Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1899-06-15

In the District Court Of the Fifth
Judicial District of Idaho, in and for
the County of Bingham.
D. H. Clyne, ct. al, appellants, vs..
the Board of County commissioners.
respondents.
Appeal from order allowing salary.
This case is an appeal from the order
of the Board of County Commissioners
fixing the salaries of certain county
officers
The point involved in the appeal is
whether the Board of County Commits
sioners abused the discretion invested
in them by the legislature in fixing the
salaries of said county officers.
The reason for the legislature dele
eating this power and discretion to the
Board of County Commissioners. was
the fact that the different counties of
the state as to matters of territory.
population and expense of running the
same, are SO widely different that no
general legislation could cover the
subject in way that would be right
and just to all the counties, and for the
best interest of the general public.
The public business of the counties
must be carried on by the officials Sc
lected by the people, and the policy of
the law is that such compensation
should be paid them as will insure the
efficient. bu 'ness-like and economical
administration Of the affairs of their
respective offices in a manner provided
by law.
The law requires that the county Of
ficers shall keep their Offices open daily
between certain hours and that certain
ones shall have their residence at the
county seat. The law contemplates
that the time and services of county
officials shall belong to the public. ex-
clusively, within the official hours,
hence, they are effectually cut off from
other ayocations.
1t is not the policy of the law, the
wishes of the people, or in the interest
of public economy that The compensaz
|
upon beggarly footing, totally mad
equate TO the decent administration of
public affairs Neither Is it the policy
that these officials should be allowed
extravagant salaries beyond all reason,
but the intention of the Legislature was
that the Board of County Commission
ers, in the various counties, should take
into consideration the work and time
consumed in the various offices, the ex-
penses connected Herewith, the self
sustaining revenue therefrom, the
responsibilities attached thereto, the
bonds under which the parties are
placed, and all the circumstances and
conditions connected Herewith, and
, from all these, determine what would
be proper and just compensation for
their services
The question is not what men could
be hired for to perform these services
: for men cannot ba hired to fill these
offices, they are elected by the people
s are representative men in whom the
0 people have confidence and whom the
/ people have said should administer
|, their public affairs during the ensuing
d, Two years. The question to be deter
t fnined is. what amount of annua
salary shall be paid them for decently
s eff GENTLY, respectable and officiall,
. res5resenting the public welfare of tn,
bounty, SO that they may not only 1iv,
f Ind breathe out an existence, bu
= also SO that they may derive from thei
:. positions fair and reasonable prof
d the same as ordinary mortals have
right to expect in other business affair