The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-09
THE COUNTY SALARY Law OF 1895
AND WHAT 1T HAS
DONE.
THINGS ARE ALL MIXED UP,
WHO Is BEHIND THE EFFORT TO
HAVE THE law DECLARED
WORTHLESS.
NOT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
They Are Doing as Well as Could BE
EXUected-NeeG More Legal
Advice.

The county salary law continues to
be the main topic of discussion among
the officials of this county and their
employees. 1t is generally understood
that there is a secret power behind the
movement in the test cases brought by
the nominal plaintiff, Dunoid Simard,
against county commissioner and the
surveyor of this county in the district
court pending, to determine the validity
of the so-called Ramsey county salary
law. passed by the legislature in 1895.
bow many of the county officers are
directly responsible for the present liti-
salary bill is passed to take effect on
plaintiff is said to be a labOrer, reSid-
ing at No. 327 Stevens street, in St.
Paul. His attorney is a brother-in-laW
of one of the county officials, now
holding the second term in his office.
Several attempts have been made to
place the county officials on a salary
basis, and so far With futility; they
were always able to OutWit the reform
ers. At one term of the legislature a
cation, is a matter of conjecture. The
January preceding the session of next
legislature, so that it should not apply
to the 'incumbents;" and when the
law-making body assemblies again the
salary law is repealed. The session
laws of this state are proof of such
fact. In 1891 the legislature passed an
act making the abstract clerk custodian
OF abstract books, etc, and fixing his
fees, requiring him to turn 10 per cent
also that the clerk of the district court
and register of deeds, and sheriff.
should turn over % per cent of their
gross earnings into the county treas
ury; also that the county assessor re-
ceive as his compensation $500 and
$11, 800 in the odd and even numbered
years respectively; however, such act
should not affect the officers required
to turn the percentage into the treas
ury until their terms have expired. I'm
der the operation of the act of 1891 the
county would have made money after
the year 1898. Then, however, the legis-
lature again came into session, and on
the last day thereof, it was wholly re-
pealed-the abstract clerk and the as
SCISSOR failed to look after their inter-
ests, and the whole office of the former
and the salary of the latter was re-
pealed Since then the abstract clerk
has existed only by the grace of the
county commissioners, and the asses
sors who held Office since 1893 nave
drawn their salaries of 50, 800 and SILL
800 in the odd and even numbered
years and let the taxpayers of the
county ask upon whose order was the
assessor paid for 1893, 1894 and 1895. If
the law of 1898 practically legislated
the abstract clerk out of office, why has
he been permitted during 1897 to draw
a salary of about 81
The clamor for reform and retrenchment
in county affairs within tie past six years
has been quite loud. and the law of 1885 was
passed upon demand of public sentiment.
The officials who are holding fat joH in
the county court house were elected UPON
platform pledged to economy and for reduced
salaries. 1t was known to every one il them
when they took the oath of office in January,
1896 that the validity of the present salary
law was questioned. 1t was no open secret.
Since then thousands of dollars has been paid
to subordinate officials under the new law,
which, if it is Of no effect, should have been
paid by the chief officers themselves out of
their fees. 1t has been frequently wondered
why if the county attorney was an interest
ed person, whose opinion should not have
been sought under the circumstances that
subject did not either he or the coun-
ty commissioners the auditor, whose duty
it is to draw warrants on the treasurer to
pay such. request the attorney general for
his opinion, which would have been forth
coming within a few days? One whole year
was spent in devising schemes and beating
round the bush. lest the taxpayers would
charge the county officers with the desire to
go back to the fee system proposition
was made about six weeks ago by Moritz
Helm, member of the local bar. to submit
the matter in controversy to the attorney gen.
eral. The commissioners dallied with the
subject, and promised to make a report
thereon at one of their meetings. and one
day before such meeting took place Simard
brought the suit against one of the commits
sioners; and within two weeks thereafter an
other suit against the county surveyor
demurrer was interposed in the latter case
and argued yesterday. 1t is claimed that
formerly the surveyor received pay by the
Job" and presented his bill every month :;
and that regardless of the law of 1885 the
county commissioners possessed the power
to fix his compensation in the nature CT an
annual salary 1t is reported that all along
last year certain politician was hanging
around the court house seeking job: and
that some Of the county officers suggested
that he find some man to bring suit to break
the salary law. and, if successful. this
Cffceseeker would be taken care Of" that
such man was found, who, however insti-
ed on two things-to employ his own attor-
ney-one of the leaders of the PopuiistS-and
that faith be kept with the would-be nominal
plaintiff 1t was then when Mr.. Helm ap-
peared On the scene for some of his clients
whose names he declined to disclose. end
handed his petition and brief to the county
commissioners on the subject, in conclusion
claiming the attorney general should pass
upon the subject.
But the county fathers could not, with
their sense of propriety. ask the attorney
general whether in his opinion they should
return into the treasury $40 per month for
the last twelve months and draw hereafter
only $25 per month, instead of $645O hence
the present t&ngle of law suits Had thew
accepted Hems suggestion and the attorney
general declared the law to be invalid-the
county authorities would have been in duty