The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-04-07
SALARIES MIXED.
Some Officials Will Not Get Their In
creases.-1mportant Opinion is
Given.
Columbia State, 5th.

passed by the last general assembly
has caused considerable trouble at
the State house and has resulted in
an important opinion by Attorney
General Lyon, given at the request
Of the comptroller general. This OPP
anion after a careful study of the act
was made gives the following results:
The appropriation for the II judi
cial circuit judges was so worded
that there will probably. be a def
cheney before the end Of the fiscal
year.
The private secretary to Gov. An
sci, Mr.. \. j. Bcthca, will not be able
to draw the salary provided.
Col. U. r.. Brooks, clerk Of the ST.
prcmc court, will not be able TO draw
the increase in salary provided for
his office.
The chief clerk Of the comptroller
general will draw the old salary pro-
vided in the code.
The increase Of salaries for the
supervisors Of registration for 1905
begin after the appropriation act was
approved, which VAS on February
Oath and can not be allowed from
Jan. l.
The appropriation bill and supply
bill form an interesting part Of leg
i~slativc procedure and there are us
ually calls upon the attorney general
each year for opinions. This year
an appropriation of $34, 900 vas male
for the circuit Judges. to be paid at
The rate Of $4,000 for each circuit
judge. il bcin" the intention Of the
general assembly to pay each judge
the usual salary of $4,000 per year
and the two newly elected judges
5000 for the eight months OF ser
vice during 1908. However, Judge
DcNorc qualified and was commits
stoned in February and mas since
then done considerable work. 1t will
be necessary therefore for each judge
to draw the usual salary until the APP
propriation is exhausted. This will
mean Il shortage Of about 800, which,
will Of course be made up by the
next general assembly.
Regarding the supervisors Of regis
t%ration, who this year receive extra
pay on account Of the new rcgistra-
ton Of all voters as provided by
the constitution, the question VAS
asked whether or not they should re-
ceivc This pay from Jan. |. Tie at
torney general rules that The pay be-
gins after the approval Of tine act,
which was in February. Up to that
time they received the old pay.
The opinion on the other officers is
very interesting and is as follows:
Hon. a. w. Jones, Comptroller Gen
eral. Columbia, S. c.
Dear Sir: Replying 10 your request
of the LIST inst. that ! refer to the ap-
preparation act, approved Feb. %.
1908, and advise You rs 10 salaries
to be paid certain officers. clerks and
employees therein mentioned, ! will
say:
As TO thc private secretary of tn
govcrnor--his salary is fixed by see
tion G22 of the code. at 81 $50. This
law is now Of force. and although
81 800 are appropriated in the appro-
priation act Of 1908 TO pay The said
salary. only $3.50 Of The appropria-
tion are necessary to meet the eXptu-
Sos. BY reference TO section ]. YOU
will note that all sums in the apprn-
priati"n act are appropriated. 'if
SO much be ncccSsary.' II is my
opinion that ii is not necessary to use
$500 10 pay a salary of 1880, the
amount fixed by statute. The appro-
priation act does not attempt to fix
his salary, but undertakes to appro-
pirate so much money, if the same be
necessary.
The item for extra clerk hire for
the secretary Of statc-$l35O-may
be used by the secretary Of state .rur-
ing the year for any extra clerk hire
he may deem necessary in the work
Of his department. The fact that %l,-
200 was the amount allowed in the
appropriation act last year for extra
clerk hire can not affect or limit the
allowance for this year, and il is my
opinion that y"u may pay the full!
tion OF thc secretary Of state, for cX-