The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-10-04
Amt paid Bal. In Bal. due
ont TO hand OF sept,
Planners. SuDpryisDr 1873.

South Ottawa. 1000 los % ~ %
Utica. ......". lNG Oo I~i w *Oo
NcrmilliOn % % % w
Wallace. ZOO GOO 1000
The Committee further report that they ar
unable to make full settlement with all TIT
ISupervisors. as some have failed to bring il
their voucher, We, therefore, rccommcnl
that all Supervisors having monthly allow
ances for paupcrs in their towns be require,
to settle their accounts at the next session o
this Board
All of which is respectfully submitted.
Thomas JOHNS, Chairman
On motion, ordered that said report be ap
proved and adopted, and spread upon the re-
cords of this Board. The committee on Fee,
and Salaries, to whom was referred the rcso
luton requiring inquiry to be made as wheth
err any moneys had been appropriated out OF
the county treasury contrary to the COnstitu
Ition ana laws of the State Of Illinois, bee
leave to report, that they have had the same
under consideration, and have submitted the
IquestiOn Of legality 10 the County Attorney
whosc opinion we herewith submit in writ
ling. and recommend the same be spread upon
the records of the Board.
All Of which is respectfully submitted
john l.. CLARK, Chairman.
! The opinion of the County Attorney is in
| 70 tie COntmitee on FEES and Salaries
I--GeHticmeH:
In obedience to your request, | have exam
ned the question, whether any money to pay
salaries or other moneys have been taken
from the county treasury in violation Of the
laws and constitution OF Illinois, and, would
state briefly what | understand the powers Of
the Board of Supervisors to be in fixing sala-
rcs of county officers, and making appropri-
atoms for other purposes. BY the constitution
Of this State the Board of Supervisors is re
Quired to fix the compensation of all county
officers, with the amount Of their necessary
clerk hire, stationery, fuel and other expenses
The amount OF compensation exclusive Of
clerk hire, stationery, fuel and other eX
penses for each county officer in this county
cannot exceed three thousand dollars, may
be any sum less than that, which in the opin-
ion of the Board would be just. After this
compensation has been fixed by the Board,
it cannot be increased or diminished during
the term Of office of any county officer whose
has been so fixed 20 matter at
how low II sum such compensation may have
been fixed. The Board is also required to fix
the amount Of necessary clerk hire, statione-
ry, fuel and other expenses, TO be allowed to
each county officer. 1t would seem from the
language of the constitution that it was in.
tended that the Board should fix the amount
of necessary clerk hire, stationery, fuel and
other eXpcnsCc for each county officer at the
time of fixing the compensation of such COun-I
ty officer, but if by any reason the Board
should fail to fix the necessary clerk hire,
stationery, fuel and expenses of such county
officer, the Board would undoubtedly have
the right to fix all or either Of said items of
clerk hire, stationery, fuel and eX
penscS of such county officer at any subsc
qucnt meeting of the Board. Whether the |
necessary clerk hire. stationery fuel and other |
expenses Of any county officer can be inCreas- |
ed or diminished during the term Of Office
Of such county officer, after the same has
been fixed by the Board of Supervisors does |
not appear tc be very clearly expressed in
hc constitution; but from an examination Of
the question, as shown from the debates in !
The constitutional convention upon this sec
lion of the constitution, making it the ddty of
The Board OF supervisors to fix the COmpcnsa-
ton, necessary clerk hire, &c, of county Off.
GERS, it would seem that it was not the intcn.
lion of the trainers of the constitution that
the necessary clerk hire, stationery, fuel and .
other expenses when fixed by the Board of
Supervisors for any county officer, should .
not be changed 50 rs To affect such county of
iiCcr during his term of Office. | am, there.
fore, of the opinion that the Board of Super
visOrs having at the September session, \. d.
1872, fixed the salary of the Recorder of Deeds
If this county, had no power to increase or
finnish his salary during his term of office,
md that the increase of the Recorders Salary
~ the Board Of Supervisors at the January
session, 1868, of said Board was clearly lille
al, As TO the appropriation of 5000 made
" the Board of supervisors ~ N" January
cSsiOn, 1872, to aid the township of Waltham
n paying off a debt incurred in a suit
brought against said town to recover damages
or defective highway in said town; and also
he appropriation Of $4,000 made by the
Board of Supervisors, Sept. 18th, 1872, to be
appended for the purpose of securing add.
iOnal accommodations for the public in cX-
lihiting stock, &c, at the State Fair to be
leld in Ottawa, in SAID La Sale county, both
# said appropriations, | believe, were made
Without authority of law. The Board of Su.
'ervisurs have no power To make appropra-
ions from the comfy funds for any other
purpose than such ~ are conferred by law
r rs are necessary to the exercise of powers
onicrred upon the Board of Supervisors by /,
lw The township law will be searched in
ain ,or any provisions specially authorizing
he Board of Supervisors 10 appropriate COun-
v funds for either of the above mentioned /,
purposes; neither can it be said that either of
aid appropriations were necessary tp the cX-
rcscs of any power conferred upon the
}ourd OF Supcryisos by law.
Respectfully,
II. MAYO,
State. Attorney.
On motion OF Mr. Edgccumb, ordered that
he report of the committee bc accepted and
prcnp upon the records; and that the further
onsldcration of said report Toe postponed 10
he adjourned session OF this board
The committee on finance, 10y Mr. Klovc,
heir chairman, made the following report
liz:
We find the bonded debt of the county isa.
Ollbws:
The amount of Bonds and Coupon,
due, lS;i.... ........ .......... $li93OOO
The amount of Bonds and Coupons
due, 1870 .... ................ I2,G5OOO
The amount of Bonds and Coupons
past due. ................. $4,000 4
Total bonded debt $255,OaO =.