The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-18
Outcome of Clash Between the
County Clerk and Board
Awaited With Interest.
APPOINTMENT OF IRVINE
"STIRS UP THE ANIMALS
Deputy May Have Job, but Com
missiOners Have Last Word
About Money.

There is bright promise Of a spec
tacular contest in the very near flu
ture between County Clerk Margaret
Zane Witchcr and the autocratic board
Of county commissioners respecting the
right OF that body to dictate to Mrs.
Witcher in the matter Of the appoint
ment of deputies in her Office. AS upon
Il former wcllrcmembered occasion, T..
l.. Irvine Will be the patriot about
whose head the contest will rage,
little moro than two years ago,
Irvine, who was then deputy sheriff,
incurred the displeasuro of 'Czar'
Mackay, the ruling spirit Of the board
Of county commissioners. Things I'm
ally came to such a pass that Irvine
went TO Mackay's Office one bright aft
crnoon and told the dictator of the
board what he thought of him. lr-
vines action might not have been dip
lomatic, nor his words choice, but they
were much to the point, and when lr-
vine had concluded Mackay knew ex-
aetly how he stood in lrvine's estima-
ton. Then Mackuy declared war.
Later, Mrs Witcher, who had been
elected to the county elerkship, APP
pointed Irvine clerk Of the juvenile
court. The appointment went to the
commissioners and they would have
turned it down but for the fact that
the law bad been amended and it was
asccrtained that the commissioners had
nothing TO do with the matter, as the
Office was under state instead OF coun-
ty jurisdiction. After serving two
months, there being % money with
which to pay him, Irvine quit, his JOB.
He has not yet been paid for his work.
Some Recent History.
This, of course, is ancient history.
Now to something up to date, Within
the past week, Mrs. Witcher has again
given Irvine employment III the county
clerk IS Office Irvine s name has not
been submitted to the commissioners;
for their approval, ard it probably VIII
not be- However, Irvine, 1T Is said,
will not be able TO draw any pay until
the commissioners direct the auditor to
pay him, and the matter Will reach
them In the course of time.
The commissioners hold that they
not only have the right to dictate as
to the number of employees IN the re-
spective county Offices, and fix the sal
aries of such employees, but also that
they have the further right TO pass
upon the personnel of the ofhce forces,
County Attorney Lyon always has
held that the commissioners arc get
llDN DcyDHu thCil .IuilooiN1'ii i
attempt to dictate the personnel OF dep
uties and other employees, but lie ad"
mits that they have the right to pass
upoo the number Of employees and TO
fix their salaries.
What Will Happen to Irvine?
However this may be. tho commits
sioners, if they have authority to die
tate as TO the number of employees
and fix the salaries, will do things IN
a plentitudinous manner to Irvine
when he attempts TO draw his pay. lr-
vine has been given employment by
Mrs. Witcher to fill a vacancy caused
by the resignation of Fred Bassett,
treasurer elect, and the office force has
not been increased. When it comes to
fixing Irvine's salary, Irvine wili strike
a snae. IF the commissioners remain
in the frame Of mind in which they
are said to be at the present time, they
will fix Irvine s salary at about one
cent per annum, with no discount for
cash, and he will be down and out.
This, in the event that the programme
Of the commissioners is carried out.
AT the same time, there are said TO
be two sides to every question. and,
las it is known that Mrs. Witcher is act.
ing under legal advice, the outcome of
the contest will be watched with in
teTpSt