Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-07-07
BILLS SCALED DOWN.
COMMISSIONERS REFUSE TO ALLOW
CLAIMS OF COUNTY OFFICIALS.
Determined TO EC0NOMlzE.
PORTER SHERMAN ELECTED PuEsI.
DENT OF wYANDOTrE BANK.
A busy Day in the Police Court-R. u.
Gordon Severely Injured by Rum
AWAY Horsrs-Prisc fight-
ers smith md Rivers
Are Discharged.
Determined TO EcoNoMlzE.

The board OF county commissioners met
with County Auditor Berger yesterday and
went ove- the claims against the county
for the second quarter of 1895, which ended
June 30. The total amount claimed was
s2l.sos.3i. Out OF this, sls.020.s so was allowed
and s3.7s7,5i dlsailowed.
The bills of Coroner Todd were slaugh-
tered. out of eight inquests he succeeded
in getting the board to allow him fees for
holding two. The six cases disallowed
were for inquests held over the bodies of
persons Killed by railroads. Auditor Berg
er held that the law only provided for in
quests in cases where the cause of death
was unknown, or supposed to have been
caused by unlawful means. He stated that
where people were killed by a railroad the
cause of death was certainly known and
that there was no supposition about Its
lawfulness. The board agreed with the au-
ditor and the costs Of the six inquests were
thrown out.
Coroner Todd happened In the room just
as the knife was being applied TO his
claims and a lively discussion followed.
Chairman Drought asked him II he was
running n free medical school for the cd
ucation of young doctors and taxing the
costs UP to the county. This remark was
occasioned by the board finding a claim Of
the coroner's for $3.50 for twenty-four post
nortem examination held during the past
three months. An interesting verbal con-
test took place In which DR.. Todd proved
himself quite u debater. The board held
animation was necessary the coroner
should be able to conduct 1t without the
assistance of two or three additional doc
tors. The coroner's claim was laid on
ths, table until tomorrow. when definite
action VIII be taken. Hs VII have an at
rows meeting and a stormy scene is an
tioipated.. On motion of Member Merrill.
the board decided not to allow any claims
for post mOrtpmg which might occur in
the future and notified the coroner that
when a post mortem was necessary he
should call on the county physician for as
sistance.
Coroner Todd was not the only one tS
s miision a. she fNSen of s she hqaii fon ard q fST;
claim for $3.50 for Jailer Harshberser's sal.
s sag,e f9r TO tn he Past Saar5 three wa months o was pre- pre-
the sheriff was notified that hereafter he
would have to bear this, expense himself,
greatly surprised Mr.. Longfellow, and he
did not hesitate to tell them his sentiments
the %jailer's salary, and why it should moi
continue to do SO is a question that Is badly
The comhmissione inD claim ahey have he is.' law
sS sa hex VIII VIZ s esTisIn as'iS en-. and ,Sam the e o shsrii
likewise. This, however. is no surprise. as
II Is customary for their fees to BIO cut
claim for about $1,000 was presented
Tor clerk ana snerl1 $ lees III some inJinC-
ton suits brought by II. A.. Yongc. In 1891,
at which time he was assistant attorney
general. The claim was presented at the
time but the board disallowed 1t on the
grounds of Illegally. The board took tho
same action yesterday and IT Is understood
that suit will be Instituted at once for
the collection of the claim.
The, board received a rather sensational
complaint against the Bedwell private In
sane asylum, at Eighth street and State
avenue. Thu charge preferred is that sew
eral patients confined at the asylum are
perfectly sane and that they are being
held as inmates by force and against their
will. The commissioners Instructed the
county physician to visit the asylum at AN
early date and thoroughly investigate the
matter.
The report of Probate Judge Angle. John
Caskey and G. W. Bishop, members of the
committee appointed to examine the con-
dition of the c%ounty's finances, was received
and placed on file. The following is the
report: Cash on hand in the county
trensurer's office, 81, SO; Merchants bank,
SOL, 1895; Argentine bank. s3,I25.9l: Inter.
state bank, sl6.e As: National Bank of Re,
public. New York city. S2i.iG6.G6. Total,
3l3s. 1913.