Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-26
COUNTY oommrss,oNnps
A Report on the Alleged lrrcguiari
tics of Clerk Roche ~.

ttes OF Cierk ROChG AZ
The board OF county commissioners met
yesterday afternoon and ordered tho chair
man, under the direction Of the county at
torncy, 10 sign contract with l. N.,Hascall,
which provides that the latter shall be re-
sponsibla for all suits of damage that may
arise in connection with the removal OF the
buildings on the poor farm. The contract
was drawn up by the county attorney. but
as the board demanded additional security
beyond Mr.. Hascalrs own signature aud
that gentleman had moro 10 present tho
signing OF the document was postponed until
Monday. When signed, all deeds Of the
property will be turned over to the pur-
chaser by the county treasurer.
George w. Scott, the commercial traveller
who took so much interest in Miss Beechler
during the confinement and trial of that wo-
man, wrote from Rochester, N. Y, asking
the board to reconsider tho denial OF his
claim for expenses when he came to Omaha
To testify In the case. II is said he was out
not only position, but over 5000 IN addition,
and thought they should allow him the small
amount that 1t cost him TO come here, The
board decided that his coming was voluntary,
and that Douglas county had no right to pay
tho bill, so the letter was placed on file.
An invitation TO take part in the parade on
Decoration day was accepted by the board.
Henry Arf was appointed constable for
Millard in place of Fritz Schatz, resigned.
communication from the county treas
urer, stating that Mary Ostor anu William
Harrler on selling liquor without license,
was referred to the county Attorney,
A petition signed by six minister's. repre-
senting various christian denominations,
asking that a large room be set apart In the
new county hospital for religious purposes,
was read and referred TO the committee, on
construction.
On motion of Mr. Anderson, tho county
attorney was requested to report to the
board, at its next meeting, what progresa he
10 ms hing In n MI of he oh On.
Mr., Anderson, the chairman of the finance
committee, submitted a lengthy report on
the irregularity In County Clerk Roche's
last statement. Sections Of tho law govern
ing the point were quoted and also an affi-
davit In which IL was stated that safter tho
report had been given to the auditor Mr..
Roche asked to see IT, and while II was in
his possession made some Insertions. MIR.
Roche, in letter to the board, claimed
there was no error in the amount. but sim
ply in the number of clerks, one of whom
only worked four days. The report was re-
ferred to the county attorney and tho board
adjourned. E2t
In addition to the irregularity Of the re-
port of County Clerk Roche, Commissioner
Andrews is preparing to show up some Of
the extravaganza Of that Office. For in
stance, from the auditors account IL ap-
pears that, during 1883, 81 gross have been
paid for pens. when the contract price Is
fixed at Sl.50; also that S1.50 gross has been
paid FOR Egyptian pens, which are quoted in
the contract at 40 cents During the year
Ssl2. Is was paid out for this item of supplies
which Mount and Anderson both think a
very large sum. Mr.. Evans has likewise
discovered that scratch pads cost the county
in 1888 s3l6,5T; lead pencils, sl49. .16, and steel
crasers S522l. The bills show, furthermore
50 apiece has been paid for rebinding record
books which cost originally only $l2. But
the total OF expenditures by Mr.. Roche dur
ing his first year in Office does not exceed the
sum paid out by his predecessor for the year
previous.