The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1911-10-26

You further state that there is no
such amount of uncoIlected inherit
ance tax due the county You knew of
the action Of the Board asking NE TO
check over your records and if you
nave known all along the amount cue
and unsolicited why haven you before
this made report to the Board or your
own initiative without waiting for NE
TO act: Have you been unable during
this time 20 check over your own re-
cords Since you knew of the action
Of the Board why did you on June
10th. 1911. close and settle al estate
subject 20 a tax of from S4oO TO
$500 without taking any steps to col
lecr il! If you remember correctly
when you Were asked by NE why you
failed 10 collect the tax in this estate.
your answer was Il GiGn Z think Of
il II you deny this TO De your ans
x-r. will you not tell the people what
vas your answer
You further say that SOME Of the
estates from which Inheritance tax IS
coIIectab!e are still in process Of set
Element Ny report 20 the board IS
base; upon the estates closed and set
tied. Why mislead the public upon
the iimsy pretexr or nak--shifr that
the tax mentioned in my report is due
from unsettled estates
You further say you have collected
in the past few years almost 81. 600.
Why not make a clean breast OF Ir by
also stating the amount you failed 20
collect during those same years Is
il not a fact that from the year 1902
70 the first day OF January. 1911. You
mad but collected about 81. 200 Of this
amount and that so far this Year the
balance Of the 81. 600 has been col
lecCeG with the assistance Of the coUn-
- attorney and that additional cost
was made in one case for the reason
that you mad practically closed the as
tate without making any effort 20 col
lecC the tax
You further say. the inheritance
tax law Is Few and subject 70 many
different and conflicting interpreted
tons This law has been on the
statutes for the past ten years. Do
% -T..s, "a
been in force and effect for ten years?
You further say. There IS one estate
where the interests Of the heirs was
very conflicting and the settlement
Of the estate troublesome Did
you not sign the final decree in
mat estate giving the names Of the
heirs and ;ecreeing the amount OF pro-
perry eac, should receive. and for the
purpose Of collecting this tax. was
Tot that decree as plain as the nose on
your face Don't you fully under
stand that judgement over your sign
acure' Why did you close that large
-sCace without collecting the tax. IS
pecially after your attention was call
II 10 it by some Of the attorneys in
the case
You state that by proper procedure
the tax can De collected. The stat
Ute requires you 10 proceed TO collect
this tax before the estate Is closed
Can YOU realize that by closing
these states and after removal Of
heirs and Transfer Of land 20 innocent
purchasers. that the collection Of this
tax i going 70 De extremely costly
and hazardous and that il will De prac-
rically impossible 20 collect great
portion thereof
You say ny report i grossly IN
fair 20 you. How can this De- when
you knew the Board had requested ar
Inspection and report 20 De made? As
you no doubt know. 'ile,i my report
Immediately upon completion OF ny
Investigation. Did you Expect NE TO
withhold ny report. ana if so, why
ana for what period Of time You
have q com plete knowledge Of your
own records and il you consider my
report unfair why did you not file a
report Of your own instead Of request
ing further investigation:
In conclusion will state that during
my campaign last fall ple6ge: the
tax payers Of this county. OF elected.
70 conduct my office in the interests Of
the people and not in the interest Of
any county official. and when see
YOUR Office losing thousands OF dollars 20
those whom you are supposed 20 repre-
sent :haII not hesitate 70 bring The