The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-06-22

uties are as energetic and as faithful as any
officers could be, and that the work of the
office is on the increase, any person can see
the office is not as r~emnnerative as it might
be.
The Treasurer now receives $500 with a
deputy threwn in if required. Under the
new law he will nave to provide his own
deputy. He wilrreceive $1,000 with a per-
centage on the amount of licenses collected
as follows: 5 per cent. on the first s 5000; 3
per cent. On the second 81, 900; 2 per cent. OF
the third 5000; II per cent. on the fourth
$4,000. and l per cent. on any excess. The
amount of the licenses collected during the
present year will be in the neighborhood Of
lations a. to the amount of compensation the
Treasurer will receive, remembering that it
is necessary for him to have deputies at GER
tain points in the County.
The Assessor at the present time receives .
salary of S 1850. Under the new law he will
receive q percentage of the assessed valua-
ton returned, subject to the reductions by
the Board, and which percentage is as fol-
lows: II mills on each dollar for the first
three millions or fraction thereof, and on the
excess l mill. The present valuation is in
the neighborhood of seven millions and is on
the increase. This provision, while rather
moderate in compensation, will have a good
effect in encouraging a thorough assessment
of the Territory.
The Sheriff will be allowed q salary of $500
instead Of. S 5000 as now, but he is allowed
fees and mileage. The fees are about 60 or Is
per cent. of what they formerly were, aud
the mileage on ordinary process is fifteen
cents. He will have to provide for his
Under Sheriff and deputies or let them look
out for themselves. As these officers must
live, Migrants and tramps must stand from
under. The act may cut both ways. for as
the board of prisoners will not be affected
the County is liable to have quite . number
of guests to provide for.
Justices of the Peace are allowed 81 for
the commencement of any suit, civil or
criminal, and 50 per day for trying any case,
and not more than two days in any case.
The law plays havoc with the fees Of the
Probate Court. The salary of the Judge and
Clerk will be abolished, and fees are allowed
| which will be much less than one-half of
| what they formerly were, besides there are
| many things necessary to be done in the set
Element of estates and the conduct of suits
for which there are no fees provided what
| ever. In all civil and criminal cases the fees
are the same as in the Court Of a Justice OF
the Peace. There is an immense amount of
work done in this office and the amount OF
fees which can be collected will not be a
reasonable compensation for the work to be
done. People and especially old settlers are
beginning to die off and the number OF
estates is on the increase and this is where
good civil service is needed, if anywhere. 1t
is calculated that with a strict change of all
the fees allowed not more than from 500 to
81 900 can be realized during one year., with
more work than any one man ought to do.
The law further provides that any officer
receiving any fee, salary or reward not spe-
officially provided in the act shall be liable to
the person paying the same for ten times the
sum paid n shall be guilty of a INSIDE
meanor and liable to fine and Imprisonment.
Can these fees be increased or diminished
during the incumbency of the officers? The
act of Congress July 80, 1886, provides that
no 'slocal or special" laws shall be passed by
the Legislatures of the Territories "creating,
increasing, or decreasing fees, percentage OF
| allowance of public officers during the term
for which said officers are elected or ap.
pointed" The construction put upon this
by some is that no one particular officers
fees can be increased or diminished, that
being special legislation, but that a general
law, applying the same throughout the Ter
ritory, increasing or diminishing the fees Of
any Office during the incumbency, for in
stance, the Office OF Sheriff, may be passed.
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