The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-04

fund for roads and bridges the sum Of $685.
959.7S, large portion of this amount was
o%t oy the
overseer or foreman who generally receives
81 per day for his services. Who hires these
persons to do this work does not appear from
anything In the records or proceedings
Of the county commissioners There is no
report from any county or town official to
show who hired these men totwork, nor any
thing to show how many rods of road have
way or manner. The following Is taken from
the record OF the county commissioners:
That the matter Of improving the road from
Wayzata and M!nnetonka be referred to the
committee on roads and bridges with power
to act" Money was expended on this road
last year. but there islnothing to show that
with the matter. County commissioners have
no power to expend money id this manner.
They have the power TO appropriate money
for roads and bridges. but 1t must be done in
an intelligent and business-i manner They
have no right tc say to the roads and bridges
committee, go out and spend all the money
you have a mind to, and whefe you please.
The board must make the appropriation for a
If they desire to have any sum $50 used. There
must be a record of JUST what is done and IL
committee Is appointed too attend to any
it has DONE
Following are samples OF some of the bills
which are allowed by the commissioners and
will show how the money is being expended:
To AZ days cutting brush county road,
between Big Ridge and G. N. R. R., ETC.. 50.
Sept 7, 5h days on Minnetonka and Way
zata road grading. $11.
Sept. z, AZ days on Mipnetonka and Ex-
celsior grading So.
September and October, 6 days grading on
Hopkins and Excelsior, $12
October, 2R days grauin| on Hopkins and
Minnetonka road, s..
September. 1 day to county poor farm
after tools, 49,
September, day to Long Lake after TOOLS
81.
and taking the same (somewhere) 81.
One day ascertaining from Jones where
work was most needed 81.
October, 1 day taking tools to county poor
farm, 81.
Necessary expenses and express, SITS.
Total $57.75.
1t cost $11.75 to get the tools, take them
home and pay the express on the same and
to ascertain where the work was most needed
when everything was ready.
The following, as 1t appears from the bill,
was ordered by F. ]. Plummer
To repairing Cedar avenue swing bridge,
191 hours labor, at 40 cents. ........... $76. 40
Team hire, one trip to inspect BRIDGE. 400
Two trips to bridge, taking men to work
and going after them again on COM
Total :. $50. 40
One will notice that the team for the last
two trips was cheaper than for the first.
These bills will suffice to show how the
money Is being expended. The manner Of
expanding the same Is In perfect keeping
with the other matters referred to in this
report.
There are quite a number of bills allowed
during the year for livery. In some cases
the bills show that the county commissioners,
or some of them, have the team or teams,
but for what purpose or why the county
should pay such bills does not anywhere ap-
pear, SO far as could find, and I know Of
no reason why the county should be called
upon to pay such bills. There is certainly
no law for the same. Other bills did not
show or state items whereby 1t was possible
to tell who ordered the same or for what
purpose. AS IL appeared from the bills. they
were not legal claims against the county
In taking persons to any Of the state inst-
tutions the sheriff charges for hack or bus
hire $780, The Milwaukee depot is but a
short distance from the court house and is
easily reached by street cars, but nobody ever
goes by any other route than bus or hack. and
If there is any one who can-walk he is not
permitted to DO so, if the bills are true The
bills for these charges never disclose the
name of the officer or hackman.
The county furnishes many blanks for the
sheriff for which ne receives pay from the
persons to whom they are given, or for whom
they are executed. These are blanks in civil
actions, in which the county is not interested
and for which it is in no way liable. The bills
for stationery and printing for the various de-
partments and Offices of the county are simply
enormous and in the matters referred to
there does not seem to be a restraining hand
anywhere; it simply seems to be free-for-all.
The result IL that in February prior to the
March settlement the revenue fund of the
county was overdrawn 100000, and after the
settlement over $4,000. had talk with the
auditor about the financial situation of the
county, and said to him that he must insist
that the expenditures of the county be kept
within the limit Of the tax levy, which was
fixed by the tax commission, as provided by
special law at 2.8 mills.
This Office objected to the coroner's re-
ceiving more than one per diem in one day
as long ago as when the old Tribune building
burned, November, 1889, position which has
been sustained by the supreme court The
deputy coroner serves all OF the papers from
that office now, there being no constable, and
he charges sheriff's fees for the same In my
opinion, he is entitled to only the fees of a
constable. can say for him that all of his
bills which came to my notice were itemized
so as to show where he made service, and
they are in such shape that any one can look
them up and see whether his charges are cor
rect or no..