The Columbus journal., 1893-06-28

Among the most interesting transac-
tions to taxpayers OF Platte county,
transpiring since the organization OF the
county, was the employment Of experts,
and their labors seem now to be one OF
the interesting things before the board
of supervisors. As the consideration OF
the following report was deferred till the
next meeting July III, We lay it before
our readers, 80 they may have an insight
into the line of discussion that will
doubtless take place. The report is self
explanatory, except as to the questions
raised by the committee, and We give it
without comment:
To the Board of Supervisors of Platte
county, Nebraska-Gentlemen: Your
committee, appointed Jan. u, 93, to
make inquiry and report to this body
concerning the manner, method and
efficiency with which Messrs. Murphy &
Lynch, who were duly appointed by this
board on July Is, go, to make expert ex-
animation Of the county records, respect
fully report that they find that the rec
ords and files in the county clerks office
disclose the following facts: That c. d.
Murphy and J. w. Lynch we're appoint
ed by this board as experts aforesaid,
and on the 18th day of July, 1890, enter
ed into a contract with said board to
make expert examination. of the county
records, that on the same day the board
set apart the room formerly used by the
county Judge for the use of said experts
and directed the county clerk to procure
desk for same; that by the terms of their
said contract said experts agreed to
commence said work on or about the
first day OF September, 80, and to re-
main thereat from day to day until said
work is completed, and for such services
they were to receive five dollars per day
each, of eight hours; that said experts
commenced their work on the second
day of September, go, and that on the
22d day of December, 80, they filed their
report of examination of the Office of the
county clerk from 80 to 89, during
which time the said Office was held by
John Staufer; that, from the I'd day OF
September, go, until the 21st day of
December next following, G. d. Murphy
and j. w. Lynch each worked on said
county clerks Office 71H days, and each
received the sum of S3725O. The excess
of $15 each, above their per diem, is pay
for overtime, which in some cases was a
fourth of day.
On March 10, 81, work is commenced
on county treasurer's Office by experts
and continued by each till the 18th, bill
rendered for five days, $25. Then from
March "a to 81, 6 days; April l to 30, IA
DAYS; May to q, l6 days; June 2 to 6,
s DAYS; June 16 to 30, llSs days; and
| from July to IL, days, making in the
last two items 1881 days for Mr.. Murphy
while Mr.. Lynch has one day more.
1891, Nov. l3 to Dec "a, Mr.. Murphy
worked Maa calendar days, in which he
gets q days time, bill $145; Mr.. Lynch's
bill for services between the two dates
last above is $l3S.75.
On the 7th of JAM, 92, Mr.. Lynch
presented his resignation to the county
board of supervisors, which was accepted
on the 18th of that month, and on the
day last named a motion was passed
authorizing Mr.. Murphy to select his
own assistant, who was to receive the
same per diem that was allowed to Mr..
Lynch.
Your committee is unable to find any
report or announcement of any kind
from Mr.. Murphy to this body as to who
was selected by him as such assistant,
but from bills presented to this board
for such expert work. subsequent to Mr..
Lynch's resignation, it appears that Mr..
E. w. North was 80 selected.
JAN, 92, 26 to q, 81 days, $3.50, as
per bill rendered by Mr.. Murphy; Jan.
26 to March IA, 271s days, $l37.5O, as per
bill rendered by E. w. North: March Z
to IA, 61s days, $3.50, as per bill rend-
cred by l. Sibbernsen. Right here per-
son of any inquiring turn Of mind would
naturally want to know how Mr.. Sib-
bernsen got into this expert examina-
ton; we find nothing in the record of
the board warranting MIR. Sibbernsen in
engaging in this work.
Bill of E. w. North, '92 March Is to
June Is, 7l4 days, $356.25. Bill of I.
Sibbernsen, 92, March Is, to Is, 714
days, $356.25.
On the 18th of June, '92, the expert
examiners file their report on county
treasurer G.. A. Newman for the years
"a, ., g and Y, Sibbernsen 4 North,
| experts.
On the same day the experts also file
their report on county treasurer j. w.
Early for the years 80, 4, 2 and 3; with
| this there is also q report OF errors in
tax receipts by j. w. Early for the years
1871 to '79, both inclusive; this report is
also signed by Sibbernsen and North.
Thus far report has been made by ex-
pert examiners on county treasurer Gus
G.. Becher, for his first term only, being
for the years 1888 and '89; this report is
made December 30. '92, and is signed by
C. D. Murphy and E. w. North, bill for
same G. d. Murphy from October 10,
92, to December q, 92, 2lA days,
amount S1OS.7O; bill for same, e. w.
| North, from October 25, ~, to December
30, '92, 321a days, amount $162.5O.
In view Of the fact that by the terms
of the contract the expert examiners, C..
ID. Murphy and J. w. Lynch, we're re-
| quired "tO commence the said work on
or about September l, go, and remain
thereat from day to day until said work
is complete" we submit the following
summary: Number of days by experts
on work for the year 1890: Murphy,
Sept. 2-Oct 8, 241l days; Oct. 9-3l, IA
days; Nov. 1-26, II days; Dec. 2-2l, 16
days. Lynch, same dates and amounts
exactly. From Sept. 2 till Dec. q, total
calendar days 10. Number of days
work by each expert 7lks, number OF
Sundays II, number of days lost 2l1ks.
Number of days by experts on work fOr
the year 1891: Murphy, in March, II
days; April 141s; May 16; June 1853;
July Z; November q; total, 94b days
The total by Mr.. Lynch during the same
time is sc days, with two additional
days, January l3 and IA, before the
board explaining experts reports.
The energy with which this work was
prosecuted after our experts had got
through with County Clerk Stauffer is
apparent on examining the following
summary:
From Dec. q, 80. till Dec. 81, 81.
| total calendar days 81:
Number OF days worked by each ex-
Number Of Sundays ................ "
/ Number of public holidays. ......
Number Of days lost by experts. ......s06 So
1t will be noticed from the foregoing,
that from September 2, 80, to December
81, 81, each OF the experts was engaged
at the work thew contracted to do and