Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-09-29
TWO PLACES AT SAME TIME
Robert Smith Wants Pay for Meet
ings While Guaranteed.
BIe SAVING FOR THE COUNTY
Broadveu Must Put 70 BACK and
Robert smith wan Not ne Able
60 Cash In HIS Many
Claims.

Claims for payment of 50 per day for
fifteen days attendance at alleged meet
ings OF the Douglas County Insanity COM
mission during period when he was
ouarantined at his home as the result OF
contagious illness in his family are a part
OF the demands OF District Court Clerk
smith on the county treasury. whose
withdrawal is forced by the state supreme
court decision in the "Broadwell case
other claims for Attendance for holi-
days and Sundays had already been
thrown out by the countys auditors since
there was no showing Of emergency nor
any indication that such meetings had
actually been held. except, perhaps. by
telephone. There are thirteen such in
stances within period OF two and one
half years.
Douglas county taxpayers are approxi-
mately $4,000 richer today than they were
last week by reason OF the decision. which
said that the clerk OF the district court
must not retain fees which pass through
his hands as ex officio member OF the
county insanity commission.
Must Put u Back.
Former Clerk Broadwell, or his bonds
men. must pay TO the county about 5000,
which is the balance due after a previous
payment OF $1,000 Clerk Robert Smith,
now IN office win never be able TO col
lect approximately 5000. which. accord
ing to his records. he has been claiming.
This includes extra fees for keeping the
records which the law makes his duty,
but which is actually done by county en-
ployes In his office.
The insanity fees case is distinct from
The naturalization fees case in which suit
for several thousand dollarss has been
started against Smith by the county
board Insanity fees had been held up by
the county board ON account Of the
BFoadwen case pending in supreme court.
Smiths records show that nothing was
allowed TO interfere with his attendance
at insanity board meetings-at 50 per
meeting His record for punctuality and
attendance at these meetings is practically
perfect and In Sunday school or any
classroom would have earned him a
pretty medal. Neither accident. illness.
quarantine orders Of the health physician
nor sundays or holidays were allowed 10
Interfere with this record,
Two Places NJ once.
Although from March to a. 1909, he
was guaranteed at his home. he ac-
ccmplished the feat Of at the came time
attending fifteen board meetings. His
records show hundreds OF meetings ex-
tending over period OF several months.
AS these meetings. according to the rec
Ords. all three members OF the board were
present. For their attendance at those
sessions Smiths fellow members already
have drawn their pay from the county.
The meetings each week number from
three to four.
On January Is. 1914 the record shows
meeting at which the physician MEM
Der Of the board was authorized to ex-
anime the patient. This business, in fact,
was transacted over the telephone, and
there was no other business before the
board that day other similar cascs
this year. when all three members
,laimed 50 each for making an order
concerning solitary patient, are:
January i6-Report on case and order
10 county hospital.
January 2s-Received oral report from
physician.
January s7-plrected physician to make
examination.
February 7-Heard oral report
February i4-order OF release from
county hospital
April is-Directed physician to examine
patient.
september s-sent patient to county
hospital
September 4-scnt patient TO asylum.
September ss-Direeted examination OF
patient.