The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-08
DICKEY IS UP TO DATE
NO GROUNDS FOR CRITICISM IN
CLERK OF COURTS OFFICE
Irregularities Relating to Bills and
Improper Charges Were Found
in the Auditors Office by
Deputy Examiner.

Deputy Public Examiner H c. Koerner
has completed his examination of the
Hennepin county Offices. The larger part
Of the report is given to the clerk of
courts office, and the recommendations
are interesting in view of the recent Sc
we're criticism of Clerk Of Courts Dickey.
The examiner says:
1.-THE complaint made by certain parties
that the clerk was from four to five
years behind in his filings, and that his
books and records were not written up
is untrue. His judgment record his
docket, register of actions and all other
books and files are up to date. The only
work not complete is the entry of court
minutes, which have not been entered
for the past eighteen months. This work,
I am promised, will be taken up and COM
pleted in the near future.
ga new system of accounting should
be adopted, as the present plan, while
perspicuous, is certainly incomplete
MIR. Dickey invites a thorough and ex-
haustive examination Of his doings dur
ing his incumbency as clerk, and in view
of the many criticisms and charges cir
culated by divers persons, we would
recommend to tEe board of county COM
missioners that some competent person
be engaged to check up the affairs Of this
Office from the files and original records
for at least a portion of his term. Any
person SO engaged may, perhaps, work
under the supervision of the state ex-
aminer's department"
Mr. Koerner does not find things in
the auditors Office as satisfactory as they
might be. He says the book system in
use there is complete, but cumbersome,
involving a great deal of extra work
Bills without accompanying receipts
were found by the deputy examiner, also
several improper charges" Among the
bills without receipts is one of D. c..
Mackenzie, superintendent Of schools, for
postage, IS. so; A. p. Erickson, stamps for
stock, $25; D. Mackenzie, postage, $1O.46
Among the Improper charges" is one by
r. A. Mabey for reporting the coroner's
inquest for the county attorney in the
Leonard Day case, $3.50. The deputy ex-
aminer says the law provides fees to be
paid the coroner for these services.
A charge by Frank Haycock, drafts
man, for extra pay for field work, $50.S1,
is commented upon thus:
1.-THE propriety of this charge consider
questionable. The salary of this man is
fixed by the board at regular intervals.
This payment Of extra money is perhaps
improper"
No receipt is attached to the voucher
of C. w Dickey for salary advanced to
w. T. Evans, $3.50. The bill, says the
deputy examiner should be presented
by and in the name of the person per-
forming the services charged for" A
bill of Joseph Lawrence, detective, for
expenses in connection with the arrest
of Burton Fl. Billinger at Duluth leads
Mr.. Koerner to say: IF this service can
be made by detective, he is entitled to
sheriffs fees for making this arrest"
In summarizing as to county bills it is
added:
In general there has been most crafty
ing change for the better in the manage
ment of county affairs so far as the
handling of bills and claims are con-
cerned, for which due credit should be
gwen the board of county commissions
ers, the auditor, Mr.. Scott, and c.. J..
Smith, attorney for the board of county
commissioners, for their conscientious eff
forts in this direction
OF the county treasurer's and register
Of deeds offices the report speaks as
follows:
The affairs of his Office are well and
ably conducted by D. G. Bell, the present
county treasurer. Perhaps the only crit
icisn. to be made of this office is the pres
ent book system, which, like that in use
In the auditors Office, we consider cum
be.some and as involving an unnecessary
amount of work. We desire to compli-
ment Mr.. Bell highly upon his conduct
of the Office for the past year it having
been done in WorkmanlIke and business