The herald., 1895-03-31
A QUESTION OF DEPUTIES
County Officials and the Supervisors
i'm Consultation
Veto Of the County Government Act CompIi.
Gates Things and Leaves Matters
In Bad Shape

There was an important conference yes
terday between the members of the board
of supervisors and the county officers.
All five of the supervisors were present
and the head of every department. The
consultation was with closed doors and
the subject was the effect of Governor
Budd's pocket veto of the county govern
ment act.
The great question that arises now with
the county officers is where "are they at
in the matter of securing pay for their
deputies. The county government Dill
settled this question beyond any doubt or
complication, but its failure to become
law leaves matters in condition border
ing on chaos. in so far as the employment
of deputies is concerned.
he old county government act, which
is still in force and under which the
county officers have been proceeding, has
been simply purverzed by legislative
discussion during the late session. Nu-
merous unconstitutional clauses in it were
pointed out and given as reason Tor the
enactment of the new law.
The conference yesterday afternoon
was for the purpose of determining what
the county officials should do under the
circumstances in the matter of employing
help
District Attorney Donnell was present
and gave his opinion in the matter. 1t
seems that the county clerk can get along
all right SO can the treasurer and the
auditor. The present law specifically gives
them the help they absolutely need. But
the recorder and tax collector are left en-
! tirely out in the cold. The tax collector
must employ enough help to keep up with
| the business of his office. and so must the
recorder The assessor will be all right at
| all hazards. The auditor would be re-
! duced to one deputy.
Z After q full discussion it was decided by
| all of the officials to let things proceed
| just as at present.
The following section was cited as au-
| thority for the appointment OF deputlesa
1t is from the civil code:
| Section ALP. Every county and town
| ship officer, except county Judge, super
visor and justice of the peace, may APP
point as many deputies as may be nec-
essary for the faithful and prompt dis
| charge of the duties of his office. II
| But the code does not make any provis-
| ion for the payment of these deputies.
| This will be the rub. Tomorrow all the
| force at the court house will receive their
warrants and then the question will be
who will pay them. The county treas
urer is liable on his personal bond for any
| illegal expenditure he makes even II 1T be
on a demand warrant. Mr.. Fleming will
be called upon tomorrow to decide the
| question as to whether or not deputy S
warrant for his salary for March is legal
demand upon the county If he thinks it
is he will pay it If he thinks wrong he
might have to cover the money back into
the treasury.
aTreasurer Fleming had not decided up
to last evening what he would do in the
matter He will know tomorrow, for he
proposes to have the opinion OF his at
| torney and consultation with his bonds
men. In the meantime the court house
| deputies are in fear and trembling.