Show t r Now Comes the ii Question J y rA A STARTLING STARTLING bit of ot news concerning the W political affairs of Sanpete county has baen M revealed by Attorney General Joseph Chez wherein the county commissioners f benefited through collection of delinquent property property property prop- prop erty taxes The attorney general al he was informed informed informed in- in formed the commissioners had tak j action ac- ac r tion to pay a 5 per cent commission for the sale of property for taxes and th delinquent the total cut approximated 2500 for the th y years ears ars' 1936 and 1937 ft f Forthwith the attorney general termed t the the I action absolutely illegal and ordered that th the l c money be refunded to the Sanpete county treas- treas 4 toy ury ry immediately tely The action of the attorney general general general gen gen- gen gen- eral is commendable considering the gravity of the alleged offense Certainly the money should be refunded a as as quickly as possible and to the I satisfaction of the taxpayers of Sanpete county who who might have had the funds invested in in interest in- in in- in terest bearing securities since l 1936 36 had they rep reposed re- re p posed posedin in the trea treasury ury where obviously they should have J The i celerity with 1 which the ma matter t r was wasI I J J i brought to the attention of the a attorney orney general by Donald T. T Adams Adams district ct attorney from Price is also to be commended Obviously the Frank Maylett Henry W. W Jones and Lyman Seely believed in the le legality of their actions when when they spread the them upon the commissions commission's minutes each year the proposal to pay the 5 per cen cent t comm commissions on sales consummated Chicanery could not have been their motive else a public record probably never would have b been n made The three commissioners might be criticised however for having taken the action without consulting their county attorney E. E A. A Britsch on the legality of their plan a declaration made to Mr Chez by O. O L. L Hansen county clerk who also said the collection system was not riot used after the commissioners had been informed in 1937 by Mr Britsch that it was not strictly within with with- in the letter of the law The taxpayers of Sanpete county might also raise the question as to to why the commissioners did not offer to refund the 2500 after the they ha had been informed it was Vas not within the law to pay such commissions They Thy might also wonder why Mr Hansen and why Mr lr Britsch had not called th the matter to the attention of the county commissioners com corn missioners No matter whether the investigation con which the taxpayers rightfully can expect expect expect ex ex- ex- ex in order that definite responsibility may be fixed the big question seems to tb be Who will pay back the 2500 When that question is answered the people of Sanpete county may may in a measure measure be satisfied satis- satis satis satis- fied fled and surely the commissioners themselves will be more wary of f their actions in the future |