St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-19
County Commissioners Jump
on the Frame of the Alb
Stract Clerk.
Charged With Not Keeping
Up the Work Of His
Office.
Murnane in Return Charges
Commissioners Martin With
Ungratefulness.
A General Overhauling Will
Be Inaugurated With To-
morrow.

81
The board of county commissioners
put in a busy day yesterday. and Will
meet Wednesday to prefer charges
against Nj. K. Murnane. the county alb
stra ct clerk, and on Thursday to con-
slider them.
The latest war against Mr.. Murnane
was begun with statement by Com
missioner Martin, to the effect that he
understood that the abstract Office is
five months behind in its business. as
compared with the work of the Office of
deeds, and shows mismanagement. He
offered resolution which was adopted,
asking the county attorney to examine
and report yesterday afternoon :as to
whether the books of the abstract clerk
had been properly kept, as required by
law.
cat the afternoon session, County At
torney O'Brien made statement to the
effect that every deed fled in the regis
ter of deeds Office up-to Saturday night
had been noted by its number in the ab
stract office. The deeds could not be
entered as 10 book and page until they
are spread Oh the records in the register
of deeds office. The record in the alb
stract office shows the book and, page for
all papers filed in the register of deeds
office UP to June ii last. Since that date
there is an occasional hiatus, but it is
in cases where the instruments are not
spread on the records of the register of
deeds and it is not possible for the alb
Stract clerk to enter the book and page
Oh his record before they are known.
MI. 0Brien stated that slips of deeds
are kept which give a complete abstract
of the deeds, which are used until the
record can be made by giving book and
page. He stated that
The Law Provides
that complete abstract must be made
within tweDty-four hours OF the inStru-
ments being filed, but that a technical
compliance with the law is impossible,
As the deeds are not spread on the rec
Ords for some weeks after being filed in
the register of deeds Office. He stated
further that the abstract Office is in
better condition than it has been for six
years. t.-@
Commissioner Lavallee said that there
had been considerable talk about the
abstract Office, and he would like the
county attorney to tell them what their
Quty Wis III pICiIllSGS.
E. 5: Durment appeared as attorney
for Mr.. Murnane, and stated that the
abstract Office seemed to be in a better
condition than he expected. That Office
was usually six weeks behind the regis
ter of deeds, whilst it was now only
about four weeks behind. AS to an
other branch of the subject, he failed to
see how the board could GUST Mr.. Muir
name. That time had gone by. They
could have done it last September, in
case he had completed the records as
required by law, but at present it was
not within the power of the board.
Mayor Wright desired the county at
tOrney to inform the board as to whom
Mr.. Murnane was responsible for the
faithful performance of duties.
Mr.. O'Brien stated that the board of
commissioners had power to remove
him for malfeasance. He based his
opinion on the common law and not OH
the statute. This was the only county
that had an abstract Office. In Henne-
pin county the abstracting was done by
by private individuals, and in all other
counties it was done by
The Register of Deeds.
Commissioner Martin asked if the
county attorney believed the board had
power to remove the abstract clerk for
the defects disclosed upon the eXamlna-
ton made.
Mr.. O'Brien said that he desired fur
Their time to consider that question.
Commissioner Lavallee said, I'VE all
know that the abstract clerk is not fit
man for the Office and we should not
allow him to remain in it."
Commissioner Martin suggested an
executive session to discuss tie matter.
The county attorney stated that if
charges were to be preferred they should
be submitted in writing and notice
| given Mr.. Murnane to appear and
| answer them.
Commissioner Martin moved that
| charges be made in writing, and that
| the board meet on Wednesday to tormu-
| late them, and that MI. Murnane be no.
titled to appear before the board at 10 a.
| m. Thursday to defend them. This plan
| was agreed TO.
| Mr.. Durment stated that Mr.. Murnane
would accept the present notification,
| but would insist that the board had nc
| authority to GUST him.
rsurnane and Martin.
Mr.. Murnane was not before the
! board, but he was seen in his Office, and
| did not seem worried by the matter. He
| said that he had practically kept Mar
| TIN for over year, and this was the way
he treated him. He stated that Martin
wanted the office for himself, but would
not be able to GUST him for that purpose.
! When the news spread that the board
was after the scalp of Murnane, candi-
dates for the Office bloomed in numbers.
| AT the afternoon session of the board
there were present four active candi.
dates for the Office. John Hardy, of the
| sheriff'S office, asserted that he had Sc
cured the pledges of four members OF
the board at the noon recess for the
| position. In ease the present official is
| ousted, Commissioner Martin will moi
| have walk-over for the election.
The written statement made to the
board by Miss Mary Hendv was thought
not to be proper matter for the board
to act upon in connection with the
| charges. She claims that there is bal
ance. Of s96.S5 due her for services
which the abstract clerk reported to the
BOARD as paid. The county attorney ex.
| pressed the opinion that this matter
| does not concern the board any further
than to allow it, and that the payment
is a concern of Mr.. Murnane and Miss
Hendy only, and it should not enter into
charges against the management of the
office.
The County Printing.
The county printing was awarded by
| unanimous vote to James ii. Burns fol
another year at his bid of 81 per cent of
the maximum figures on the plan pre-
sented. The other bids were: Frank
Shoop, 65 per cent off the maximum fig.
ures; Z. Z. Deyine. 60 per cent off
George A. Doran, for st. Paul Dispatch
Printing company, 6695. perce Volks
zeitung Printing and Publishing com
pany, 40 per cent; Robinson & Oster.