St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-25

work was authorized, or any lntorma-
ton except such as may be
Inferred From the Bills.
In many instances it is evident from
the claims that the persons presenting
them and receiving the money are not
entitled to it, and have no legal claims
against the county. 1t seems to be the
practice to pay the overseer or. supern-
tendent the amount which it costs to do
the work and for him to disburse the
money to the parties named in the bill,
instead of having the county treasurer
make the payment. as provided by
law. As an instance, among many, the
following bill in favor of Commissioner
A b. Wright, No. 1868, allowed Sept.
Z, 1891, TO pay Number of bills to be
paid for work done by various men and
for supplies. also including tWenty-four
days work by Wright at IS day for
Supervising the work, and making a
total OF 81, 122.54. There is 10 report or
receipts on file to show that this money
was properly diSbursed to the parties
doing the work.
Section al, of said chapters, provides
that no public money shall be discussed
by the county commissioners, but snail
be disbursed by the county treasurer,
upon the warrant Of the chairman OF
the board Of county commissioners, at
tested by the county auditor, specifying
the name of the party entitled to the
same" The foregoing bill paid to MIR.
Wright was clearly in violation OF law.
Miscellaneous work.
There are numerous charges for livery
hire for the use of commissioners. They
are allowed mileage at 10 cents per mile,
as provided by section 100 of said chapter
s. which also provides that any county
auditor who shall issue his warrant for
the payment of any amount in excess OF
the travelling fees prescribed, shall for
felt to the county the amount OF such
excess. to be deducted from his salary.
BY the law the commissioners OF
Ramsey county are allowed 50 per day
for each day actually employed in the
examination of county roads and the
experimenting of work on said roads,
not to exceed a salary of $500 each. The
commissioners, however, have cOntin-
ued to draw the per diem under chapter
sos. which seems 10 be repealed by the
act of 1859.
In the bills of officers bringing prison
ers from other states 10 this state there
are charges of mileage and other eX-
penseS. and also railroad fare. Ger
talniy all the officer could expect would
be a reasonable per diem and his neces
sary expenses. Also, where arrests are
made III the state. the officer is entitled
TO mileage and fee for service. In bill
No. 1929 the sheriff charged S4.50 for
railroad fare OF the prisoner and also
mileage.
There are also charges for livery hire
for taking insane persons to the Office of
probate judge. and for conveying per-
SONS to the wOrkhouse. These are of
doubtful legality, and If legal, are part
of the Sheritf'S bills, and not direct
claims against the county.
There are claims of the sheriff for
bailiifs. which have been allowed,
where the names OF the bailiffs are not
given nor the date of service. Also
bills for serving SubpMnaS where the
names of persons Oh whom the service
was made are omitted. Such bills are
certainly not itemized, as intended by
law.
Under a special law of 1872 the duties
of oVerseer Of the poor. and the powers
conferred on county commissioners in
the care of The poor, under the General
Statutes, were given to board of three
persons, designated as the ''board of
CONTROL" which board also has the care
and management Of the city hospital.
The expense of caring for the poor
and of the city hospital is divided be-
tween the county and the city, the coGn-
ty paying two-thirdS and the city one
third.
Not Verified.
The practice of the board has been to
make monthly statement, showing
names and amounts Of purchases for the
previous month. These statements are
accompanied by the bills, more or less
itemized. of the persons named in the
statements, but such bills are not veri-
fed. as required by law.
The commissioners have acted on
these bills, usually passing resolution
appropriating tWo-thirdS of the gross
amount, and this sum has then mmedi-
ately been paid over to the board Of
control, which then pays the persons
having bills. There is nothing in the
law which takes these bills out OF the
usual line of county claims, to be item
lied and verified, and, when allowed,
to be paid by the county treasurer upon
proper order of the commissioners, to be
issued thirty days after its allowance,
except such part Of the bills which are
for salaries fixed by law.
An examination of the records and
accounts OF the board of control showed
generally that proper detail of all mat
ters were in that office. except the veri-
ficatIon Of the bills, but as the law does
not provide that such detail may be
omitted from the bills, they should not
be allowed when omitted. Besides this
detail, a further report would seem
tO he desirable and necessary TO
show TO the commissioners the
transactions of this board of
control, such further report to show the
names, ages and conditions of all per-
ssns cared for, date of reception and
discharge, the residence of those receiV-
ing temporary relief, and the amount
and nature of such relief. The main
tenance Of this system is costing some
$4,000 annually, and the records of the
county cannot be made too minute in
showing the expenditure. The report
concluded with financial exhibit of
the county.