Charlevoix county herald., 1904-12-31


county was less than Ten Thousand
and the salary was then Six Hundred
dollars. The census of 1894 showed an
increase In population to between
IL 900 and $4,000. and the salary from
that time on was $3.50 90 per year, and
an amendment was made TO the state
law by recent act OF tho legisla, ure
changing the basis Of fixing the salar-
les, and the effect of the change Sf the
law WAS TO fix the nominal amount OF
the salary for this county vt 5000 90.
Tho census OF 1900 showed the pop
ulation OF the county To be $4,000 but
this did not affect the salary. The
census taken in June, 1904. showed the
population Of the county to be approx
imately l6.5OO, which made the mini
mum amt unit Of salary $120O.00. The
Board Of Supervisors OF this county
have never given the Probate Judge
more than tho minimum salary allow
ed by law.
To the second criticism my reply Is
that evidently the author Of this criti
cism knows as little about the affairs
of the Probate Court az any other man,
woman or child In the County, OF he
would not have made this criticism. !.
assuming that the criticisms are all
honestly made. During my term OF
Office l have appointed each Monday
rs regular day Of holding Probate
Court, and no other Probate Judge
had, up to that time, found il neces-
sary TO regularly hold . term OF Court
every Monday, but the regular terms
were fixed at the first Monday In the
month. The reason for this, no doubt,
Is the increased business In the Pro-
bate office. Aside from holding Court
at Charlevoix on these regular days,
my office at Boyne City is always open
for the transaction of Probate busl.
ness, aud there have been but few
days in any week in my present term
in which Probate business has not
been transacted at my office, In fact,
all OF the territory contiguous to
Boyne City and east Of here do their
probate work In the office at Boyne
City on other days than Monday. and
much Of this work relating to the Ill
ing Of petitions, making out accounts,
and other things 10 done by Competent
help in my office, paid by me individu-
ally, and whether am present or not.
And further, when the $500 90 salary
was paid the assessed valuation OF the
county did not exceed Two Millions,
while now the assessed valuation Is
Five and half Millions. nearly. This
means not only that we have more
estates TO administer, but that tho
estates are larger and much more re-
sponsibility Is attached to the busi-
ness now than at that time. And also
the duties OF the Probate Court have
been increased materially since then
The Probate Judge is given more work
under the Drain Law, The Inherit
ance Tax Law, and the Board Of Elect
ion Commissioners that l now recall
To the third criticism my reply Is
this: That 1t 10 necessary that the
Probate Judge have . clerk present in
the Probate office on regular court
days at least to secure the proper filing
of papers and the proper recording OF
the same. This is "a very important
matter, and / believe l can fearlessly y
say that this matter has been properly
attended to during nv term of Office,
and that any inquiry addressed TO the
Probate office for information that is
on die there can be promptly found,
and IL it relates 10 any proceedings
during my administration that full
and complete information can be
given promptly from the records of
the Office. My experience is that this
can only be done, In the present vol
ume of business, with the assistance
Of a Probate Clerk TO properly care for
the papers and record the same. Hut
my critic seems to think that il this
were true ihat should bear that ex-
pense. 1t should be borne in mind
that the Probate Judge 10 serving at q
minimum salary and that he ought
not to be required to employ such add
itional help as 10 necessary with his
own efforts TO the proper conduct Of
the offi,e, and u this were not justi
ficatiOn then would add that at my
own expense In my Boyne City Otii ce
that have compei ent assistant as
well As stenOgrapher which enables
me TO do promptly and correctly much
more business than can be done by any
individual himself. This also Is paid
by ME. In addition TO that, certain
fees allowed by law for copies of papers
are rightfully the psrquisites Of the
Office. and when ,hess perquisites are
CharVe3ble tn the countv nc ia truo IN