The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-25
CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Hearing ON the Salaries of County OIL
GERS.

The Cumberland Senators and Representa-
tives held meeting at Augusta Thursday eve
ming, Tor the purpose of considering the matter
OF county salaries, referred to them by the Leg
islature. Most of the county officers were
present in person or by proxy.
The Hon. Nathan Webb spoke first of the
office of county attorney. The duties and re-
sponsibilities of this office, he said, had been
greatly Increased, and the salary ought not to
be diminished The labor is so great that it
has been fonnd necessary to employ an assistant,
AID the work could not oe properly accom-
plishsd without his help. Mr.. Webb also said
that the duties of the judge OF probate have
been increased by the passage OF the act making
him judge of insolvency, and that MS salary
could not fairly bs reduced, Judge Bonney
earns every dollar he receives. The superior
court has been of great advantage to the coun-
ty, and ought not to be abolished.
Mr.. bennett, clerk of courts. was present.
In answer to an inquiry. Mr.. DeuDett said that
he should think that $4,000 would be proper
salary, if the fees were turned into the county
treasury. The office, be said. is one Of great
responsibility, and so laborious that he rarely
completes his days work before hslf.past 10
O'Clock in the evening This labor consists of
making up the dockets for nine terms of the
superior court, besides the terms of the supreme
court, taAluS COSTS III CIVIL anu criminal eultS,
aud keeping the records of the Office generally.
Besides his own salary, Mr.. bennett thought
he needed $4,000 for clerk hire. Hs gives bond
of $4,000 as clerk of the supreme court, but no
bond as clerk of the superior court.
Sheriff Dresser estimated the net income of
his Office at about $5000-$3000 from the Jail,
and $4,000 for attendance at court, service of
Drecepts and commissions. He explained that
the profit on the management of the Jail was
partly computed by emitting any deduction for
him no actual outlay, though some allowance
ought to be made for it. So far as the Jail is
concerned, he would prefer a salary for super
intendence. The cost of raw materials for the
board of prisoners is about 81 Sc week price
of board, So 80.
Deputy Sheriff Ring said that his emoluments
are less than $4,000 year. In answer to a
question, he said be thought the cause of tenn
perance was not promoted by the measures now
in force. The law of 1877, he considered too
severe, and thought an alternative sentence,
fl 20 nr imprisonment, woald be better for the
county.
County Treasurer Mcclellan said that during
the four or five years that he has been in office,
he has handled half million of dollars. For
this service he has received $1,000 year, about
one per cent His bond amounts to 100000.
He did not think the nay extravaganza. He
bought some saving might be made in the cost
of criminal prosecutions, and had made some
recommendations looking in that direction.
The county commissioners have been invited
70 appear next Tuesday evening, when the
county estimates will be considered in detail
The delegation has reached no conclusion yet
on auy of the matters considered