OFFICE OF THE AITORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS 

AUSTlN 

Honorable Charlss I. Hmtphlll 

county M&¶ttor 

Upton aountf 

&@d.n, Texne 

bar 8f.m Oplnloa x0* 

ROI Urdor t 

th4 aw 

to FeoeitB any 

wlouatr provided 

to bs paid theat? 

ir\Fel*teu QtlestioM. 

atlng the opinion 

ted therein ir aa 

tin& or the Codhold on ifooday, 

ordorll, wioll$st 

ommfiirion4r 3, 0. Ourrio, tlnly 

onor Burfry XoCulloa that 

Dal, Offf4ial.~ 119 f&B* b4 

B fOF the fWF 19491 8hOFtffOtOr 

0r tb ~4044~. 

t Al t 

OOltntf AttOFmf; OOwty 

CIonetablor; Al.1 Jwtloos 

a!%4t.la5 by Oomlwliowr Y. R, fatea, 6uly 

reoonded by CorPnJssi4n4r f. 0, Currio that th4 

t0110whg Upton cotmty otrioill1 Sal..arf*cs b4 rot 
@On thim l.lU %a 

oamo on ier oondhm t 

of Janua~ 1953, them 

Ion eaoae oha rttorr tha 

Xr Offlo 44hsl4e d thr Ooudy tM5q 0owt.y 

And IGtrlot Olork and sh~F%ff, ArnM6aox and 

Collootor, and lt be&q Uw iosh oi Bae Qoart 

tba0 raid offloerr be Cslmrd te aaL0 tk4 muimum relaFiu auewe4 by aar, am4 Lo OF&r for 

thAr to'do #I, LI ir n#oMaFy w allow #i% 

Offioo~s ~sOffisio rwlulor Oar BJTIfll by Oamlaissionu w. 1. T4toa 444&d bJ QonmiASiOWF 

;r. 0. ourrio, the st.lubs WD sAbFirs to b4 

o%rJAed by the oouaty 

Clerk, utd ShoFiif %a& 

dxll a00 om3oed the Skrtotory 

Mh it14Jl&Ag AU f4W Wd 

Aad bat tha 4wftioiO l lAr y o ? tb 

bo fired at #)&%vOa aad 8hAt the 

wlary or the Oounty rad Matriot Glerk be Sixed 

A$ $~ooo,oo par y4at ANI t&t tha n;-0iri0io 

Salary or the 3heri ri , Asrrrun md 

be rirr(L at $3000.00, for the mu- 19 

b4 pat4 la tw42+4 oqwl pnywntr’. 

‘By Or&F OntOrod p0040d ~8~4 O&OF06 th4 lame 

, 

bO-Wi%t 

“Ii&ion by CO1Ud44ioliOF J. 0. Crrlie 8aly 

woaade4 by OORI~A~~O~~F Barley Xo%ollu t&t the 

eiaximm sot ral~ry to bo 4emm4 by tho 

Atterrrep, John A. U4not44, rhall not 1800.00 

p6P YeAT, itlOludill5 til f4A8 IM Al 6 X-oifi4iO Oalq, 

pad th ox-ortlaio wl6ry for the County Attomoy 
,mablo Chtzrlw I. Hemphill, Paga S 

$6 bomb 

Do bo 

ihed ‘t ~1600.00, ia the ywr 1943, 

pe I 6 ~JI krelro .qual ~yments’. 

%y oonstruotion of tkm spplloablo l ub dlvi- 

‘iOfi6 Of btlOl# )%%8f 1A that th4 AiAXhl%U AiaAoatr 

@A cow 

3 

Jpbgo, Oountq Attonmy SherlrfAssorsor ollooter sad Uouaty-Wshst Clerk 

(Uptar Ooamty &vhg hss t&a 20,000 &ntmb;turts) 

my ro~l~6 u&d be ~3,00%00~ da& An Offsaeat i9.l~~ Fun4 WAS pro+ltlod ?OF by the Owdo4iowrrt Oowt prior to thh year* What I *m ia 

