, 1873-01-26

COUNTY LEGISLATION.
he County Commissioners Of Cook County
concluded, few days ago, their schedule OF
salaries We hardly know which was most con-
spicuous their Ignorance Of the law or their con-
tempt for it, as shown by the Board Thus, in the
matter Of the Judges Of the several Courts, the
Commissioners fixed their salaries at $1,000
each. That is the legal salary OF the Judges,
but it is not all to be paid by Cook County The
Judges of the Circuit and Superior Courts OF
this county receive $4,000 each from the
Btate and $1,000 each from the county;
but tho Commissioners voted them $1,000 each,
possibly in Ignorance Of the fact that they
drew the came salary from the State that is paid
to other Judges. So in the case Of the States
Attorney; they rated him at $1,000 in Like igno-
rance of the fact that he is paid part Of his sala-
" from the State Treasury.
But these things are comparatively harmless
the officers in question will take care to draw
from the county only so much Of the salaries
voted as may be due them from the county, but
when the Commissioners came to f1 the COM
pensation OF tho Bhezi, they utterly dis
regarded the 1aw. They fixed the COM
pensation of the Sheriff and his deputies
from the beginning OF tho term of
Office, the aggregate reaching almost s36, 600.
These salaries arc to be paid out OF the County
Treasury. The Sheriff has heretofore been paid
by fees,-fees collected from the county, and
from parties to civil suits. We understand that
the fees heretofore collected by the Sheriff from
Cook County for county work have amounted to
$4,000. From this sum, and from the fees col
lected in civil suits, the Sheriff has paid all his
deputies and assistants, and has had an annual
profit Of not less, perhaps, than 100000.
The County Commissioners now report that the
probable amount Of fees collected by the Sheriff,
in civil cases, will be about $4,000 year; this
sum, added to the fees due the Sheriff by the
county, if S1o, 900, will make his aggregate re-
ceipts $4,000. The Constitution and the stat
ute ie o. 4eo sny H"a 9
= u MS fees IL actually collected" There is no
moro power in the County Commission
ers to vote the Sheriff dollar out OF
the County Treasury in excess OF his fees
"actually collected, +" than there is for them to
vote it out Of the State Treasury. Yet the Com
ujazioners have voted salaries to double the
amount Of these fees.
It is remarkable thing how the receipts Of
The Sheriff Office have collapsed since they have
%an7 11 {rkn
u1y; and 1t is as remarkable how the "neces-
eaty" expenditures Of that Office have expanded
since they have become payable out OF the
County Treasury.
In fixing the salaries of the Offices OF Sheriff
and Coroner, the Commissioners seem to hare
acted upon the theory that the fees of these
officers for services rendered the county hare
been repealed The fact is, those officers are
entitled to charge the fees allowed by law to all
other Sheritfs and Coroners. Ut these fees they
aro required to keep an account and make re-
port, and both Constitution and law require that
Y In no event, and under no circumstances,
AL the salary or other compensation Of
either officer exceed the foes of his
Office during the current year. In tho case Of
both Of these offices, the County Commissioners
have set this law aside, and have voted each of
them an allowance from the County Treasury,
Independent OF all reference - the amount Of
tees, and, according to the estimate OF the Com
misaioners, far in excess OF those fees
It is hardly necessary to ~, That, hayiz,g dis
regarded the Constitution Ind statute in order
to make q score Of well-sa1aried places for irdi-
7idua1s at the public expense, the Commits
sioners disregarded the law which fxes their
OWL pay at s25o per day, and voted themselves
Is per dag. The only answer or explanation
which the majority OF the Commissioners make
to these fragrant violations Of law ia that given
by Boss Tweed when first charged with his off,
s'hl Crimes and that waa, "Well, what are you
going to do about it,"