Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-05-26
NOVEL SALARY
BILL is KILLED
AIMED TO RAISE THE PAY OF
THIRTYTHREE COUNTY
JUDGES.
ASSEMBLY AvERsE TO INVADING
RIGHTS OF COUNTY
BOARDS.

The assembly exhibits a strong CIs-
position to stand for local self-gov-
eminent. as was illustrated yesterday
when it non-concurred in the senate
bill establishing minimum scale for
CORY judges salaries. The meas
me. which Assemblyman Thomas
SAID was drawn with great ingenuity.
provided that after the first Monday
in January. 1910, county judges shall
receive an annual compensation for
their services as follows: The sum
Of $50 for each 600 of population or
major fraction thereof, for ths first
$4,000 OF population, and an addition
al $25 for each additional thousand OF
population above population OF So
0Go in the county which salary shall
be in lieu of all fees, but the annual
compensation of no county Judge shall
exceed the compensation of any cir
cult Judge in such county. The BIZ
provided further that the county
board may fix the compensation of
the judge in the manner now provid-
ed by law at sum in excess of the
amount which such county judge
would otherwise receive under the
foregoing pro, isions.
In all counties where the compen-
cation Of +ha 3udua fOr tho .-aar opd
ing the first Monday in January, 1910,
exceeds the amount to which such
county Judge would be entitled for the
ensuing year under this act, then the
annual compensation shall remain the
same after the first Monday in Jan.
uary, 1910. as determined by the
sums actually allowed to such county
judge in salary and fees by his county
for services during the preceding
year, until sucL time as the county
board may thereafter change the an
nual compensation to an amount in
harmony with the foregoing provis-
ions, or until such Judge, by increase
of population, may come under the
provisions of this act
In all cases where civil or criminal
jurisd ction has heretofore been CON
ferred upon any county court by spe-
cial act or law in addition to the gem
eral probate and other jurisdiction
common to all county courts. the fees
and salary provided for the judge of
such court for services by reason of
such additional jurisdiction shan -
and remain the fees and salary for
such additional services; and in case
the compensation of the judge shall
be so fixed as to leave it undeter-
mined how much is now being paid
for the probate work and how much
| for the work in such additional jur-
isdctiou, then the compensation now
provided for shall be and remain
such compensation until the legisla
ture or the county board shall lchange
it in conformity to this act
/ 1t was provided further that the
register in probate or clerk of eact
county court shall receive an annua
compensation for his services. a sun
not less than one-third of the com
pensation paid 10 the Judge. The
county board of any county might FL
TO, compensation of such register il
probate in the manner now provided
by law at a sum in excess of the
amount herein provided and every
such register whose compensation a,
heretofore fixed is more than Tnt
amount herein provided shah continue
TO receive such compensation unit
the same is modified according tc
law.
Mr.. Thomas contended that the
whole fee matter belonged to county
boards, and Mr. Ingram said that
Judge Zimmerman had told him that
he had always found the Dane county
board fair and just although the
judge had thought the bill one of G
worthy nature. Mr.. Ingram declared
that boards would treat judges right
! ly If the judges deserved it. He sale
the act would raise judicial salarie!
in 80 counties. He deemed it an un
warranted Interference with the fun
damental rights of county boards. M
bin actually would give the Barron
county judge s4O0 a year more thai
the Judge had thought ample 10
himself
Speaker Bancroft interjected tn
lopinion that the legislature shout
keep is nose out of county bushes
that he believed in the principle o
local self.government
Mr. Ledvina explained hat tn
, main object Of the bill was to abolis
lthe fee system. and Mr. Hamb7ech
, felt that 1t WAS entirely fit for n
legislature to so TO the extent q
Gxing minimum salaries. and This i
had GCne often. The bill was one. h
thought. would tend 10 give as bet
ter Judges. Mr. Hull and Mr.. John
, son spoke briefly in opposition to n
, bill then W Jones. expressing conf
denCe in the people and a disncTins
, tion 90 have them robbed of the pow
! er Of fixing salaries, moved the indef
e mite postpouement Of the measure
: aud after a few parliamentary preliu
iEaries. non-Coccuwence was voted
! - TO 20 Those favortag the meas