The Topeka state journal., 1906-06-20
WANTSITS SHARE
City Getting Worst Of. the Tax
Proposition.
County Keeps All the Delinquent
Penalties.
HAS TAKEN S1OO,OOO
Mayor Davis Says There Must
Be a Settlement.
Experts May Be Employed to 60
Over Books.

An investigation will be set on foot
to discover how MUCH is due to the
city from 500, 900 of delinquent taxes
accumulated within the last fifteen
years, if the members of the ways and
means committee of the. council have
their way.
No itemized statement has ever
been made to the city from the county
commissioners detailing noncollectible
tax nor has any itemized statement
ever been made of the money due to
the city by the county treasurer. The
city has been blindly accepting the
money that the county turns over
though an unofficial demand has been
made on the county for these itemized
statements. The county treasurer mas
refused on the grounds that II WASH l
necessar ry and was too much trouble.
The plan for the investigation VIII
mean the hiring by the city of expert
accountants who will go over the
books at the court house ana trace
down minutely everything IN the way
of delinquent tax and discover WhetneI
the city has really got everything eiiele
has been coming TO it.
I'VE have been talking the matter
over in the committee, said Couhch-
man S. T. Howe, chairman OF the ways
and means committee, "and nave Deeh
considering the hiring OF accountants
for examining the records at the court
house to discover what IS really oue
TO the city on back taxes. There mas
been a feeling right along that the city
has not been getting all the taxes due
IT, The purpose is now to discover
whether the feeling has any ground to
support it,
This matter came up about two
years ago." said Councilman Green.
Il made an investigation at that time
-.f4 1,a dalinn9aPnf
at that time was about $S2 600. / think
that it would approximate $lO0.OOO now.
visited the county Offices at tnat tlfle
and attempted to get some sort or an
idea as what of this amount was act
ually due to the city but was unable 10
do so. There was nothing TO snow
what was due to the city. | made up
my mind at that time that it ought 70
be investigated ana that the city nau ID
better engage an expert to go over the
county's books and make a report on
what proportion Of the delinquent tax
is due to the city. The facts or the
matter are that the county treasurer
and the county commissioners are X1o-
Iating The law They are not giving
detailed account to the city Of the
various items in the taxes that they
turn over to theffcity. The law pro-
yides very plainlye~that detailed ac-
count should be rendered to the city
treasurer of the amounts due to the
city and their character.
'tIt also provides that the county
commissioners and county clerk must
certify to the city clerk the amount Of
roncollectible taxes after the annual
settlement in October. This has never
been done. When taxes are turned
over to the city by the county the
only thing which is done Is TO show
the amount of general revenue and
general improvement. It's a misde-
naeanor to violate this law and vet it's
done 1t ought to be enforced and af-
ter we secure this accounting I am in
favor of insisting on its enforcement" !"
Mayor W H. Davis is now in consul
tation with Chas. Spencer. former city
attorney, with regard to this delinquent
tax The mayor favors the plan of ap-
pointing Spencer and an expert ac-
countant to go over the records at the
county clerks office. Mr.. Spencer is
acquainted with the duties Of the coun-
tv clerks office, having once served as
county clerk It is believed that by
engaging the services of Mr.. Spencer
and an expert accountant the delin-
Eouent taxes can be checked back in
0Ood shape