Evening journal., 1915-03-26
WAR OF Words
OVER TAX QUESTION
Mr.. Slower and Mr.. Nc
Dermott Wrangle at
Council Meeting
DECLARES BONDS
ARE WORTHLESS

A lively argument over the matter
of taxes due the city in the Northern
district for the years 1901 to 1907, said
10 be about $4,000. took place be-
tween Councilman J. l.. McDermott
and Councilman Weller Il. Stover at
the meeting Of City Council last night.
Councilman McDermott brought up
tho question by asking what action the
finance committee had taken on the
subject. He stated that Mr.. stovcr
had remarked two weeks ago that the
matter had gone on from one council
to another, but he was going to clean
il up.
"Will the action be taken next
month or in two months?" asked Mr..
McDermott, and continued: Il am in
the dark and if it's the peoples money
it is up to us to get it,
Mr. Stover said he wished TO con-
gratulate Councilman McDermott for
being on the job and if he (Mr. McDer-
motif was returned TO Council next
year. which he thought was very
doubtful, he hoped he would again be
on the job Mr.. Stover said the fl
nance committee had had a conference
with City Solicitor Daniel o. Hastings
last Thursday night and that the lat
ter had promised TO have a report
ready last night and the report had
been received by him, but was ad-
dressed to the finance committee, not
TO Council.
Mr.. Slower said that Mr. McDer-
mott had brought up the question at
an opportune time. as there was ono
point which he might just as well
disclose now as any other time and
this was that the bonds Of the collector
for the years in question were not
worth the paper they we're written on
He said he was not a lawyer. but his
common sense had led him TO this con-
clusion
The first bond. Mr.. Stover declared.
was not dated. while tho second bond
was issued for assessor and collector
/ OF the Southern district, Office never
| held by the collector in question.
The first bond, Mr.. Stover said, was
approved by a Republican Mayor and
Council and the second bond by a
/ Democratic Mayor and Council, and
I so he considered there was no cam
parties were negligent.
Mr. McDermott said he was not
trying to make campaign issue of
tho question. He said Mr. Slower
/. had brought up the question several
5 weeks ago, but he understood he was
5 no longer candidate for Mayor anO
was going to retire from public life
/, He said he had no desire to "sline
mud" but was looking after the in
terests of the tax payers. He stated
that he did not know how the bonds
were drawn up and that Councilman
James Kane YVES the only one now in
I Council who was in when the
> bonds were approved He said the
matter had been brought up by Mr..
y Stover and he merely wanted TO
know what was going to be done; that
the campaign was not worrying him.
Mr.. Stover said he did not know
how many committees Mr. McDermott
served on. but II he spent as much
time as the finance committee on
; this matter he would know more
about it, He declared that the finance
committee had spent many hours try
ing to adjust the matter. and, in fact
had used every effort.
. "You cant rush pell NELL" he con-
tinued You cant take people by the
throat and make them cough up
What are you going to do?"
As Mr.. Hastings report to the com.
mittee was not read. nor its contents
disclosed, il is not known what is go
A ing TO be done on the subject
e J. ]. Keeley. OF No. 1904 Madison
street, asked that a fire alarm DO,
be installed at Thirty-fourth an,
Madison streets. This request wal
referred to the fire committee.
Residents of Lincoln street. between
Fourth and Sixth streets, and thos
along Scott street.. between Fourtl
!. and Sixth streets. petitioned Council
to have these streets paved. Their re
quest was referred to the COMMITTEES
, OF the whole.
The police pay roll. amounting Il
$S664.94, was ordered paid. Tn,
balance in bank to the credit OF tn
city was reported to be S149,62O.51.