The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-18
TABLES Are TURNED E
Now It's the County That's Paying
Megaarden Money.
HIS CLAIMS FOR $1,000 ALLOWED
County Commissioners Clear7rTheir
Skirts Regarding That Jail
Painting Job. e2

Phil T. Megaarden is getting back some
of the money Hennepin county laid claim
to while he was running the shertn,s once.
The county commissioners this morning
allowed two back claims aggregatlng
s1,000.S5 held up on the advice OF the
county attorney to cover certain items OF
overcharges alleged to have been made by
Sheriff Megaarden Before allowing the
claims communication was read from
Assistant County Attorney c. L. Smith
which detailed at some length the reasons
for, refunding the monsy.
One of the alleged Illegal charges was
an item of $545.37 for expenses connected
with the return of prisoners secured In
other states by requisition. Counties are
not required to pay the expenses of extra
dition, such expense falling on the state.
It having appeared, however, that Mr.. Me-
garden had actually spent the money on
behalf of the county, 1t would be right to
reimburse him and to seek to recover the
money from the state. Undoubtedly Mr..
Megaarden could not have forced the coun-
ty to pay, but it has been customary for
counties to pay such charges. a1a ..@-.
Another alleged Illegal charge was an
item Of $154.50 for watching bicycle paths
for the purpose OF apprehending the per-
sons who were running them. This duty,
it was contended, devolves upon the towns,
but as the sheriff artual1y performed the
effort will be made to recover from the
respective towns. An item for stationery
amounting to $109.48, which was believed
to be illegal 1nasmuch as the sheriff was
on a fee basis, has been found valid, ex-
cept that the bill should have been pre-
sented by the stationer furnishing the sup
plies. The fourth item Of S273 is alleged
to be a duplicate charge in that it repre-
sents services performed by Charles Budd
as Waterman in the JAIL AS the sheriff
had already been paid for Budd's services
as a courtroom batliff, it was contended
that he could not count Budd as two men.
The Sheriff explained that there was an
error in the bill, for when Budd was act
ing as a courtroom bailiff another man
was secured as Waterman. This was sub
stantiated by Budd and others and the
bill was undoubtedly a just claim. .
A caustic criticism against the jailor
and the county commissioners for having
the interior Of the Jail painted by the
prisoners of the Jail was read. In formal
resolutions adopted by the local union OF
the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators
and Paper Hangers of America condemna-
ton was expressed over the faction OF the
jailor and the county commissioners in
allowing Jail birds and crooks to step in
and take the bread from the mouths OF
the children of honest and law abiding
citizens.'' .--. & ..-.
The board made a formal statement ex-
planning that the jailor had made a requt=
sition for paint and that it had been hon.
ored. 1t was also stated that the COM
missioners had nothing to do with the Jail
County Surveyor Cooley was directed tc
make specifications for the repair of the
Lyndale, Excelsior and Osseo cycle paths.
Notice was given to the county attorney
to prepare the personal property tax
judgments for the sheriff's Office for col
lection.