The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-03-24
Mr.. D'U|S D||SC'LAIMS.
RESPONSIBILITY
FOR NEGLECT
fel's Evening Times He Did
Not Know Of Gross Earn
ings Tax in Tri-state.

Mayor George E. Duis disclaims any
responsibility in the failure of the city
to collect the quarterly tax of 2 per
cent on the gross income of the Trls
State Telephone company, operating
within the city limits of Grand Forks.
The mayor goes further and says that
he had forgotten that any such pro-
vision was made by the franchise
granted to that corporation by the
city, and in any event it was not his
duty to look after the enforcement of
the ordinance.
In May, 1903, franchise was grant
ed to the Tri- State Telephone company
and among other things it provided
that the company should make quar-
terly reports to the city auditor of
their gross receipts and that such re-
ports should be filed in the auditors
oH1ee on or before Jan. 10, April Is,
July 10 and Oct. Is. These reports
were to be audited by the city auditor,
or II demanded by the corporation or
the city council, by an auditing COM
mittee. of the city council. On these
reports We're to be based per cent
tax on the gross receipts of the COM
paAy, payable quarterly.
NO NepOrt8 Made.
While the Tri-State Telephone COM
pany has been operating their ex-,
change since about March /, 1905, APP
preximately a year, the records of the
city auditors Office show that no such
reports have been made. The query
naturally arises, why have the pro-
visions of the ordinance not been in
forced and why is the city not receiy-
Ing its income from the Tri-State Tele-
phone company, and above all, who is
responsible for this gross neglest of
duty?
To the end that the facts in the case
might be laid before the people of
Grand Forks, The Evening Times. af-
ter ascertaining the facts relative to
the matter at the Office of the city
auditor, submitted the following
questions to Mayor Duis this morning,
The questions were put by The Even
Ing Times man in the mayors private
ofhce and were, most cordially and
frankly answered.:
Mayor Duis, why has the provision
Of the franchise granted to the Trl-
State Telephone company relative to
quarterly report and quarterly pay
ment of 2 per cent tax on their gross
receipts not been enforced?"
The fact of the matter is, had for
gotten that there was such a provis-
lon In that franchise until my attention
was called to it the other day by the
local manager of the Tri-State Tele-
phone company. 1t seems that he had
forgotten it as well as the rest of us.
After my attention was called to the
matter, remembered the provision
OF the franchise and intend to enforce
it Now that my attention has been
called to the matter, | will see that
the matter gets onto the books of the
city and in the future the telephone
company will be required to- make
their reports promptly and pay their
quarterly tag equally as prompt. In
any event, it is scarcely my duty to
look after such things. l do not col
lect the taxes nor keep the books of
the city and am not responsible for
this oversight, although 1 may be at
fault in a measure"
Mayor Duis, are you shareholder
in the Tri-State Telephone company?"
"Emphatically, am not. do not
own stock in the Tri-State Telephone
company any more than you do,
have absolutely no interest in the
company whatever" Il,
Mayor Duis then outlined in detail
thesfight Of the Tri-State people to get