SUPPLEMENT TO THE WESTERN NEWS DEMOCRAT
VALENTINE , NEBR. , NOVEMBER 3 , 1899.
How Chief Justice Reese
ASK HIS FRIENDS TO EXPLAIN
SgvT - _ . - . - . . _ _ = =
Read what the Grand Island Inde
pendent , a republican newspaper , said in
its issue of July 1,1399 :
"Supreme Judge Harrison has acted
sensibly in stating in an interview that
he would not be av candidate for reelection
tion , because he realizes that there is a
sentiment in the state opposed to his re-
nomination. He probably could not be
renomieated even if .he wanted to , be
cause it would be inviting defeat , and he
certainly could not be re-elected. He
killed himself when he unwisely ap
pointed his step-daughter as his clerk or
stenographer with a 81,000 salary. "
Mr. Reese has read this. He knew
that Harrison was defeated for renomin-
ation for the reason , as stated by the
Grand Island paper. Mr. Reese knew
also that where Harrison was the feeble
imitator Reese was the original sinner :
Mr. Reese knew that where Harrison
simply placed his stepdaughter on the
pay roll and permitted her to draw the
money that Reese placed both his son
and wife upon the pay roll and REESE
DREW THE MONEY HIMSELF !
Harrison "Killed himself. "
Is Reese entitled to honor where Harrison
risen was entitled to degradation ?
QUESTIONS FOR REESE.
1. Do you believe the legislature of
Nebraska can , without violating the con
stitution , appropriate public money to
pay for "stenographic" or clerical assis
tance to the judges of the supreme
court ?
2. If your answer be "yes/ ' could such
an appropriation be used legally for aay
other purpose except that named in the
appropriation bill ? For instance , could
an appropriation for clerical assistance
be used to pay one's wife for doing her
own housework. Or to one's son for
properly applying himself to his studies
at school ?
3. Now , Judge Reese , if the appropria
tion for stenographic or clerical assist
ance to the judges of the supreme court
shouid be drawn and used only in the
payment of bona fide claims for clerical
or stenographic assistance actually ren
dered such judges , hew do you explain
the fact that state general fund warrants
to the amount of $74.6 were drawn in fa
vor of C. B. Reese , your wife , and H. A.
Reese , your son , in the years 1S88,1889
and 1890 , against two appropriations
made by the legislature to furnish you
stenographic or clerical assistance ?
4. Did C. B. Reese , your wife , actually
perform the duties of stenographer or
clerical assistant to you in the years 1889
and 1890 ?
5. Wal"C. B. Reese , your wife , a com
petent stenographer in the years 1889
and 1890 , or was she competent to per
form only merely clerical work in those
years ?
6. Did she as a matter of fact , render
you any assistance whatever , during the
years mentioned , other than to a.tend , to
her household duties ?
7. If C. B. Reese , your wife , was com
petent to assist you , and really did assist
you , as a stenographer or clerk , why was
she wholly incompetent to sign the ten
different vouchers , amounting to 8472 ,
THE.ENDORSEMENT
drawn in her name , signed by : C. B.
Reese , by ( orper" ) M. 13. Reese ? "
8. If O. B. Reese , your wife , actually
rendered you stenographic or clerical as
sistance in the performance of your du
ties as chief justice , why was she not al
lowed to draw the money on the ten war
rants , amounting to $472 , which'were
issued to C. B.Reese ?
9. The records show that you not only
made out and signed the voucher for the
alleged claims of C. B. Reese , your wife
and clerk , but that you also in every in
stance endorsed her warrants "C. B.
Reese , by ( or "per" ) M. B. Reese , " and
that you drew from the state treasury
uporusuch warrants so endorsed the sum
of $472. Did you as a kind and indul
gent husband , and honest and upright
judge , turn over to your faithful wife
and clerk this $172 ?
10. 'If C. B. Reese , your wife , did not
render you the assistance aforesaid , who ,
if anybody , did ? .
11. If some other person actually' p&v-
formed tha duties for which C. E. Reese ,
"per M. B. Reese , " drew $472 of the tax
payers' money from the state treasury ,
why was not such other person allowed
to draw that money in his or her own
name.
12. If neither C. B. Reese , your wife ,
uor any other person actually rendered
the services for which the state paid
$472 , and you pocketed the same , are not
you guilty of a misuse of public funds ?
Haven't you violated Section 14 of Arti
cle IV , of the Constiution of Nebraska ,
which declares that "no judge of the su
preme or district courts shall receive any
OTHER COMPENSATION , perquisite
or BENEFIT for and on account of his
office in any term whatsoever ? " An.i in
any event , aren't you the original sjnner
the "father of nepotism in Nebraska ? "
* Ji i" * * P" ! I Pf8 fe6 1 ! ! 1 I"88 Pfc ? * 1 rF"28
EAD THE OTHER SIDE