Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-05
JUSTICES AND THEIR INCOME
Annual Rumpus Over Fees with the
nonrd of SupcrNisora.

Annual Rumpus Over Fees with the
Board of Supervisors.
There promises to be a continuation of tbs
same old merry war when the Board OF
County Supervisors audits the reports and
claims of the justices of the peace. Last
year the board adopted and enforced an order
not to allow the justices a cent more than
the law allows, which must not be more than
81, 200 year. This is to be made up wholly
of fees If the fees exceed $1,000 the sur
plus is to be covered back into the county
treasury. and If they do not reach that
amount there is no remedy for the unfortu-
nate justice. He must hustle and get bus
mess to bring 1t up to the limit or stand
the loss. Another source OF irritation will
be the disputes that will arise between the
justices and the members of the board over
the question of office expenses. Last year
the board construed the law to mean that
the justices could claim just $1,000 as the
maximum amount for their years work, and
whatever they were obliged to pay out for
Office rent, fuel lights and stationery must
be taken from that amount. The justices
will reopen this dispute again this year, and
each will put in his bill of expenses These
will approximate between 5000 and $500
each.
The dockets of the various justices show
that the total receipts of their offices dur
ing the year have not exceeded 81 500 and
in some cases have dropped considerably
below $1,000. If office expenses are to be
taken out in these cases the justice will
feel that he has been poorly paid for the
expenditure OF grey brain matter he has
copiously INTERCEPTED into his judicial de-
'cisiors. In most cases the constables will
fare better than the justices for their fees
will reach in the neighborhood of $500,
which they Will be allowed to keep. besides
sundry snug little sums earned in serving
papers outside OF their courts, and they
will have no office expenses to mar their hap
illness.
There was general hustling among the
justices of the peace yesterday. Each of
the three justices was indicted into office
with appropriate ceremonies Justices
Cook and Wen were reelected and con-
sequently succeeded themselves Justice
Walker retired and his office and books
were taken in charge by Ambrose Burke,
who has the distinction OF being one of
the youngest justices ever elected in the
county. Mr.. Walker was one of the Oldest
II was expected that there would be some
general changes in the locations OF the Of
fees. II was the wish OF some of the JUS
tices to get their offices all iK one building
and as near together as possible, but after
considerable casting about 1t was deter
mined TO let the old order OF things stand
There was a good deal of discussion among
the parties interested before 1t was def
initely settled where the constables should
go. Constable Albert who has been with
Justice Cook, finally determined to cast his
fortunes with Wen for the next two years.
His place will be taken by f. A. Grout, one
Of the new constables, and Justice Burke
will have his judicial orders enforced and
processes executed by Hi Baird, the other
new man. Each justice had his rabbit foot
In sight all day yesterday, hoping that II
would attract at least one case and estab-
lsh good luck precedent for the first day
OF his new term. But the charm had evil
IDENTIFY lost its potency for all except Cook
lie doeketed two small civil cases and
narrowly missed having a marriage, but
the others had nothing TO show for the
fuel they wasted in keeping their rooms
comfortable for the accommodation OF the
loungers.