Ypsilanti Must Settle

For Several Years Money for Fines Held Back

HOLD UP LIQUOR TAX

In This Way the County will Endeavor to Force Ypsilanti to a Settlement

Ypsilanti is soon to be brought up with a round turn in the matter of the $500 or $600 it owes to the county library in statutory fine money, for the county officials will refuse to hand over the $1,000 or more delinquent taxes they have collected for Ypsilanti until the library fund claim is settled, and in addition they will hold back the $3,000 or more that will be paid in during May by the Ypsilanti saloon keepers.

Prosecuting Attorney Duffy had it brought to his attention last fall that for the past five for six years Ypsilanti has failed to turn over to the county the statutory fine money collected by the justices of the peace, and he brought the matter to the attention of the Ypsilanti officials. Investigation showed that by the city charter the Ypsilanti justices are obliged to hand in all fines to the city, so the councils of the past few years were at fault in not forwarding the statutory money to the county.

A committee was appointed to determine the exact amount that is due the county, and after two weeks' work they reported to the Ypsilanti common council, but the latter body has as yet delayed in remitting. Some time ago it was proposed at Ypsilanti that the city offset the claim by a bill for expenses to which the city had been put by fighting contagious diseases, and a committee was appointed to look up the amount, but it has not made any report.

Prosecuting Attorney Duffy has wearied of the procrastinating tactics of Ypsilanti and announced this morning that the county officials will carry the war into the enemy's camp by refusing to hand over the delinquent taxes or the city's half of the liquor license money.

"In a few weeks we will have about $4,000 that belongs to Ypsilanti, so I guess they will be willing to settle our claim of a few hundred dollars to get it. We could of course commence suit against the city any time, but it would mean an expense to one or both parties, and if we chose we could take out the fine money that is coming to us, and turn over the balance of the $1,000 now in our possession, but that would not be entirely satisfactory either. We will therefore hold back all the Ypsilanti money until they pay up what is coming to the library fund."

The Prosecutor says that even if Ypsilanti comes forward with an offset on the contagious disease score, he will refuse to give them credit for it, as he wishes every item settled on its own basis and merits. If the county owes the city of Ypsilanti because of efforts for the prevention of contagious disease well and good, the bill should be brought before the supervisors. That, however, has nothing to do with the statutory fine money.

It is believed that the present council at Ypsilanti have put off settling the claim in the hope that it would go over until their successors assumed office and the budget was made up for the coming year. They have been accused of extravagance, and it is said that they are now trying to keep expenses down in every possible way.