Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, August 14, 1909, Page 3

. ceurse, being the judges as to th amount of the bill to allow). 'REET COMMISSIONER. Charter provisions ~governing the duties of the street commissioner re- auire that he shall keep an accurate account of all his work and make a dcetailed and itemized report thereof to the council at least once every two months, or oftener, of order by the Street commissioner makes an nual report or property and material ands, but makes na report in . or itemized, of his work. rter further provides: “That no bill for compensation of such street ioner shall be allowed, unless accompanied or preceded with a full and itemized report of his work and xpenditures up to the time of ren- h bill.” : LIGHT DEPARTMENT. The control and manage- ment shall vest in the city council, and may be committed to a board, fo be known “Water & Light Commis- siones Said board shall consist of three members, all of whom shall be resi- dents of the city of Bemidiji. They shall be appointed by the “District Court” within 30 days after the adoption of this charter, one mem- ber for three years, one member for two years, onc member for one year; said term shall begin on the 15th day of December, 1905, and annually thereafter, one member shill be ap- pointed by the district court, as afore- 11 give a bond of $2,500.00 a salary of $1.00 per year. Said board shall organize by clect- ing one of its members president and another seerctary, and such seereta shall be the clerk and bookkecpe the water and light department. Inquiry of the Hon. Judge of Dis- trict Court, and of the Clerk of Dis- trict Court reveals the fact that no application has ever been made for the appointment of any such Water & Light- Commission. Present Water & Light Commission are members “De Facto” only, and an application may be made to District Court to have the-present members appointed, or any other, so as to com- with the charter requirement. An rdinance adopted governing the use of water known as No. 14, presumes to also regulate the water board, but being in conflict with the charter, it will have to yield to the charter. The ordinance conflict with the charter in that it provides that the city clerk shall be the clerk of the water board. The conflict between the city clerk and the present clerk of the water board, should be of an easy matter to settle. The city clerk not being a member of the water board is thereby elimin- ated, and not cligible, unle: ap-~ pointed a member of such board. The present clerk of the water board have qualified by giving a bond for $1,000.00, the charter requires 2,600.00 from cach member, and be- present cleri of water board is member of the water board, and is simply up to the council to take ubject up and determine as may st to_all concerned. 1. McQUAIG, CITY WATER CLERK, Collections commencing July 1st, '08, to Jan. 1st, '09, collected up to July 1st, '09: Walter rent Meters sold Tapping . $1,418.71 1into treasury.. .. .. ..§1,418.71 Short in addition’. . < 30.00 Long in addition. . 12.83 Balance due city (account of crrors) . $17.17 Collected up to July ~ 20th, 09, $18£.60, and in hands of water clerk. POOR FUND. Received from tax levy.. ..$1,277.55 » § 997.42 177.99 4.00 55.00 Burial U(]n‘nsvv .. 29.00 th)lhll\g 5.22 3.00 1.1\” (to poor f'\xm) 5.50 Telephone .. .. g 3 Sleeping tent .. Care smallpox ]m(u-nt House rent . 26.50 Tobacco .. .. .. .. 3.76 Milk . 3.55 Nurse .. Lo 14.00 $1,362.28 In addition to the above amount here was drawn warrant No. 4407 in or of E. J. Gould for the purpose Aying for transportation of non- resident paupers to their respective place of residence, This order was drawn on the gen- eral fund, ana should be again cred- ited to general fund and charged to the Poor Fund. TAX LEVY. No regular tax levy made until 1906, Erevious levies were all special tax 1 tax levy made for all three short for reasons given as Sewe Your levy win e e Auditor's levy .. ssment, 1906- $ levy taxes on your city property, why don’t you pay it?) First Presh. Church, lots 11- O 32.50 Beltrami County court house, Wi Blk. 5, 12 lots at $16.25.. . 195.00 Lnth«l n ChHILh "Lots’ 1-2 Blk. 3.. .. 32.50 $292.50 Street sprinkling assessment of 1906-7 short for the reason that it is ssed as 20 feet of each lot,—plot- ted facing south—property faces east —result that only a proportionate share is charged to the lots. This should bo reassessed the proper amoun Scavenger Ass Lot IG. $10. at, 1906-7. 31k, 14, omitted from tax 1i “This may be added to next assess- ment roll sent in. One meet and bound description in tax levy giving wrong description tax, $6.90, omitted. Should again be added on’ proper description, Sidewalk Tax Assessment of 1906-7. Not Estended. “Beltrami County, Lutheran Church, Lot 1, Blk. 3 First Presh. Church, Lot 12, Bik. 9.. . 1.20 Lutheran Churcl\, Lot 1, "Bk, 2.10 Benedictine Sisters, Lot 7- 9 Blk. 2, 1st add. .. 1.20 Mrlh Church, Lot 13, BIK. 8. 