Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-02-01
The Phoenix Goes a Cunning.

Inc Phoen0 Goes Cunning.
Under the caption Amt These
Facts?" the following appeared in
last weeks issue of the Earlville
Phoenix,
"a few weeks ago, in fact couple
of weeks before Mr.. Beels asked the
Board to give him all the county
printing, the Hopkinton Leader con-
tanned an article protesting against
the miserable pittance allowed the
Members of the Board and making
an appeal for its increase with the
idea Of looking after the interest of
dear taxpayer" ef course Re-
ceiving this information from such
a presumably authentic source we
were inclined to accept the state
ment as true, until later develop
ments taught us to be more cautious.
so while in Manchester last week we
went into Auditor Davis Office for
the purpose of verifying his state
ments. There we found the Auditor
and Deputy Wilson busily engaged
on the financial report of the county,
which is soon to be issued, and we
jotted down few figures that will
be found in this report.
One of the facts we noted was
that for the year just closed the
Supervisors drew the following
amounts as their total compensation:
Thos. Lindsay SS47.55
j. j. Kirkwood ......... 937.OO
VIM. Robinson. S53.32
When you stop to consider that
the time actually occupied by Mem
bers OF the Board for the county is
only fractional part of the year, it
can be seen that the salary is quite
large compared to that paid the other
county officials who put in twelve
months in the year at their work.
When one Member can carry on a
harness business and two others can
successfully operate large farms, it
is seen that earning their $500 to
5000 takes but little of their time.
But we went further to satisfy our
curiosity on the subject and we
found these items were included in
the above totals:
Mileage Livery
Thos. Lindsay ..$l55, 30. S166.30
VIM. Robinson. l9S.O5.. 2O3.OO
j. j. Kirkwood. 10000. 1900
On the subject of compensation
Members of the Board shall receive
the Code of Iowa says:
Sec. 1859. The Members of the
Board Of Supervisors shall receive
81 per day each for each day actual
ly in SESSION, and $3.50 per day,
exclusive Of mileage, when not in
session but employed on committee
service, and 5 cents per mill for
every mile travelled in going to and
from the regular, special and ad
lourned sessions thereof and in 60
ing to and from the place in per-
forming committee service, 81
in counties having a population of
more than 10000 and less than 49,
600 they shall receive compensation
for not more than 50 days of such
SESSION. service in year. 81 81
Now it is an evident fact that til
law intends that Members of tn
Board shall receive IS cents pc
mile for every mile travelled" an,
this is to be their full compensation
for mileage, 1t does not intend tina
they shall charge this five cents pei
mile for going to and from their la
bors, and then in addition therefor
allow them pay for the conveyance
that carried them. What would be
thought Of juryman, for instance,
who had been summoned, and h,
presented his claim for his worl
and his mileage he is allowed,
and after getting that mileage put
in an additional claim for his car
fare, livery hire or whatever mode
of transportation he may have used:
It will be seen that these livery
bills amount to from $1.66.3O t.
1908 per member. But bear in
mind that this practice has only
been in vogue since June, and if il
had continued for the entire year il
would amount to nearly $500 pei
member.
Another fact we noted: 1t will be
seen by referring to the section Of
the Code above quoted that in coun-
ties having population similar tc
ours, Members can draw pay fol
only 80 days in any one year. Il
does not say what shall constitute q
day, however. Last year the board
was in session "a days, less than
the limit. But as usual thing the
Board did not meet until 10 to 1870
a. waiting for the Member
from South Fork to arrive-and il
would adjourn not later that 4 p
m. to give the Member aforesaid al
opportunity to return home. Count
ing out the dinner adjournment i
is extremely doubtful if the county
received to exceed hours per da,
of their service on a large majority
of days.
These matters should be brough
4! to the attention of the taxpayer anc