*N*b. State Historical Seaie^
The Frontier
- .>
VOL. LVII O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1937. _ No. 41
MSGR. McNAMARA
HONORED ON 40TH
YEAR AS A PRIEST
School Children’s Mass Held in the
Morning and Program At the
Academy in Evening.
Honoring the fortieth anniver
sary of Rt. Rev. Monsignor John
G. McNamara’s ordination to the
priesthood on Thursday, March 4,
the day opened with general Holy
Communion at St. Patrick’s church
during the Mass celebrated by him,
in which the entire student body of
St. Mary’s academy received for
his intentions. Then at 10 o’clock,
followed by a simple but beautiful
program in St. Mary’s assembly
when the pupils tendered our good
Monsignor their hearty good wishes
and congratulations. He was show
ered with American Beauty roses
by our little tots for this was his
Ruby Jubilee.
In the evening the auditorium
was filled with parishioners who
had planned a surprise. Monsignor
McNamara who was quite unaware
of the plans, was escorted to the
academy door where his twenty
altar boys in cassocks and sur
plices, bearing lighted candles, led
him to the auditorium and the
O’Neill high school orchestra, un
der the direction of Professor Dur
ham made the occasion festive with
soul-stirring music, flitted to the
celebration. An assembly of priests,
Sisters and friends from both
Bloomfield and O’Neill greeted him.
The reception was opened by Em
mett Harmon who, after tendering
his own felicitations, introduced
Father Leahy, Monsignor McNa
mara’s former assistant. Speaking
both from diocesan history and
from personal contact, Father
Leahy told many interesting bits
about Monsignor McNamara’s life,
especially during the time since he
was sent to O’Neill to ease the
heartaches of a mourning parish.
Following Father Leahy’s con
gratulations, Mr. Harmon intro
duced Francis Myers who touched
the heart of the audience by sing
ing .Schubert’s “Ave Maria” and
“Trees” by Rosbach. One of the
nicest events of the evening came
when a male chorus, comprised of
about twenty-five men of the parish
directed by Mr. Myers and accom
panied by Mrs. Kubitschek sang,
“When Irish Eyes are Smiling,”
“Love's Old Sweet Song,” and
“Caroline.”
Following this bit of musical
entertainment Father Beyersdorf,
pastor of St. John’s Deloit, repre
sented the priests of the O’Neill
deanery in a tribute to Monsignor
McNamara’s life from the time of
his birth in a small Nebraska town,
thru his college life and his ordina
tion, dwelling most beautifully on
his sincerity, piety, and priestli
ness during the forty years in
which he has labored for the
Church.
Mr. Kilasky tendered best wishes
from Monsignor McNamara’s form
er parishioners at Bloomfield, a
great many of whom came to
O’Neill to attend the celebration.
Father Byrne of Emmet, a lifelong
friend of Monsignor’s, who was his
co-assistant at Jackson many years
ago contributed a number of inter
esting episodes in their lives to
gether, and joined in the wish of
all that Monsignor would enjoy
many more happy and useful years.
At the close of the program, J. J.
Harrington presented a small token
of the gratitude and esteem in
which the congregation of St. Pat
rick’s Parish shall always hold this
minister of God.
Library Will lie Open
Two Evenings A Week
Beginning Thursday, March 18,
the library will be opened two even
ings a week, Thursday and Friday,
closing at 5:30 in the afternoon and
being open again at 7, until 9 p. m.
New books now at the library are
as follows:
American Family, Baldwin; Men
of Outer Island, Beach; Charlie
Chan Carries On, Bigger; Valley
Gold, Blindloss; Thirteen at Dinner,
Christie; Black Hunter and Swift
Lightning, Curwood; Three Mus
keteers, Dumas; Arigona Ames,
Code of the West and Sunset Pass,
Gray; Pink House, Hauck; Silver
Wings, Hill; Doctor, of Lonesome
River, Marshall; Light in Jungles,
Marshall; Judith of Godless Valley,
Morrow; Trail Fu Manchu, Romer;
Gun Lock Ranch, Spearman;
Rusler’s Valley, Mulford; Dog
Named Chip, Terhune; Buff A Col
lie, Terhune; Adventure Girls at
K Bar O, Blank; Secret Hermitage,
Keene; Mystery of Ivory Charm,
Keene; Mysterious Half Cat, Sut
ton; Nine Old Men, Pearson; White
Oak Harvest, De La Roche; Will
Roger’s Wit and Wisdom, Lait;
Polly’s- Suitor, Wells; Cadet Days,
King; Connie Morgan in the Arctic,
Hendryx; 55 New Tin Can Pro
ject, Lukowitz; Craft Work and
Play Things, Hall.
