**OFFICEOFTHEATTORNEYGENERALOFTEXAS AUSTIN**  **GROVER SELLERS**  **mrr~RNEv**

**GENER*l.**

Honorable J. Pinsa Smith County **Auditor** chftrokec

county Rusk, Texas
Dear Sir: by law to count



### we **hve reeaelved** 

**.yo** 100. 0n tb3 r0uoviag quma0w

1

“SNGOND, 3?he$tilsrg of the Diatrl~t Clerk vas ~~$2,4OO.OO~ptm yeti by an order of theSionorable J. Fiuen Smith, page 2

>----mr*~ Court in 19S6 and hm 10 beeo eet 

### eaahyea ado.

oontlauedat that figureto this date. The annual **report** on file 61 the r&strict 

### Clerk for theyear 1935 shov@a grossGARBEDfee of $3,&0*98 with 0~ $1,472.17

### of this tee oollected. Said report ale0 8how6 au Ex-otfimlal cemPM~tl~ Of 41,28O.O3 

### beriderthegross fee above mentioned asldns a total of $h,,Y~l.Og as groua feea **earned.** !Ihe authorlted deductions ehw (65o.w 

### for deputy hire, ho.00 for preml.&~ ou surety bad, $3.00 **otrloe** aupplles, 446,22 

### arr ~-togs -6 $7.00 for trcltellng expewes, lerpiag a mt EAREfaD

iecr ot 43.604.81. 

### IO the rightof the80 Evhat fQure, in your oplnlon, ehould govern ,thcCwd68loner~* Qourt ia mttlag f&i

. 

### 88-Y ai the Dlatriot

### Clerktnaooordtume ulth 

### Art.39X(1,Motion IS, **(P.A.C.8.).**Eonorable J. Flnaa Smith, PsfZe 3

1Qcreased for the rereelnder of the year, or frm the time application for increase va5 applied for?
Wl+TH. We would further like to knov, if in yaw-on, the Commla8ioner15Court is bound by the 5nnual 

### report8 on file 

### for 8ald offiicers for the yeear

1935, and If.aot, vho is to deterII&IS and.vhen aad hov are they to determine vhat 15 the 

### correct figure to govern in aettlag the aal.ary

or 8alaries of the official8mentioned in Art. 3912e, Section 13 (V.A.C.S.)
"SIXTH. Artlale 3912e 

### reads ia ptwt, Q&ah of rraim%aers shall be paid in money en awaaal 5ala.ry in tuelve equal ln5tallm5nt5 of not leso th8n the total num EARXKD as aompellsatloa by hl.m i ‘.j. 10.

hi5 offlalal eapaelty for the y5m 3.935.'~Do55 .'thl5 5msnb in your opinion, the.dROSS E4RlIIXGS of **said** offiae or the IKEI! EARBlDios

of 8ald offLee, after deducting all expanses of 8ald offleet' 

### ;k.-IF% -4.~ ;i@y:> .-;: ::::. i..m -pop~tioQ::of~LQ&#p~, .Cwntro.:.i.r:i:43,g7o.‘:lrhrb~t-:, /::~,:, :

_ ,,; : ,, ?mt5, Moordiog to the 1940Federal Cenra8. The 1930 Federal I Cen5u8 shoved a 

### populatlenfof,aaldcounty 

### or 43,180 **inhablt-** 

### :ult5. Therefore, Artlol# 3912e, 

### V~IOQ~~ Aaaotited,Oivll Statiutc5, commonly knovn a8 the "offteerrl &l#&rg UN' la apliaable ; to 85id aounty.
t Under the pr0?lsibn8 of Art. 3912e, V.A.C.S., your i

### Co5sala5ioner5~

Court 15 authorised **and** Lt 15 it8 duty **to fix**  **the** -1 annual 

### 8alarleaof the County Clerk, **Mstrlet** Clerk and County tJudge of Cherokee **County** at an amount~'of sot lea5 than the : total 8um earned 85 coapen8stlon by hl51la 

