Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1914-02-06
ARTICLE is MISLEADING

!, III recent issue OF me Urea
Bend Tribune there was an artick
: pertaining to some of the provisions
Of the new Fee and Salary Bill, but
especially referring to that part d
the bill which affects the Office Of
county attorney in this county, and
r the appointment OF an assistant OF
deputy for this office, regarding
which there has been so much com.
ment during the past few months.
AS is probably we'll known, the last
state legislature did pass such a law
that the county attorney NIGHT APP
point an assistant or deputy at a
salary Of $1,000 per year, and also
a stenographer at salary Of $500
per year, and that the county attor.
ney of Barton county did so appoint
ais law partner to the position of as
sistant county attorney, but so far
has not taken advantage Of that pre-.
vision which permits him to appoint
stenographer.
The bin of $500 for the assistant
county attorney for the first tire
months was presented to the commits
s.one-s at their 0ctober meeting and
was by them promptly laid over fer
Investigation and at their Meeting in
january Of this year, the bill of $500
for the services of the assistant fCl
the six months was presented and al
this time was allowed by the board
as they had in the meantime looked
up the law and had received legal
advice on the question and were con
WINGED that as the law had been pass. |
ed, the county attorney and his as
s-stant could have doubtless collect. |
ed the amount in the long run, and |
that it was saving money for the tax |
payers of the county to pay the bill
without being forced to do so in a |
court Of law. |
But the board does not feel that |
there is anything just or equitable |
about the matter, as the article in |
the Tribune stated they did, and they
do feel that the county attorney has |
taken advantage Of a law which per.
mits him to appropriate $1,000 per
year Of the money belonging to the |
tax payers Of the county to which he |
Is not in the least bit morally en-,
titled.
1t Is true that the law is ON the
statute books that such appointment
MAY be made, but anyone who know.
anything at all about the affairs Of
this county knows that the county at
torney Of Barton county has not the
slightest need Of an assistant to help
him In The work of the office.
The board has been at all times,
and is willing that an assistant be
hired for the successful prosecution
of any case where assistance by the
county attorney is needed, but they
see no need Of paying for the services
of an assistant every month in the
year when the chances are that there
is not one case in the whole yeer
when his services will be really need.
ed. and the board feels that the peO-
pie of Barton county are being i'm
posed upon to the extent of 800 each
month by the action of the county
attorney in taking advantage of this
part of the law which permits of him
appointing deputy, for which there
is absolutely no need and for which
the taxpayers of the county must
pay.
It was never the intention of the
makers of the law that II should be |
applied to a county such as this
where there is not even enough work
to keep one man busy, but was in
tended to apply only in counties
where the work Of the office is so
great that it can not be properly han.
died by ono man.
1t had not been the intention to
s,Az