The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-02-23
COUNTY EXCISE BILL
MEETS OPPOSITION
Larger Counties Claim Levy
Limit is Too Small to
Meet Expenses

The senate met last night al s
O'Clock for the first time during lhe
special session and in less than TWO
hours passed tho Smith fees and sal
aries bill out OF the committee OF the
whole, recommending its passage as
amended by the special committee
which has for several days been work
ing over the bill as 10 the scale OF
salaries to be allowed county officers
Senator Smith. author OF the bill,
was seen last night after the meas
ure had been recommended for pas
sage. In discussing the bill as amend
ed, Senator Smith said.
Three of the members or the spe-
cial committee 10 which the bill was
referred, were for high salaries, and
.hree for low salaries. not ridleuE
ously low, but within the bounds Of
reason. About the only changes
made in the original bill are the saF
a.y schedules. these being run up.
The plan of the original bill has
not been changed materially in any
particular. The committee appoint
ed consisting Of three members, who
stood for high salaries, and three
who stood for low salaries and which
consists of Sni Il, Sorrels and Eggc.-
man tlow) and Graham Thomas
and Redwine (high), after two days
work brought in a unanimous re.
port which was filed last night
7rhe report may be considered @
medium oil salaries Of all ne officials
named in the original bill.
What is known as the clerical po-
sitions. county clerks, district clerks,
register Of deeds and county treasuf-
ers. by The Joint committee, are fixed
in counties of 10000 population and
less 1t $1,000. and then ascending on
a Judicial scale Of 1000 increasing
population. reaching finally a maxi
mum OF s2.750 in the large counties
THE committee Of six fixed the
minimum at si,iOO. and ascending on
the same scale az a maximum oi 81
SEQ.
County attorneys and county
Judges sala les we're originally Sl,400
III counties of less than 10000 popu-
la,ion and ascending on the same
gradual scale only giving $l00 for
each additional 1000 up TO l5,o0o in'
habitanls, reaching a maximum OF
$4,000 in the large counties
"The sheriffs in the original bin
We're given a maximum OF Sl4g0 in
counties of less han 10000 This
committee report gives them miu-
imum of S1500, and ascends on the
same gradual scale as the original bill,
fixing the maximum al $4,000.
Sheriffs are now drawing 60 per
cent Of all the fees earned in Grim.
NAL cases not paid by the defendant
chat now amount 10 thousands of dol
lars
This bill provides that county
commissioners shall not allow amy
fees and salaries to be paid on of the
county treasury exc pt as especially
provided by law AT this time there
is no law which authorizes the pay
ment Of any sum TO deputy she.itls
out of the county treasury for work
done by them
Under the law, in SO far as IL has
10 do with the register OF deeds, will
moi 90 into effect until after the next
election, but when it does there will
be a material saving.
Fail to Agree on County Excise Bill,
The committee of the whole in ihe
senate yesterday aite noon failed Ia
agree on the house bill by Anthony
known as the county excise bill S II
aior Cunningham takes the position
thai the whole subject covered by his
bill is already covered entirely by the
constitution, and thai The bill is
therefore a piece Of useless and nm
constitutional legislation.
Senator Cunningham says Il re-
quires IL mills 10 run Logan coun
~ BOW, ami tha, under the Anthony
bill only mills arc provided for, and
that il will require an election every