Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-08
COUNCIL BLUFFS
FIGHT FOR PORTLAND TAX
Harl & FINLEY Employed to Assist County
Attorney in the Litf~stiOn,
FEE TO Be CONTINGENT UPON SUCCESS
TAX Ferret and Attorneys Together
VIII Receive Thirty Per Cent of
the Amount Recovered from
stOeLhOIders OF Company.

Realizing the Importance of the effort to
he made by the county treasurer TO compel
The stockholders OF the Portland Gold Min
ing company to pay taxes in this county on
their holdings of stock the Board of Super
visors yesterday decided to retain the legal
firm OF Harl & FINLEY to assist the county
attorney in the litigation which is expected
to result The resolution providing Tor the
employment OF Hsrl & FINLEY is as follows:
Whereas, The board, after due considera-
ton OF the matter. deems II necessary and
proper that assistance be procured for the
county attorney In the matters of said lit-
gation. be II therefore
ley be and are hereby employed to assist
the county attorney in all litigation which
rnent by the officers of the said county of
said taxes against the holders Of stock in
the Portland Gold Mining company, includ-
ing the hearings before the county treasurer
and In all appeals from his findings. de-
cision or assessments, and in all direct ac-
tions brought Tor the recovery of said taxes
prosecuted by appeal or writ of error; and
that they shall receive as full compensation
therefor Is per cent of the moneys col
lected rs the result of any such litigation,
the same to be paid out of the sum recov-
cred from the result of said proceedings.
IL is understood that no compensation
shall be paid or obligation incurred by the
county for the payment of fees based upon
the payment of any of the taxes claimed
against any of the stockholders which may
be made voluntarily by them upon the as
sessnIent made by said treasurer, and not
as the result of litigation covered by this
resolution.
The back taxes for the fast FIVE years, as
figured out by the firm OF tax ferrets now
working under a contract in this county,
amount to about $4,000 in round numbers,
so that IL the county should be successful
after the litigation that will necessarily
ensue in recovering this large sum Harl &
FINLEY will receive $4,000. The firm OF tax
forrets, under its contract with the county,
receives Is per cent of all moneys recov-
cred into the county treasury through its
efforts. so It would likewise earn s19O,OOC
provided the full amount of back taxes
against the Portland stock was recovered.
Legal representatives Of the Portland
company in this city are authority for the
statement that the company would not
= make any resistance to an annual assess
: ment OF a few thousand dollars, but II
will fight to the court of last resort the
attempt to collect the immense sum
claimed by the tax ferrets.
Supervisors Setz and Bulls, appointed Ia
determine how many Independent tele-
phones were necessary for the courthouse
reported in favor of installing one In tho
once of the sheriff and one in the ONCE OF
the auditor. Others may be put in later
when the independent company shall have
established a more complete system
throughout the. county.
The board adjourned early yesterday
afternoon to permit the members to go tc
Missouri Valley to attend the meeting and
banquet of the Southwestern Iowa Horticul
tural society.
The jury lists, it is expected, will be com
:. pleted today, when the board will probably
? adjourn to the regular January session.