PIONEER LADY, 81
YEARS OLD, IS DEAD
OF HEART TROUBLE
Funeral Services for Mrs. James
O’Connor Held Wednesday
In This City.
Mrs. James O’Connor died at her
home in this city last Monday
morning after a short illness of an
attack of heart trouble, at the age
of 81 years. The funeral was held
Wednesday morning from the
Catholic church at 9 o’clock and
burial in Calvary cemetery.
Catherine Quirk was born in
County Limerick, Ireland, in 1856.
She came to the United States when
a young woman and settled in
Illinois where she was united in
marriage to James O’Connor in
1883. Two children were born of
this union, ohe son and one daught
er, who with their aged father are
left to mourn the passing of a kind
and affectionate wife and mother.
The children are: Dr. Daniel O’Con
nor of Eden Valley, Minn., and
Miss Margaret O’Connor of this
city.
In the spring of 1885 they came
to this county and settled on a farm
a mile and a half north of this city
where they resided for about thirty
years, when they moved to O’Neill
and she made her home here up to
the time of her death, Mr. O’Con
nor having erected a home here
before his removal to the city. Mrs.
O’Connor was a splendid woman,
a kind and affectionate wife and
mother and a devoted member of
the Catholic church.
The death of Mrs. O’Connor
marks the passing of another of the
old time pioneers of the county,
whose ranks are rapidly depleting.
For fifty-two years she had been
a resident of this city and immedi
ate vicinity and she had a host of
friends in this section who learned
with regret of her passing.
Birthday Party for 88
Year Old Pioneer Lady
A surprise birthday party for
Mrs. William Menish in celebration
of her 88th birthday anniversary,
was held Tuesday, March 9. A
group of near friends and neigh
bors gathered at her home to help
celebrate the event. They brought
well filled baskets of good things
to eat with them. Those present
at the gathering were as follows:
Mrs. Robert Marsh, a daughter;
Joseph Menish, a grandson; Ed
Menish, a son; Mrs. Wm. Dailey, a
daughter; John Q. O’Malley, a
nephew; Walter O’Malley, a neph
ew; Mrs. Mary Wilson, a niece;
George Wilson, a cousin; and Miss
Mary Menish, a granddaughter;
also, Mrs. Catherine McNichols,
Mrs. Joe McNichols, Mrs. P. V.
Hickey, Mrs. John Hickey, Mrs.
Herb Jansen, Mrs. James Brennan,
Mrs. Walter O’Malley, Mrs. Mer
zig, Mrs. George Wilson, Mrs. J. F.
Donohoe, Mrs. T. J. Donohoe, Joe
Donohoe, Miss Martina O’Donnell.
After a sumptious lunch was
served all those present joined in
an old time visit and card game
talking of early events of other
days in Shields precinct.
This grand old pioneer lady can
recall early day events with a fac
ulty that is wonderful for one of
her age. She is in good health and
goes about her household work as
spry as one of fewer years. She
is the oldest of the pioneers in
Shields precinct.
CARD OF THANKS
We desire to express our heart
felt thanks to the many friends and
neighbors for their many acts of
kindness and sympthy during the
long illness and following the death
of our beloved sister, Mrs. Susie
Horiskey. Your many acts of kind
ness will long be gratefully remem
bered.—P. J. McManus and Mamie
McManus.
COUNTY’S MONEY
SHORTAGE STOPS
WISE SPENDING
Supplier Cannot Be Had At Market
Price When Payment Held Up
I>ue To Lack of Funds.
Here we delve further into the
analysis of taxes and county ex
penditures in Holt county, from the
report made by the tax committee
of the Atkinson Service club.
