The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-07-12

At the conclusion of the meeting of
the board of equalization yesterday,
the county selectmen had an inning
as a county court. 1t was a busy ses-
sion, too. the members, in conjunction
with the attorney. taking action on
several matters. Among these were
the salaries of officers, the treasurer
and county clerk having their stipends
fixed for the year.
Mr. Lynn, the gentleman who takes
care of the cash, was lucky. He gets
a raise of $3.50 per year over last,
when he was paid $1,000. The court
stated, through Mr.. Geddes, that his
labors are of such a nature as to re-
quire nearly all his time. therefore, the
laborer was worthy of his hire, and
something in addition. AS a result the
yearly wage was established at 81, $50.
Mr.. Stanton was not so fortunate as
the treasurer. But he will doubtless
get along fairly well on what was al
lowed him. He will receive from the
funds of the county for his work dur
ing the year 1895 the sum of $4,150, of
for the tax rolls. But now the trouble
is all over the clerk can rest in peace.
for it is not likely he will be disturbed
for a time.
Sheriff Hardy appeared with his at
torney and asked that something be
done in the matter of his fees. The
county attorney, who was on hand, at
this time flashed up the following report
on the matter of sheriff's fees, which
he read to the court:
Gentlemen:-I herewith return the
claim of Harvey Hardy for 1855 for
services rendered in conveying insane
persons to the insane asylum at Provo
and beg leave to report thereon as fol-
lows:
Section 1871, compiled laws of Utah,
1888, provides that the sheriff be al
lowed fees for personal services for
conveying a patient to the asylum and
returning thereform at the rate of So,
for the necessary time actually en-
ployed, and mileage at the rate of
cents per mile for the distance actual
ly and necessarily travelled.
In fixing the rate at So the statute
is silent as to the period of time, but,
from a reasonable construction of the
same, it is to be inferred that the
legislature intended the rate to be at
So per day. In addition to this compen-
sation the sheriff is entitled to a regu-
lar compensation of 81 and mileage at
the rate of 20 cents per mile one way,
for executing the warrant issued for
the arrest of the insane person. These
fees the officer is entitled to, in each
case as personal compensation for the
services rendered and in addition
thereto the following expenses incur
red in conveying insane persons to
the asylum should be paid by the
county, viz: Expense of carriage or
hack, when necessary in bringing the
insane person before the probate
judge for examination and for convey
ance to the proper depots at Salt Lake
city and Provo; railway fare of the
patient; meals of the patient while in
custody of the sheriff; providing suit
able clothing, if necessary at the time
of commitment; reasonable expenses
of female attendant required by law
where the patient is female.
These expenses can be allowed by the
sheriff where they are incurred by
him, or they can be paid direct to the
person entitled thereto. The present
claim is not prepared in accordance to
the schedule I have detailed above,
and I am unable, therefore, to deter
mine as to the correctness of the item
therein contained. [. therefore, advise
that the sheriff be required to file
claim in each case showing the neces-
sary items upon which the fees can
be fixed and with vouchers for the
items of expenditure incurred by him.
With reference to the compensation
of the sheriff for his services rendered
to the county, L desire to say in this
connection that the sheriff should be
compensated for his services on the
basis of fees provided by law for such
services and that the allowance of
monthly salary or yearly compensa-
ton 10 the sheriff for services is ir-
regular and without authority of law.
1 would suggest that the sheriff be re-
quired to file each month an itemized
statement showing the services actu-
ally rendered by him for, and on be-
half of the county, and be fixed each
month with this statement as basis.
Very respectfully submitted,
c. o. WHITTEMORE.
This little cadooie having been re-
cited Mr.. Allen arose and stated that
ere the court took action he would like
a chance to confer with his client on
the subject matter therein contained.
Having talked over the matter for a
few minutes, the attorney and sheriff
and the former stated, in re-
lation to the suggestions of the county
that it was impossible TO
make out a voucher for all expenses
One cannot obtain
voucher for a railroad ticket or a meal
at hotel. To this the county attorney
replied that such action was not an
ticipated, but in all cases where such
could be done it was the better plan.
The sheriff stated that in one case
where he was called in to go after an
insane woman he had talked with the
husband of the party. who offered to
bring her to the city for 49, The
sheriff thought it was not fair to ask
the county to pay this expense, but as
a warrant had been issued he had to
serve it. The husband of the woman
IS he would not bring her here and he
(Hardy) would have to bring her if the
husband refused. 1t was cheaper to
have the man bring her and he had so
instructed.
Mr.. Allen then asked that the sheriff
salary or q fee bill be established. He
declared the sheriff was powerless to
act in many cases of criminal nature
unless he paid the money from his own
pocket In this connection Mr.. Allen
declared that during the first six
months of the last year of the former
sheriff he handled 81 cases, for which
he insisted upon being paid ere he
would take them. Hardy in the same
period has taken 149 cases. Conclud-
ing. Mr.. Allen stated that if what the
attorney said was a fact, and
he presumed it was, no regular salary
could be paid the sheriff, except posi-
bly, as the jailor of the county, he
would ask the court to fix fee bill so
he could understand where he was at
Mr.. Geddes made the assertion at
this point that the court intended go
ing to the office of the sheriff examin-