Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1896-05-29
SALARIES OF OFFICIALS.
n Proposition TO Pledge Cnndi-
dates at the Coming EeiecfiOn
tn Work for Less than the
LeOdt Salaries.

dates at the coming 1tefectaOn
tn Work for Less than the
Legal Salaries.
Denver, May 0, 1896.
FRIEND PARKER.-In the FREE
PRESS of May Is, noticed with
satisfaction the clarion note
against "high taxation" by one of
Idaho county's time-honored citi-
zens, Hon. B. F. Morris. No man
knows better whereof he speaks
than Mr.. Morris, for he has had
his shoulder to the financial wheel
of our county for more than
quarter of a century. Mr.. Nor
ris wisely cites us to relief from
our burdens by legislation, but the
source of legislation is oftimes so
tardy as to be beneficial only to a
small part of the same generation.
l remember that in 'Sl the Off
Gals of Shoshone county resigned
each his Office with intent to dis
band the county and join Nez
Perez county. They however re-
organized with the mutual agree
ment that the officers should per-
form their respective duties for
one-half the salary that the stat
utes then allowed, and for several
years maintained their county
organization upon this basis. Now
what primitive Shoshone did, the
stalwart sons of Idaho can, and are
willing to do. There are scores of
competent citizens in Idaho county
who are ready to give reliable
bonds for the faithful performance
Of their duties as county officials
for one-half the salary and fees
that the present statutes allow.
Two years ago l recommended to
the delegates of the democratic
county convention that they de-
mand pledge of such of their can
didates as were nominees for Of
fees for which the statutes allow
cd deputy, that if a deputy was
employed, he should be paid by
the officer and not by the county.
The question was asked Of those
candidates. The ready response
came, that the business Of
the county had SO in
creased within few years that
one man could not do it. Thus
ended this proposal for a slight re-
duction of taxation. The Office of
clerk of the district court and ex-
of1icio auditor and recorder and
clerk of the board of county COM
missioners is worth no less than
$4,000 per annum. If in two years
hence, when the present incum-
bent's term expires, and by stat
ute he must step down and out,
let the tax-paying voters See to it
that they elect candidate who
will bond himself to work for less
than $500 per annum and pay his
own deputy. The Office of sheriff
in county of this class is worth
not less than $4,000 per annum, as
the quarterly audited bills will
show, and the incumbent can well
afford to pay his own deputy
"But," says one, "who wants to
take the chances of life against
every desperate for whom he has
a warrant, for meager salary?'
l tell you tax-paying citizens, that
there are IL hundred men in Idaho
county competent to fill this of
flee that would be about willing to
have their necks broken for $1,000
Now with reference to relief by
legislation:
l. It is not constitutional to
change the salary of an officer fol
the term for which he is chosen.
2. Our next legislature will not
be in working session until after
the elected candidates are sworn
into office.
Thus we are forced to admit that
legislation cannot release any o.
our burdens during the coming
two years. 1t only remains foi
the delegates of the several politi,
cal parties in conventions Assem-.
bled, to require a bond of theil
respective county conventions, to
work for less salary than the
statute allows, provided they are
elected; and the best of guarantees
from the candidates for the legis
lature that they will work for Tho
enactment of such laws as shall
reduce the salaries of both county
and state officers to such base al
is commensurate with these Close
financial times.
M. l.. BUTLER.
A T>ffo,s Esrnal, III,