, 1890-02-05
The Council Committee and Secre-
tary MeIdrum.
Mr.. Campbell Presents a New
County Salary Bill.
A Printing Resolution Bounty Law
Interest on Public Money.
Territorial Council.

report:
Honorable President of the Council:
SIR-We, YOU committee appointed IN
compliance with council resolution No. 2.
beg leave to submit the following report:
We met on January 81 and addressed a
communication to the honorable secretary
of the territory requesting him to appear
before us at $3.50 D. m, January %, to
which be replied as follows:
TERRITORY OF WYOMING,
SEoRETARY's OFFICE,
January %, 1890.
Hon. A. b. Lig0ett. Chairman Com
ntittee.
SR:-Your favor of the 9th received
this a. m. and as I didn't observe the
date from the reading thereof [ was mis-.
led as to the time you desired me 10 meet
your committee. | will communicate
with you TO morrow, the goth, at any
hour that will suit your convenience.
Very respectfully,
JOHN W. MELDRuM,
Secretary of Wyoming.
To this your committee replied request
ing said secretary to appear before them
at $3.50 p. m, January %, to which the
honorable secretary replied as follows:
TERRITORY OF WYOMING,
SECRETARY s OFFICE,
Jan 90, 1890,
Hon. A. B. Liooett. Chairman Com,
mittee.-
SIR:-Replying to your communica-
ton of the 9th inst. have to say that
when you inform me under what law the
honorable council has arrogatod to itself
the mission Of Interpreting the statutes to
and instructing the secretary of the terri
tory as to his duties relative to the dis
bursement of United States funds, l will
cheerfully meet your committee. My
acts andlaccounts as secretary of Wyom-
lug are open to inspection at all times BY
the proper authority. but that authority,
SO far as l am advised by instructions
from NV superiors, is not the honorable
council OF the eleventh legislative assem-
bly, of Wyoming nor any committee that
1t has power to appoint. Very respect
fully, JOHN w. MELDRuM,
Secretary of Territory.
1t is evident to this committee that the
honorable secretary did not intend to come
before it, but or the contrary intended
merely to provoke a discussion with your
committee as to its rights and duties in
the premises, which was foreign 20 the
object tor which said committee was ap
pOluttu duu illus tfdut Iu6 QutSIlOu AZ
issue.
Your committee deemed 1t no part Of
Its duties to instruct the honorable secre
tary as to his duties In the matter. but
believe that a public officer should ever
be ready to give any information in his
possession in relation 10 the public service
when requested by a CO ordinate branch
of the government, unless the interest OF
he public service demands secresy. Your
committee therefore did not communi-
cate further with the honorable secretary.
The honorable secretary refusing to &C
cede to the request of your committee and
they being informed by the printing COM
mittee that Mr.. 4. A. Slack of the Chey-
enns Sun was doing the printing of this
legislative assembly, requested him to ap-
pear before the committee and testify
relative to the matter for which your COM
mittee was appointed. This request Mr..
Slack entirely ignored.
There was evidence before your CON-
mittee that the honorable secretary had
not advertised for the printing of council
files as contemplated by section 3,709 of
the Revised Statutes of the United States,
nor had he advertised in any other man
ner for such printing and your committee
believe from the Investigation made that
the said section 3,709 of the Revised
Statutes of the United States has not
been complied with by the honorable Sec
retary OF the territory.
A. B. LIGGErT, Chairman.
Mr.. Campbell introduced his bill re-
lating to the salaries of county officers in
the council.
1t provides that the salary of probate
Judge shall be as follows: In counties OF
less than 81, 900, 900 valuation. $3.50 per
annum; in counties of not less than
81, ZOO, 900 or more han 81, coo, 900 valu-
alton, $500 per annum; in counties of not
less than 81. 00o, 900 or more than S., OOO.-
900 valuation, $3.50 per annum; in coun
ties of over S., O0O, 900 valuation the an
nual salary to be $1,000. In addition to
these amount the probate Judges shall
retain so per cent of all fees received by
them. They will be required to file
monthly with county clerks de.
tailed statements of fees cole cted and
will be held liable under their bonds for
the amount of all fees. Fees are to be
paid 10 advance or if the amount Of fees
to be charged is indefinite a deposit is to
be exacted to cover the probable fees.
County assessors are to be paid annual
salaries ranging from 5000 per annum in
counties OF less than 81, 900, 900 valuation
to $500 per annum in counties OF over
s 1000, 900 and in addition be allowed a
commission Of ! of one mill on the
amount of assessments returned. No
commission to be allowed for erroneous as
sessments. Deputy assessors will be paid
actual expenses only.
Coroners are to be paid at the rate of
IS per day Tor each dav actually engaged,
and will be allowed mileage at the rate Of
Is cents per mile for going to and return
ing from inquests.
Prosecuting attorneys shall be paid
5000 per annum in counties of less than
81, 900, 0OO valuation; 5000 per annum in
counties of not less than 81 900, 900 or
more than 81, 900, 900; 1920 per mum
in counties of not less than 81. GOO, 900 or
moro than az OO0 OOO. 90 ono nor-