Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-17
COUNTY GETS FREE ADVICE
Attorneys for Poor Farm Cases Tell What
Ought to Be Done,
THEY DEMAND SETTLEMENT AT ONCE
Commissioners Receive Several Conn
municntions on the Subject, Which
Are Referred to n Committee
for Consideration.

The regular meeting OF the Board OF County
Commissioners yesterday was enlivened
by communications from three attor-
neys who represent claimants against the
county in the matters growing out OF the
complications surrounding the sale OF lots
in what is known as Douglas addition"
These communications were in the nature OF
replies to the letter presented at the last
meeting Of the board from w. ID. Beckett,
the special attorney employed by the board
TO protect the interests OF the county in the
legal procedure instituted by the various
purchasers of lots from the county. These
letters we're written by c. b. Keller, George
Il. Pritchett and V. o. Strickler, each of
whom represent persons who have either re
covered judgments against the county in the
supreme court, or who have claims against
the county which have not been taken into
court, but which are Of substantially the
same nature as those upon which the SUI
preme court has passed three times, each
time deciding against the county.
The letter OF Mr. Keller was the longest
and most exhaustive OF the three. He ad-
vised the board, first, that there is no au-
thorlty in law for pro rata distribution OF
any funds raised by taxation between any
available must be paid to the parties who
fret make demand, while the others must
wait He demanded that the county at once
issue warrants aggregating S5 per cent OF
the levy made in 1895. Mr.. Keller also took
exception to the statements of Mr.. Beckett
that the county cannot make levy of more
than 10 mills in any year. He said that the
power of the commissioners to make levy
sufficient to pay the judgments is absolute.
The statement that the county is not liable
for city taxes paid on the land in question
was also excepted to, and the claim was
made that the county is liable for all money
so paid Mr.. Keller also stated, most posi-
lively, that the claims against the county
which have not been taken into court are
not barred by the statute of limitations,
and he warned the board that any attempt
to delay payment of them on this ground
would be followed by defeat and entail more
expense upon the county. The moral aspect
of the case was then treated at some length
by Mr. Keller in the most vigorous manner,
and any attempt to plead the statute OF
limitations was denounced as dtshonorable
and contemplate. With respect to the ad-
vice of Mr.. Beckett that the commissioners
had no power to audit the claims in question
unless there was money on hand to pay
them, Mr. Keller advised the board that 1t
was compelled to act at once, and he de-
manded that some action be taken at once,
and hinted that the board could be com
PEELED to act by mandamus. He reminded the
board that these claimants had been
lulled into inacton" by the promises OF
prior boards that these claims would be
settled on the same basis as those which
had been taken into court, and the claims
had already been pigeonholed for two or
three years, and he demanded that action
be taken without delay
Accompanying this letter was formal de-
mand by Mr.. Keller on the part OF his eli
hat hn n order
drawn in payment of the Judgments and
costs In the cases passed upon by the SUI
preme court.
These documents, as well as the letters of
Messrs Prtchett. and Strickler, were re-
ferred to the finance committee.
The finance committee reported faVorably
on the recommendation of the Real Estate
exchange and recommended the adoption
of form OF warranty deed and mortgage
to he printed in book form in order to
expedite the recording OF such Instruments
The report of the committee was adopted
and the necessary records ordered printed.
Contracts for furnishing supplies for the
ensuing year were awarded to the following
firms:
divided between the three bidders, Klopp q
Bartlett company, Ress Printing company
and American Publishing company, each
bidder being awarded the contract for the
items on which he was the lowest bidder.
Inc contract blSdu at thN Nohh'S
hospital was awarded to z. II. Reeder, at
21s cents per pound loaf.
The George f. Munro company was
awarded the contract for groceries at the
poor farm.
Kuhn G. company were awarded the con-
tract for filling prescriptions at II 1-5 cents
for prescriptions by the county physician and
121h cents for prescriptions by other
physicians which are approved by the county
physician or a county commissioner
The p. j. Quealey Soap company was
awarded the contract for supplying soap to
the court house and jail.
Thomson Bros, the only bidder on brooms,
were awarded the contract at S2.25 per
dozen.
The Seymour Lake Ice company was
awarded the contract for supplying ice to the
county hospital at 81 per ton on the cars at
the hospital switch during the cutting season.
Lam 0reauN Bros. were awarded the contract
for supplying ice to the court house ana
jail at 80 cents per 100.
Noah Perry was awarded the contract for
sewer pipe.
The contract for white oak and white pine
bridge timber was awarded to the H. f.
Cady Lumber company.
Bids for white oak piling were rejected
and the clerk ordered to readyertise.
request of the county treasurer for four
men to work on the tax list was referred to
the judiciary committee.
Tho annual report of the register of deeds
was filed, showing a net surplus for the
year amounting to $9S5.40.
"
SIX Thirty Il. NJ. Train.
nH