The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-16
COUNTY SOLON AND
ROSS CLARK CLASH
Commissioner Pottgieser OPP.
poses Attorneys Collection
of Taxes illegally Paid.

Mayor Smiths timely adjournment of
the meeting of the board of county
commissioners yesterday put an end to
and Attorney Ross Clark which threat
ened for time to result in something
more serious than words.
Mr.. Pottgieser and Attorney Clark,
separated by the small railing in the
county boards room,- were shaking
their fists in a most menacing manner
and the chances for a rough house
were splendid when Mayor Smith put
temporary stop to the trouble by de-
claring the meeting adjourned for two
weeks.
Attorney Clark had appeared before
the board with view of having that
body take some immediate action to-
ward refunding inheritance taxes
which have been illegally paid into the
probate court. Mr.. Clark is counsel for
a dozen or more estates having such
claims against the county, and he ap-
peared anxious to. have the commits
sioners take some action in the matter
of refunding the money.
At the present time there is $1,000
available for such refundment, and
during the coming summer $4,000
more will be available, the matter hav-
ing been cared for at the time the bud
amount claimed by Mr.. Clark's clients
is $685., which he wanted the board to
pass.
Mr.. Pottgieser Objects.
Commissioner Pottgieser objected to
any consideration Of the matter yester-
day, and when Attorney Clark insisted
Mr.. Pottgieser became angered.
II do not believe in these claims be-
ing collected by attorneys who receive
so per cent of the money refunded"
declared Mr.. Pottgieser, holly.
ut is none Of your business how much
the attorneys receive" said Mr.. Clark,
advancing towards the corpulent coun-
ty commissioner.
'Those people paid their money into
the probate court honestly" said Mr..
ceive it back in FULL
Mr.. Clark declared with some emphasis
that he had complied with all the for
malities required by the board, and he
saw no cause for a further delay,
Il shall oppose any attempt to pay any
Of these claims at this time,'' declared
Mr.. Pottgieser. 1--WE should wait until a
full list of the claimants is prepared, and
then we can place the money for the first
payment in the hands of the county
treasurer to pay out to those who present
properly attested Claims"
Mr. Clark declared that Mr.. Pottgieser
was trying to delay payments on all of
these claims, and Mr.. Pottgieser said he
would see justice done, no matter how
many attorneys suffered.
They Shake Their Fists.
BY this time the arguments had reach
ed a heated point, and both Commissioner
Pottgieser and Attorney Clark were shak-
ing their fists. Other members of the
but Mayor Smith restored order by ad-
journing the meeting.
When it came to passing the bills pre-
scented to the board there was trouble
when an item of $3.50 for gas used in
cooking at the county jail was read. The
members of the board thought the con-
tract with the gas company included
cooking gas, but a careful study of the
contract disclosed the fact that this was
another of the many blunders made by
the board in drawing up contracts for
the new Jail.
Mr.. Nash became excited and declared
that the contracts made by the county
were of little use. He charged Sheriff
Justus with permitting much gas to be
wasted at the jail
The county attorneys office will inves-
tigate the bill with a view of aScertaining
if there is any possible way of chopping
it.