The Shasta courier., 1855-03-31
The Supervisors Bill.

ne S0pefv1sOf1D BllIs
Judging from the manner in which this bill
has been received by some of our officials it will
be safe to predict that it will produce an i'm
mense amount of dissatisfaction throughout the
State. 1t does not, however, require more than
a casual glance over one or two OF its provisions,
to Justify the expression of disapprobation with
which it has been received. At the same time
il embodies much that is good. The cd seciion
provides that +" in all those counties where no
Board of Supervisors now exist. the County
Clerk, the County Assessor and the County Sur.
veyor shall constitute special Board, who shall,
previous 10 the first election herein provided
for. divide The county into number OF districts
corresponding with The number of Supervisors
to be elected but in such division no township
shall he divided unless said township shall con-
tain an incorporated city or town; and the quail
flied electors of each district so formed shall
elect only one Supervisor, who shall be IA resi-
dent of that district"
The regular meetings of the Board shall be
held at the county seat the first Mondays of
May. August, November and February-a ma
jority of tile Board to form quorum for the
transaction of business. The County Clerk
shall be Clerk of the Board, and in Shasta and
Trinity counties shall receive per diem COM
pensa ion not to exceed three hundred dollars in
the aggregate for the year. in Shasta, Trinity.
Sskiynu and other couplies the members of The
Board shall receive per diem not to exceed six
dollars, and in the aggregate not to exceed two
hundred and fifty dollars. The Clerk of Colusa
county is TO receive not oyeg two hundred and
fifty dollars the amount TO be fixed by the
Board. and the members of the Board TO receive
a per diem not exceeding eight dollars, the ag-
gregate not to exceed FIVE hundred dollars to
each member of the Board
Section lG, however, will not fail to strike the
intelligent reader, being most renai kable
piece OF composition. 1t is perspcuous to de-
gree absolutely intense. Here it is;
SEC. IG. The Board of Supervisors shall not
for any purpose contract debts or liabilities, ex-
cept those fixed by Or in pursuance of law. and
whenever debts or liabilities shall have been
created, which, added TO the salaries of county
officers and other estimated liabilities fixed by
law Tor the remainder OF the year. will equal the
revenue of the county for current expenses, no
allowance whatever shall be made of any ac- !
count, shall any expense be incurred other
than the salaries and fees expressly prescribed |
by or in pursuance ot law,
No one will fail to observe the chasie and ADJ |
dison-like style in which Sec. 10th is composed.
The Legislator from whose pen emena;ed this
brilliant piece of composition doubtless was im-
pelled thereto by patriotic desire to prevt mt
the possibility of any Board running its County
in debt. No doubt lie is now resting under the |
pleasant deluson that has successfully " made |
the rifle" Some wiley lawyer, however, who
introduced the Gath section, is now doubtless
laying back in his chair, laughing in his sleeve !
at the pnsopbisticatedness of Legislator No. 1. |
No. L. in section 16. says that, in certain event
the Board shall make no allowance of any ac-
count To get around this, No. 2, in section "a, |
says that in the event the Board fails or refnses |
to allow such claim or demand, after being pre-
sented, the claimant feeling aggrieved. may sue
the County, Here then we have sections l6 and |
"a at loggerheads. This naturally starts again
the question that has long occupied the mind of
the philosopher, viz. "wben doctors disagree |
who shall decidel" And what a magnificent |
field for litigation does not this conflict of Sec
tions present.
What with the claimants on one hand lawing
with the county, and the Supervisors the |
other refusing to allow just claims, simply be-
cause the revenue of the county for the current
expenses is not sufficient to cover them, we ex-
pect the poor county treasures will be horri.
bly, depleted. Here is section "a:
SEC. "a. No person shall sue county in any
case or for any demand, unless he or she shall
first present his or her claim or demand to the
Board of Supervisors for allowance; and if they
fail or refuse TO allow the same some part
thereof, the party feeling aggrieved may sue the
county, and If the party suing recover IN the ac-
ton more than said Board allowed or offered to
allow said Board shall allow The amount of the
said judgment aud costs as just claim against
the county; but if the party suing shall not re-
cover more than the Board shall have offered 10
allow him or her, then costs ,bal be recovered
for services and items of account of similar
nature, presented by any one person 10 the Board
of Supervisors at any session OF the Board, shall
be included In one account, and so considered
by the Board unless by consent of the Board.
BY reference 10 tie advertising columns 1t
will be seen that the first election for Supervi-
sors under this bill will be held in this county
on Monday. the 9th of April next.
RAIy.-We were favored on Thursday night
with the commencement OF very ine raln
which has continued up to the resent time, and