The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-12
A DEATHLIKE GRIP
On the Throats of the People of
Kansas,
HELD BY THE COUNTY OFFICERS

Who Won't Give Up Their Big Fees
The trenuous Fight in the House
Though the house committee OF the
whole on the Ballinger fees and salaries
bill, arose and reported progress yester-
day evening, the suggestion of Repre-
sentative Funk to amend the report so as
to say no progress was made, was more
to the point. The committee wrangle0
for three hours over the first twenty-nlne
lines of the bill and when it got through
the first section, had not yet been finally
adopted. The discussion revealed
number of members who were earnestly
in favor of the reduction of salaries oy
q general bill and corresponding rae
ton who evidenced by their talk, that
they would do all they coulo 10 oeIea'
ANYTHING that looked like cut
There are perhaps fifty county ohcers
over the state here to look after their
interests. The sheriffs nre making the
biggest fight. The treasurers are dIvl-
ded- some of them being satisfied with
the Ballinger bill, while others are re-
sistiup any interference with their emol-
uments The county clerks are little
affected, and are doing little or no LOBBY
ing. but the registers of deeds and clerks
of the district court are complaining.
The county superintendent will also
make decided fight.
MANY county officers want to see the
BalIinger bill go through, not because
thew are in favor of a reduction, but be-
rause they are in dread of special bills.
The lines have not yet been closely
enough drawn to determine whether
those who are afraid of their political
chances will be able to defeat the bill,
but unless it's friends muster enough
strength to railroad it through substan-
tally as it came from the committee,
Ghere is little doubt it will be SO delayed
by multitude of amendments as to make
its passage impossible.
When the bill came up, Mr.. Ballinger
made speech in lis favor, showing that
it was an attempt to regulate the salaries
of the county officers of the entire state
in a just and fair way, and called
attention to the advantage of
general bill over special legisla-
ton. Then the expected hap
pened. Two members who didn't want
their county treasurer's salary reduced.
offered amendments increasing the fig
ure named in the bill. They were Rob-
inson of jackson and Moore of Saline.
Mr.. Benedict saw what this sort of
thing would lead to, and said: 1.-THE of
fering of these amendments virtually
means that you are going to raise sala-
ries instead of reducing them. My peo-
pie expect to have salaries reduced, and
l can't vote for raise. If you are going
to raise salaries, l move to strike out the
enacting clause of this bill"
Miller of Morris held the same opinion
as Mr. Benedict He said: "Such amend
inents mean that this house intends to in
crease of decrease salaries They in
reality mean that we don't intend to en-
act any legislation. The treasurer in my
county gets 81 500. Is is true that treas
urers are worth more? Who is there
who is making $1,000 in the state? Is it
the farmer? Is it the business mani The
people are in faver of cutting down. The
officers, it is true, are anxious and
have lobby here, but they would be
glad to take the offices at less figure.
Why then is it we are afraid to cut
them?"
Messrs. Funk and Caldwell favored
the first section in relation to treasurer
Mr.. Caldwell said it was only the men in
office now who opposed the reduction,
the people were in favor of it He beg
ged the counties reduced to meet the
others half way.
Mr.. Ballinger offered a substitute for
the first section. 1t was adopted, then
reconsidered, voted down and the house
found itself just where it was at the
start.
Mr. Heminger of Haskell, said the peo-
pie of his county wanted salaries reduc-
ed As the bill raised the salary of treas
urer in his county he couldn't vote for it
and made an amendment reducing it
which was lost.
Bone of Clark, wanted the pay of his
county raised. He said the moving
away of people made the work even
greater, for the treasurer had to pay
taxes for non-residents
Speaker Lobdell after complimenting
Mr.. Bone very highly, said If Clark coun-
tvs treasurer was on to his job he would
charge non-residents for doing work
for them and put it into his pocket. Mr..
Bone replied that their treasurer was
''dead onto his job" but he didn't de-
scend to the method of q scalper or bro
ker.
Mr.. Ballinger explained that county
treasurers had right to charge for do
ing such work.
MIR. Miller, speaking again in favor o.
the bill, said the treasurer of his count,
hired deputy at $3.50 year, and speni
his time attending to his regular bust
ness. '1sn't 81, 700 enough for him whev
he can get the work done for $3.50 anC
have the rest for doing nothing" askeC
Mr.. Miller
Mr.. Cornell of Wabaunsee told of
like state of affairs in his county wher
the deputy treasurer did all the work TO
$40 month.
MIR. Sheator of Cloud county said: 9TH
people are signing for the reduction O
salaries more than the flesh pots c