45 iy of Bemidji,” Lot 9, Bik. (Ii\y of l"mmh'lji, Lot 11, Bik. 10 .15 Presb. Church, Lots 11, 12, Chu |>(~llr.Lm| Co., inc., BIk. 5.. sac on ws w480 N. P. R, lt Co, R R. Add., Lot 1; Bl 3 s wa ow wv w1400 $31.45 Omitted from tax list— Lot 9, Blk. 3 asscssment .. .15 $31.60 1908. i Sidewalk assessment not carried into tax books— School, Block 4. it w00 M. B. Church, Lots - Bik. 8. .. larhe Diocese of Dulu(h, Lots 23-24, BIK. 8 v 2v s Fmeil 5o o [62:84 $134.06 Sewer asscssment not carried into tax books— Lots 1 to 12 inc, Blk. 2, in name of “Benedictine Sisters Benevolent Assn.”.. ..Not assessed 11 lots at $17.50 and one lot at $98.00. Total of.. .. $290.50 1 am unable to find any reason why is property should not only pay this special assessment, but they should be placed on the tax books for a period for which they have been es- caping taxation, with interest, and contribute its proportionate share of| the public burden. Your attention is respectfully called to R. L., section 803. I do not see how your local hospital can escape taxation, for under section 795 of R. L., subdivision No. 5 would be their only chance of escaping the tax, and they surely do not come un- dier .2 purely public charity institu- tion.” It is a useless method of trymg to collect special assessment by tax levy against exempt property, a proper method would be to render a bill of costs to the respective parties, and the assessment will be paid. Registered Outstanding Orders June 26 A number of these have been paid since. Orders drawn on General Fund .. .. oo oo oo oo $11,432:79 Orders drawn on Perm. Impr. Fund .. .. .. .. 518.10 Orders drawn on Poor S N 752.60 Orders drawn on Water UM, 1o 2ol 6, 53 fis 18.15 $12,721.64 EARL GEIL, CITY TREASURER. So far as his records will permit, the city treasurer’s books are care- fully kept, but he is in ignorance of what he received except as to what he may be verbally told, for the re- ceipt which is given him to sign dis- tributes the respective funds without giving any information from whence they were received. The following corrections should be made by treasurer: Warrant No. 93. P. M. DeCaire.$5.73 Feb. 27, '06. Entered by treas., $6.73. No. 224. John Block .. . - $6.00 May 8, '06. 8.00. No. 861-862 mixed, but the halance each other. Jun. 4, "07. Entered by trensurer two No. 1072, Mrs. E. Entered $1 On page 40 xs addcd $10. DD tu totals, which wipes it out. No. 1681 Jul. 11, '08. Tony Bahr «, o e s e S...817.31 ered by treasurer, $16.82. Mar. 12, '08. A. M. Crowell .. $ 3.00 Int.. .10 Entercd by tr(-’lsu!‘er $10 10, Treasurer should charge himself with corrections, Treasurer and clerk should charge back to Perm. Improvement Fund warrant of §$955.85 issued to Wes Wright for work done in grading stre and credit same to “l’crm Tm- provement Revolving F The city charter prondos for cer- tain specific distribution of licenses and fines, the R. L. of 1905 provides that the liquor licenses shall be cred- ited to the general fund, see section 1539. Your city ordinance is probably faulty, because not a single one of them ' bears the signature of the Mayor, they are copies and signed by the clerk, and not any of them have the city seal attached. City charter provides that the board of equalization shall meet on the first Monday in June each year. This should be corrected so as to read “the fourth Monday in June.” MUNICIPAL COURT. The municipal court of the city was established in August, 1908, and have now on record in less than a year's time 501 criminal cases and 83 civil cases, There has been collected and pald into city treasury the sum of $2,228.41 up to July 1st. There is duc from Beltrami County, account of state cases, the sum of $82.25, bill of which was rendered to county in Kebruary, and of which no action has been taken upon by County Attorney. There is due and unpaid, including pending cases, the sum of $88.65 to the city. Receipt of fines have all been ac- counted for except one little error of $1.00, case No. 355. Costs entered, $1.90; paid over to treasurer, $3.90. Balance_due city, $1.00. Case No. 326. Nov. 28, 1908. Otto Morrison. Records show him to be committed to jail; report of clerk for Dec. 7, paid into treasury, $8.00. STICE COURT. J. P, Simons, Justice. Dockets of Justice Simons well kept and fines properly accounted for with the exceptions of: Case—City vs. Holt, May 21, 1908. Fined $20.00, and costs, $4.00. Report reads $23.00. Due city, $1.00. Case—City' vs. Frank Hawks, May 3, 19 I‘mod slo 00, am) costs, $7.12. Reported $13.55. Due city, $3.57. Justice ~ Simons’ attention was called to this and he stated that he did not remember the cases, but it was possible that the fines paid in was all that was collected, and that he had neglected to make the notation show- ing that a smaller fine was actually paid. O. M. Skinwick, Justice. The docket showing Mr. Skinwick's cases the last year is missing from March, 1906, to date, when he termin- ated his office. L. G. Pendergast, Justice. Case—Gust Snell, drunk. Fined $2.00. Costs, $3.00. Not included in report for March. Case—C. H. Miles, Mar. 2, 1906. 