River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-12-04

1
in 1880 they will be driven from their
works in the House of Representatives
ere the full fruition of their hopes
shall have been realized.
-~s.@.~-
THE COUNTY BOARD.
Some of the work of the Board OF
County Supervisors performed during
its recent session has been quite Free
ly criticised and we observe That
such criticism has generally been OF
an adverse nature. Having first pub
lished the official proceedings of the
Board it is now our purpose to venture
a few suggestions upon its work.
Contrary to the rules of customary
parliamentary practice in number
of instances the mover of the appoint
ment of committee was not only not
assigned the craftsmanship of such
committee but was not appointed up
on 1t at all, and if some of the men,
bers did not feel snubbed at the treat
ment they received in this matter we
are no Judge of human nature. We
commend the expression of the Board
in favor of biennial sessions OF the
legislature. Though many who aspire
to legislative honors together with
that class of dead beats who delight
in spending the winter at Madison
working up jobs by which they are to
be benefited are solid fer annual ses-
sions, there is steadily increasing
popular sentiment in favor of biennial
sessions and that sentiment is destin-
ed soon to become irresistible. We
do not believe that the public good or
economy demanded reduction of the
salary of the respective county officers
the salary Of which was reduced. The
salaries now paid are below the aver
age paid by the several counties ofthe
State and are no greater than Pierce
county is abundantly able to pay to
men who are competent to properly
discharge the duties thereof. Besides
the actual work performed by the sew
eral county officials there is degree
of responsibility attached to their du-
ties for which competen and tresponsi-
BILE officials should be remunerated. IL
the argument that men can be hired
for less than 5000 per annum is logical.
why not go further and knock the Of
fees off to the lowest bidders We are
in some doubt as to the advisability
of the change made in the manner of
providing for the poor. We have no
statistics at hand from which to make
comparisons, but it seems to us that
after having provided itself with the
appliances for operating the county
system the county should not have
changed back to the town system I'M
less most thorough investigation
seemed to have warranted it; for, as
we understand this matter, the change
from the town to the county system
was made some years age because OF
the great expense attending the town
system. We believe that INDECENT
persons sustained by a tax upon the
property of the people can be supported
collectively with greater economy than
when scattered about ever the eoun-
ty and we would suggest that "out-
side aid" so-called, under either the
town or county system, should be SUBJ
| iected to the closest scrutiny by the
people. The Herald complains that
in effect, its bill of printing for which
there is fixed statutory rate, was re-
duced. This was an injustice to the
proprietors of that paper for which
they have no adequate redress, and it
should have been beneath the Board
to record itself as opposed to the pay
ment of legal and equitable claims. A
| number of other bills were also reduc-
ed. the merits of which we have no
knowledge, but we feel warranted in
| affirming that while the people OF
Pierce county favor economy in the
/ administration of their affairs they are
able and willing to pay all legitimate
demands upon the county treasury,
but they hayea right to protest against
the action by which s71.24 was taken
to pay the assessors for their meeting
last May. The law authorizes no
meetings of that nature, the statue,
sustained by the highest judicial tri-
bunal in the State, fixing the basis up
on which property shall be assessed,
and recognizes no arrangements
made by assessors collectively. This
is matter of no personal concern to
us but is suggested for the benefit OF
our readers. Regarding the County
Superintendent system the Board gave
expression to the sentiments of a good.
Iy number of the people of Pierce
county, though at present a majority
doubtless favor the system now in
vogue.
The increase in the amount of gold
and silver in circulation in the United
States within the last sixteen months
is said to be $50, 100000