Office Stationery and Supplies
It is quite impossible for us to
make the same comparison on the
purchase of these supplies with
other counties in which surveys
have been made for the reason that
in the past two years, very few
claims have been allowed and it is
impossible for us to say definitely
that a certain price is paid for this
item until the claim is allowed.
The total amount of unpaid bills
on file for office stationery, assess
ment and election supplies as of
Sept. 28, 1936, was $9,047.68.
W e might quote prices paid oy |
other counties as compared with
prices on a few articles listed in
the unpaid claims on file. For in
stance, motor vehicle licenses are
billed at $45.00 to $55.00 per thous
and, whereas many counties pur
chase theirs for half this amount.
Tax lists art billed at 3 for $223.50.
Cheyenne county purchased three
in the same year for $180.00, while
Custer county for several years has
purchased its tax lists for $35.00
each or $106.00 for three. Complete
records $73.00 while Cheyenne
county paid $50.00 in the same
year.
The above are typical of the
many articles purchased in this
classification and this account is a
most excellent example that when
a county becomes financially in
volved thru poor management that
it is especially difficult to pay its
debt*? and establish itself on a
business basis.
The firms who furnish these sup
plies can hardly be criticized for
not giving the county the low price
when they have to wait several
years for their pay, and yet to con
tinue purchasing these supplies at
two and three times a normal mar
ket value makes a bad matter
still worse and, as we have stated,
greatly handicaps the establishing
of business methods in the trans
action of the necessary functions
of county government.
It has been the common practice
in a number of Nebraska counties
that are in financial difficulties to
continue to buy from old firms and
continue to pay two and three times
the market price on the theory that
these firms carried them when they
were in difficulty and that they
should continue to do business with
them. Certainly it is the poorest
kind of logic and the poorest kind
of business tactics and is disaster
ous to the taxpayer who ultimately
nays the bills.
Poor Relief
Again, we find it impossible to
make the proper showing on poor
relief as many of these bills are
still unpaid. The claims that were
paid in 1935 total $8,402.61 exclu
sive of the amount of earned relief
paid from the County Road Relief
fund and the amount paid by the
Federal government.
The new Social Security laws
passed in the 1935 regular and
special session of the legislature
are now functioning and should
apparently have the effect of quite
drastically reducing county expend
itures for poor relief.
Schools
It is interesting to note that the
total enrollment and cost of opera
tion of all schools in Holt county
exclusive of capital outlay and
debt service were as follows in the
years mentioned:
Enroll- Cost of
Year ment Operation
1918—4,204 _$143,177.42
1935—3,975 186,344.58
A decrease in enrollment cf 5.4
percent. An increase in cost of op
eration of 30.1 per cent.
Cash Basis
The practice of paying exorbit
ant prices for services and sup
plies, greatly retards, perhaps even
makes almost hopeless, the pro
position of ever getting the busi
ness of the county on a cash basis.
We have no hesitancy in making
the comment that if Nebraska had
proper cash basis laws and made
exceeding of a budget a criminal
' offense as it applies to the state
officials in Kansas, that Holt county
would have, at all times, been on a
cash basis.
County Indebtedness
Court House Building
Bonds Outstanding
June 30, 1936 . $61,000.00
Unpaid Claims on file
all county Funds
September 28, 1936 51,417.71
Registered County
Warrants Outstanding
June 30, 1936 _ 63,694.96
Discrepancies In Claims and
County Records
In the years 1912, 1918 and 1929
the records show a total of $2,969.
40 in claims marked “allowed” and
warrants drawn and paid that
were entirely omitted from the
Supervisor’s record.
In 1929 there are also many dis
crepancies between the amounts
shown on the Supervisor’s record
and as paid on the claims. Also
claims are shown on the Supervis
or’s record as allowed on one fund
while the claims show allowed on
another fund.
We are in no wise charging that
there is any fraud in connection
with the discrepancies in the pay
ment of these claims but the fact
that they occurred clearly demon
strates the utter absence of proper
accounting and auditing in the ad
ministration of our county affairs
and also demonstrates that a very
serious condition might develop in
any county in Nebraska under our
present lax method of keeping our
county records and an entire ab
sence of auditing our County Board
proceedings as well as county funds.
