Show CHEZ REVEALS ILLEGAL USE OF TAX MONEY Sanpete Commission Told to Return 2500 Cut CutA A method of ot delinquent tax collection collection collection tion whereby me members bers of ot the Sa Sanpete Sanpete San San- pete county commission took for their personal use a 5 per cent commission commission com corn mission on all monies collected was revealed by the attorney generals general's office Thursday The system was termed absolutely absolutely absolutely illegal by Attorney General Joseph Chez who added that the money approximately tely 2500 received by the commissioners during 1936 and 1937 must be refunded at once The county commissioners are Frank Maylett l Henry Henry W. W Jones and Lynian Lyman Seely The collection method was re revealed revealed revealed re- re T. T Adams district attorney fr from m Price who conferred with Mr Chez Wednesday afternoon after after- noon Mr Adams had a conference scheduled with E E. A. A Britsch Sanpete Sanpete Sanpete San San- pete county attorney Thursday afternoon afternoon afternoon aft aft- at Price and would make no statement prior to that meeting The commissioners according to O. O L. L Hansen Sanpete county clerk set up a budget out of the general fund- fund part in hi s. s. s sessor's office e and the remainder r rin in the treasurers treasurer's office for payment payment payment pay pay- ment for colle collection lion of delinquent taxes The over 1936 and 1937 1931 was 2500 According to a resolution written into the commission minutes in co connection connection con con- with the budget ordinance each year it is hereby ordered that the county commissioners supervise in their respective districts either sale or secure the services of some reliable person or persons to offer for sale and sell all the property belonging belonging belonging be be- longing to the county taken by virtue virtue virtue vir vir- tue of an auditors auditor's tax deed and andI that said commissioners or said person person person per per- I son or persons who sell said property either to the original owner or to some disinterested party shall be e allowed allowed allowed al al- al- al lowed the amount of ot 5 per cent of the purchase price of said property as commission for their services The arrangement was to apply apply apply ap ap- ap- ap ply on delinquent taxes up to and Including 1935 according to the minute entry Mr Hansen said that to his knowledge the commissioners had done all the collecting themselves not hiring other agents Most of ot the budget set up each year was used he said According to Utah statutes Mr Chez aid ald it is a felony for a county commissioner to benefit fi financially financially financially fi- fi from his Isis office other than through salary provided by law Mr Hansen said the commissioners commissioners commissioners commis commis- did not consult the county attorney when lien the collection system system tem tern was as first adopted but that in 1937 he sled asked Mr Ir Britsch about it and th the latter informed him it was as not strictly within the letter of the law he said The commission he said Immediately Immediately immediately immedi Immedi- dropped the collection plan and andas las as not used it since |