Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-16
FIELD DEPUTIES LET OUT
Appointments Made by Marshal Mathews
Held Up in Washington.
INSPECTOR FINCH SCORES HIS POINT
Business Seriously Interfcred with on
Account of There Being So
Few Men for the
Work.

Business in the Office OF United States
Marshal Mathews is practically at stand
still. This condition is brought about by
reason of the fact that the working force
has been reduced to three men-one office
deputy and two men in the field. This re-
duction has been caused by the attorney gen
eral of the United States having failed to
confirm the appointment of the six field
deputies named by Marshal Mathews imme-
diately after taking charge of the Office
When Marshal Mathews succeeded George
H. Thummel, who was appointed to the posi-
tion of clerk OF the United States circuit
court, he reappointed all the old deputies
and sent their names on 10 the attorney
general for confirmation. They continued
their work until two days ago, when word
was received from Washington that the ap-
pointments had been rejected, and that
meantime enough specials might be ap-
pointed to conduct the affairs OF the office.
This action handicapped the work OF the
office very much, due principally to the fact
that a term OF court Is now on and a vast
number of papers are on hand to serve.
However, Marshal Mathews made the best Of
bad matter and named w. M. Nesbit OF
Palmyra and John o. Moore OF Tekamah for
temporary positions. Both men are new to
the work. and consequently there is much
delay in getting the processes of the court
served.
While it is not known to a certainty as
to what brought about the present condition
of affairs, 1t is believed to have been done
upon report made to the attorney gen.
eral by Inspector Finch, who has been
here some weeks checking up the offices of
the marshal and the clerk of the court.
At present Finch is out Of the city. While
he has been very close -mouthed, he has al
ways given the marshal and clerk to un-
derstand that the affairs of their respective
offices were and are in the best possible
condition. In fact, 1t is said that he has
never made any complaint here, but on the
contrary has complimented the officials from
time to time on the manner in which they
have conducted their offices.
In a telegraph report from Washington,
and which is published in The Bee, it is
stated that Finch charges that the field
deputies whose appointments are held up
overcharged the government and in addi
tion worked up business in order to bring
their fees up to and above the maximum
allowed by law.
General Denial is Made.
Regarding this charge upon the part Of
Finch, both exMarshal Thummel and Mar
shal Mathews enter general denial. They
say that the field deputies have pursued
the course followed by like officials since
the establishment of the Office in this state,
that their charges have always been scru
tinized closely by the local office, and If any
attempt at overcharging was discovered 1t
was promptly cut out before the accounts
were sent on to Washington for final ap
proval.
Relative to Inspector Finch's charge that
the field deputies have worked up business
in order to increase their fees, both the ex-
marshal and the present incumbent aver that
1t is false in every particular. They say
that when the deputies have been out in the
field after matters pertaining to the office
they have been on the watch for infractions
of the laws and that whenever they have
found any they have caused the arrest Of the
parties and have taken them before commits
sioners, or have brought them to this city.
The same course they contend has been pur-
sued in every state and territory in the
union and that heretofore there has never
been any complaint upon this score.
The opinion prevails around the judicial
departments Of the federal building that the
action upon the part of Inspector Finch will
result in the abolishment of the position Of
field deputy in connection with the Office OF
of the whole matter will be that the deputies
will be put upon salaries and will all work
out from the main office, instead of being
scattered throughout the state and having
papers sent to them for service.
Regarding the plan suggested, it meets
with the hearty approval Of Marshal
Mathews, who believes that it will work
well and that good service will be rendered. |
he is of the opinion that such a
course would reduce the business of the
Office to a great extent as under such a
method of procedure deputies would not be
SO vigiant in looking after violations of the
law as they have been in the past when they
have worked under the fee system.
st. John on Trial Before Judge Haker. |
J. C. st. John, charged with forgery, is |
on trial before Judge Baker. 1t is alleged
that st. John forged the name OF Weber,
Fulton Co. to a check for $40 and that |
he bought a pair of shoes and cashed the
check at the Regent shoe store The man
ager of the store swears that the check
was returned to him as bogus. The price |