The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1900-12-04
Regarding Salaries.

From the Livingston Enterprise
Replying to a letter of inquiry from
the assessor of Flathead county, who
desires to enter the employ OF mef-
camille establishment during certain
months of the year, Attorney General
Nolan states that there is nothing in
the laws OF the state to prevent an
assessor from engaging in other pur-
suits during the time that he is not
employed in the performance of his
official luties. Such being the case,
it is quite probably that the future
will witness assessors in the smaller
counties of the state earning addition
al compensation by engaging in other
occupations during at least half of the
year. OF course, those who do so
will have to take chances of mourning
the everlasting enmity of those who
labor under the delusion that "a pub
tic Office is a private snap and who
also imagine that no man holding Il
public office ever earns his salary UNI
=
less he dies in the performance OF
some grave official duty. The class
of citizens who entertain this view
regarding public servants generally in
cludes majority of the voting popu-
lation of county. In fact, the result
of the recent election in this state,
when men in every county were turn
ed out of Office for no other reason
than that experience had made them
thoroughly competent in their line Of
work, leads to the conclusion that 4
large majority of people of Montana
entertain this view regarding public
officials.
But, regardless of what effect the
action of the assessors may have, pro
vided they decide to seek other en-
ployment, there can be but little doubt
in the mind of any man who views the
matter in reasonable way that the
assessors in the smaller counties are
not paid according to their services.
In this county the assessor receives
500 per month. At the lowest estl-
mate mis- actual expenses during the
year amount to $500, leaving him the
munificent remuneration Of 5000 per
annum for duties which require man
Of extraordinary Judgment and cleri-
cal ability.
And what is true of the assessor
also applies to the offices of county
superintendent and clerk Of the court.
Under the present law the superinten-
dent receives salary Of $500 per an
mum. and out of this amount is ex-
pected to pay her travelling expenses.
After this item, which is by no means
a small one, is deducted the balance
will not amount to much more than is
paid an inexperienced teacher in a
country district.
The clerk of the court also receives
a salary of 500 month for conduct
ing the offices OF clerk, probate judge
and acting as district land officer. No
Office in the county, not excepting
that of treasurer or clerk and record
er, furnishes the same amount of cler-
zeal work as does that of clerk of the
court, and yet this official is paid q
salary Of $500 less than either of the
aforementioned officials.
While the Enterprise is aware that
there are plenty of men who would
willingly undertake the duties of
the sherilf's Office for $50 a month !;
that there are others who would con.
slider the clerks office a snap at the
same salary; still others who would
perform the eXacting duties of the dis.
trict clerk for $40 a month; and posi-