Amador ledger., 1903-03-06
PROPOSED SALARY SCHEDULE

We publish in another column an
article from the pen of James Nc.
Cauley justice of the peace of lone,
advocating the measure now before
the legislature proposing to place
the offices of justice of the peace and
constable in Amador county on a
halfway salary basis. The bill in
question was introduced in the as
sembly by our representative C. H
McKenney February 19, and was at
once referred to the committee on
county and township governments.
1t is an independent act to amend
that section of the county govern
ment act relating to counties of the
thirty-fifth class, which concerns
Amador county only. Whatever re-
suits flow from this wheth-
er favorable or adverse to the welfare
of the county : the responsibility
therefor must attach solely to its au-
thor. The special pleading in behalf,
not merely of its passage. but also of
its application to present incum-'
bents, which appears in the commun-
ication published elsewhere we pass
in silence, merely remarking the un-
seemliness of this advocacy for in
creased pay by an interested party
in face of plain constitutional in
,hibition. and in face moreover of the
-frct of re election te-effioe= ana an,
implied acceptance of the compensa-
tion provided therefor for another
term.
In any measure of local import
ance it is usual for representative
desirous of pleasing his constituents
to send copies thereof to the county
papers, as the easiest and surest
way of getting the verdict of the
people on the merits of the proposed
law. By the courtesy of Senator
Ralston we have received a copy of
this bill, and hasten to inform our
readers of the changes it proposes
in our financial system. We have
no hesitation in saying that it is by
long odds the most radical measure
affecting the finances of Amador
county that has been presented for
legislative sanction within the past
twenty years.
In the compensation of county
officers proper only one change is
proposed. This relates to county
assessor. Under the law as it now
stands that officer receives $500 per
annum, and is allowed one deputy
for not to exceed 125 days at S. per
day, who is paid out of the county
treasury. The McKenney bill in
addition to this provides for one field
deputy for not to exceed 125 days at
$5 per day. This adds 1926 per
annum to the compensation for SER
vices in connection with the as
SCISSORS Office. What public demand
existed for this raise we must leave
our assemblyman to explain.
tits, however, in regard to JUS
tices and constables that the princi-
pal changes are made. To give a
sclear idea of its scope we publish the
section bearing on this subject in
:;fun. Section Breads as follows:
K In counties of this class the township
officers, shall receive the following COM
pensation to wit:
In townships having population of
three thousand or more Justices of the
peace shall receive monthly salary of
forty dollars per month, and constables
monthly salary of sixty dollars per
month.
: In townships having a population of
more than twenty-five hundred and
less than three thousand, the Justices
OF the peace shall receive a monthly
salary of thirty-five dollars per month.
and constables a monthly salary of
fifty-fve dollars per month.
In townships having population of
more than eighteen hundred and less
than twenty-five hundred, Justices of
the peace shall receive monthly SAL
ary of thirty dollars per month, and
constables monthly salary of fifty
dollars per month.
In townships having population of
more than fourteen hundred and not
less than eighteen hundred, Justices of
the peace shall receive monthly sal
ary of twenty-five dollars per month,
and constables a monthly salary of
forty-five dollars per month.
!: In townships having population Of
less than fourteen hundred, justices of
the peace shall receive monthly sal
ary of twenty-five dollars per month, |
and constables a monthly salary OF |
forty dollars per month
The above named salaries shall be in |
full compensation for all services of |
said justices of the peace and constables |
in criminal cases; provided, that in
addition to the salary herein allowed |