The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-12-11
NTuEA REESn

"rHEM FEES"
Fox in presenting the circuit clerks report
said he had failed to get any account OF ices De-
longing to witnesses, justices, &c, In the hands
of the clerk; that he refused to account Tor thein
The report showed cash receipts, 81, 81; ex-
penses, g., SS2 80; deficit 81 cents; no account
of the earnings OF the office given or amount OF
uncollected fees. Report adopted.
A lengthy discussion followed as to these fees
| in controversy, on motion to instruct the com
mittee on fees and salaries to investigate the
matter and prosecute officers If proper The
matter OF prosecutions was soon abandoned, rs
there seemed TO be no law to tit the case. FOX,
however, said the circuit clerk had MADE arrange
ments TO pay the amount he holds (Which he
gucsses will reach 5000 to his successor IL was
also developed by sort of general cross exaIni-
nation of the county clerk that the bookkeeping
on this point is scandalously bad. Flaherty sald
it was evident there was a wholesale "cramping
onto" these fees--"they all 40 itoIwouldn trust
one OF them and Stock said "Oh my, how could
you!" and offered explanations as usual In seven
languages. Bellinghausen insisted that com.
mon business sense dictated that record OF
these fees should be kept Mclntlre "a. o. said
there was general misapprchenson on the SUB
iect. II is no part of the court clerks duty to
look after these matters. 1t is the sherits busl-
ness; but they get into the clerks hands through
dismissals, settlements, or through the sheriff
1t is the sheritfs business to look after them and
not pay tncI ONtI ~ IHc tlcihS' ihS
was voted down
The committee on equalization of personal
property reported that the suits against assess
ors for violations OF the law had broken down
that the attorney had come to the conclusion
the law wouldn't stick
The chairman and treasurer were authorized
to borrow money, not to exceed the sum OF
$l0,O 600.
| The finance committee were authorized to
complete the mortgage schedules for the use OF
assessors OF 1851.
After some routine business, The shcriff's and
treasurer's reports were approved. In the sher-
ifs bill was an item of SIS for attendance on the
La Sale city court, long since deceased. 1t
seems that some years ago the Board appropr-
ated S75 year for sherits services ut this court
and as the resolution had not been repealed the
Board had to pay it.
PARIS committee, appointed to get an opinion
to back up resolution to close the public rec
ords from public gaze brought in Mayo, prefer
ring he should give an oral opinion rather than
a written one to 20 on record. Mayo suggested
that the Board were becoming ridiculous, ana
said that by recent decision OF the Supreme
| Court any person had right in the office OF
recorder or any other clerk; could examine re-
cords or use them as he saw fit without stating
to any one his business; could loaf around the
office day in and day out during office hours IL
he wanted to- Penalties are provided for defac-
cations to furnish convenences to any one; but
/ as for putting q man out Of the office or pre-
venting his using the records, it was all non
sense-could not 10 done. The Board did not
order a shorthand report, or cause the opinion
| to he put on record!
! Mayo said also in relation to the actions
brought against Mr.. Bull for taxes on La Sale
real estate, that it appears Mr.. Bull owns but
small interest the lands though the tax on the
whole is written against him. The suits were
| fnrt of I n n 10
court would probably give judgment against Mr..
Bull for about $22S Mr.. Bull agrees to settle
subsequent taxes on the same basis. resou-
ton will be adopted authorizing the treasurer
| to SO settle.
As to suits against assessors, Mayo said no
penalty is attached by law to infractions such as
assessors had been guilty of, hence there is no
use in the prosecution OF assessors
'THEM FEES"
Ferguson offered a resolution, which was
adopted asking our representatives and senator
in the next legislature to secure the passage OF
law instructing county officers to account for
all funds coming into their hands not already
! provided for.
pointed Justice OF the Peace In Rutland, to fill
the vacancy caused by the resignation OF I. +.
| Mackinlay.
On motion of Beach, A. Lynch was allowed $40
for use of his halls.
! Stevenson from committee on complaints
and ATTACHMENTS, reported against petition for
reduction Of assessment by III. l.. Hossack; and
| in favor of the reduction asked by VIM. Reddick
on a piece of land in Dayton. Clerk ordered to
make the corrections.
On motion, the building committee were al
lowed to draw orders for their contingent ex-
penses.
On motion OF Fades, the pauper committee
were authorized to have telephone put into the
asylum, provided the total cost did not exceed
81 per month.
| The neyt session will be a called one to con-
slider new court house and Jail business, but on
motion of klove session for general business
will be held, beginning on the second Monday
| in March.
In the afternoon, County Attorney Mayo was
instructed to prepare a law to be sent to the
legislature for passage to correct defects In the
present statutes in reference to unaccounted fees.
Mr. Pool created buzz by charging that the
committee appointed to prosecute assessors for
neglect in the matter of personal property assess
ments had failed to do their duty, but after an
angry debate the matter was dropped.
Another sharp skirmsh arose on request OF
the new circuit clerk Taylor, that the Board fix
the pay of clerk Judge Stipp had directed him
to appoint The Board was actually Mortified at
the audacty OF the Judge in usurping powers
which they claimed belonged to them. The mat
ter was finally referred to the committee on fees
and salaries, and the Board adjourned to 8
O'Clock to day.
| The I.edertafel Society will hold a fair on Dec.
2l-22 to raise money to pay their debts and pro.
vide for tsc future. contest will be had for q
gold watch, to decide which is the more popular
man in Ottawa, A. T. Bartels or stephen Ar
mold.
| THE RIGHT ArPLICATIoN.-Mrs. ID. Morrison,
| Farnham Centre, =. O., writing about Dr. Thorn
ass Electric Oil, says George Bell used it on
his son, and it cured him of Rheumatism with
1 Tl,nh ata nnfth A bot