Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-24

opinion that it is special, and applies only
to the County Treasurer. If this is cor
rect, then 1t is not 4 test case, 1 suppose, so
far as the other county officers are con-
cerned. We are all paid under the act of
1881, but the Court makes no allusion TO 1t.
This is what puzzles me. Reference is made
to the act of 1876 and some prior
laws, and that is all. What 1
would like 10 know is does the act of 1881
stand-so far as know its constitutionality
has never been called into question.
hardly think there is general salary act
of 1861, so that our present wages VIII con-
tinue"
''But a special act in 1871 made the sala-
ries of commissioners 81 so per day." was
suggested.
SsYes, that is true" Mr. Boyle
replied, "but 1 think the constltu-
tion remedied that by stopping
the fee system and ordering The payment OF
salaries in counties where the population is
more than 80, 900. But l may as well stop
here. as 1 haven't copy of the various
salary acts, and don't know how to discuss
the subject without more information.
A Knotty Problem for MIR. Mercer.
County Commissioner Mercer, President
of the board, was found at his home on the
Southside last evening He had
read the opinion, but hadn't thought much
about it. At first he seemed to think the
decision applied to Treasurer Bell alone,
but after talking tor time ne became con-
WINGED it was a knotty problem, and he was
not prepared to solve it. "It doesn't ap-
pear reasonable to the layman, he said,
THAT an organic law, general in its char
aeter and covering certain subject,
would not dispose of all previous
laws relating to the question in dispute, but
then courts decide otherwise. [ am not
posted, but l am positive there are special
acts in connection with all the county officers
passed at some time or other i can't see
what is going to happen, but the same
reasoning as in Mr.. Bells case should apply
to all. read the paper books of the lawyers,
and 1 thought their arguments in favor OF
Bell fitted in nicely. l remember now that
a short time ago one of the boys in the office
told me what Mr.. Yost had said to ME.
Grier about the case. 1t was that the County
Treasurer would find that he wouldn't be
getting the salary that he is paid now. This
is the conclusion one must draw from the
decision. 1t looks plain enough that Mr..
Bells salary is s., 800 instead OF $1,000 per
annum.''
What the Legislature Meant.
''How about the act paving Commission
ers S2 so per day?" was asked.
"Well that is special. and l suppose it
would be considered salary under the
Constitution. 1t applies, however. to coun-
ties where the Commissioners charge only
for the time they serve. The Judge states
that it proves too much to say that the
thirteenth section of the act of 1916 applies
only 10 Allegheny county. The fact is that
Allegheny was the only county in the State
at the time that could fulfill the condition
as to population. The Legislature surely
had Allegheny in mind when the act was
passed. Allegheny was the first county to
abolish the fee system in Office. This was
done in 1870, if remember rightly. have no
doubt it was the Allegheny delegates to the |
Constitutional Convention that had tlis |
plan inserted in the Constitution, for they |
had seen it in operation for several wears
and they realized that it was a good idea. |
The only remedy now is the Legislature
"What will be done under the circum-
stances?"
81 don't know" Mr. Mercer answered, |
'but L see no reason why the county Off |
GERS should refrain any longer from draw |
ing the old salaries. 1t is now IL months |
that they have waited, and the decision is |
against them. The question remains, is |
this test case and does it apply to all the |
officers, or will it be necessary to have de- |
csion ior each one?"
How Other County Officers Feel.
Samuel Conner, Register of Wills, was
quite serene over the outlook. He said his |
increase would have been $500 annually, |
and the amount was so small that it didn't |
make much difference to him. He thought |
the general classification of county offices |
made by the act OF 1861, still held under |
the decision, and that salaries would be |
paid according to the act of 1876.
Recorder Won Bonnhorst said his prede-
cessor, Mr.. Graham, received So, 900 yearly, |
but he didn't know what he was getting, |
He has not drawn q cent Of salary for more
than a year. Under the act of 1876 he
would have received S12, 1000, under the act
of 1888, $4,000. The opinion was so much
Greek to him, and he wouldn't take the
time to read it. All he wanted to know |
was the amount coming 10 him, and he
would take it. But the lawyers would
have to interpret the decision.
Coroner Mcdowell remarked that he was
too busy attending to his duties to read the
decision. He is hard at WORK trying to
clear up the mystery surrounding a number
of strange deaths The river has given up
several bodies lately, and the query is how
did these victims of a watery grave meet
their fate.