1 roulette wheel. Fined $25.00. Costs, $3.00. Same case—3 slot machines. Fined $4.00. Costs, $2.00. Case—J. P. Duncalf, Mar. 12, 2 slot machines, Fined $2.00. Costs, $2.00. Not included in report for March. Case—J. P. Taylor, Mar. 12, 1906, 1 slot machine. Fined $1.00. Costs, $1.00. Not included in report for March, Case—Chas. Campbell, Jun. 2, 1905. 1 roulette wheel. Fined $25.00. Costs, $3.00. Same—3 slot machines. Fined $4.00. Costs, $2.00. Case—W. P. Welch, Jun. 3, 1905. 1 roulette wheel. Fined $25.00. Costs, $3.00. Same—4 slot machines, Tined $6.00. Costs, $2.00. Case—Clavin & Tanner, Jun. 5, 1905. 1 roulette wheel. Fined $25.00. Costs, $3.00. Same—2 slot machines, Tined $2.00. Costs, $2.00. Case—Fred Dudley, Jun. 8, 1905. 2 slot machines, 1906. Fined $2.00. Costs, $2.00. Same—1 wheel, Fined $25.00. Costs, $3.00. Case—W. P. Welch, Jul. 5, 1905, 4 slot machines. Fined $6.00. Costs, $2.00, Same—1 wheel, Fined $25.00. Costs, $3.00. Case—Charles Campbell, Jul. 5, 1905. 1 1. Tined $25.00. Costs, $3.00. Same—3 siot machines, Tined $4.00. Costs, $2.00. Tollowing case is copied in full: “July 5, 1905, On complaint Nellie Tyson ap- peared and paid a fine of $50.00, and cost, §3.00.” Case—May Joseph, Oct. 8, 1905. Drunk. Fined. $2%50 put up for appearance; fail- ure to appear; bail forfeited. No report of. Case—Fred Kelp, July 4, 1905. Assault. Fined $35.00. Paid. Report of justice reads: Pd. $22.00; Bal. due, $21.00. Case—Dudley & Johnson, Sep. 6, 1905. 2 slot machines. Fined $2.00. Not reported. Case—Herman Machelson, Jan. 1, '06. Drunk. Fined $2.00. Costs $3.00. Not included in report. Case—Nellie Tyson, Jan. 22, 1906. House of ill-fame. Fined $50.00. Costs §3.00. Case—Ethel Scott, Jan. 15, 1906. House of ill-fame. Fined $50.00. Costs $3.00. - Puges 111-112-113-115— Cases of keeping open Sundays. Fined each $2.00, and $3.00 costs. Your attention is respectfully called to Section 1548, R. L. of 1905, cover- ing this subject. Cose—Mrs. Johnson, Aug. 18 1906, Drunk. Fined $200, and cost $3.00. Not included in report. Case—Olof Nelson, July 4, 1906. Drunk. Committed till Monday. ‘Watch put up as security. Defendant failed to appear. ‘What became of the watch? Case—C. Campbell, June 23, 1906. Three slot machines. Fined $4.00. Cost, $2.00. Same Case— One wheel. * Fined $50.00; Cost, $3.00. Case—Gust Peterson, May 25, 1906. Drunk. Fined $2.00. Costs, $3.00. Not included- in report. Case—Mr. Jackson, Mar. 18, 1905. Criminal complaint; pleaded guilty. One wheel. Fined —$25.00. Cost, $2.00. Case—C. Campbell, March 8, 1905. Criminal complaint filed. Roulette wheel. Fined $25.00. Cost, $3.00. Same Case, same date— Three slot machines. Cust, $2.00. Case—Bessie Robert, May 5, 1905. Drunkenness. Pleaded guilty. Fined $2.00. Cost, $3.00. Not included in report of May 6, 1905. Case—Jack O'Brien, April 15, 1905, Drunk. Fined $2.00. Cost, $3.00. Report turned in $1.00 fine. Due village, $1.00. Case—Wm. McDonald, June 2, 1905. Appeared; pleaded guilty to 2 slot Fined $4.00. machines. Fined $2.00. Cost, $2.00. Saume Case— Roulette wheel. Fined $25.00. Cost, $3.00. Case—Johnson & Lindberg, Mar. 2, 1905. Criminal complaint filed. Two slot machines. Fined $2.00. Cost, $2.00. Same Case— ‘Wheel. Pleaded guilty. Fined $25.00. Cost, $3.00. Case—Fred Dudley, March 2, 1905. Criminal complaint filed. Two slot machines, Fined §2.00. Cost, $2.00. Same Case— % Wheel. Fined $25.00. Cost, $8.00. Cas¢—Wm. McDonald, March 3, 1905. Criminal complaint filed. Pleaded guilty. Fined $25.00. Cost, $3.00. Same date and case- Three slot machines. Fined $4.00. Cost, $2.00. CaszTclavin and Tanner, March 6, 1905. Criminal complaint filed. Pleaded guilty of two slot machines. $2.00. Cost, $2.00. Same date and case— ‘Wheel. Fined $25.00. Cost, $3.00. Case—Ellen Wagner, July 17, 1905. Fined $25.00. Cost, $3.05. Report to committee of Aug. 5, 1905. Committed (ran away); cost fixed to village, $2.00. Case—Janus (Simson?), Nov. 20, 1906. Drunk. Fined $2.00. Cost, $3.00. b Not included in report for Novem- er. Case—John Mattson, Nov. 24, 1906. Drunk. Fined $2.00. Cost $3.00. b Not included in report for Novem- er, Case—D. L. Consedin, Oct, 16, 1906. Assault. Fined $2.00. Cost, $3.00. Not included in report. Case—John Doc, Oct. 9, 1906. Assault. Fined $2.00. Coat $3.00. Not included in report. Case—Dick Woods, Sept. 7, 1906. Drunk. Fined $1.00. Costs, $3.00. Not included in report. Case—Jens Hanson, July 9, 1906. Two slot machines. = Fined $2.00. Cost, $2.00. Not included in report. = Fined Case—C. H. Miles, Nov. 5, 1906. Four slot machines. Fined $6.00. Cost, $2.00. Same Case— One wheel. Fined $50.00. Cost, $38.00. Case—C. Campbell, Nov. 24, 1906. Managing one wheel. Fined $50.00. Cost, $3.00. Same Case— Managing three slot machines. Fined $4.00. Cost, $2.00. Case—Ed Anderson, Nov. 15, 1906. Managing one slot machine. Fined $1.00. Cost, $1.00, Not included in report for November. Case—C. H. Miles Oct. &, 1906. Four slot machines. Fined $6.00. Cost, $2.00, Same Case— Ox‘;c wheel. Fined $50.00. Cost, $3 Case—J. P. Taylor, Oct. 10, 1906. One slot machine. Fined $1.00. Cost, $1.00. Not included in report for October. Report for the month of De- cember, 1906—Fines col- lected . v Report for the month of Janu ary, 1907—Fines collected Report for the month of Feb- .