Irregularity in Allowance of Claims
Holt county isj the only county
we have found in Nebraska that
allows claims and issues warrants
shortly after making the annual
estimate in January. The usual
practice is that these claims can
not be allowed und warrants drawn
until after the new levy is made in
August unless money is on hand
to pay the same .
The law plainly states in Chap
ter 26-117 Compiled Statutes of
Nebraska, 1929 “Each warrant
shall specify the amount levied and
appropriated to the fund upon
which it is drawn, and the amount
already expended of such fund.”
It is apparent that warrants drawn
prior to the time the August levy
is made cannot possibly show the
amount levied as provided by this
statute. This might be a violation
of the law. The best legal advice
we can obtain on the subject is
that under our present laws the
bill can be allowed after the estim
ate is made but in no event can the
warrant be legally drawn until af
ter the levy in August.
A further discussion of the fin
anacial condition of the county
from the same report will appear
next. week. Payment of salaries
to county Socials being the topic.
Nine Bulls Bring Average
of Nearly $250.00 A Head
R. E. Lucas was in from his
ranch north of Page Monday morn
ing. Mr. Lucas with his son is
engaged in raising pure bred Here
ford cattle and he informed us that
he had nine head of bulls at the
sale of the North Central Nebraska
Hereford Breeders Association,
which was held in Valentine last
Saturday. The two top bulls he
had on sale sold for $385 each and
another sold for $.366. The average
received for the nine bulls was
$243.95, which was a very good
price, considering that several of
them were young calves.
The Weather
High Low
March 4 60 25
March 5 - _ 73 88
March 6 72 35
March 7 71 38
March 8 58 24
March 9 ... 38 11
March 10 47 18
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to express our thanks
to those who assisted us during the
sickness, death and burial of our
beloved husband and father.—Mrs.
Fannie Valla and children.
Miss Evelyn Mains, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mains, left
last Thursday for the Holy Rosary
Mission, west of Rosebud, S. I).,
where she has accepted a position
as bookeeper and stenographer at
the Mission. Word from her, re
ceived by her parents, are to the
effect that she likes her work and
surroundings.
I
LAST RITES HELD
SUNDAY FOR MRS.
SUSIE HORISKEY
Mrs. Horiskey Hies of Pernicious
Anemia After An Illness
of Four Years.
Mrs. Susie Horiskey died at her
home in this city last Friday morn
ing after an illness of about four
years, of pernicious anemia, ut the
age of 69 years, 7 months and 24
days. The funeral was held Sun
day morning at 11:30, after late
mass, from the Catholic church in
this city, of which the deceased was
a devout member. Rev. P. F. Burke
officiating and burial in Calvary
cemetery.
Susie McManus was born at
Benton, Wisconsin, July 11, 1867.
She grew to womanhood there and
in the spring of 1890 came with her
family to this city, her brothers,
P. J. and John having come to this
city in the spring of 1885. On Oc
tober 2, 1907, she was united in
marriage to Joseph Horiskey, Mr.
Horiskey being engaged in the
grocery business here. He passed
away in 1924 and after his death
Mrs. Horiskey continued the store
until ill health forced her retire
ment, four years ago last fall.
In April, 1933, accompanied by
her brother, P. J., she went to
Rochester, Minn., where she went
thru the Mayo clinic and the physic
ians there informed her that she
was suffering from pernicious
anemia. Mrs. Horiskey leaves two
brothers, P. J. of this city, and
James of Chicago, and one sister,
Miss Mamie of this city, to mourn
the pasSing of a kind and affection
ate sister.
Mrs. Horiskey was recognized as
an exceptionally able business wo
man and conducted one of the best
grocery stores in the city for sev
eral years, and had a host of friends
among the citizens of this city and
surrounding country. For the past
four years she had been confined to
her home. But thru the years she
was cheerful and uncomplaining,
her only regret being that she was
such a burden on her brother and
sister who gave her loving and
faithful care during her illness.
The many friends of the family
tender their sympathy to the sor
rowing relatives in their hour of
sorrow.
First Law Suit In New
Court Building Tried
Before Judge Malone
The first law suit to be tried in
the new court house was tried last
Monday, March 8, before county
Judge C. J. Malone and a jury. The
case was the state of Nebraska
vs. Leo Lear, of Merrick county,
charged with the violation of the
law for the transporting of gaso
line by truck. He was tried on two
counts, being acquitted on the first
count and convicted on the second.
