West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-03-07
4 bit Ofnistor,.


hold preceding that election. was Young man
employed in the capacity % deputy clerk OF the
county court "a small s0inry was poor. hut
some what ambitious, and before and during the
time 7 was so employCa-ahout tven ycarS-I
studied the law 20 the cxton; that my time would
permit, and before tho scid election was hold,
was duly examined and admitted 20 the practice
and az the solicitation ct some If my friends I
announced myself n candidate for the nominal
ton az the hands 81 the Republican convention
Among the few whowe most active IN oppo
sing NY nomination was Mr., h. Heermans, cash
| ter of the National Bank of KiugWood.
This gcntlcrlan attcntcd the cOny ontlon with
The aNowcd purpose 81 opposing my nomination
and presenting tho name at another gentleman
for thc position, bu; after his little "tlC with
| another gentleman whose nomination preceded
mime in order. ho announced in the presence ~
myself and othcrs. that no "had intended such
"A cour,o out found that hc was so unpopular IN
| the convention that he would refrain ftomiN
| was nominated by tho convention ard aver
wards elected by majority ~ about 600 VOTES
Tho county court, az its frat levy term aftcrI
| had entered upon the duties of the office xcd
my salary at Siso $50 less than the legal limit
| In addition 10 this was able go collect during
the four years about $3.50 ON the average aunu-
| ally i'm the way II fees out ot this had 60 pay
my own office rent az tho rate Of $50 annually
Apt HhitNiohtlAs STAMPS Tor the hCnCnt ~ the
| at the rate of about SS5-caving books out Of
tho question and from SO TO siOo for Incidental
expenses In attending criminal cases before jus.
tees, sc.
This covers the nrst four years OF my service,
While during tho safoc period the clerks OF both
courts and tho shorid were receiving the Highest
salary the law would pornit the court 60 allow
As the time for tho next election approached.
/ found large number OF the citizens of the
] county desired ne TO servo In the capacity an
other term and feeling conscious Of having
served the people faithfully, and OF having do.
| voted my whole time and professional service ia
their interest, felt encouraged IN the hope that
! their representative OF the county court would
| recognize tho Justice 81 claim for more rcas-
enable compensation, again became "A Csndl
| date FOR the nomination ard with tho usual ac-
compartment Of Mr. Hcermsns' opposition, was
nominated and elected, this time by largely in
creased majority.
| Ny second term 81 service began with the year
1855. For that year the allowances 10 the various
| county officers out of the treasury remained al
! the Same Gguro. In the succeeding year the al
| lowanCe To tho ur1socuting attorney wa allowed
20 remain at $50 less than the legal limit that OF
| the clerk of the circuit court aud sheriff AT the
| highest limit, and the legal limit OF that OF the
! clerk of the county court having been changed
| from sSceto $3.50, his was advanced Si0O In the
| ensuing yosr-lsS5- tho legislature fixed the
| minimum salary of the prosecuting attorney at
$500 and the maximum at $1,000 The court de
! clined 70 raise that 81 the prosecuting attorney
! above this minimum still left that OF tho clerk
| OF the circuit court and sheriff at The highest
notch but advanced that OF the clerk OF the
! county court another 500.
For the succeeding ear, 1895, the same ratio
existed.
These figures show what was paid cut Of the
county treasury salaries 20 the county officers
named during the eight ycnrs ] served iu the ca
pacity Of prosecuting attorney
What degree 90 fairness has been displayed
and how near an approach 10 a just aud reason
| able compensation 10 one Of these officers has
becu made by this arrangement, suppose We
| make comparison;
To be a perfectly competent sheriff docs not
require any particular professional skill. re IS
| furnished re ,!dcHce for himself rent free, by
the people. rnd rs paid the maxi mn annual sal
airy u $3.50. Ittakonll Of his tine 90 discharge
his duties, and be has TO employ deputies. True
but what can DE realize per year, clear Of ali cx
! peuscs Incident to the ofhcei Would Il not be
safe 90 say from 1880 to stsoOl
TO be CLERK OF the circuit court requires no
particular professional skill, and 81 tokos all Of
his time ia the discharge Of lhs duties, and he
| so4cc times has 90 employ assistance. 10 Is fur.
| the people free 90 cost. along with q maximum
annual salary of 500. what e. his ONCE worth
90 him outside Of al expense Incident 10 the Of
| SIs0Ol
II rcquires no particular professional skill 90
perform tho duties Of The clerk Of the county
| court. II takes all Of bis time 10 discharge tho
duties Of the once, and he hes 90 employ assist
| ance. JIG s. also furnished with Office, with
stationery, fuel, SC, free Of cost and an annual
salary Of geo, aud s200 for milking out tho land
books, aud smaller sums Tor other purposca,
making IN all refcii or eight hunGr,d dollars paid
out n tho trcascry what can be realize out of
his Office pcT year, outside 90 all expense Incl
don't to the Office, including clerk hirof Would
e not be safe 90 say from 1870 TO st,GCOf
The proceeding attorney has 20 be tho legal
adviser Of the county court IN laying leyy upon
something near sl.co0O00 Of tazeblo property,
and On tie disbursement of from 19oOo0 % $40
90 Of thopcopcs money annually; 20 prosecute
ard defend all civil suits for or against tho
county or any district therein, and 10 prosecute
all criminal causes that arc brought up by pop
ulation of something like 1900 people
To do this Il would seem that more profess
sional skill and special training ought To be re-.
ouircd than IL necessary 60 qualify one To- be
sheriff or clerk Of either court say this with
ont intending the least reflection on either OF the
officers named is professional skn o. be left
ont in considering the value o. scrvcesi
TO perform tho duties ~ the Office with an
honest regard for the interests Of the people in
this county. assert that Il takes ~ great " not
p greater proportion Of the time that IS valuable
20 him as "a lawyer than u docs 81 the profcs-
sional time Of either Of the other officers named
and Sc takes up so much ~ HE time IN attending
90 public matters during the sittings Of the
courts that be- has very little 81 any left Tor civil
causes. 20 that the statement that "the prosccu-
tinc attorney Of This county has 40 least six
months Of the year Ca which hc might earn ~
much by the practice ~ his profession no he gets
as an officer, and thus secure the neat little in.
come Of ef.6oOr IS entirely without foundation
and untrue ard misleading.
In addition to the labor and time confirmed as
above ho IS under Che necessity of mourning a
considerable annual oxpouge 90 the way Of Of
fcc rents. Sc.
The facts arc before you. Figure out tho act
u1l income ~ Gre yI0eecutInR attorney outside
OF sll eKpcn cs incident 20 the Office. and com.
pare 8, wiih Chef of the otbcr officer who IKE
h'I1. pu; .n their whole years. services Tor lhc
people