l qUM&LFy AbOUt 16 WhSthOl’ OFllOt ths ~d‘doaWI)' Qour8 of 0 

t 

Oon 

tokrn on the aa 

Qounsy, by t&41? M l& l o:1on 

0 

in J-w, 19b31 

of their fhst n@rr mot* 

l l. Whotko the Uemby Job 

ney Sheriff-Asseobot iad 001106 te 

4, Qounty A%t~rDlrkriot no* UOTO 

t an8 Ooantybaois for the ysar 1 

laasd lepon 8 salart or r44 

8 43 as4 wh4thor t&et AGO 

0ntLtWl te r4041*4 LIWO tdlsn th4 %tleunts 

prevido6 by t&4 oourl ‘70 be paid thm in th4 

above OPdeTs. 
ROAOFAbl4 CbrrloA F. Ruaphlll, PA@ & 

OfCloars' S414rf Pun& ot ths oowty, or should thr 

&U&t AttorMJ SlOn4 A0 60 iSB6~0h as th4 OE~OF 

‘uthoriri~ 947a46t tb the others dO4A Rot A&y 

thAt ‘uoh ‘AlOFj @boll 14014d4 All fM6 %Ad 4Ic 

O??iOiO ‘AlSFJf.- 

444ording :i?'t go 

&MllAtbf8 Of u9tOQ aOUt 

a 1940 ?edmsl 04os\u. 4h 

i8 4,297 bhrbit4txt4 

l 44*4aA44 trr Vrlu4S14m Or Wi6 404SSy fOF th. -OF 19b2 WA‘ #l&298,OO(s.O& 

&&ion 2 Of rrti41. 39120, f4?Aon“ hUlOtAt4d Clvll 

st‘*uto‘ nsds in VW8 ‘6 f011On: 

Is 4outir‘ hnla 

14“ :;A: &Oat, thotuwd (20 too 

S,RUU~FU&~~’ 

4400rd16~ to the 1ASt pno.d& hbrsl Oeams, 

it BhAll ffkWi6, b4 th* bty Of the CommlwionOF“ GOart, b 

11 

it‘ Ol’dO? dtif BAd4 4d OAte?O& 

of rooor& et $6 first FO~lOF nrtily is Jnp~4pJ 

of 440h l 614adar y44t, t0 dotamino WhOthaF 400~ 

ty OffiOOtr Of Ullah 6OWut~ (4SOhdiU6 4OUAty 

‘WVd 

i 

Qrll, FO~St?AF‘ Ot Vital ‘thi‘tiO8 l nd 

notar 46 pabllol~ rSsl1 b4 racpraAat6d rot tb4 

fiWA1 FOAF 08 th b%‘tr Of ‘A 4AAAA1 AOlAFy et 

whrther thy *hall bo oatprnutad on the bar;‘ 

of foes omw? by t&m in thr perfom~n44 of 

their oitioial dutfor, wd it shall al80 k th4 

duty oi thr ooonty rlrrk to torpard to tb0 C06ip. 

tt0iier 0r PAbli0 r48owi8 or th4 stat4 OS 94~46, 

OA or bdor4 the flrt 44 or Yanuary, 4 04rtiriO4 

00~~ 0r SAid OFdOP Of 64 f d d00t~httO~ftr8’ cOUFt.* 

Tt14 motiaas 604 otdsrs of the Oommlrsiosrrr~ Court 

A‘ h4F4totO?0 qUOt0d 43'4 #&'#@#$%2, BOAtFAdi4tOFy 4Ad i5dOfiAit4, 

~4 0Annot ortegorloally srf uhthcr the oowty 0rfh4818 or 

Upton OOWty 43-4 t0 b4 OCN946AOtOb M A r4@ bMi8 O? %A SQBU& 

66lrrf b6rlr ior tb4 To*? 1943. 

Thlr doprrtmat Pm F6p46tdly hold tbC t&4 Ca!f818r!I9ners' 

Court in oountire hatin l populAtbA Of 148‘ than 20,ooO iAhAbi- 

$a‘,tA A4oordlng $0 the 1Ast pr*roding ?rdsrol Cenoua, iA aotsr- 
Boaorrble Cbrtrler 1. tlm~phlll, Pagr 5 
Boaorablr CharlO y. iimphill, P880 6 

Ot 8dd di8triOt 806 OOUdy OffiCU8 i.~ IIDB~ 

8II 8MUel 881S?y ti tWOlV0 (12) 8aU81 iBStr JagEt8 O? a6t 1088 thaa the tOtO1 8011 l 8rnM 88 