### hlr offlolal cagei

### eltyfor the fiscal year 1935, 5nd not mom th5n the m5x+uiit ctmowzt alloved 

### 8uchoffloar8 **under** lavs txlstlng on **August ?4,**  **1935. ”**  Said artlale further provide5 for an lnareabe of aaid ?wslmum amount alloved %I& counties oovdtq uith%n **certain** p6pti8- ; tlon brackets and havlug aertaln a88e88ed

### pm&arty valu5tioas.

Our Opltioa Ho-.

O-345, in response to a question whether the expenses for deputy hire, prem.tumon surety

### bond, telephoneand postage should be deducted from the total reae;pta of the office La oamputlog the *total sum earned 88 empensat;on

### by hiinla his otflalal 08pMity,A hold8 thet the co!+ e5s;onerq' Court should **dsduat** fs?om the total aolapsnsationRonorable J. Finw Wraith, page 4

esrtted, 

### collectedurd unaollected,the expewes of the orrlae for the year **I.935**vhluh vere legally allaved by the 

### Comalesionera' Court for tht year.

Our **6eld** Opinion **No. O-345** 

### alsoholds that the exofflci.al

rsrl.Ary paid M officer In **1935**should **be taken**  **in** conslderrtlon In aaaputlng the airpilaupr cral5ry

of ruah 

### offluer under the pre5ent lev.

**Art. 3863b** **V.AdLS.,** 

### wovlder that,exoeptas otherwiseprovidedin thfs hat, the anaual fee5 th5t xay be retain& by the county judge, oouuty clerk and 

### dlstrlotclerk in oounties 

### h5vlngthepopul5tlon

### 0s CherokeeOounty5h5llbe Thirtyfloe Hundred (&AKL) Doll5rs each.

**Art. 3891,**  **V.A.G.8.b** 

### providesthat 5u0h 

### offlaers 5m.l first out 

### of the 

### oumtnt icas 0s 

### hi5 offltt p5y

### or be p5i.a thta1~nntaIlovtdhlt5under thepm~181ons **0rbe.3883, together**  with the mlarfaa 

### of his arrlsta~tr and dtputltr, and **authorWd espenrm**  **.\ardor Art;**  **3899,** 

### 5nd themount metslurry to eovtraostr 

### of premfmnon vhattver surety 

### bond say be re-. qpirvaby 

### 28v;and 2s mt ourrent 

### rtt5of tush 0rrb5 eolleot- ::_. ed .: laiauyyy.M&k .;+#fpeatbra..thr.~iamwat. :~.~;tQi;~:?tbu...xmonnt.
, 

### abovespta%fltd,~stae

### dsllbe dttwd exataa 

### feea,a&t 8ueh 0rriatm 

### sha.ll~tainOne-thlra 

### 0s ruahawers rcsr 

### unt%lmoh oaa-thedb together 

### uLth the 

## amwit~oiiisd %m AH. 3886, samate to Forty-tve ~Buwlred lid Nifty Dollar8 ($@50).


### Sat&tit*. 

### 3883tab3891,V.A.C& utre

# txktng &I agplla&ble 

### to CherokeeClom?g OR

### Asgnst44, ,393s.

‘Ehartr0ra, 

### laantvtr to 

### your firstquaatlau,ia Wder to determint **the** 

### - u&r tha **dmthorlcea** Mp5n555 ($5 7b rtta **of $8,938.52,**  **Tht mtmtiit** **+d** 

### quent fear io 1935 La **not to**  **bo here**  **beem wune** 
was **aot tarnta**  **in 1935.**  After SW& dedwtiorrr 

### for authri4ed

za 010~ or the 

### r0rtgag, we 

### answeryour 5eoopawe* tion *a $olZovsr 93 

### aWlVe at thd llliDtmar fQW@e that i* toBmoreble J, **Fiwn** Smith, page 5

**:- ’** **i**

? **~~OVO~S**

**said Co~MIoner~** **’ Court**  **iafi.xlng the**  **Dbtrict Ch!kts**  salary for the aurrent paar, ve must deterl&le the exact 4kmo~t OS current fees that such District Clerk would have been al-. loved to retain (18co!tQeaSetloa ior his servicer ia the year 1935 13 such less 

