The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-02
Salaries Fixed By Board of Com
missiOnerS Yesterday.
MR.. HALLS RESOLUTION
THE REDUCTION PROPOSED BY
HIM FALLS THROUGH.
Salaries Will Remain the Same as
Paid During the Past Three Years
"A Sharp Discussion Over the
Matter Whittemore's Last Claim
miscellaneous Business.

The officers of Salt Lake county to be
elected on Nov. Sth and to serve during
the years 1899 and $780, will receive as
their compensation the salaries fixed at
the maximum allowed by law yesterday
by the board of county commissioners.
The yearly salaries as fixed are the same
as have been paid for the last three years
$500; sheriff, $4,000; attorney, $500; treas
urer. s.. 500; clerk, 81 400; recorder. 81 000
assessor, s1,SOO; auditor, $3.50; surveyor
$1,000.
HOW THE VOTE STOOD.
The resolution offered by Commissioner
Hall on Thursday proposed to reduce the
commissioners salary to 1920 per year
each, the sheriff's to 81, 400; the attorneys
and treaSurer's each to 81, 400. and the re-
corder's to $500 a total proposed saving
of 81, $50 yearly. Chairman Armstrong yes
terday took the iniative in restoring the
| figures and Commissioner Rawlins voted
with him on each motion Commissioner
Hall stood alone in his effort to affect the
differential cuts. On the adoption of the
resolution as amended Armstrong and
Rawlins voted in the affirmative and Hall
in the negative.
DISCUSSION WAS SHARP.
When the clause in the resolution was
read, cutting the salary of the commits
sioners from 1850 to 81, 200 per year each,
Chairman a. Armstrong opened the debate:
the commissioners salaries. Honest and
economically disposed commissioners of
this county earn all that is paid them
for salary, and more too. We can't af-
ford to cut the compensation TO figure
that would prevent honest, competent
business men accepting the positions. |,
for one, am proud of the record this board
has made. When we came into office we
found the county warrants hawked about
at a discount: We at once made them
worth par and besides we have paid off
nearly all the floating debt and have re-
established the county's credit. We want
to make sure that as honest, as economi-
cal and as competent men are elected to
succeed US. but if the salaries are re-
duced the result is bound to be risky The
salary is low enough now. If we have any
sense of consistency we will not cut the
salaries of the commissioners to come
after US, thus saying our services were
worth more to the county than theirs will
be. 1t is not fair to cut the salaries of our
successors and not our own. Now, If
you want to be fair and consistent pay
back all you have received in excess Of
81. 200 a year, as l will do this minute, Il
you will follow me-
Commissioner Hall was the only one to
make reply. He remarked that he had
spent all his salary.
AN INTERESTING CROSS-FIRE.
II believe" said Commissioner Hall, |
should enter into the county's service. |
If salaries are ever to be reduced we must |
make start some time. don't believe |
there will be any harmful effects from |
reducing the commissioners salaries"
Chairman Armstrong-There is not one |
man in a thousand who can fill the post |
of commissioner as well you have, Mr.. |
Hall. In some respects you are better |
man than I am. 1 don't expect to be here !
another term.
Neither do l." Nor t. replied Com
missioners Hall and Rawlins in quick
succession.
THE SHERTFF'S PAY.
When Chairman Armstrong moved to
place the sheriff'S salary back to SS.00c,
Commissioner Hall remarked that he
knew of no reason why the sheriff should
receive more salary than the county cG-k
or the county attorney.
The chairman expressed the opinion that
the attorney was not paid half enough.
Reverting to the question, Chairman Arm
strong observed that no other officer of
the county is as much liable to incur dam
age suits by reason of his official acts,
and moreover the county attorney can be
relied on only to a certain degree to de-
fend such suits pending against an eX-
sheriff.
Commissioner Rawlins stated he mad
been informed that 16 damage suits were
still pending against ex-Sheriff Harvey
Hardy.
Commissioner Hall remarked that IN
Identifying bonds protected the sheriff.
and at any rate he ran no more risk than
any other county officer.
Chairman Armstrong; amendments
we're put and carried by a vote of to l.
and as amended the salary resolution was
adopted.
TAX RATES PROPOSED