Isore thrm tb rtulmun allonQ rmk offloO? undu 

law8 ed8tin& Aagsat 24, 1935, l l ' px'ov~da4, 

that h OOUDtk8 h8Via L pO&Ud8thS d 1.88 t&B 

tWOA* thOU8Md ( 20,005) sBhbitMt8 WO?&ing 

to the 188t pr@OOdtS~ yOdOr81 COXWILI, O&d hwirq 

ea users4d ralortlm 5.a l f0W8 or toe Blll.iM 

@.~ooo,o~) dO118r8 MMtrbin~ t0 th0 h8t PI’+ 

M ~8~1W,d%8%~~~~t 8DSfiOOMt~,tb 

-ZbUm W-t 8t3@nd 8Udl OtiiUX’8 88 8ahrio 

ary k 1Ml'OciSd On0 (1) $W~Uit iOr OOOh 0aO 

rillfo0 (@,f%i,o@) dOll8r8 V8bli!tbIb, O? t?WUo Ba l p ia r t th o no r , in l xmm of nl4 tan dlLioD (#.o,~o 000) 601blr8 V8h8tiM QIOY 8rd 

l boro t& &&tfror)~idd 8rd UllW9a 8W&OtffOO?8 under 18WS SLi8tiEg 011 Awlt ah, 1935; 

prmfdd, hOUTO?, 110 8daFie8 OoVOnd by tfi8 

8OOt$On 8hlhn l XOWd tha 8tkRl Of fOU? tbUSMd 

fire hundnd (~.500,00) dO~1lF8-IyM?(u4488 Of 

the prorntag, Ut iIW'Wi8~ tIl pOp&th8 aad ih0 

rrluatfoa * . 

o 

a tbr WUt th0 OOtKity Of?bi@i8 Of uptU cWEIty 

l O to b OOZb~O~88t.86 05 8ll 8MH81 88lOry b9d8, thd? 881- 

;;f;; Wt b9 ihd hi Oo&~l18R08 rim 88OtbJI 15, Adi0h 

On the other hrnd, if thO Oounty O~fiOi.&18 ot u%d 

OoilRt; 8rCtO b8 OOm~Mat~d OB the bari8 Of SO88 OU8.6 by 

tha18 in the perfarmrMO of their offiolrl (Lutbie3, an&or Ohe 

8ppllrrblO pl'Olt18iOlU Of AYtiOlO8 3663 8B4 3891, vOZlLOn'8 

MiWt8tUd civil %etutU8, tb MXhttm rmual to.8 th8t My 

be ntrinat by tha aGang or~iof8l8 watlond la Adole 

3883 oannot rxoe.4 thmo thOU88Ild ($3,000.00) dale8 Orah. 

ti OOUQtbS Whhm the OOUUty OifiOid8 w OCIEpOU8t~d 011 

8O 8mtl81 8818ry b8818, the OCUd8dOn*r8' l MYt hu IW 8b 

thorlty to allow 8111 a-offioio omiprnratloo. (P8rrgrgh (b) 

& Saotion 6, Artiole f9lS3, Vernon'8 Anmtatod Uidl sktUte8). 
Bonorabla Oharlsa P,. Iioniphill, Page 7 

ArtlOla 389 0? ~0?~00'0 AnnOtOtod Clril !?tatuha 

prahiblta thr oomla sl onarm’ oourt treor l llovla~ l arpearatlon 

sor l bOfrloiO l 4nlooa ta 0ouJlty otflolala rbero the oaq*nr a tiol n ad 0x04~8 foao ahloh t&ag l ro l lSuwod to ntala ahall 

rosob tbo maxl~~~im protidrd ior, but provldoa that, where th 

oompansatlon end oxcoaa ioao do not naoh au& rnaximua tb 

oourt rho11 allow ox-offiolo oompensatlon if in their Jude& 

it 18 noe4rrary. In otbar uarda, tNa statute l nthotlroa 

tho 00d08i004r0~ 00u-t to ruow aa orfi00r oo~a44tioa to? 

ox-oitloio ssnlooa provld8d that auob ooq4nartim t ethar 

1th the foe0 ntalnod by him uudor Artlols38d) and 381 

doca not amount to m0r4 than tho Malt flxod by th4m. Th4 

aakfn& or tho al.loranoo for or-offieie oampeaaatloa is dlsorotloaary v!th th4 oow&lsaloa4ra court, vlthla tho llmltr 

prauorlbd. the 4omnla(llon4~ei~ aowt oaa allov ox-offlalo 

oompensatloa only to the ortont that auob ooapenrstloa togathar 

with the foor ntalnad by soah of tho offl4arr horatoioro 

rentlonsd prcnlf!od tha amount dooo not rmeont to 43~~4 than 

the linft ‘itred by Artlole3883 sad 3891. 

