Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-04-10
Communications
Editor Tribune:

Editor Tribune:
EFT tn McGiliis!" This was the ex'
c. amtion of Caesar when attacked by
a gang Of political conspirators when
he recognized his friend Brutus among
them.
In an article published in the Trib'
une last Saturday signed by Mr.. D. j.
'McGillis, reference was made to a
resolution passed by the board OF
| county commissioners regarding turn
ing into the county treasury penalty
and interest as per report made
to the board by myself on collection
of personal taxes by the sheriff. Mr..
McGillis took exception to the word.
ing of the resolution for which the
undersigned was in no way RESPONSE
BILE; the ex-sheriff then proceeded 10
indulge in personalities, some sar-
casm and weak attempt at facteious'
ness. To increase the force OF his
argument in the future, when re-
ferring to me by title as Brigadier
General Thomas H. Poole, retired, ne
should add "North Dakota National
Guard" then the title and his argu-
ment would be complete, and much
stronger in sarcasm and ridicule.
Mr.. McGills admits ne was not
charged in my report with collecting
the $84.O3 and retaining it himself,
that in no way did I accuse him or
stealing this or any other amount
from the county, that L stated posi-
lively he did not collect this amount
from the taxpayers and that stated
he received no personal benefit there
from.
Mr.. McGillis will admit that the law
requires the sheriff to collect penalty
and interest on delinquent taxes from
the date of delinquency until the date
they are collected. Mr.. McGillis ad'
mits that he was probably wrong from
a legal standpoint in not collecting
this amount, but for reasons OF pol
icy ne did not. Mr.. McGillis does not
attempt to disprove that the amount
requested of him is incorrect.
If these are the facts what was the
matter with him as far as l was con-
cerned, the purport of his whole artl-
Gle besides the personalities INDUCED
in was simply justification for ais not
collecting the amount referred to.
certainly have no objections to his ex-
planning this fully to the public, but
from the fair and impartial report
made in the matter feel his remarks
relative to myself were uncalled Tor,
unjust and entirely out of place, and
for that reason in justice to the county
commissioners and myself refute en-
phatically any intimation on the part
of Mr. McGillis to prejudice by unfair
argument the taxpayers or farmers OF
Burleigh county by his attempt, to
show that the county commissioners
or myself would counteaance or ap-
prove any attempt to discriminate
against them in connection with his
collection of personal taxes, for this
reason then feel justified in defend
ing the commissioners and my work
when it is ftysA snd impartial. by any
argument which will at least place the
matter in it's true light before the pub
lie. Therefore will Mr.. lMcGillis ex.
plain these matters to the farmers.
Quoting from Mr.. McGillis article:
1T was the custom of the sheriff's
office in this county until the present
treasurer, Mr.. Kositzky, took office,
to send out notice of delinquent taxes
and then accept in payment at later
date in full of the tax the sum OF
which was named in the statement"
1t was under this custom that the
$S4O3 was claimed to be due from
Mr.. McGillis.
Mr.. McGillis states in his communi.
cation: what Is sauce for the goose
should be sauce for the gander" l
agree with this old adage; then why
was it in collecting personal taxes
during that period from dozens and
dozens of farmers they were made to
pay the full amount of penalty and
interest to the very day they were col.
lected, while others paid but q por-
ton of same? Was it fair to collect
the full amount from taxpayers who
paid reasonably prompt, while those
who had received notice delayed pay
ment three or four months and then
came in and paid up to date the state
ment was sent them? In this did the
sheriff reward promptness or de-
linQuency. Is this discrimination or
not?
The new custom which Mr.. McGillis
refers to as being adopted by Mr..
Kositzky when he went into office
was certainly a radical one, and to
use slang phrase crackerjack for
those who reaped tie reward. From
and after April a, 1909, this being the
commencement of Mr.. Kositzky's term
1t was not necessary as far as the
county was concerned, to ascertain
how much penalty and interest was
collected on all delinquent taxes up to
and including 1907, for the reason
that the total amount collected was
retained by the sheriff, ct al, as fees,
from the date Of this agreement, which
was April I, 1909, (which was verbaD
to December 81, 1910, being twenty
one months Mr.. McGillis collected
personal taxes for all years up to and
including 1907, $6,32691 face of tax
which went to the county, the total
sum of penalty and interest $2,859. SO.
or an average Of $105oo per month