The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-08-17
City Treasurer Dsaley Says He Has
Lived Up TO the Provi.
Nons OF the Charter.
CLAIMS He FULFILLED DUTY
So Far aS the Payment of ln-
terest is Concerned. Law
Has Very Little to
DO With IL.


sessments. Mr., Dealey says he is per
forming his duties in strict conformit,
with the charter. and is indignant a
the imputation that he allows som,
property owners TO escape withou
payment of interest while others ar,
taxed.
so far as the payment OF interest
is concerned, | have nothing to dc
with IT," said Mr.. Dealey yesterday
When a street assessment rol is
turned over to me fer collection | re-
ceive also warrant authorizing me to
make collections. The amounts OF the
various assessments are shown on the
roll, am authorized TO collect the
face of the roll, and continue To col
lect up TO the time set for the roll TO
become delinquent After that time |
refuse to accept payments. and refer
property owners to the auditor. The
charter provides that delinquent as
sessments. together with costs and in
terest, shall be collected by the chief
of police. 1t is the duty OF the council
to make provision for collection Of de-
linquent street assessments and inter-
est and costs.
Il have used my best judgment in
some exceptional cases Let us take
the Exchange street improvement. for
instance. The assessment roll turned
over to me for collection specified that
payments would have to be made on
or before February Is, 1904. The i'm
pr0vement of this street was not COM
pleted and accepted by the council un-
iii July 20, 1904. Is II right to levy !
interest against property owners In
such cases as this? If interest should |
be levied in such case. it would amount
10 highway robbery, and ! do not pur-
pose to be a party to any such ar
Auditor Anderson upholds City
Treasurer Dealey in his statement re-
'arding his duties. Il can find moth
ng in the charter that requires the
to collect interest, other than
interest on street assessments which
re paid on the installment plan. The
uditor is required to compute interest
n installments and notify such prop
rty owner, who must then make pay
lent to the treasurer in accordance :
nth the notification. This has been
one in every case"
Mr.. Dealey handed in the following
tatement touching upon the report OF
he experts charging that he neglected "
, collect about s125 in interest during
ne first six months of the present
ear, and the comment Of councilmen y
pom the matter:
Astoria, Aug. 16.-(Editor The AS
reference to the article
Dpearing in this mornings Astorian,
1der the heading Treasurer in
rouble' in which the report OF the
ays and means committee of the
'uncil on the report of the experts
set forth, permit me to say that, II
e experts had known their business
ID asce~tained what the duties OF the
ty treasurer are they would find that
e city treasurer has nothing to do
tn charging interest on street I'm
ovements. ~
THE assessment rolls for the inn fr
ovement Of streets are made by or n
aance and given to the treasurer for ca
lection. The city charter provides 10
at after 80 days the city council may,
its option, have the delinquent
lounts turned over to the chief of
lice for collection when costs and ell
crest are charged against the parties Ii
crested. AS long as the rolls are in In
: hands Of the treasurer no interest Gt
Il be charged, unless the common
lnciI makes an order to that effect. tn
spectfully, THOMAS DEALEY, Al
"City Treasurer" sia
t appears that the present charter JIG
defective in several respects and city pu
cials yesterday conferred with the III
"a in view Of readjusting matters so ai'
It there need be no misunderstand- ue
IS such as have lately arisen. The ho
lncil has never yet adopted any of
recommendations of Treasurer
alley, but some of the members have str
en- advantage of every opportunity to d;>
re him. Twice within the year he
! been charged with neglect, and in
h instances 1t has been shown that
was performing his duties in ac- ply
dance with the charter. When he doC