, 1873-01-18
Compensation Of Employees Of
Cook County.
Figures Fixed by tho Board Of Com
n1issioners.
How al the Income Of the County ia to
DO Dispensed in Salaries.
Information for Tax-T'ayers and
Other Interested Parties.
Fat Places TO bo Provided for All tho Ward
Bnlnmers Of Chicngo.

Fat Places to bo Provided for AL tho Ward
Bnmners Of Chicngo.
Tho Board of County Commissioners arc just |
now engaged in The consideration Of tie report !
OF tho Committee Oh Public Service {Mesars.
Crawford, Jones, and Herting), appointed to cx-
amino into tho subject of tho compensation to !
DO fixod for tho numerous county employees who
now, for the 0rst time, uuder tho now law, arc |
to look to Cook County for their pay, and not, rs
formerly, to tho various heads Of departments,
to whom tho Offices woro far1nod out on tho foo
system. Tho natural presumption would DO
that, iuasnauch as oyery county of}cial has hore-
toforo managed to get rich out Of tho fees Of ILLS
Office, the county, when In receipt of tho entiro
amount Of thoso focB,-tlough they havo been
eighty reduced in aomo caaes,-ought Mt
least to como out eyon, ard
manage its afraira without nn extra tax
loyy to mako up tho deficiency. But 1t appoars
TINT tho tax-payers arc to enjoy no euch good
luck, Judging from tho rockosHneas with which
the Commissioners arc dfsposod to yoto away
their money. It now appears that the appoint
tment OF Committee on Public 8orrco WAS On
tira1y suporGuous, as In oyoFy case tlat Uonl-
mittee Las accepted and indorsod tho tdoaa OF
tho various officials on tho oubtoct Of salaries,
leaving tho Board and tho public no visor than
boforo as to tho real merits Of tho case. Tho
proceedings of the Board have demonstrated a
plentiful lack OF information In these important
matters, and it is with Wow to supplying tho
deficiency TINT THE Tribune takes the pains to
gather and 1ay before Its rcntlers many Interest,"
ing and essential facts bearing upon tho quca-
tinn.
Ia
In providing fat places for favorltes at tho ex-
rense of the people Of Cook County, the Re-
.corder Of Deode deserves to woar tho champion
bolt That individual seenas 10 regard tho po-
etiou of Recorder as q grand prize drawn In a
lottery, involving the distribution of minor gifts
to his friends. His own salary is f1xod by law ut
$4,000 per aunum to earn which ho signa hia
name perhaps 200 times a day, or perhaps ho
doesn't sign 1t at all, Just as ho happens to feel.
As his name containB threo words, lo writes, ut
thcutmost ak foos each dny ,a4d receives $40 for
lit. He has little else to do for tho county ksud-
y furnishes him with clerks to attend to tho man
agemcnt Of tho Office. Whom tho Committee on
Public Service called upon Mr. Stewart for q list
of clerks and salaries in his ot1ice ho furnished
them with O. ma gniicent list. His Chief Clerk
and Cashier, being mighty good fellow, you
nnow,-though his duties simply consist III
standing at a window nnd receiving tho
inutruments as thoy are brought in for record,
md IN taking the money and making change
should have 92,5o0 year, and tho Committee
ngt1esBly aesented to it. The Board, In Commit
tee Of the Whole cnt 1t down to 81, 2,400, which Is
at least 5000 too much, aB the Ohief Clerk, aside
from tile knack Of estimating the number Of
folios in IN Instrument which ought tobo picked
up in q week., but which le has not picked up
+rt tpn 1,ttv IN ~ nh0rpn
properly. Ho haa no financial responsibility. as
tue Recorder relieves him each dny Of tho money
on hind. The amount paid to his predecessor,
who passed out as we'll as look in the inatru-
zrents was 81 800 for the last year Of his service
md no considered it ample. 1t ought to be &C
considered now.
For Tho Assistant Chief Clerk and Cashier,
1Ir. Stewart and the Committee recommended
s1,Go0 All this official has to do Is to roturn tc
the ownors tho instruments that have been re-
corded. Tho deeds, mortgages, etc., after COM
ing back from the hands Of the folio writer's
are put awny in lottored pigeou-holea. and boy
Is years old, who could read writing, would be
perfectly competent to act as "Assistant Chiel
Clerk and Cashier" Undcr Mr. Gasaetto thlf
oiiicial WAS paid 915 per week, or $3.50 per year
and he performed more duties than aro exaotet
Of the present incumbent, who finds time, il
addition to his regular autieB, to do extra worl
for the County Clerk and City Collector, from
which services he receives extra compensation
to the amount Of about 1850 year.
An entiroly new official hns been created II
this department, 20 that there ayo now thret
men to do the work which two did before Mr.
Stewards time. For this new ofiicial, 81 900 il
proposed to be voted-too much by ut least $500
az nothing beyond ordinary clerical ability ID re-
f1r+Yt fnrA 1tN
Chief Clerks assistant, and should bo done noE
by him.
Another entirely new position has boon manu-
factured By Mr.. Etowart-that Of Superintendent
of the Folio Room, for whom tho princely Bant
of So, 600 was recommended. This functionar
takes charge Of the instruments, distributes then
among tho folio writer's, and secs that they ar
transcribed upon tho proper form books. Moth
ing more. This is an important position,
properly filled, and should command q salary c
nbout s., 500, as it requires an extended e1per
once to become familiar with tho diHorene forn1E
For tho ssuporintondont Of Records It'll
man who hunts up the record books whom pco
plo como to consult them-$1, 500 was recon
no,lod. Mr. Gaeaette paid this man 5l8 pc
week. but US his duties did not consume all c
his time, he made extra wages by writing fool
Ho should receive about 5000.
Tho item Of :" t1ueo index niorhR, 81 ann n
yoar," il fair, and should bo allowed, 50 far Q
two Of tho clerks aro concerned. Tho third, wll
does tho paging, should not receive over 5000;
For co1npa1ors-they who compare the II
double tho number found necessary by 81
0assotte have beon proyidad for. The Eeaeo
OF this is that MIR. Stewart does p
require. tho folo-yriter to @sslst In t. t.
his prodsseessors, and 80, Of courae, tv
extra comparera arc TO- bo employed. Th
! would be wholly unnecessary II proper caro- Eo
taken to employ mono but Intelligent fol
writer's. Ntr. Gasaetts employed but one reg
lar comparor, though he frequently had to ha,
= assistance. If such folio writer is required
halp compare hia own work, (which ho can DO
~ tor than oyer do at tho Increased compenaasIo