Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-11-28
The Last Meeting of the County
Board of Supervisors.

action in some particulars, open to
just criticism.
They reduced the salary of the
County Clerk from 81 500 to 81, 200,
of the County Treasurer from $500
to 81 600, and of the District Attor-
ney from $500 to 5000 There was
no general demand for this reduce
ton, for the people were of the i'm
preston that the salaries as they
stood before, were no more than
were sufficient TO induce competent
men to accept the offices.
1t il known that during part of the
year the services OF two men are
necessary in tho office of County
Clerk that the duties of that Office
are complicated and arduous, that
for services less irksome and impor-
tant private establishments pay their
oook-keepers salaries of from 81, 500
TO S3,OO0; yet because the salary of
the office had once been but 81 200;
the Board fixed it at that sum again,
without fairly considering the guess
ton what it is worth to discharge the
uuCies OF the once now.
Since the office of County Treas
urer has been salaried office, the
salary has never been fixed before It
less than 81 200. 1t cannot be denied
that more money comes into the
hands OF the Treasurer now than at
any time heretofore, and that there.
fore his responsibility is increased,
and his accounts necessarily are more
complicated. Why then reduce the
salary one third ? Because, it was
said, there are competent men resid-
ing in Lancaster who Will take the
office for $1,000 year and less.
Doubtless this is true, man located
and doing business in Lancaster
could take the Office and make as
much or more out of it at salary of
$500, than one living elsewhere could
at q salary of $780, The one could
discharge the duties of the office in
connection with his regular business;
the other would have to leave his
business, remove with his family to
the county seat, and depend on no
other income than his salary. But
the people of Grant County do not
desire that Lancaster man should
hold the office always. They are will
ing to pay salary that will remu-
nerate a man elected to the office
from outside of that village ; $1,000
year will not do this. 1t will be
hard to find man outside of Lam
caster, capable Of thoroughly dis
charging the duties of the office, and
who can give bond in tAe sum of one
hundred and forty thousand dollars,
who will take it at that salary.
AS another reason why the salary
should be reduced, it was earnestly
and publicly advocated, that during
a considerable portion of the year .
large amount of money lies uncalled
for in the hands of the Treasurer,
which he can loan out to his own ad-
vantage. This argument, which re.
ceived the silent approval of the
Board, favors u practice of danger
GUS tendency, that is made unlawful
by statute. We cannot afford to pur-
chase reduction of salary in this
way. We want no speculation with
the public money.
No good reason was offered for re-
ducing the salary of the District at
} torney. Certainly $500 year is
none to much for the discharge of
the duties of that office. The sala>
ry should rather have been increas~
1 nd fo ha Ia IF 10 inf
viding for proceedings by informa-
} ton has largely increased that of
ficer's responsibilities. The District
Attorney more than all the other Of
ficers OF the County controls the
amount of claims the county is re-
qnired to pay. He decides what
criminal cases shall be tried, what
parties shall be arrested, and what
! witnesses shall be subpenaed in all
t State cases. The salary should be
/ sufficient to induce the best attorneys
3 in the County to desire the Office
for certainly the County as much
needs, and can as well afford to pay
| for competent attorney, as any of
r it's citizens.
AS a general reason for reducing
salaries 1T was said times are hard,
and some of the tax payers are wild
r ows, and one legged-soldiers.
The Board also had under consider
alton the salary of the County Super
intendent. The committee on sala-
} ries reported the salary Of that of
. ficer insufficient, but that for the
, coming term OF two years to
which Mr. Holford had been elected
it could not legally be increased.
1 The proper course would seem to
have been to have let the matter
rest until the increase could be made.
, But the committee found and re-
ported Il way to avoid the legal bar
they could not increase Mr. Holford's
salary but they would lessen his work
one-half. They reported in favor OF
instructing our members of the leg
islature to secure the passage of a
law dividing Grant County into two
" Superintendent Districts One is to
e be under the charge Of Mr.. Holford
/, at u salary of 81, 900 and some one to
. be appointed by the Governor, to
have charge of the other at the like
salary.
: The Board adopted the report and
: appropriated Hard Times, Widows
and and One-legged Soldiers atten-
ton Ds1000 for the salary of Mr.
Holford, aud $1,000 for The salary Of
: Mr. Somebody to be appointed by
n the Governor.
I This was change neither asked
, for, expected, nor wanted by the
: people, nor thought of by any mem
J. Der of the Board at the beginning Of
of the session. The people supposed
D they had elected Mr.. Holford to dis.
t charge the duties OF Superintendent
;. of the whole of Grant County at q