Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-15
COUNTY BOARD.
The Sheriff's Bills Further Discussed and
Finally Amended and Allowed.

| The Sherif's Bills Further Discussed and
Finally Amended and Allowed.
An adjourned meeting of the board OF
county commissioners was held yesterday
forenoon, the object being to pass upon the
disputed bills presented by Sheriff King for
services rendered the grand jury and district
court. Mayor Dawson presided, and all the
members were present but Commissioner
Rene. The accounts in question were bill
for 1922. so, and one for $275 for attendance
of the sheriff and his deputies at the last
term of the court. The meeting opened
with stormy discussion between Commits
sioner Grace and Mr.. j. D. O'Brien, counsel
for Mr.. King. Mr.. O'Brien said the position
of MIR. Grace was uncalled for; the bills had
been carefully examined, and not single
defect had been found. Counsel was inter
rupted by MIR. Grace, who asked that no one
person be allowed to filbuster and
retard the work of the board.
The remarks of counsel were uncalled for.
| The sheriff's bill for court attendance was
over $500; of this amount $216 was not &C
counted for by the names of witnesses. There
were several reasons why the bill should
| not 9 be passed; the names were not
given and the bills were not correct.
Mr.. UBrien-We have produced subpo-
| mas in spite of your teeth.
Mr.. Grace-This is a question of fact and
not of laws.
The Chair-Then you take the position
that the bill is not made out right?
Mr.. Grace-I do, sir.
Mr.. Egan was then requested to read the
bill, which he complied with by enumer-
| ating the names of the witnesses who served
in the respective cases. In number of in
stances the full names were not given, this
being the chief objection to the bill by Mr.
Grace. Before the bill had been read,
though, MIR. Grace called attention to the
cases where only the summaries had been
given. Another tilt took place between Mr.
Grace and MIR. O'Brien, which was interrupt
ed by the chair, who said he hoped there
would be no personal feeling
Mr.. Fink said it did not seem to him
that there should be such a fuss over the
bills SO long as the county attorney reported
that the witnesses had been there.
MFR. Hoyt thought that the bills were sub
stantially correct. Hereafter the board
would take exception to the bills for COM
uniting city prisoners.
Mr.. Grace called attention to bill for
1Ol III WIilCil VIC AHtu65 uaQ
been written after the bill had left the com
mittee and been referred to the county at
torney.
The chair examined the bill and stated
that it had been approved by MIR. Grace.
Mr.. Grace-That bill has been changed
since Saturday; it has been changed twice.
Another wrangle ensued, which was inter
rupted by the chair, who ruled ali disputes
out of order.
Mr.. Egan said it was unprecedented to
bring the county attorney into the matter as
member of the committee on claims. Tt
was for the committee to pass on the bills,
and for the county attorney to pass on their
legality. Mr.. Egan then resumed reading
the bill. In many cases before the grand
jury he did not remember the Witnesses
there were forty or fifty witnesses before the
last grand jury. In some cases the witnesses
were subpenead aud not sworn, because the
evidence previously given was sufficient for
the indictment.
The case of Otto Neu was cited, who had
been indicted on two counts. The witnesses
were called in both cases but he was indicted
on the evidence of one case, the other wit
nesses not being examined. In speaking of
the merits of the bill Mr.. Egan said that in
stead of keeping the witnesses separated the
sheriff had put the witnesses beeore the
grand jury and district court together.
Mr.. Egan thought the bill was substanti
ally correct; as to all the details, clerical er-
rors and names of witnesses, counsel was
willing to 60 to the record ard verify the
items. Mr.. Grace said ne was satisfied that
the sheriff was not entitled to the fees for
bringing prisoners into court.
The Chair-We sue not to be governed by
individual opinion or by the opinion of Mr..
O'Brien; the board was constrained to accept
the opinion of the county attorney, which
was entitled to the fees for attending court
under the law, at the same time being of the
opinion that the law should be amended.
Mr.. Egan explained that the sheriff was
entitled to ST., 100 for attending court; this
was separate bill and in this instance the
limit had not been reached.
The chair said that while he thought the
bills were substantially correct they should
be amended So as to give the full names.
The bill ought to be passed, but any taxpayer
who thought the bill erroneous had recourse
to the law.
- Mr.. Fink thought the bill of $216 should
be itemized.
Mr.. O'Brien said the charge was in the
language of the statute. 'for the attendance
of the sheriff and two deputies" As to the
names, if the court found that the witnesses
had been present ii did not matter about the
first names No single item could be polluted
out as wrong and reasons given why it WIS
wrong
A recess of five minutes was taken to al
low the committee to take action and report
on the bill.
The committee reported in favor of pay
ing the bills less the items of $60 and $51
for committing city prisoners for October
and November.
Commissioner Hoyt moved to allow the
bills and the motion was carried, all voting
in the affirmative but Commissioner Grace
THE YOUNG FIRE BUGS
Two Of Them Saut to the Kaforn School