$ 96.88 127.00 ruary, 1907—TFines collected 20.00 (And cost to offset $20.) Not docketed. M. G. Slocum, Justice. Casel—l‘ru] M. Dudley, March 14, One roulette wheel. Fine, $50.00. Cost, §3.00. Same Case— Two slot machines. Fined $2.00. Cost, $1.00 on each machine. Case—Ole Gennes (or Ole Genins), March 12, 1907, One poker table. Finea $5.00. Cost, $3.00. Same Case— Two slot machines. Tined $2.00. Cost, $1.00 on each machine. Case—Chas. Campbell, March 19, 1907. P One roulette wheel. Fine, $50.00. Cost, $3.00. Same Case— Three slot machines, Fined $2.00. Cost, $1.00 on each machine, Case—Peter Lunbcrg (or Linberg), March 7, 1907. One roulette wheel. Fined $50.00. Cost, $3.00. Same Case— Poker table. Fined $5.00. Cost, $3.00. Same Case— Five slot machines. Fined $2.00, and $1.00 on each machine. Same Case— Klondyke table and a tub. Finea $1.00, and $1.00 on each. Cfl;o—ll\"cr ‘Wold, March 7, 1907 oulette wheel. Finea' 5 Cost, $3.00. ‘ 040 Same Case— Poker and gambling devise. Fined $5.00, and cost, $3.00. Same—4 slot machines. Fined $2.00, and $1.00 costs on each machine. Case—Jerry Sullivan, Mar. 22, 1907. Roulette wheel. Fined 5 Costs, $3.00. Ll Same— 55 Poker table. Fined $5.00. Costs, Case—C M. Bacon, Mar, 22, 1907, 1 roulette wheel. Fined $50.00. Costs, $3.00. Samek— Poker table. Fined $5.00. , $3.00, $ Costs, Same— 5 slot machines. Fined $2.00, and $1.00 each machine. Case—George Tanner, Mar. 23, 1907. 1 roulette wheel. TFined $50.00, and $3.00 costs. Same— Poker table. Fined $5.00. $3.00. ot Szmue—l 2 slot machines. i b ot 1 ined $4.00. Case—Robert Nelson, Mar. 22, 1907. 1 roulette wheel. Fined = $50. Costs, $3.00. e ot maach slot machine. Fined $2. e $2.00. Costs, Case—H. E. Anderson, Mar. 22, 1907. 4 slot machines. Fined $2.00, and $...... on each machine. Case—F. 8. Lycan, Mar. 25, 1907, 3 slot machines. 'ined $2.00, and $1.00 cost on each. Case—Albert Restan, drunk. Fined $3.00. Costs, $3.00. Case—Wm. B, Sherman, Dec. 7, 1907. Unfinished—does not show disposi- tion, . Case—Gust Nelson, Oct. 28, 1907. Page 271. Fined $5.00, and $6.45, costs— states that he was committed 15 days. Itemized report to County Comm. Jan. 6, 1908. Charges costs to city of $2.00 and in reporting says ‘“sent sus. Costs itemized and add up to $2.90. Under daté of Oct. 12th, 1907, the | tollowing state cases appear unfinished so far as docket shows: Mandi Williams. Grace Kellon. Minnie Johnson. Maude Cole. No report of these cases. Case—J. M. Hanson, Mar. 7, 1907. 1 roulette wheel. Fined $50.00. Costs, $3.00. Same— Poker table. $3.00. Same— 3 slot machines. TFined $2.00, and $1.00 on each. Case—Henry Miles, Mar. 16, 1907. Fined $5.00. Costs, 1 roulette wheel. Finea $50.00. Costs, $3.00. Same— Poker table. Fined $5.00. Costs, $3.00. Same— 10 slot machines. Fined $2.00, and $1.00 on each. Case—John C. Larson, Mar. 15, 1907. 1 roulette wheel. Fined $50.00. Costs, $3.00. Same— 4 slot machines. TFined $2.00, and $1.00 costs on each. Case—Peter Wolf, Apr. 2, 1908. Immoral and indecent language. Fined $10.00 and $10.73, costs, Docket does not show disposition of case, Case—Robert Nelson, April 4, 1908, 1 roulette wheel. Fined $50.00. Costs, $3.00. Same— 1 poker table. $3.00. Same— 1 slot machine. $1.00. In reporting this case justice In- cludes a fine of $2.00 for 1 pacer which no record appears in docket. Case—Henry Bolin, Apr, 6, 1908, Fined $10.00, and costs, $7.50. Note on_margin of docket: ‘“‘Sep. 23, 1908. Paid fine and costs by Geo. McTaggart, one of the sureties.” Due city. Last report made by jus- tice to city was dated Sep. 21, Case—Tom Kelly, Jul. 7, 1908. Drunk—Fined $1.00. Costs, $2.00. Charged costs to city. Reported case “sent up.” The following cases are unfinished so far as the justice docket shows: State vs. C. G. Johnson, page 102. State vs. Emanuel Corley, page 103. .State vs. Pat Tierncy, page 104. -. State vs. Chas. Lindquist, page 106. City vs. Pat Donavan, page 127. City vs. George Garrity, page 127. State vs. Hugh McDonald, page 128. City vs. Chas. Collins, page 128. Last report made by Justice Slocum to city council dated Sept. 21st, 1908. This report does not cover a period between July 1st and Aug. 18th, inc. Justice Slocum's term of office ex- pired in March, 1909, and in his docket appears the following cases since the expiration of his term of office: March 15th, 1909—State vs. Wm. Lee. Search warrant. Costs charged to county. State vs. Herman A. Eicksteadt— April 5th, 1909. Fined $5.00. Costs, $5.90. State vs. Wm. Lee—March 19, 1909. Search warrant—Costs charged to county. A Tmore serious charge 1s made against Justice Slocum: That of pre- suming to continue to act as Justice of the Peace after the term of office having expired, that on or about