The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-03-28
AFTER DReUrY OFFICIALS.

AFTER DEPUTY OFFICIALS.
| The county court at its next session will
be confronted with serious problem. TIC
solve it satisfactorily to all parties will be a
difficult task. 1t is the intention, as stated
to GAZETTE representative last week by
Miles Starr. of Monroe precinct, to circulate
petitions throughout the county, pray ing
the court to entirely do away with the pay
ment of all salaries to deputy county off
! cials. Mr.. Starr further stated that in Il
conversation had with Judge Hufford on
the subject, that official had signitied an
intention to comply with the prayer of the
petition, provided same were generally sign
ed by the taxpayers throughout the county.
AS this is a matter of general interest to
our readers, a reporter called on Judge Huf-
ford and from him learned that last July,
when the salary law went into effect, the
clerk was allowed one deputy at $40 per
month. This was thought to be a reason
able sum for competent service, and is much
lower than is paid in most of the other
counties The clerk has frequently pre-
sented bills for additional help, but they
have been regularly disallowed. Although
the work in this department is considerably
behind, the court does not feel disposed to
allow any more assistance, believing that
whatever additional help is required should
be furnished and paid tor by the clerk.
When the law took effect the sheriff asked
s. 4 b,,t rof,So1 fc
comply with the request. After talking the
matter over, however, verbal agreement
was entered into whereby the sheriff should
be allowed 500 monthly for deputy hire,
and no more With this sum he is to fur
pish whatever assistance is required during
terms of circuit court when it is frequently
necessary to employ four or five addi-
tional men. Under ordinary circum
stances the more work one does the
more he expects to receive. but under pres
eat conditions the contrary is true. The
sheriff, in all civil matters, charges mileage
in addition to his fee for services and turns
the mouey into the county exchequer. His
expenses, however, are paid by himself and
not by the county as many suppose. 1t is
therefore plain that in each department as
the work increases, the income of the official
is diminished.
The deputy recorder is paid only $40 per
month So that the total amount allowed
for help is Sl90 per month. And i'll this re-
spect the county is managed more economi-
cally than almost any other county i'll the
state. If Mr.. STAIRS petitions succeed the
officers will be compelled to pay from their
own salaries the salaries of their deputies.
This they will most likely refuse to do,
because, as it is the sheriff and clerk are
each bearing portion of the cost fer addi-
tional assistance, and if their allowance for
this purpose is entirely denied they will
probably not employ more help. The work
in each office would then continue to ac-
cumulate and in the course of month or
from all over the county that everything
was behind. The affairs of the county
would not be attended to with promptness
and dispatch, and complaints would be
numerous and frequent.
So far as the law is concerned it is dis
cretionary with the court whether salaries
of deputies are allowed or not But the
officers appear to have the better of the
court on the proposition, and if the present
allowance is withheld it is possible that. the
efficiency and promptness of the service will
be materially hindered.
The GAZETTE is heartily in sympathy with
any equitable movement along the line of
economy, but any plan that has for Its object
only the reduction of expenses may have the
opposite effect. On that accoant the mat
ter should be thoroughly Investigated before
final action is taken. If the saving OF hun.
dred and ninety dollars a month will either
involve the county in expensive litigation or
materially retard the progress of business in
which the entire public Is interested the
movement now on foot would certainly not
be an economical one. But if the court is
of the opinion tn 1t this reduction will not
have such an effect the prayer of Mr.. Starr s
petition ought by all means to be granted
However, the court has evidently not reached
such conclusion, or it would never have
m .de such allowances in the past.