Judge Malone fined him $75 and
costs and he filed notice of appeal.
The state was represented by
County Attorney J. D. Cronin and
the defendant by Attorney James
P. Marron.
Being first in the line of suc
cession to a throne; first in any
sport event; first in a general elec
tion, or first in anything in which
you engage is always important
and as this was the first law sqst
ever tried in the new Holt county
temple of justice and home of Holt
county’s various officials, it will be
in a class by itself, not for the im
portance of the case but the fact
that it was the first case tried to a
jury in the new building.
Funeral Services
For Emil Kripner
Funeral services for Emil Krip
ner of Dorsey, who died in the
Lynch hospital, Feb. 27, were held
from the family home of Dorsey
Monday afternoon, March 1, and
the last rites were in charge of W.
J. Svoboda of Verdigre.
A choir consisting of Mrs. O. A.
Newman, Mrs. Carl Grant, Mrs.
Charles Cole, Mrs. C. L. Brady, H.
V. Rosenkrans and Charles Cole
sang three hymns, “We’ll Never
Say Good Bye,” Some Day We Will
Understand” and “In the Sweet
Bye and Bye,” during the services.
Burial took place in the Bohem
ian National cemetery at Jelen and
the pallbearers were, Walter Wiley,
Jeonard Juracek, Raymond Soucek,
Leo Phelps, Thomas Alder and
William Derickson.
Emil was stricken with appendi
citis and was at once taken to the
Lynch hospital a few days before
he passed away which was on Sat
urday evening, at 11 o’clock.
Emil Kripner was born on Aug
ust 15, 1910, in Knox county, Ne
braska, on a farm about seven
miles northwest of Verdigris in the
Jelen community. Here was spent
the early days of his childhood and
here he attended school. In 1919
at the tender year of nine, together
with his mother and foster father,
he went to live on a farm in Holt
county, and here were spent the
carefree days of boyhood.
It was here that he grew to man
hood and here just a few short
days ago Emil was stricken with
appendicitis, which was the cause
of his untimely passing, he being
26 years, 7 months and 14 days at
the time of his death.
Surviving and left to mourn his
passing are his mother, Mrs. Joseph
Jerabek and foster father, Joseph
Jerabek of Dorsey; his father, An
ton Kripner, Chicago, 111., and his
grandmother, Mrs. Mary Tomasek,
Verdigris; and a host of other rela
tives, comrades and friends.—
Verdigre Eagle.
COUNTY OFFICERS
ALL MOVED INTO
NEW BUILDING
Old Huilding Deserted. Some New
Furniture for Some Offices
Has Not Arrived.
All the county officers are now
domiciled in their quarters in the
new court house. The last two to
desert the old building were Judge
Dickson and Clerk of the District
Court Moss. Mr. Moss started mov
ing Wednesday and Judge Dickson
this morning. They expect to have
their offices in shape for the open
ing of the regular spring term of
district court next Monday morn
ing.
The rest of the officers are com
fortably installed in their new
quarters and all the moving was
made without undue inconvenience
to the taxpayers of the county or
the people having business with the
various offices. Some of the offices
are to have new furniture installed,
which has not yet arrived, and
makeshift equipment is being used
pending its arrival.
Hundreds of Holt county taxpay
ers, as well as people from different
parts of the state, have inspected
the building during the pait week
and all were loud in their praise of
the beauty of the building, its dur
ability and convenience. We hap
pened to be in the building this
morning when a gentleman from
Omaha, whose business requires
him to visit court houses in practic
ally every section of the state, was
inspecting the building. He re
marked that it was a beauty and
one of the finest structures in the
state, not as large as some but
stood as a monument to the pro
gressiveness of the people of Holt
county. It is a beautiful building
and if you have not inspected it go
thru the next time you are in town
and see the headquarters that have
been provided for the officials of
the county who are looking after
your business. Any of the county
officials will be glad to show you
thru the building.
Will Open Auto Sales
Agency In O’Neill
Ray Eby and Ralph Beckwith
have rented of J. B. Ryan the old
Sniggs blacksmith building on east
Douglas street and under the name
of the E. & B. Motor company will
handle the Chrysler and Plymouth
cars, using the building as their
repair shop and salesroom.