the 26th day of March, 1909, he did notify a certain party, who not being a resi- dent within the city of Bemidji, that he must appear before the said Jus- tice Slocum and there pay a certain fine of about $32.00. That a fine of $32.00 was actually so paid to Mr. Slocum on or about the 26th day of March, 1909. That the said Slocum never entered the proceedings of the case in the docket then in his posses- sion. That the dockets were in his, Slocum's, possession for nearly four months after that happening, and that no report was ever made of this to the city council. Affidavit of party paying the fines herein referred to will be filed with this report in the Public Examiner’s office, St. Paul, Minn,, and which for other reason fs not included and made a part hereof. I received from Mr. Slocum two dockets and found with the city clerk another two dockets, all being dockets used by Justice Slocum during his term of office as justice, and in as much as his term had expired, I did ot feel that I had any right to again return the dockets to him; and the city clerk not being the proper cus- todian of these records, 1 personally delivered them all four to the Clerk of District Court of Beltrami County, and received from him triplicate re- ceipts, one of which is herewith sub- mitted for the files of this report, and another has been filed with city clerk in city of Bemidji and a third de- livered to Mr. Slocum, showing dis- position of his dockets, The number of justice cases here- tofore referred to as fines for roulette wheel, slot machines, etc., are noted for the purpose of showing that the Jjustices have exacted an excess of costs,—a_matter denied by the jus- tices, and therefore submitted. In nearly every instance, the re- spective parties appeared before the justices and paid fine — pleading guilty; and Justice Slocum explains that, while he bunched the costs, if he should have itemized them, in most cases it would have amounted to more. I respectfully challenge the state- ment. So far as the records of Justice Pen- dergast go, he® has as many as ten cases on a single page of a docket, and none of the cases signed by the jus- tice, and scarcely anything to dis- tinguish between the different cases. He admits having been kept pretty busy, and says he is not surprised if errors have crept in, considering the numerous cases that he handled. Your attention is called to provision of ordinance No. 16, under which mosts of these fines have been col- lected. This ordinance provides: “That the minimum fine shall be $5.00, and that all such instruments or implements used or employed shall be taken into custody and be de- stroyed.” In nearly every instsance, except fines for roulette wheel, the fines have been less than prescribed by the ordinance, but costss added for each gambling device to the full ex- tent, and more. Robert Clark, Justice. 1 was unable to locate any docket used gy Justice Clark, but found a package of papers, together with a monthly report for the month of Fined $5.00. Costs, Fined $2.00. Costs, | March, 1907. Amongst the papers on file with city clerk appears the following: Criminal complaint and warrant of W. H. Fisher vs. Wm. Chilsen, of April 20th, 1907, together with recognizance to appear in district cdurt, are on file. Also the following criminal com- plaints, with notations on back there- of showing that fines have been im- posed and collected: Andrew Jerome, April 10, 1907— $5.00 and costs. W. B. Viggerson, April 18&; 1907— $5.00 and cost paid $8.00. Louis Anderson, April 12, 1907— $56.00 -and—or—~F'ine paid $8.00. Herman Lambert, April 23, 1907— Robert Clark elected justice of the peace in spring of 1907, and the fol- lowing are his bondsmen: John F. Gibbons. Clyde M. Bacon. ‘Wes Wright. A complete report should be re- quired from Justice Clark, together with remittance to cover, While it may not be legal for the city to col- lect and receive certain fines, there is by no means any authority for a jus- tice to t{ransact any official business without rendering a full and complete accounting of same to the city. Following is a summary 6f receipts by funds paid into treasury: Revenue .. .. .. <% oo $ 10,728.59 Side Walk s e . 1,876.19 Poor ... . 1,277.55 Permanert Improvomt. Fd. 14,247.03 Sewerage - 7,231.87 Bends .. .. .. 8,784.71 Interest 4,867.41 Health.. . 234.74 Library. . 1,325.06 Sprinkling . 951.14 Sinking Fun 2,813.29 Liquor Licenses. 101,630.00 Miscellaneous Licenses 1,637.15 Municipal Court .. 2,228.41 Justice_Court . 21,708.82 ‘Water Rent .. .. . 12,248.63 Cemetery .. . 2,729.830 General Fund 9,833.53 ‘Water Bonds. 50,000.00 Townsite Co. 195.78 Filing fees 115.50 Poll Tax . ¥ 4.50 Judgment.. .. . 482.00 Hall Rent.. . i 1,448.48 State of Minnesota— Bond Issue: General Fund .. .. .. 10,000.00 Perm. Impr. Fund .. 7,000.00 Perm, Imp. Rev. Fund §,000.00 Bal. on hand March, '03.. Total receipts.. .. .. ..