The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-15
COUNTY OFFICERS, SALARIES.
Board Devotes Some Time to the
Assessors Office.

The county commissioners spent
most Of their time at the executive ses-
sion, yesterday afternoon, considering
what they thought would be a suit
able allowance for the assessor 1t
was thought that $4,000 was enough for
running expenses of the office during
the odd year and 81 600 for the even
year. They tried to figure that SITS q
month for all the months except May
and June was sufficient for the even
year and that the difference could be
made up in the two months in ques-
ton. They have also changed their
minds again on the question of sala-
ries. The figures originally decided
upon and which were printed in the
Clio b were $3.50. These were cut
$3.50 at the next session but have now
been pressed up to $4,000. This was
after a meeting held in the morning.
The latest decision of the commission
ers is that $4,000 should be the max
imum and this should be drawn by the
sheriff and county attorney. For the
auditor $4,000 is the figure, the same
being fixed for the treasurer and regis
ter of deeds.
The meeting was an open one and
was attended by the representatives Of
the Chamber of Commerce, and the
Jobbers' Union and the retail mer-
chants. Among the visitors were
Messrs. Clough, Seabury, Noyes, Peet,
Gordon, Murray, Dean, Mannheimer,
Bowlby Kirk, Kenneth Clark, Taylor
and Smith
The board had desired the advice Of
these business men respecting the de-
serts of the county officials, whose sal
aries they proposed to fix.l
The talk which resulted was some
what indefinite and prolonged
Col Clough spoke in opposition to
uniform rule of salaries as unjust. He
l,A1s fH01ar
sheriff and assessor, were as impor-
tant as any Office in the county, and
that the salaries should be SO fixed
that these gentlemen could net at
least SO, 00O. He was of the opinion
that the county auditor and the county
treasurer were clerical positions, call
ing not so much for independent judge
ment as those which he had named.
Mr.. Seabury agreed with this, in
general way, but thought the office
of county treasurer was not a cler-
zeal Office. An official who was called
on to give a bond in the sum Of 100000.
must fill one of the most important
offices in the county.
Mr.. Gordon believes that the sheriff,
attorney, assessor and treasurer were
offices of Importance, and should re-
ceive the maximum salary.
Mr.. Peet thought the city and coun-
ty governments should be amalgamat-
ed, but that was another story. They
had done SO in Philadelphia, and would
in time do so here The offices should
be filled by good men, and they should
deeds was called to his attention, and
he expressed the opinion that that
Office was as important as any,.
Mr.. Muir ay said they should not
have the same salaries. He named
the attorney and the sheriff as the
officers which bore the heaviest re-
sponsibility The work in the other
offices was chiefly clerical. 1t was
true that the assessor must be a good
man, with good judgment, and some
thing more than ordinary intelligence.
He remarked, incidentally, that as
SCISSORS had, previous to Songs time,
made practically no assessments. A
salary Of $4,000 was small for such an
official as the county treasurer The
coroner received $500, and would be
well paid at 81 600 The court COM
missioner should receive $500 or so, and
the county superintendent should be
abolished and his work added to the
duties Of the city superintendent.
The county commissioners, who rep
resent the country districts, fell on
Mr. Murray, and he took back his dis
paraging remarks on the county SUI
perintendent
Mr.. Murray repeated that he be-
lieved the officials should be well paid.
The judge of probate, the most impor-
tant office in the county or the state,
should be paid $4,000 at least.
Commissioner Ness asked Mr. Peet
what he thought of the office of alb
stract clerk
The answer was that the office ought
to be abolished. The county attorney
should be paid $4,000
Peter Berkey and others addressed
the board.
The general opinion appeared to be
that the more prominent officials of
the county should be paid salaries of
$4,000.