Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-02-10

With something approaching wild
scramble the house this morning, in
committee of the whole started con-
s;deration of the county salaries bill.
BY half past twelve today, the mem
pers had reached the end of counties
of the fifth class, which is the low wa
ter mark in county salaries and about
the only changes worthy of note were
in the pay of county commissioners
and probate judges. The chief con-
cern seemed to be that the probate
j. dges would get more pay than the
county commissioners. Outside OF
Il is. there was little argument.
John Baron burg of Bernallllo
unity, opened the ball in the salary
limit line when he tried to raise the
nay OF treasurers and collectors, as
SCISSORS, sheriffs and county clerks in
first class counties, which would III
clude his home county OF Bernallllo
county, to $1,000 year. This was an
increase over the provisions OF the
bill, for all of these officials of $1,000
year except the sheriff, who would
have had an increase of $500 year.
Mr.. Burg's amendments We're fairly
shouted down as the chairman put the
motion. Mr. Burg's salary ideas were
the most exorbitant of any member
of the house at the morning session.
O. T. Toombs occupied the chair
during the committee session and
Speaker Baca occupied chair be-
tween Representatives Catron and
Tully. While, as Judge Toombs said:
They shot parliamentary procedure
at him pretty hot" still he managed
to handle the situation and only in a
few instances did the members de.
mand division" ON the rulings of
the chair.
That portion OF the bill which pro-
vides that the present classification
shall remain during tenure of office of
public officials, was eliminated on mo-
ton of Mr. Chaves who asserted that
the constitution covered that provis-
ion.
Mr.. Burg then moved his amend
ment to counties of the first class but
amendments were defeated, amidst
1lirth on the part of the low salary"
men.
Mr.. Rogers then made a striking ap-
peal for more pay for probate judges
in counties of the first class. In this
class, the probate judges were allow
ed under this bill, 5000. Mr. Rogers
asserted that the people of Chaves
county wanted salary of $500 be-
cause in that county, the Office was
rlost important one. He met with
rluch opposition, however, and when
he tried to amend the bill for that
sum, his amendment was overwhelm-
ingly defeated.
Mr.. Carter then moved to amend the
salary of county surveyor in counties
oi the first class to read $1,000 year
and actual expenses when in the field,
asserting that under the constitution,
Il was necessary to fix a stipulated
salary for this official. His amend
r.ent was defeated. The bill provides
that the county surveyor shall have
$40 a day when actually engaged in
county work.
I Mr.. Rogers again re-opened the
question of pay for probate judges.
He moved to pay the probate Judge
$1,000 a year and said that it was
poor policy to offer any competent
rlan any less salary. That amend
ment was tabled on motion of Mr..
Ckaves. chairman of the finance COM
nlittee, who, it was plain, was in
charge of the bill and supported by a /
majority of the members.
Mr.. Nichols moved to change the
pay of county school superintendents
from $500 in counties of the first
class to $4,000 asserting that it was /
rot possible to get competent men for !
less money. The amendment was
tabled.
Mr.. Rogers again raised the pro-
bate judge question and amended to
make the salary $3.50. Mr.. Blanchard
tanned. Mr.. Mullens then offered an
amendment fixing the salary at $500
and it was allowed to stand at that
figure, after Mr.. Chaves had moved
tc table it and had been beaten for
the first and only time, by vote of %
tc II. Mr.. Burg spoke in favor of
Tiore pay for probate judges. He as
serted that the Office was most re-
sponsible one and that cts duties {
struck into the homes and at the very
fl, esides' of every member in the leg :
islature. :
Mr.. Blanchard opposed the amend ]
nent and Marcos C. de Baca spoke in
favor Of it asserting that the probate
Judge was more important official t
that the county commissioner and i
actually put in more Office hours. It
probably was the statement by Mr. :
de- Baca drawing comparison between