Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-09-07

citizens who honor and thank him for
this privilege. V. E. L.
"A TEMPEST ~ Il TEAPOT"
The Raymond News and the Will
mar Journal are overstepping the
bounds of propriety in their efforts to
influence the public mind against
Lewis Johnson, the present incumbent
of the county auditors Office. Since
these charges have been made, the
TRIBUNE has Investigated the matters
presented, and in The spirit of an in
dependent public journal will state
what it has found. We are no par
ticular apologist for Lewis johnson
or any other public official. We have
repeatedly supported candidates of
our own party against Mr.. Johnson,
and might do so again il. worthy
representative CT the ideas of govern
ment which we favor would wish to
try for the place.
The Raymond News makes state.
ments in its last issue which are as
lacking in truth as the editor appar-
emily lacks in fairness. 1t charges
Auditor Johnson with negligence in
the matter of dog tax refundment, In
not having sent notices by mail to
those who were entitled to their dog
tax, but who have so far neglected to
call and present the proof required by
law. There has been no request, by
law or by order of the county board,
to give mailed notice in these in
stances. Recently the public examiner
suggested that the remaining claim
ants be notified, which the auditor was
preparing to do. Tie charge that the
auditor had enclosed campaign cards
within the envelopes containing notices
was not true. The charge that the
small am punt deducted from the
amount refunded in each case was de-
Quoted for costs is not true, the de-
duction being the amount paid to
claimants of damage to sheep by dogs,
before the law was declared uncon-
stitutiona', and was made according
to instructions from the state author
tiles.
In regard to the clerical error over
which the new campaign sheet of this
city makes such ado, there is nothing
that can be fairly construed as dam
aging to the auditor. In the assess
ment book containing the personal
property assessments of the City OF
Willmar, the very last items under
the letter "W" had been carried over
to the wrong page. The auditors Of
Zee when computing the taxes and
transferring to the tax lists, assumed
that all the items had been disposed
of when they came to the end of the
list. During the very last days for
paying the taxes the error was dis
covered when some of these persons
or firms wished to pay their taxes
The assessor was called on for his in
dividual statements, and as he was
certain that he had entered all, the
items were finally discovered on one
of the very last leaves Of the book.
The mistake was discovered in time to
be corrected. The county lost moth
ing. Those parties who had called to
pay their taxes before the time for
adding the penalty were not required
to pay the penalty as they Justly
should not be. Those who did not
all to pay their taxes before the time
limit, were properly required to pay
the penalty.
This seems to be all there is to these
matters. During the eight years in
| which he has held the Office, Mr.. John.
son has made an enviable record fol
accuracy and painstaking in the COM
pick duties of the Office. Whateve,
advantage Mr.. Johnson's lorg in
cumbency of the Office may have giver
the new aspirant from Raymond, Mr.
Fouts, in his canvass for the nomina
tion, has been destroyed by his foo
friends by their false or himsy char
ges. The people of Kandiyohi county
might properly be willing to retire {
good county official in favor of an
other favorite 500, If one should
apply, but they will not be guilty O
kicking out q conscientious oficia
upon such ridiculous pretexts as ar,
offered from Raymond.