$283,403.26 From above summary it should not be a very difficult task to definitely determine just the actual condition cach respective fund is in. You can now rearrange to suit. Treasurer’s books show amount paid out of the different funds except as otherwise noted in this report. In closing, I desire to thank the re- spective officers for courtesies extend- ed me in making this examination. 1 have tried to be fair in this repor,t and where I fall short it is no fault of mine, but that of the particular system in use in the matter of keep- ing public records. Respectlully submitted, N. GAYNER, " Special Examiner. Too Much of a Tease. Blough and Neighbors were chatting on the porch. Mrs. Blough was in the parlor near the window. Blough knew ghe was listening and wanted to tease he ‘Had a little experlence today,” he sald to Neighbors confidentially. “Prettiest little girl you ever saw. She was sauntering along the street some feet behind a strolling couple. I was walking faster, and as I caught up with her I couldn’t help looking at her, she was so pretty. She caught my look and smiled. I bad no intention of flirting, of course, but that smile was Irresistible. Then our hands touched accidentally, and we let them lnger a minute. She began walking faster to keep up with me, and we passed the couple anhead together. ‘When we got some distance ahead of them I mustered up nerve enough to speak. ‘Good evening, I said, and she replied the same very roguishly.” There was a swish of skirts in the parlor, and Blough turned in time to see his wife vanishing toward the hall. “Thunder!” he exclalmed. “Of course the little girl was only about six years old, but my wife didn’t walt to hear that. She's gone upstairs to cry now, and even if she accepts my explana- tion it means flowers and' a party dress. What fools we husbands be!”- St. Louls Republic. Sterne’s Destitutlon. Laurence Sterne, the writer, was the victim of the intensest poverty. A lit- tle time before his death, belng in a state of destitution, he went one even- ing to borrow £5 from his friend Gar- rick. Upon arriving he heard music and knew that a party was going on. He heard the merry laughter and, gen- tly replacing the uplifted knocker, re- traced his steps. ‘We never feel our miseries so keenly as when contrasted with the joys of others, and it is only then that we real- 1ze Wordsworth’s picture: And bomeless near a thousand homes I stood And near a thousand tables pined for food. Another story of this writer does not evoke so much sympathy. It was known that Sterne used his wife very i1, and In talking with Garrick one day in fine sentimental style of .conju- gal love and fidelity he sald, “The hus- band who behaves unkindly to his wife deserves to have his house burn down over his head.” “If you think so,” sald Garrick quiet- 1y, “I hope yours is well Insured.” Political “Pome.” The fight is drawing to its close. The noise will soon be gone. There but remains the last appeal that's due from More Anon, a few brief words from You Know Who as friend speaks unto friend, Justitla throws a final fit, and then we have the end. A “Note of Warning” there may be from Old Subscriber’s pen, and Constant Read- er may emerge one moment from his den. Vox Popull may raise a waill that plerces heaven’s vault, insisting that the time has come when we should call a halt, and One Who Knows may yet, perchance, his stormy volce uplift and ask of all the uni- verse, “Ab, whither do we drift?’ But' all the fighting has been done. There is no longer strife, So let us cut out politics and lead the higher life.—Emporia (Kan.) Gazette. Most Important Wars. Perhaps the most important wars, from the standpoint of civilization and progress, were, first, the Greek-Per- slan war of 400 B. C, in which the orfental wave was prevented from delugiug Europe; second, the struggle between the Franks and -~ Moors, which ended at the battle of Tours with the defeat of the Moors, thus sav- ing Europe from Mohammedanism and its stagnation; third, the Napoleonic wars, which shook up Europe, destroy- ing the remnants of feudallsm and paving the way for modern democracy, and the American war of 1861-65, which preserved the integrity of the great republic and so made it possi- ble for the United States to work out its splendid destiny among the nations of the earth.—New York American, There are but two ways of debt—increase of industry fn raising e income, increase of thrift in h.finl out. Fined $10.00 and $3.00. Fine $13.00. ~Carlyle. o b 1530 A i S e ° They're All Like This. A young and pretty schoolteacher once asked her class for an original definition of the word “wife.” “A wife 1s a rib,” said one little girl. ¢ “Wives are gulding stars,” sald an- other. “A comforter,” said a third. “An fnspiration,” said a fourth. Altogether the definitions were rath- | er prosy and commonplace, but finally & chlld of eleven, smiling archly, said: “A wife is a person for a man to find fault with’ when things go wrong.” “Good!” cried the pretty teacher, laughing. “Good! That is the best definition of all, the best, the truest!” But that afternoon on the way home