The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-18

Salaries clerk hire and lncdeutas tg0M 40 "a, ~
Earning. IN excess Of exp 'nses.... o,Si III tssoi
Supervisor Norton also submitted the
following report which was adopted.
Mr.. Chairman &c.-Your committee to
settle with county officers would respect
fully report that they have made thcr.
ough investi CATION of the books and vouch.
ers in the office of county clerk Finlen
for the four years expiring December l,
1896 and find on comparing the receipts
ns shown by the books, with the amounts
reported and paid over to the county treas,
urer, that the moneys have been accounted
for. that "A few small clerical errors
were discovered, but on adjusting the
itams il WAS found that the clerk had over
paid the county the sum Of twenty two dol
,nIs and sixty cents, and We recommend
that the clerk be authorized to draw on
the treasurer for the amount.
WARREN II. NORTON, Chm.
wm.J. DwYER.
BASIL GREEN.
HENRY GUM.
FRED. w. Fades.
Supervisor Norton also submitted the
following report which was adopted.
Ur Chairman de- our committee e
e,tle 4 ith county officers would respect
fully report that from the settlements here.
iofre had with the several clerks In the
different. offices and from partial examin-
tions made, your committee to settle with
county officers uwOud most respectfully
report that they find that the register of
fees required by statute, page 63 sec. 81
10 be kept from day to day, as by said law
contemplated is not kept, but that said
register of fees is made up half.yearly
from files of papers, dOckets and memoran.
dt recurring great amount Of research
and labor, which, In our opinion, can be
obviated by strict compliance with the
law.
II has further come 10 our knowledge
that a large amount Of fees received for
certided copies of papers and proceedings
had in the several courts have not In sin.
gle instance been reported among the earn
ings, nor receipts Of said officers as re-
uuired by law, and the opinion of the
county attorney herewith attached.
Your committee further find that II Is
the practice of some of the officers TO con
vert the witness fees by them received into
their own pockets, through the medium OF
so-called power of attorney, instead OF In
10 the county treasury as the law directs In
case tnpy are DDt ny Witnesses AT
the expiration Of their term OF office. They
thereby necessarily become attorneys for
thousands of people in the collection of
fees as well as Supreme Court Judges In
constituting the statute 10 enrich themselves
al the expense of the county.
Your committee would recommend that
some means be devised at this meeting OF
the board whereby our salaried clerks and
all others Ia their employ can be relieved
from these arduous self imposed duties.
Ia view of the facts set forth above your
committee would recommend that the said
clerks De, and are hereby instructed,
by this board that strict compliance with
the law, both In the manner OF keeping
the register OF fees and the matter Of fees
as earned above will be exacted by this
board, and in case Of refusal or neglect on
their part to comply with the above rea
sonable request, that no further salary, fee,
emolument, perquisite or per-diem OF any
nature or kind will be paid 70 them by con-
sent or approval Of this board.
WARREN II. NORTON, Chm.
tn Nh, Committee 10 settle 9th County on
esrs, GEs rLENES: You have PROFOUND