The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-05-07
SAY. TREASURER
FL0U TED LAWS
ON co. MONEY u.
Taxpayers Petition to Undo Ac-
tion of H. p. Knappen
on Funds
MONEY ON TINE DEPOSIT
Farmers Didn't Pay taxes to
Have Money Loaned
< Out, Claim
MONEY ON TINE DEPOSIT

The Burlelgn county DOaru oi coii'
missioners have under consideration
today a petition from taxpayers to
instruct the county attorney and co'ln'
ty auditor to proceed to obtain the
return to Burleigh county, of funds
placed on certificate of deposit in the
Bank of North Dakota by H. p. knap-
pen, outgoing county treasurer, on
the last two days he was in office. F.,
The petition was prepented late
yesterday afternoon by Scott Came
ron, of Cameron and Wattam, attor'
ney for number Of taxpayers who
made the petition.
In presenting the petition, Mr..
Cameron alleged that the depositing
of general funds on certificates OF de-
posit was unlawful, was in effect the
loaning of money, and that the money
should be returned to the county
Would Necessitate Warrants?
Out OF the February tax money col
lected, he said, there is owing over
$269,O0O to state, cities and townships.
He said that all of the county funds
with which to make these apportlon'
ments was placed on certificate OF de-
post except $251, ,495.70.
"If the county attempts to pay the
state. cities and townships the county
will not have enough funds available
and would have to issue warrants
which bear a higher rate Of interest
. than the certificates Of deposit, he as
serted.
Farmers are complaining that they
did not pay their taxes to nave the
money loaned out and the local com.
munity governmental agencies need
the apportionment badly, he asserted.
Claims No Authority
There is no authority under the enW
depositary law for the depositing OF
money on time certificates, he said.
Knappen, he said, should have turned
over the money to his successor, :.
A. Flow, and declared that knappen
did this without authority to do what
he did without consulting the com.
missi0ners.
Knappen has stated previously that
he took the action he did to protect
the Bank of North Dakota. where all
county money was deposited fearing
Flow would draw out all Of the money
as quickly as possible.
Text Of Petition.
The petition follows:
70 the Honorable Board Of County
Commissioners of Burleigh County,
North Dakota:
The undersigned, residents, citizens
and taxpayers Of the County of Bur
leigh state OF North Dakota, for and
on behalf Of themselves and of the
taxpayers of Burleigh county, respect
fully represent to and petition your
honorable body as follows:
That, whereas one H. P. Knappen,
has been from the 9Th day of January,
A. D. 1921, to the 1st day Of May, A. D.
1921, the duly qualified and acting
county treasurer of Burleigh county,
North Dakota, and
Whereas the said H. P. Knappen,
while such county treasurer and on
the goth day of April, A.. D. 1921, did
without authority of law loan the
funds of the county of Burleigh to the
Bank Of North Dakota, banking cor
poration doing business in the city OF
Bismarck, North Dakota, and which
said corporation has not qualified as
depositary of county funds as prt\1id-
ed by Chapter Sc of the Laws of 1921,
and did without authority of law ac-
cept certificates Of deposit represent
ing said loans and that the amounts
of said loans, the rates of interest and
the time when due of said pretended
certificates of deposit are as follows
tn-wit. ...... '...