from school the little girl whose defl- nftion had so pleased tripped demurely ¥p to the teacher and said: “Are you golng to marry that tall, handsome young man I see you with nearly every night?” “Yes,” sald the teacher. “Well, then, if my definition of a wife was true”— “Ah, but, dear, with us nothing will ever go wrong. He says so himself.” ‘The Horse’s Power of Smell. The horse will leave musty hay un- touched In his bin, however hungry. He will not drink of water objection: able to his questioning sniff or from a bucket which some odor makes offen- sive, however thirsty. His intelligent nostril will widen, quiver and query over the daintiest bit offered by the fairest of hands, with coaxings that would make a mortal shut his eyes and swallow a npauseous mouthful at a gulp. A mare is never satisfled by either sight or whinny that her colt is really her own until she has a certaln nasal certificate to the fact. A blind horse, now living, will not allow the approach of any stranger without showing signs of anger not safely to be disregarded. The distinction fs evi- dently made Ly his sense of smell and at a considerable distance. Blind horses, as a rule, will gallop wildly about a pasture without striking the surrounding fence. The sense of smell informs -them of its proximity.—Horse and Stable, Deceivers. There {s an old fellow who lives In a “dry” New England town who has a very poor opinfon of New York, to which metropolls he recently made a visit. It may be remarked in passing that the old gentleman Is one of the pillars of the church in his native vil- lage. Upon his return home he sat for some time upon a sugar barrel at the grocery and then suddenly burst out: “Them fellers down to New York is as ‘bad as thieves! Cheat your eye- teeth out 'fore you know it!"” “Gosh, Hiram! You don’t mean to say you got bunkoed at your age?’ the storekeeper demanded, dropping the nail tongs. “Yes, 1 did, too!” was the angry re- ply. “I went to a sody water fountain an’ asked the feller for his best sar- syprilla, an’ I give him the regular wink.” “Well?” the storekeeper demanded. “Well, by heck, I got It!" was the disgusted reply. Sharks and Divers. Contrary to what is generally sup- posed, the fully equipped modern diver does not dread sharks In the depths, though there are cases on record where these monsters have bitten sav- agely at the air pipe, causing a serious leak and almost drowning the man be- fore he could be hauled up. Sharks are, however, notoriously timid, and all the experienced diver has to do to frighten them away is to open one of the air valves in his dress and cause a stream of bubbles to rise up all around him, whereupon the “tiger of the deep” will make off in abject terror. A far more real danger Is getting entangled. —8t. Nicholas. A Mixup. The householder smothered his wrath and descended to the basement. “Are you the plumber?’ he asked of the grimy looking individual who was tinkering with the plpes in the cellar. “Yes, guv'nor,” answered the man. “Been long In the trade?’ _ “’Bout a year, guv'nor.” “Ever make mistakes?” “Bless yer, no, guv'nor!” “Oh, then, I suppose it’s all right! 1 imagined you had connected up the ‘wrong plpes, for the chandelfer in the drawing room is spraying like a foun- tain, and the bathroom tap’s on firel”— London Answers. The Wrong Girl. After a whole year of married bliss a young man named Hahn, living at Volosea, Dalmatia, discovered that he had not married the girl he intended. ‘When he proposed to her he mistook her for her twin sister, who so re- sembles her that they can scarcely be distinguished, and he did not realize his error until he began calling her by her Christian name instead of by the terms of endearment he had hitherto used. Overlooked.- “I always distrust your judgment for #ome reason or other, John.” “Yes, and you have reason to, It gerves me right” “Why, I cannot remember you ever having done anything to justify such a distrust.” “Have you forgotten that I married you?'—Houston Post. Explosive. An ambitious young writer having asked, “What magazine will give me the highest position quickest?’ was told, “A powder magazine, f you con- tribute a flery article.” _— There s no frigate like a book ts take us leagues away.—Dickinson. His Preference. “You say this man stole your coat?” sald the magistrate. “Do I understand that you prefer charges against him?’ “Well, no, your honor,” replied the plaintflt “I prefer the coat, If it's all the same to you, sir.”