Tha sherlfi oi Upton COuntf rlro p8~f0rml tho dntlu 

of tar l soossor-601140Woc for oald oountr. Thla 64pertmut 

haa npaatrdlf hold that uhero th8 dutlea ot th8 tax l mebaaoroollo4tor ar4 lapos4d U~OQ the Shrrifi tinEar tbo law8 of t&lo 

Stete, the S∨H hold6 Only 0x18 offtoo, thnt 18 th4 otti 

ai f?lmrlfi, a~4 partoma tho a44ltloaal dutloa of tax l 4e404oroollootor. Ia a0 rront oan tho oc4mla8ian4rs~ astzrt allow 

the Shsrltf 4x-Of210io OOntp eXWOtiOA h l fO000 Of Oa4 thousand 

4oll8ra prr (IIWNE. (3.0 Art1018 3934, v4Pti0at4 AMOtotOd 

01~11 f%ettrt40). 

Apparootly th8 oocimlaslo~ora’ 4ourt in 8ttsaptlo& 

to $1x oh4 4x90tr1010 4oEfp4noetlca of tJ34 CcuatY JuQ*, tfJ0 

Sh4plff Ameeeor sad Collrotcr of tax88 aaB She Uounty Clerk, 

*ho 0180. psrftms the .dutt4a of dlatrlot 016rk at tha naxlmum 

of thrro thousand (#gOOO.OO) dollarr l 44h p4r rear upon the 

beala that none a? tboro oiilolah would earn ant foa8,:2#S&tl o4tar . The saw oar k aold with r0f4~000 to tha COOE~~ 

Attorool, axeapt that blr ax-of'flolo oomxmnaatloa wan lialt44 

to l i&toao hundrrd (#ll$OO.OO) 6ollerS F4r Y4er. It 14 *l*O 

l ppar4nt that th4 4ommlaaionora * oourt att4mptbd to llalt tha 
Honombh ,Charlm t; EmpUll, Pago 6 

mapwaatlgn of tbo Oeratl Attorney to tho 8~8 of of&ban 

hunea4 (#l8co.o0) Dollam. Wboro the 04unty otiirlo1~ or0 

rapen8atod oa 8 ?W brria, the oomlaalo~~ra~ sow$ hag no 

lega l l uthorltr ov rigs@ to tlmlt their toeo that may b 

l arn84 by l ooh o?tioiala In t&4 psrtormeara of th4ir ~?tio~b3. 

iut1.a. The rktutar (Artiol403483 *a4 3691) tir~c the aari8ua 

a...~~; 00 

Yr 

aO@t~Oa that MY k oamad and ntainad by auoh 

. W th mfareaoo to bx-afiiolo wbmp6nratlcn the law 

~n0orlbsa a6 tiu whoa the ooa8ia8lonor** oowt may ii% t& 

4x0Ottioio l OmQoaratien 41 the l OuatT oftio~ala; aor la thoro 

ml inhibition to tbo ohrn@.ia( tha amount t&woo? wheaetrr tta 

l dOSlM 8r ~í UU?~ omaludas, ior my raason, that ruoh 

rllmnrer or9 tao ga8! or tfd uall. Thor &we t&o right 

an4 powor, at oar t ,o baforo tho sonay ir astually pai4 orrt 

to tho o?flo4r, bo rhea@, moditf, or o-411 8atlraIy nprrl 

or nvoLo tha ordor l lloul~ ox-att1elo ooqaneatltm providad 

tba rapaautla oi ox-oftiolo ranlur allowd abali not laoraau the wmpaaratica or the oitiolal baton4 the mrimrm O? 

the o a ep enr a tlo aa nd l xo o aa fr o 8 allovrd to b -s m$ a lne& b y 

;Fsbg I:%, (Pa0 the oau of CoUilywortb Ooyty v. &~?a, 

. . . 

