Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-26
REPORT ON RECORDER SIZES
Experts Find Amount Due County to Be
Two Hundred Seventy Dollars,
CLERK BATTEps STATEMENT CORRECT
Board of Supervisors Fixes SALARY Of
Rev. Henry belong, Probation
Omeer, ut Fifty Dollars
Per Month.

Pottawattamie county Board of Super-
visors yesterday by the checking commit
tee w. 3. Reed and ]. NJ. Matthews with
reference to their findings in the offices of
@. @. Baird, county recorder, and H. v.
Battey, clerk Of the district court The
previous report on the affairs in the record
er's Office was to the effect that a fee of 70
cents was being charged for the recording
Of certain class Of chattel mortgages.
and that 70 cents only had been reported on
these instruments, that being the statutory
fee
Mr.. Baird was called before the board
and asked TO explain the situation. and he
said that he was following the custom of
the office, but would turn over tho amount
the committee might find to be the differ
ence withheld. on a re-checking Of the
books
Upon going over the books with Mr..
Bairds book Of original entry. which was
not used before, the committee found that
the amount Of the difference was S27O.S5
There was 1926 due the recorder the sum
being made I'D OF fees reported in excess
Of those received on certain Instruments.
Supervisor Baker inquired as to whether
the committee had observed the practice
of Mr.. Baird's predecessor, and in answer
Mr.. Reed said that they had not investi-
sufficiently to make any statement as to
them.
AS to the AFFAIRS in the office of the clerk
Of the court there appears now to be no
controversy, the supplemental report Of the
committee agreeing with that of Mr.. Battey
as to the amount of money in his hands
April 3. 1t is shown that the clerk had
S1,242.2S, and all but S2475 of this amount is
held either by order of the court or because
the time has not arrived when 1t shall be
necessary for the clerk to turn over the un-
claimed amounts to the county treasurer.
The amount last mentioned might be the
subject Of controversy as to whether 1t is
made up of claimed or unclaimed fees. II
they are claimed they are rightfully in his
hands, and If they are unclaimed they
should be with the treasurer. They are
amounts due attorneys with whom he has
accounts and he holds that they are
claimed. and informed the board that Judge
Wheeler indicated his belief to be the
same
The several items of county costs, the
account OF which in the previous report
Mr.. Battey objected to- were placed by the
committee in the list of items enormously
checked.
ONCE in Good Condition.
the affairs in the office of the clerk we're in
better shape than ever before and ex-
planned that this was not made a part of
their report because the committee did not
consider it a part of its duty to report on
other than the finances Of the office.
In accordance with the resolution au-
thorizlng the employment of an assistant
TO the deputy clerk in the office at Avoca,
Mr. Battey named Laverne Tollinger, the
board allowing 500 per year for clerk hire.
The original action Of the board author
ized Deputy Clerk J. NJ Tollinger to hire
his assistant, but as the clerk OF the court
has the authority to employ the men In his
offices the resolution was reconsidered and
the privilege given to Mr. Battey.
Under the new law fixing compensation
for probation officers, who have hereto
fore been compelled TO give their services
free OF charge, the board fixed the salary
Of Rev. Henry De Long, who has served
three years in that office, at so per month.
Judge Wheeler brought the matter to the
attention Of the members Of the board
and informed them that the statute gives
him the right to fix the salary He pre-
ferred to leave the matter to the board
and Mr.. De Long II they could agree upon
a salary. and this they did.
The board solved the problem OF cutting
down expenses on telephones by deciding
to leave connections with both lines in
the offices Of the auditor, sheriff and clerk
OF the court and one in each OF the Offices,
giving the officers the right to make the
selection OF the telephone to be used.
The board authorized Supervisors Spen-
Ger and Johns to make arrangements for
the placing OF Charles Johnson, now at the
/ af In n
local hospital The superintendent OF the
school recommended that he be removed
from there. as he is suffering from an in
durable disease. having been treated at
Iowa City without relief.