Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-01-15
KANSAS SALARY Law.
The Various County Onicers, New and d
Arc Now working Under It.

The Various County Onicefs, New and old,
Are Now Working Under Il.
Topeka, Kan, Jan. 10.-The various
county officers elected In Kansas ut
the election last fall, with the excep-
ton OF county treasurers, qualified
and began their official duties to-day.
At the time Of their taking Office the
new fee and salary law passed by the
legislature last winter took effect
This law makes many changes. In
some OF the counties IL raises the sal
aries, while in others 1t decreases
them. The decreases are principally
In the western Kansas counties, while
the increases are In the counties hav-
ing largo population. The salaries OF
county treasurer range from $500 and
5000 clerk hire, In counties having less
than 1900 inhabitants, TO $500 and
$4,000 clerk hire, in counties having
10000 or over. This helps the treasur.
ers In the large counties materially.
The old law only gave them ST. 400 a
year and they were required to pay
their own clerk hire.
County clerks fare about the same
under the new law Us they did under
the old one. In counties having less
than 1900 inhabitants they will receive
$500 per annum and $50 clerk hire.
Then the scale is gradually raised until
counties having $4,000 population give
the clerks 81, 400 year and 81, 200 clerk
hire.
The schedule for paying county su.
perintendcnts Is changed considerably.
They will receive salaries based on the
school population. No superintendent
can receive more than 81, 900, however.
County attorneys fare better under
the new law than they did under the
old. They are given salaries from $500
up to 81, 500 and the law allows assist
ants in counties containing cities Of
the first class. Heretofore the county
attorney in each of these counties has
been compelled to pay the deputy out
Of his own salary. All fees hereafter
collected by these officers must be
turned into the treasury.
Clerks Of the district courts are paid
in fees. They are allowed to keep all
fees ranging upwards from $500 to
s., 200 in proportion to the population
OF the counties and all over those
amounts they must divide with the
county, share and share alike. The fees
are greatly reduced, SO that not many
clerks will have any surplus to divide
with the county.
Sheriffs are allowed fees ranging
from 81, 200 up to s., 500, according to
population, and two-thirds of all the
rest collected over that amount The
county gets the rest The old system
of fees in this Office are also reduced.
The sheriff is allowed So day for con.
veying prisoners to the penitentiary
and actual expenses. lie used to get
ten cents a mile.
The probate judges in the large coun.
ties fare all right, but in small coun.
ties they are reduced to penury. Many
Of them in western Kansas will likely
give up their jobs. But in Wyandotte
county, for instance. the probate judge
gets s., 400 year while the district
Judge receives only $500. The dis.
trict judge is the hardest worked of.
fetal in the state of Kansas. There is
n great difference in western Kansas.
The district judge gets the same
amount that the Wyandotte district
Judge does but the probate judge gets
about SIS year.
Registers Of deeds get from $500 to
s., 200 according to population. II the
amount exceeds the salaries, then the
register gets so per cent. Of the add.
tional fees.
Court stenographers are paid by the
state. Their salaries average s02.50 q
month, and their fees for preparing
cases are cut just so per cent