The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-03-04

Hot times are looked for when the
legislature convenes next summer
That the annual cost to the state
of the new railroad commission Will
he subject of comment and con-
sideration at the coming session OF
the general assembly there does not
annear to be any question The
prospect of such inquiry is already
the subject of current gossip at the
capitol.
The annual expense to the state
of the present railroad commission
is approximately $4,000, or more
than three times as much as the
cost of the old commission which in
volved an annual expense of $1,000.
Under the old regime there were
three commissioners at salaries OF
$4,000 each, one secretary at Sill
500. printing fund of $1,000 and
contingent fund, for porter and
stenograpner, of $500, making the
total stated.
The new railroad commission
spends more than double that
amount in permanent salaries alone,
not to speak of printing, contingent,
track-walking and other funds. Here
are most of the items of present eX-
pense:
One chairman, $4,000; four COM
missioners at $500 each, 10000;
one special attorney, $500; one
special auditor, $4,000; one secre-
tary, $4,000; one stenographer, ST.,
200; one stenographer, $500; three
track walkers at $1,000 each, ST.
ZOO printing fund, $4,000; one por
ter and contingencies $500, making
a total of $4,000.
May Get Rate Experts.
1t is stated, however, that the SER
vices of one of the track walkers
have recently been dispensed with
and that another will probably soon
be laid off, leaving only one on the
regular pay roll of the commission.
While expenses will be reduced in
this way there-is another item, not
vet brought into play, which will
make up for it. The
is authorized under the
law to employ rate experts to assist
it in its Investigations at an eXpenseI
not to exceed "a 900 a year, an Office
ythi nil inf |
mission later on.
Although all of the expenses as
stated were provided for in the new
railroad commission act, because of
the fact that it was not finally passed
until the last night of the session
provision for meeting them was not
made in the general appropriations
bill Certain of the commissions
it is understood, have been
paid from the contingent fund by the
governor because there were no 9th
er funds available, and for salaries
or portions of some salaries there
will be little waiting until the APP
can be secured.
The general appropriations bill J
provides, without specifying any
number, that each of the railroad |
commissioners shall be paid 81 800 |
a year Hence each one of the five
may draw that amount, but Chair
man McLendon will possibly have to
wait until an appropriation can be
made to get his additional $1,000. |
Judge James K Hines, special at !
torney, may also wait for a part, |
at least, of his salary, and so with |
others.
1t is generally understood that the
expenses of the special auditor and |
the track walkers have been paid
out of the contingent fund. The
track walkers were paid 5000 a.
month each, and the special audit
or's salary is $3.50 a month and ex-
penses when he is away
Following a three months visit to
Savannah, where he went for the
purpose of examining the books and
accounts of the Central of Georgia
Railway Company, the special audi
tor put IN bill for $3.50, approXi-
amtely. for salary and expenses, an
average of more than $500 a month