The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1897-05-15
FIGHTING THE FEE BILL.

Although the major part Of the pres
ent county officers Of the state of Idaho
we're elected on fusion ticket, OF which
economy and reform" was the slogan,
lne dear people who by their sovereign
viii elected that these true refrrmcrs
should preside over the destiny Of the
several county governments 81 this
great state for the next two years, will
h.. palned To note The fact that these
god ncu aud true. or at least the
greater part OF them. have commenced
suit Ia The civil courts with view To-
o.rrthrowlng the law passed by the late
lamentcd legislature. reducing aud reg
ulaling the compensation of county oilic-
ers The news columns OF hate issue
al the lioise Statesman has the follow
ins
The first move has been made In the
matter at testing the law passed by the
r.,rut session regulating the fers Of
county officers II consisted IN Offering
b. iced for record aud refusal 10y Record.
e. Kingsley 10 accept "A Zee computed
uudrr the new nv The deed Is from
MUSES. i.ondOner To Fanny COhn II was
offered tor record bN &. j. Sinsrl The
i,c demanded under the Old law was
~ 20 aud the amount rendered under
the new act was 30 cents
The offer was made for the purpose OF
i,siinr the case. Now a mAndamus
suit will be started against the recorder
4, compel him 10 accept the amount ten
dfred. la his defense the validity ul
The law will he attacked and the Qucs.
tiuu will be- settled when the supreme
r,url shall have rendered "a decision
la this matter the county officers OF
tac Matc are generally cooperating,
each contributing something toward
the expense If litigation. Some hay,
not sent In anything, but the officers are
nearly an In sympathy with the move
fRent Being at thu capital conNvn ieul
a. this supreme court. Mr. klngsls, ha,
been selected 10 appear In the ease a'
the representative of the officials J. III
nawley aud W T. Borah will rcpres, al
the officers In the contest.
The law will be attacked on th,
ground of uucunslitutiunahtN aud OF
the ground 0f Il not having been prop
rflv passed. One point raised Is thai
he bill cuts salaries nf officers dowf
during their terms at Office Another Is
that II places limit not contemplate,
hN the constitution upon the amount
that may be- allowed for the employment
ol assistants Ia the office of clerk an,
frcor,ier.
The most serious ground OF attacl
viii probably be- that the bill WAS TO
properly passed b, the house II is stat
ga that the measure WAS pushed through
under suspension and that the lurmalit,
nf calling the roll on suspending section
l5 of article 3 was omitted
One argument against the new law
that seems to have been overlooked by
the officials who are interested In over
throwing II is that the past history o
many county officials OF this state goc
Ia show that the compensation evei
under the old law must have been in
adequate To the wants ufthe office holder
inasmuch as So many OF them have bee
obliged to "holdout" considerable sum
ol county money IN excess To OF the man
inum amount allowed by law. Tn
"'Nftt rUNNNN w NANAhN " NNN'' =
s,ne hardship in order to encourag
honesty amoag the public servants an
that can never be done by cutting dow
salaries TO such figure that an owe
worked county official cannot atIor
10 open jack pa, except when he hole
four aces or a royal flush.
There may be a few misguided la
payers left Ia the state who will mai
tam IN At county officers should be ab
To live ON something ike the same incon
ms they earned when common citize
and before they we're put mp TO
stall fed At the public crib but all SUI
will have to learn that such aniedel
Wan notions must be relegated TO d
rear TO make room for more mode
ideas.
County officials are after all but h
man beings and the fact has been de-
suslralcd in all the agc5 Of The past Oh