### aarwd bad all been collectedby b3.m. After all authorized **deductiona** were made, ynu show the amount of $3~604.~ a; tp; **yned** feea for the year 1935. Under raid

. ., the annual ieea thnt map be retained Art: 3883: V:A:C.S., t&z **annual** fee4 th4t mey be retained .by the Mlrtrlat Clerk aPtounta4 to $3.500.00. Thlr lcares $104.81 that AS to be *eated as exaeas fees aacordlng to the prv?isivas of 

### saidArt. **3891; V.A.O.S.**  Oae-third or 8uah oxcew feea amounta to $34.93 g/3. Thla one-third OS the cxteas tees tatty

also be reta%Md by said District Clerk. Therefore, the eW of $3,534.93p/3/ la the exact emouat that euuh Dlistrlct

Cleric would have been alloved to ret&in. .Sn1935 If all feei wraed had beea ool%ected, and this la th4 mi$sS.mum flptuce governibg the O~a81oaer’(1~ Court”ia.ffxYng the Dletrlut ~Clerk~a28alary for the curreat year. ia,$4,wLoo. The mexlmum ftgurs

**trerted** an exuesr fees uader sold Atr. 3891, **V*A.C.S.,** **a&**the **ak-ofSclo 8aapeanatlva** **reuelved by**  ***gr. aomty**  **judge ’**  **ih 19%**  exact~~ualedtbe plpgunt allovedhlmuader aald Art.=, V.A.C.S. After **deduatlng** the suthorlzed expea~s; ,riioh exaeal ~feeramount $0 $189.46. **!fhereiWa,** 

### oa!ky one-thl*dof Such 6X- ;BglLi3ef could have been rstiataed by maM **0Stlaer** ae4oxW.U This one-third **($63.15** 

### 14) **added** 

### to **43 500.~**  

### egaln*$3,%3.X5 l/3, whioh La the mlaiwnp &umm~ vhich.gweras tb 0aolPli~mtbfm~ 04mFnftiFagtb 44bry0t aaid abunts judge for the unrrent year. ObviouSly, the pwieat ammt re.oeived

by your CaWW 13 **(f3,5W.O~)** 

### la avtwithin the **lirnitr** ps~~ded in Art. 391 au&mm figure in $S,WLOC. , **sectloo.** 13, V.A.G.S. The

our mmter to your fotith **quertha** la **aa** tollcove: Oti inions xos. O-1595 aad **0-6%?3** each hold La 6ubstawe that %a 0 C0ms.8alvwre~ **Court** halas the right fix tba ~slari98 at artah **bftlcera** with&i the au vba nut& ~larlea have awe been **fixed,** ehaaged duH.n& thdlt Yb=. 

### Thiah~lngabcfvre us the quertZolnvhetherthe Cm+ rpL~si0g~rst Oawt 115Mtttiag ealarles Of offlwrs la 

### araounta not authorizedby lau, fixed mush s&laxS.es Iflthlnthe ooatgputloo of the next abo%i%jldlnge. **We**do not think no.**Honorable J.**  **FiWn Bmlth,**  **page 6** 

the.aaa9 OS B(ecogdocbea county v. Jlaklns, (Clv. A&Q. - vrit refded) 140 E. W. (*d) 901, an order of the CocUeelonere~ Court fixing the district clerks1 ealary at a ewn less than the tinlmum fixed by lav ut$s held void, and a judgment ln SavOr Of said clerk for the difference betueeo the salaryp&d &la sad the lainlaum Wy allowed hla by law war atflrmd. (Ill80 eee Xaco@5bahea Co. v. Ulnder (010. App. - writ refueed) 140 8. K. (26) 9 of County **Clerk.** T , for similar rullag on judgmnt ln favor **Therefore,** it 10 ow oplnlon that la such oases Where the sabrier have not been fixed lawSully, the Comalaaloaer~f Court OwlUg the current yew should Six the salmler of the aouaty 

