The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-02-21
THURSDAY FEB. ~ 1901
OKLAHOMA OFFICIALS AND
THEIR SALARIES.

THEIR SALARIES,
Il can be safely predicted that with
\ che exception Of the county attorney
bin ana the relief afforded the county
commissioner by the road and high.
way bin, there win be no appreciable
increase Of the salaries Of county Of
ncials at this session although the
pressure for substantial and in sclue
cases even exorbitant increases in
salaries has been greater than ever
before in the history Of the territory
Almost every day since the beginning
OF the session tine lobbies and cloak
rooms of the council and house have
been crowded with delegations Of
newly elected shcriffs. treasurers
county supeyintendents ard other
county Officers enorgetioally insisting
to their local representatives that
their particular Office must have re-
lief and that they are the worst paid
and most over worked public servants
IN the territory Members have been
waylaid in The hotel corridors. on
street corners. and Everywhere by the
Office holders from their districts and
importuned to introduce and support
measures providing for increased sal
aries and more clerks. In many Of
these cases most excellent reasons
were given Why present salaries were
too low and relief was promised by
many members Of both houses and the
county officials went home hopeful ii
not satisfied Some OF the bills car
rying substantial increases were IA
vorably repotted' anst IN some instan.
ces PASSED in one house only to meet
defeat in the other.
Both housas,pontain members who
have constituted themselves the espec-
iai guardian ad litum Of that dearly
beloved and generally helpless pro
tege OF the politician, the tax payer,
and most of them work over time IS
long as there Is a reporter IN the
house, to convince a willing world that
they are the real thing in the watch
dog Of the treasury line On the other
hand there are no members who care
TO come out openly as the champions
Of raise Of salaries It Is a question
fraught with danger 70 the man who
hopes to continue in public life for
Oklahoma constituencies are decided
ly in favor OF low salaries. when some
other fellow is drawing the salary
The registers of deeds have only
asked to be let alone and although a
bin has been introduced that would
have the effect OF reducing their in
come in some of the counties there
seems to be no real daager that II will
ever receive favorable action and that
Office viii continue te be the best paid
office in the list
The coroners have had no lobby
here. and yet in the meritorious bill
introduced BY winirler as substitute
for House Bill No 90, by Embry. to
regulate the county boards Of health
the Importance of their hitherto dis.
pissed Office is enhanced and a substan
tial addition will be made TO the fees
OF that oifice This measure viii also
save the tax payers OF the various
counties hundreds Of dollars that un
der the present Law has gone to fatter
the bank accounts Of the superintend
ent Of the county board whether tn,
commissioners wanted 10 allow IN,
bills on not.
II IS generally conceded. however
much members differ as to the needi
OF other officers, that the county at
torneys Of he territory are undergrad,
and that the importance Of the officl
demands that there should be an in
crease IN salary and a provision in tn
larger counties at least for an assist
att The people Of the territory ar
entitled to the services OF the bes
legal talent ohtainable and It Is poo
economy 70 depiive the people OF sucI
services by paying a salary out Of al
proportion "a what such men can ear
in private practice.
It Is scarcely likely that county o.
1cers WIN receiye much rolief IN tn
way OF layeer salaries until the cues
ton is made aVi,sgue IN politics an
men are elected 70 the legislature O
some other platform than Slodgs /
reduce or keep down other people
salaries, The average legislator ma
vote to ,creeta Rew Offices and Inc
aentalIy pppfop4ate seseral hmags
tEtEtl <AEk