The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1912-04-26
SOME DOLLAR POLITICS


two weeks that he needs certain parts
Of his clothing changed. Since the
day the county commissioners ordered
that The Republican should be con-
stituted the official paper instead Of
the Optimist. nothing that the COM
missioners do has been right in the
sight Of that writer.
II Is coming to be well understood
that whom the Optimist praises, has
recently given the editor some bust
ness. and whom It roasts. has not ia
vored him to the extent that he
craved.
The commissioners in compliance
with the new law pertaining to road
work, have gone out making person
al inspections Of roads the past year,
but IT never looked wrong to Editor
Brown SO long as the Optmist was be-
ing favored by them with something
he desired. Then the road work, ac-
cording to his last issue was all
wrong. The reduction Of salaries Of
sheriff, assessor, probate Judge, treas
urer, surveyor and coroner were also
spoken of in a slurring manner and
denominated horse play AT the
same time he criticised the board for
not increasing the salary Of the coun-
ty superintendent Of schools, and
stated that she had applied for a
raise, which is not true.
Under the law it is the duty Of the
commissioners to fix the salaries at
this time for the coming administra-
ton, SO that persons desiring to run
for office shall know what the posi-
ton will pay. This applies only to
such positions as are to be filled by
election this year, and the office Of
county clerk, according to the attor-
ney general andfthe governor, is not
one that is to be filled by the cleo
IIOH uuLll 1919.
When the county was divided a
year ago the salaries had already
been fixed for the present administra-
tion, but since the division, the small
er amount Of property in the county,
changes Bingham from first to sec
ond class, and 1t is the privilege Of
the commissioners to reduce salaries
If they wish.
When county division was dis
cussed It was always conceded that If
division was made, the smaller terri
tory to be administered would SO re-
duce the amount of work attaching to
each office that the salary could be
reduced, and in the discussions Of the
subject this spring, about the only
ones who expressed desire to leave
the salaries undisturbed have been
those who are going to be candidates
for office. Business men and repre-
sentative farmers generally, have de-
manded reduction.
Editor Brown intimates that be-
cause the county clerks salary was
not reduced, the clerk must have
some improper pull with the board.
We have already explained that the
board could not reduce the salary Of
the clerk this year II they wanted to.
II has come to be a common re-
mark that people looking over Mr..
Browns paper and noting his
"spasms', can tell who is favoring
him with business and who has been
with holding something that he
craved. In this instance an examina-
ton Of the bills allowed at the April
meeting Of the board, for printing
during the past quarter furnishes the
proof II any were needed. Until re-
Gently the county clerk had been Civ
Ing him a liberal amount Of the coun-
" printing, and all references to him
IN the optimist were Of compli-
nentary nature. Recently other i
printing houses have been receiving
more Of It and he is slurring the
'lerk. OF the six printing houses in
ne county, the Optimist received
I115 worth out Of a total of $240,
ind the editor is probably peeved I
'ecause he did not get 1t all. He rep +
esents that the county superintend- i
ntAof schools is poorly paid, receiv-
ng only $1,000 a year, and this u
GEMS little enough, but her prede- Q
essors with double the amount Of LIP
srritory, and far more widely scat
cred schools to visit and look after,
lady did the work at the same sal s.
~. During the past quarter the SUI g
Of schools has taken
,me Of the business away from other 7
rinting houses and given It to the "
ptimist, and now It Is noisy in ad-
seating raise Of salary for her,
ID In praising her work. She was v
st as deserving before, but merit O
"