The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-03-09
Weber County commissioners
Never Returned Cash I'm.
lawfully Received.
LOOKS AS If POLITICS
FIGURED in THE GAME
Matter Permitted to Drag Along
Without Action Until Too
Late.

In connection with the revelations con-
corning official graft, which hnvc recently
been made exclusively by The Tribune.
there is an interesting story as to the
S923, out OF which Weber county mulctcd
the Statc by extra charges for expenses
incurred in the assessing and collecting OF
tnNes. According to the records OF both
the State and Weber county. that debt is
still due and owing, although unfortu-
natcly outlawcd by the statute OF limi-
tations.
Is a Strange Muddle.
Tho unprcJudiCcd citizen who Will make
for himself a careful investigation OF
this matter must reach the conclusion
that, to say the least. the muddle is
strange one. Here arc the facts so far
es they arc revealed by the records:
Demand Was Made
In December 1902. c. S Tlngey. then
State Auditor, made an investigation of
the manner In which the Weber County
Commissioners had been handling this
extra expense business, and determined
that the county had overcharged and re-
ceivcd from the State Sl9B This was
the total OF the States proportion OF war
rants drawn In the names OF dummies"
that isr persons who did no work. but
merely 20 afford deputies opportunity 10
get I'm extra time and receive more salary
than they could draw under the law. Mr..
Tlngey made an official demand for the
return OF this amount. but he did not get
1t for the State
Allowed to outlawed.
While 1t would seem to be eminentIy
the proper action 10 have a claim OF this
kind pressed through the legal channels
until It's validity should be determined, IL
Will be remembered that in 1904 there was
political campaign, In which numerous
Republican officials wore much dCSirouR
of succeeding themselves. But the claim
was not pressed, Tor the reason, as Is
stated upon the highest authority. that 20
do so might at that time cndHnGer the
Republican majority In Weber county.
and IT was permitted to become outlawed
under the provision OF the statute which
10 recover rejected claims OF this charnc-
ter.
Mr.. TIngey Is Silent,
Charles S. TIngey. then Auditor now
Secretary OF State. when seen by Tho
Tribune. absolutely refused TO discuss any
ment TO make / do not care TO discuss
the matter at this time. | don't cnro TO
figure In any newspaper lights, were the
answers that he gave 20 every query pro-
pounded TO him by tho reporter.
What Officials Say.
] ne lIlpuuc WIS INFORMED by n
who is thoroughly conversant with tho
situation that shortly after the rejection
OF the claim by the Weber county hoard
tho matter was laid before Attorney
General Breeder. with instructions 10 pro-
ceed legally. But Attorney Brecden's
statement does not agree with this view
OF the case. He SAYS thar tho re
tected claim was not presented TO him
until after the statute OF limitations had
run
Statement of Halverson,
Learning that the matter had also becn
brought to the attention OF George Hal
vcrson, Attorney for the Second district
which includes Weber county, his state,
mcnt was secured. IL follows: The then
State Auditor referred the matter OF col
lectlng the amount due from Weber
county 20 me more than ono year after
the same had been rejected by the Board
OF County Commissioners. proceeded
with tho matter but discovered thnt the
statute OF limitations had already run.
even before IT had been referred to me
Law Is Plain.
Section 1851 OF the Revised Statutes OF
1898. Laws of Utah, provides: Actions on
claims against the county, which have
been rejected by the Board OF County
Commissioners, must be commenced
within one year after they have been re-
tectcd by such board
Commissioners Laughed.
It advised the state Auditor. also tho
OF the facts I'm tho
matter. explaining that the statute Of
had run. The Board OF County
Commissioners wore already advised and
they laughed Mt us"
Mr. Halvcrson does not recall the exact
date that the matter OF the rejected
claims was FIRST presented TO him but
is certain that II was some timo in 1901
These are the facts; various lnferences
may be drawn