The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-01
CLERK DICKEY OK. ]
carelessness the Worst Charge That
Can Bs Made,
PUBLIC EXAMINER so REPORTS
A Small Credit Is Due the County
The Office Generally
Ehicient.H f. sts +

mitted his report to-day to the county
commissioners Of Hennepin county on the
office of the clerk of courts
The report presents the results of am
exhaustive examination, made by James
r.. jerks of st. Cloud and w. G, Pinkerton
Of Minneapolis, special commissioners ap-
pointed at the request Of he county board
The report finds that Mr.. Dickey owes
i1 l:1s county $36s.79, in the following
Short 1.3 charges in renappeal by Heline. 81:
Fa pm COUNTY; three Years $Sa. IS
DeIey, sa for yeas eases referred to ,oo
Fee a n Judgment. searches. not re->S..s. 3
Commissions on deposits uncoileeted 1 IS Il Il
commissions collected on deposits and. ~
not reported 20 q,
Fees on ling papers, ETC.. uncoiiected 80 so. 6
re sst. corrected in habeas corpus cases
put not reported, three years .. % %
Errors in. reports to county auditor
short addition 80. 90
Z, RMS is exclusive, of the amount involved
n n Inc, case now before the supreme court
~ Wnlch the county claims money re-
eeiVed by Mr.. Dickey for reports furnished
ABSTRACT companies 81 s5.ss&..
This personal liability, says the public
eaa1 - ! comparatively small, and he
= say III justice ttO MT. TDickey til at
none OF the errors reported by the examiners
are in any way criminal, The worst, that can
pc SAID OF any of them is that they are. care
less. ~c;,fr7r..t-1t :f9.9s - - y
:. The commissioning in their re inr1t =
Mr. Johnson, say; szf ~ 49,: -, :,
on the whole considering the vast amount
OF detail In connection with This o49ca NJ
consider 1t to be In very good shape. The
force OF the Office is Well organized and en-
cient' and MI 4Dickeya himself: is an exceed
lnsly competent man and does his full share
OF the work SAN4 - :
The irregularities found are the result
OF irregular usages.P Fees were charged
~ - excess OF the illegal amount and when
she once was, put on a salary, basis the
ices were not changed. These fees have
peen turned into county funds, and Mr..
Dlckey is not, liable. The persons who
paid them are estopped from obiecting at
this date. This practice has been dis
continued upon an order, from the public
examiner. -, =
The law authorizes. a. fee, OF. 71b cents a
folio for making returns to the supreme
cour Mr. Dickey has not been making
=, Lnls charge Whereatranscripts were made
.by attorneys. He has charged so much
on hand for.conipany. : This charge is
illegal, ana if. any charge is made. 1t
should be the legal rate. There is a
dehcit. since March l., !. 1897, of $7,47SIs.
Mr.. Dickey cannott be held for this, as he
did not: make the, copies. Mr.. johnson
suggests. that this matter be referred to
the attorney of 1.-The board ~
Clerks fees have not been charged as
penalties where the state or county APP
peared1, Where the county.is prevailing
lected. 80 - ~, ;:..e.> r
taken. to the supreme court, fees should lie
charged, bnt have not been..[.s s.a!~z ::
In government. cases in, which, deputies
appear. as referees. they are entitled. to
the fees, but when sMr.s Dickey, asy clerk
has appeared the fees should have gone
to the scpuntFst.s stsl.f sHr.
Moneys deposited Shy siitdgants have
been drawing interest, which; Mr.. hickey
the court. This Is as ma tier In which the
county has. no interest. cf-.t lxl1Hc -
- In; twenty-seveng$cas es, amounting to
$11 ,651, Mr.. Dickey failed tor charge the 1
per cent commission ordered by law. Mr..
7Dickey is held personally for this.
Many inquiries are answered by the Of
flee without. charge. some taking a great
deal Of time. There Is, a legal fee OF Is
cents for this which it is held should be
charged. There is s3,523.62 held by Mr..
Dickey to cover refunds, due attorneys.
He. estimates that $1,000 of this amount
will never be called for The report
recommends legislation providing for
turning such deposits over to the county
after five years..ta.x ss - !.
Services have been rendered after the
deposit fee was exhausted and for the fees
In such cases Mr.. Dickey is held; at1- }.s.%
& Deficits are found in fees charged for
habeas corpus proceedings, amounting to
S23.25, and 81 deficit in deposits.
The criminal court minutes are found to
be behind one year Another man is
needed on this work, and it is suggested
that he: might be, spared from other work
If Mr.. Dickey followed the practice of
other, counties s.,where judgments are
drawn. by attorneys instead of In the
Office. s:.,'
Z. Fees do not equal the. expenses by $3.50
q month, and. when fees are collected
strictly in accordance with law this def
cit will be greater: The remedy is q new
fee scale, and Mr.. Johnson recommends
thataa biH7 be drawn, to be presented to
the legislature. III X. 80 aaS