Mr. Eby has been a mechanic in
a local garage for several years and
is said to be a good man in his line
of work. Mr. Beckwith has been
farming northwest of town for sev
eral years, but is retiring from the
farm to devote his entire attention
to the automobile game. The Fron
tier wishes the new firm success in
their undertaking.
Monday morning workmen start
ed excavation under the Stannard
store for the improvements that are
to be made on the building. The
basement will be enlarged, new
foundations put under the building
and a new and modern store front
installed. The improvement will
greatly enchance the appearance
of the west side of Fourth street.
PETITIONS OUT FOR
FOUR MEN SEEKING
CITYCOUNCIL SEATS
John Alfa Will Oppose Hugh Coyne
In Second Ward. Others Thus
Far Have No Opposition.
City election will bo held on
Tuesday, April 6, and already
petitions are in circulation for
candidates for the various offices.
The election this year affects the
councilmen in three wards only. In
the First ward the term of J. P.
Protivinsky expires this spring and
a petition is in circulation asking
his reelection to the position for
another term. He will probably
have no opposition.
In the Second ward the term of
Hugh Coyne, who has represented
that ward in the council for several
year, expires, and petitions are in
circulation placing him in nomina
tion for another term. Petitions
are also in circulation for John
Alfa to fill the position now held by
Mr. Coyne.
In the Third ward Norb Uhl has
been the councilman for the past
three years. Petitions are in cir
culation placing him in nominatioiv
for another term. Petitions are
also in circulation asking that the
name of Lloyd G. Gillespie, for
many years a councilman from this
ward, be placed on the ballot for
the position.
There is still lots of time for
candidates to get into the field in
the various wards as they have
until ten days before election to file
their petitions.
Cattle and Hogs Rule
Higher In Brisk De
mand At Atkinson Sale
Atkinson, Nebr.—Bullish forces
governed both the cattle and hog
market at Tuesday’s auction. One
of the heaviest runs of cattle, es
timated at 450 head, passed thru
the ring in record time at fully 35
to 75 cents a hundred higher than
a week ago. All classes shared in
the days advance. Best beef cows
sold at 6.00 to 7.60; cutters at 3.86
to 6.00; canners at 3.16 to 3.50;
stocker and feeders ruled fully 60
cents higher with all fair to good
yearling steers and steer calves
selling at 7.00 to 7.90; yearling
heifers and heifer calves at 6.60
to 6.25 with reds and roans down
to 5.00 and below. Milk cows and
stock cows sold at 40.00 to 61.00 a
head, depending on quality.
The hog market was a run-away
affair for both fats and stockers.
About 280 head were sold. All fats
sold at 9.86 and 9.90, equaling
Omaha top for the same day. Light
lights and feeder pigs sold at 7.50
to 9.90; sows at 8.50 to 9.40.
A somewhat better tone prevail
ed for horses with a complete clear
ance made on the 30 head offered.
While prices ruled no higher than
recently, the demand was better for
all kinds.
Next auction Tuesday, March 16,
starting at 12:30 p. m.
Meadow Grove Man Will
Open Meat Market Here
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry J. Matula and
family of Meadow Grove, arrived in
the city last Saturday and will
make this city their future home.
Mr. Matula has rented the building
on Douglas street where Medlin &
Son operated a meat market for
several years, and he will open a
meat market there as soon as the
building has been renovated and re
paired. He expects to announce his
opening date ne*:t week. Mr. and
Mr:;. Matula are the parents of six
children, four of whom came here
with them and a son is a senior in
the high school-at Meadow Grove
and will not come here until after
the close of the school year. An
other daughter is employed at Fair
field, Io. Mr. Matula has been in
the meat business for several years
and he intends to open a first class
market in this city.
John Dailey, of Winner, S. D.,
came over last Sunday and will
visit here for acouple of weeks with
his sister, Mrs. P. J. Biglin and
with other relatives and friends.
Mr. Dailey has just recovered from
a severe attack of pneumonia and
after recuperating here for a couple
week will leave for Virginia where
he will visit for a few weeks with
his sons who are engaged in business
there, before returning to his home
and business in South Dakota.