The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-01
SHAWNEE CO. OFFICERs
Desire Part of the Fees and Salary
Law Made Void.

The senate in cOmittee of the whole
this forenoon recommended for pas
sage, Senator Tom Anderson's bill TIC
increase the salaries of the sheriff and
clerk of the district court of Shawnee
county.
The bill in full Is as follows:
THAT if the board of county COM
missioners Of Shawnee county shall
deem it just and proper, said board IS
hereby authorized to relieve the sheriff,
the clerk of the district court of said
county and the retiring clerk OF said
court whose term of office expired jan
uary 8, 1899, from complying with any
or all the provisions of chapter one hum
dred and thirty-one of the session laws
of 1897, which require said officers to
pay into the treasury of said county
any part of the fees taxed and earned
or to be earned by said officer subse-
quent to the second Monday in January,
1898 And said board may also. If they
deem it just and proper, refund any or
all money paid into said treasury by
said officers, in compliance with the
provisions of said chapter one hundred
and thirty-one; and in such case board
shall issue warrant, in usual manner
upon said county treasurer, in favor or
the party making such payment"
THE SITUATION IN SHAWNEE.
The annual reports of the clerk of the
district court and sheriff which are on
file show that neither of these officers
is receiving a large salary, and the Sher-
iff is especially crippled by the new
law.
During the year 1898 Sheriff Cook
earned, according to his report, about
S. 900, but he collected but $3.04S.52- He
is allowed a salary of $4,000 and the ex-
cess fees over that sum he must divide
equally between himself and the county.
He turned over to the county treasurer
$124.26 The total allowance of the sher-
iff for 1898 would then be 81, 800, plus
$124.26, half the excess fees. This
would make the total $2,924.26. Out OF
that he paid one under sheriff, two dep
a left
less than 81 900 for himself, making al
lowance for the collection of a portion
of the back fees. The proposed law
would allow him to keep all the excess
fees.
The clerk of the district court fares
somewhat better. He is, however, al
lowed only $4,000. His report shows that
his Office earned $5,O87, but that only
$3.50 was collected. He was allowed
81, 200, which leaves $40 to be divided
equally between the clerk and the
county, the share of each being $40.
The total allowance received by the
clerk would be $1,000, but he probably
will collect about $1,000 more in fees,
and these he would be compelled to di-
vide with the county unless this bill be-
comes a law. He pays one deputy and
two clerks out of his allowance.
H. G. Larimer who has made a study
of the fee question said today: There
is no reason on earth why this bill
should be made to apply to the clerk.
With economy he can make good sal
airy out of the office. The sheriff should
receive a greater allowance. There is
no reason why the clerk should receive
an enormous salary. He employs more
help than is required. If he would dis
charge one or two of his assistants and
work himself he would get along all
right and have a fair salary. The trou-
BILE is that in the old days of Sterne and
Gardenhire the clerks made fortunes
and the clerk now is not satisfied I'M
less he does the same. If these people
don't want the offices let them resign.
There are plenty of good men who will
take the position of clerk, even at a
salary of 800 a month"