Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-01-25
TREASURES TELL SECRETS
Explain How Easy it is to Dodge the
Ubiquitous Collector.
RISK IN DISTRESS WARRANTS
Some Use These Documents Success
fully, While Others Do Not
TRICKS OF TRADE ARE EXPOSED
Tell of the Different Methods
Adopted In Making Tax
Collections.

Could would-be tax Dodgers have heard
yesterdays discussion Of "Personal
Tax Collection" by the County Treas
urers' Association of Nebraska, they
would have been fortified in their be-
lief that II Is almost impossible for the
county treasurer TO make them pay their
personal taxes II they don't want TO do so.
Il work bic bluff. but II they took
a notion to call my bluff. they might get
off" said Ray {, I.angford, treasurer
Of Lincoln county. III they persistently
refuse to pay. | let the information so
out TO them that ! am getting ont a
distress warrant 10 levy on their prop
erty and they usually como across IL
a delinquent moves out OF the state,
get the name Of the sheriff In the county
TO which he has gone and write him
that | have issued distress warrant
and have sent Il to sheriff so-and-so
to serve That usually brings the money.
Not one man In 1000 knows that distress
warrant Is no good outside the state"
Fearing trouble OF various sorts for
themselves. the treaSuTers hesitate TO
Issue distress warrants, Judging by the
remarks OF many of them during the
discussion. Frank 4. Furay, former
treasurer OF Douglas county, told how
bis predecessor. Robert Fink. had been
"shng" for si.l0o by issuing such a war
rant. Fink levied on some buggies OF
an omaha concern and sold them for
taxes. The concern sued him in district
court and got Judgment ON the ground
that the vehicles belonged to someone
else. Fink took tho case to the supreme
court and vas beaten.
II levied on three tombstones belonging
to south Omaha dealer and placed
them in the basement Of tho court
house." said Mr.. Furay. The Omaha
Tombstone trust. TO prevent the monu-
ments from being offered at public sale.
paid the taxes. but | spent four months
trying TO ge the owner OF those tomb
stones to come and take them away"
Trcssurcrr Are Heartiess.
The treasurers arc absolutely heart
lsss IN rolloalng iust taxes, when they
ean collect at all, Mr., Langford told how
he got a bIaeksmitf's employer to lay on
4 bench. IN front OF the blacksmith. -
due the smith, aud Langford was there
with distress warrant and grabbed
II.
II was all he had in the world" said
Lansford.
you would take a mans last cent for
taxesg" asked Frank A. Furay.
"Yes, slr," replied Langford.
Tax dodgers would have got another
hunch from the discussion. That Is, not
TO let the Information that they are
about to leave the county get into the
newspapers,
II would-advise every treasurer to SUBJ
scribe to every paper In his county" said
President Hevelone "and watch them for
information on dclinaucnts about 10 SO
away. I carefully watch every paper in
Gage county and when read that a de-
llnauent Is about TO move | go after him
with a warrant"
IIeycionr Is Persistent.
some OF the trtasurers frequently use
dlstresy warrants In spite Of probable
trouble for themselves. among them being
Hevelone of Gage county and Langtord
Of Lincoln. Hevelone said he Intends TO
chain to the track the first swift re-
frigerator ear that comes through
Beatrice because the tax OF the private
car line has not been paid
MIR. Furay said the army officers living
in Omaha claimed 10 be exempt from per-
sonal taxes and refused TO pay them. The
sarpy and Lincoln county treasurers re-
ported that they made the army officers
In their counties come across"
The treasurers inspected the Union Pa
cific headquarters at noon. They visited
the Omaha National bank yesterday to
see the marble. walnut and mahogany
they had heard so much about
HeIatIon. with Banks.
In the afternoon. ]. A. Barnard. presi-,
dent Of the Union State bank. Beatrice.
and former treasurer OF Gage county.
addressed the convention ON Relation
Of Banks and Bankers to County Treas
urer's office" J. n. Hutchins, treasurer.
OF RIschsrdson county. spoke on Re
lation OF County Treasurer's Office to
office OF County Clerk" and Z. 3.
Hirschman, treasurer Of Cedar county,
spoke on The Taxpayer" w. L. Me-
Cloud. treasurer of York county. speak,
ing on Kicks aud How to Meet Them,
said the best way is to t.eat every kicker
with the utmost pollteness and considera-
tion. in an endeayor 10 make him realize
that his taxes are for the benefit Of his
own family. ..=
Part Of the afternoon was spent In an
experience meeting" short talks being
made By c. o. Olson Of Phelups county.
E. s. Wood OF Hamilton. J. p. Gillian Of
Nemeha. c. A. Schappel OF Pawnee.
hGeorgs Bruse Of Washington. H. Jelinek
OF saline and S. Fishman Of Cheyenne.
Today's program:
FORENOON, 10 O'CLOCK.
Remedial Legislation Affecting County
Treasurer's OfTice-E. l.. Hevelone. Gage
county, and others.
Discussion.
The Commissioners Viexpoint-W. G.
ure county treasurer-elect OF Douglas
county, eN-commissioner.
The New Treasurer-Philllp A. Som
merlad. county treasurer-elect Lancastes
AFTERNOONS O'CLOCK.
Legislation-c. II. Aldrich. governor OF
Nebraska.
Ths Auditors office-Silas R Barton.
auditor public accounts.
State 1reasurer's Office-Nslter A.
George. state treasurer.
Election OF officers.
EVENINGS O'CLOCK SHARP.
Banquet
Toastmasser-wiIliam Mccormick. ex-
deputy treasurer Lancaster county.
ToaSts will be responded 10 by G. III.