The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-06-20
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1906.
COUNTY COM M~IsSIONERs.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
In discussing one Of the unsatisfac.
tory features OF u system OF county
government, the Bozeman Republican.
Courier touches upon a matter which
has often occupied the attention OF
citizens interested in county aft airs.
1t makes these pertinent remarks:
"Why should not the county COM
missioners be paid q salary instead
Of per diem. The board Of county
commissioners is1the governing body
of the county. The other county Of
icers have to report to the board: if a
vacancy occurs in any Office the board
appoints. and it alone disburses the
finances OF the county, has charge OF
the poor and Iof 1.-The roads and, in
short, runs the machinery of the coun.
ty from A to z.
"Certainly the MEMBERSHIP such an
important board should be paid a
stated salary. The e. Legislature
ought to amend the law giving the
board Of commissioners per diem in
stead of a salary land pay each men,
Der a certain yearly sum graded ac-
cording TO the classification Of the
county.
1.-The chairman Of a board Of com.
missioners in a county Of the class in
which Gallatin.county is, should re.
ceive not moreIthan $1,000 per year,
while the other two members should
be paid about 800 per month.
"Under such a system of salaries
the chairman of the board would be
expected toidevote his whole time and
attention to county affairs, and the
other two members could afford to
give at least two-thirds Of their time
Of Office to looking after the roads,
finances:and other business of the tax.
payers"
Views similar to those expressed by
the Bozeman paper are held by many
citizens who have given attention to
this subject. AS one of the most i'm.
portant and responsible positions in
our system Of local government, the
Office Of county commissioner should
carry a salary that would be sufficient
to attract good business talent and bt
fair compens alton for the services rem
dered.
There is also evident need OF lepis.
latiOn that would give county com.
missioners more power over county
affairs than they O. possess. There
is a. present no head TO our county
government. Every elective employe
runs the affairs of his department at
his own discretion, SO long as legisla-
tive restrictions are observed, and is
not accountable to any superior Off.
Ger. No business institution in the
country is without a responsible man.
ager, who has supervision of all other
employees, and a similar business sys.
ten should obtain in the management
of public affairs.
There is a mistaken belief among
some Of the taxpayers that the board
Of commissioners has power to regu-
late OF control everything that per.
tains to county government, whereas
its power is limited in most cases by
legislative enactment. In the matter
instance, the commissioners are prac-
tically without authority to interfere.
They are given the power to fix the
salaries of the deputies, but the COM
%pensation must be reasonable pay for
the services supposed to be rendered
In one Montana county, ii our mem.
DRY is not at fault, the commissioners
sought to get rid:of a deputy by placing
his salary at an unremunerative fig.
ure, but IN appeal to the court by the
official who appointed the deputy,
brought the decision that the salary
must be fair compensation for tina,
particular class of work. II the cleo
tive official claims he must have as
distance permitted by the statutes, tn,
COMMISSIONERS nave very llttle I'd say
in the natter.
The public business requires q re
sponsible manager, just as q privat
business requires a responsible man
ager, and those who are affected b,
the management of county affair,
would be benefited by the reform sug
gested.
BIG TIMBER, June 15.-Mrs. Lii
whi,ipu w;fo ~ II Wh;%;cv ,rh~