Ia rlow of the tongoing you are raapaottul~ adiiad that lt ir our opfaion t&et tbo l maiasl~ara* oaurt 

ua logally tix t& ox-oftioio oonpoluation o? ths Couatr 

tadgo, Cow&r Olwk, and tbh, aomty Attoraat in oasp~lrruo 

with and aa l uthorltod by Arti@ 3695 at any amtint mo long 

as the anoaat of ax-offlol!J aompsneation allowed to@tbar 

rltb the ?aar mtalned by 8aah $Kioer under the rbmo mentiorm4 

atatataa door not wont to mtw4 than tha liklt tire4 by 

than. 

7 

Tbo ord4r of tbo awmlit0lon4ra' oourt raflootr 

that the rrlrrr of tbo Counts noditor wae flrand at tba sum 

of 8ightr4A bwdrod aotontptin (&@?j.oO) dollsra per par. 

for t& porporo of t&la o &ion we eaaumo that 8014 ooapanaatlon 

we8 t&x04 la omapllaa~e v f Ih ai& a8 authorize4 by Artlao l&5, 

fornoa’r &~netr~o4 tJivl1 Sta$a$o,r as aeea4Od, and Qhat t&o 

ralery o? the Oouty Auditor wa8 iire by tha Slstrlot Judge 

and l pprovO4 b thr be?aiD~ial4rO' OOUrt tn l oa liMO0 with 

~14 &61010 A 8 45, proridod tke f*4t@ nquir*d & e l ppro 701 

of the 01mua141110n4~8* OQW# on&e? aaid l tatuto. 
Honorrblo Charler t. RanPhil& P.&a 9 

18 Ir Ilo: that ia w* or the oraarr ;&a; tb, 

8aami88fOWrlr Wplrt hOmtOfOZ8 WtOU tlb8b th0 l o*pnaat~~ 

of the count ~awrar n8 I1 J 

39u and ,9&i, Vaxnce’. A..n.tatd & 

8999.92 par war drtiahs 

Jt.tut.8 pr...;ma tb 

maxlrun ooami88ioa8 ior the Coentr Treaaerar la raoolr!.ng ad 

Q.d 

"f; 

out funda. 

Plan or OOapen8at 

the OOm.bl~br8' Wart may not aham8 tbs 

rnd ant attempt tu % 

the tr~emrer tro. a r88 to ralrry b88i8, 

18 void. 

x l deilnito 8818rY lB lieu a? 8Qmi88loa# 

(broer v. Eplt Cotmts, 2b9 2.W. 631; tat@ t, Ierdoa, 

26 3.1. (2$) 1231# Tax Jwl8p?sidoner, Yel. 11, p. 600 aa& 80- 

thoritier eltrd thewia). 

dth l prorl80 ;ha;,uth*ladrf. 8odrriln¶a amaa;;ola8. 

than the 8ala~y, Ire rhall rwailo rra ~?a then his lidul 

oommi8alen8, th. d.? ir. .ft.ot flxo. 4 &.rioua da1.h my 

be aamod a* 0onnlrdoM. 

plaoe the wuatY +mk-ourer 011 a ..lary baal8. The only authorltl ;&a ~Olllrfsafenere’ 8~1-4 Baa in thfa fnstanaa ia to 

fir the ret* OS a~~iuianr within tbr 8tatutor~ Ihit. The 

oOIIILla8lwor~’ wolitt uy rix thr treasurer's ~OIEE~S~~OR at 

eny rate, not go asrod the statutory rote, an4 may al80 

reduoa the maria- w 80 b. p.id en tho ret8 as fix.6 00 a4 

anouat la88 than the StatutoW u-=. fr the oommleaionara’ 

oour; baa no; rlmd the oQly8aii, by order of said txmrtt, 

the 00utf WOW-r ir rntlthd to rateire the urlnen ra.8 

or r a thel oraelulou r I@ fixed by tha 888fut8#. 

Ruak County, 11 2.V. (24) WI. 

(Baxter v. 
HoeorSblS %rl~g I, Hemphtll, PSgO 10 

454