—Philadelphia Press. % A Shock. Mrs. Youngwife—Now, tell me, Al- fonse, what papa sald to you when you asked him for my hand. Alfonse— He sald “Thank goodness! At lastl” and went on writing. Newton’s Light Theory. Sir Isaac Newton earned worldwhie fame by showing that gravitation, pre- viously recognized only at the surface of the earth, ls operative throughout the universe wherever there is matter. In another fleld of physics he was far less happy. His brilliant success In experimental optics came to be quali- fied, though not invalidated, by a faulty interpretation of the facts. He gave his name and powerful authority, to the corpuscular theory of Hght. In Sir Isaac’s view, the phenomenon of luminosity is produced by .corpuscles— exceedingly minute particles of matter ° —which are projected continuously from the sun, stars and all other lumi- nous bodles. But his corpuscles failed to elucidate all the appearances, and 8ir Isaac’s theory was finally deposed by an explanation which referred light to undulatory vibrations in the ether. It would be some comfort for the dis- coverer of universal gravitation, were he llving now, to realize that the mod- ern physleist is daily dealing with cor- puscles flung off from matter at speeds fairly comparable with that of life it- self. Couldn’t Help It. ¥ A young lady tells the following story of an Englishman she met dur- ing a trip to Mexico: The Englishman became acquainted with the American party while they were all guests at a winter hotel ‘Whenever the parents of the American girl proposed any trip the Englishman immediately begged to be made one of the party. He was to be included in a moonlight trip to a nearby moun- tain. After the Americans were ready to start they had to delay some fifteen minutes awaliting thelr guest’s ar rival. When he did arrive he elec- trified them by his comments on the reason for his delay. What he said ‘was: “I beg pardon for my beastly tardi- ness. Couldn’t help it, don’cherknow. I had to bring my mother from the gardens first. It's a singular horrid bore, but one has to be kind to his mother, don’cherknow!” — Milwaukee Free Press. The Queer Screw Plant. There 1s nothing under the sun quite 50 quaint, so weird and witchlike as the pandanus prairies of Fiji. The pan- danus, or screw plant, as it is called, is a most grotesque specimen of the veg- etable kingdom even at the best and in the early stages of its growth. In its very young days it is of an extraordi- narily screwlike shape and looks as though some unkind hand had taken hold of its long, swordlike leaves and twisted them round and round. Later on it straightens out a bit, and from it grow a number of tall weoden stilts, Its foliage is simple, a number of drooping, ragged tufts, for all the world like mops and very mournful looking. Among these mops hangs the frult, in shape like a plneapple, made up of hard red and yellow kernels, woody and fibrous and quite uneatable from a European’s point of view. His Status. The caste system is so deeply rooted among the people of India that Chris- tlanized Hindoos are still under its po- tent Influence. For example, Mr. J. O. Oman, formerly professor of natural sclence In the government college at Lahore, tells in his book, “The Brah- mans, Delsts and Muslims of India,” of the native Christian head master of a misslon school who was asked in a court of justice what his religion was. “Brahman-Christian,” he replied. The judge, who was a European, not recognizing such a sect, asked for more Information. “I am a-Brahman-Christian,” relter- ated the head master. “I cannot call myself simply a Christian,” he contin. ued with some warmth, “when that Choorah (sweeper) there is also a Christian. ['am a Brahman-Christian, sir.” Friday and Fortunes. Two women who wished to make an appointment with a fortune teller who ‘was pronounced “just splendid” by everybody who had patronized her were advised by the seer to come on Friday. “That Is, If you are not superstitious about Friday,” she sald. “Most people are. They regard Friday as such an unlucky day that they won’t even have their fortune told them for fear they. will hear something unlucky. That is why I advised you to come on that day. 1 will have plenty of time and won’t have to put your cases through with such a rush.”—St. Louis Repub- le. An Equinox. Tommy—Pa, what is an equinox? Pa—Why—er—it is—ahem! For good- ness sake, Tommy, don’t you know enything about mythology at all? An equinox was a fabled animal, half horse, half cow. Its name is derived from the words ‘equine’ and ‘ox.” It does seem as if these public schools don’t teach children anything now- adays!” Naturalized. L _An Itallan went to the eclvil service commissioners’ rooms to be examined for a laborer’s position. He answered most of the questions correctly. Final- 1y they asked him If he had ever been naturalized. He seemed a bit puzzled, but at last his face lighted up. “Ah, T know whata you mean. Scratcha de arm. Yes, lasta week.” Then He Stole. Prudent Swain—If I were to steal a Kkiss, would it scare you so that you would scream? Timid Maiden—1X couldn’t. Fright always makes me Qumb. 1 have never known a man of real ability to be ungrateful.—Goethe. Motion Denled. A man arrested for murder was as- signed a counsel whose crude appear- ance caused the unfortunate prisoner to ask the judge: “Ig this my lawyer?" “Yes,” replied the judge. “Is he golng to defend me?” “Fes? “If be should die, could I have an- other™ “Yes” “Can I see him alone in the back room for a few minutes?’—Pick-Me- Up. g