded therein five days which he had
not served. His own warrant was the
only one he drew in that manner, but
1t did him little good, as County Treas
urer Metzdorf demanded that he re-
turn the money to the county, and it
was held out of his pay for his second
months services as auditor"
The warrants held UP by the county
auditor are for $72 each, sbeing the
pay due the members for their services
on the equalization board during the
entire session.