### offiaerrnmmd In Sec. 13 of Art. **V.A.C.S.,** au dlreoted by #aid article, for the yeaarlg45. >912e,
8uoh tiles, when Sired accordlug to l&v, 

### wouldbe anmel saleries,payable la twelve equal lartallmentr. **Thud=** enoe between the aoathly suma paid such officersduringthe yem befor4~

the ealarlesware~flxedanf3the amount 0s the munt 3 inatallmeatm of such u%larler after same are flxed fc@ tl

p~8r aocOrQln$ to I&FI would be due aad payable to the osfleeru iavolved. In 80 

### aa8e could them annual salariesbe Stied for aye8.r thsthad’explred. (See aormaisaianerrr~ Court 0f X~Ogd0~h0a OOUaty v. Winder et al, 113 9, W. (W) 277.) ;.,~( ~:jl: _..,, ::!:! ..:;.:;:p : ..~:-:-~:.;:,,::,!‘iii:::‘ ‘L:li..::r

.:,:::i:: ,::::, f;.: ::; i:::.i.::z; ,.:.,,y

,:.::. ‘:? .:
. . . .,~ ,,, 

### we a&r y0u.pf~&bq&jjt~on 88‘foll&i~’ &it. 4896, **.V.A.C.S.;** providee that ewh district, **county** sad gzoo$aot otflusr shall **keep** a correot rtntmat OS all Sees earaed **by** him, eta., aad that it shall be the **duty** 0r the sounty audltor to aaaually exaaiae the booke aad amounts of suah otilaera aad repat hla **fladlags** to the grand Jnry or **to** the district aourt.

**Art.** 

### 38!?7,V.A.C.S., provider that each **dlrtrlct,** county had **preulaut** bifioer rhallmke, at the aloae of e&ah flwal jam, a rapert shoulag **the** 

### amant of all ‘fee8

### 4ad 00mpewe&lonr earnedduringthe fleoal 6lr, nQk¶ehow1ngthe amowt of same aolleated, aad ltendr 

### GJ that part of .aa!ne aot eolleoted, chewing the aame OS the party oviag ruch kincall.eat& **feea, wmalaaioaa**  end amqwmeatlons.

The annual reporto ara n4t aooolucrlve proof of the truth OS the i’sotssOate+ **thereh** and u?e aot binalw on the C&salowra’ Court in determl&6 the s~~unt oS ~~u~~ ml

### ary to pay its **ossioers.** 

### See 34 Tex.Jur. P* 

### 600.

Ye belf.eve the ncturl apra\rat 

### of au 

### f*e? yap a?;.; mls,siona

**owned** by the officer niey fautlon of the Caaalsaloaers~ Court, b’~the Count disuharge of the duty inrpoeed on him by .MaidArt. be detertiwa to tw mamae-

.g auditor’s 3896, **V.A.C.S.**RCXlOrable J. Finen Smith, page 7

; Your sixth queatlon la fully answered hereti by our a&suers to your firat, seaond and third queetiaar.

Ye are enclosing herewith copies of said opinions Noa. O-345, o-1595, and O-6223, utiah fully net 

### out the text OS the etatutea la questiou.

We 

### trustthe foregoing fully answers your queWtlOn8.
Yours very truly A!WORBEURtiR?ALOFl’RXAB


# m /rlstle4/ Robert L.

# latt~lmsJ;.

APFRcwRn Oplnfaa ~Comfttee By /a/ U.Y.B.

chlllrlaun