The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-08-17

nuns wagner o De the greatest bal
the DILL as one. the assessed valuation
OF which reached four million dollars
In 1912. The yearly salaries we're
provided as follows:
County commissioners, $500 each:
treasurer and collector. $4,000; as-
SCISSOR, $1,000; sherin. S3.bO0, with
Sl'SVo additional Tor deputy: county
clerk, 1000. with 81, geo additional as
district court clerk, probate judge,
$500: school superintendent, $500.
The bill contained several proylsos
Tor deputies. travelling expenses. etc.
The bill passed both houses the lat
ter part OF February. 1913 and was
returned by the governor with the
following veto message.
return herewith without approval
$. b.. No. iOt, entitled AN Acc rel
atiVe to county officers"
This action IL taken with much re-
gret. some satisfaction and a fun rea
lization OF the responsibility which Il
Involves. The regret Is not on account
OF the temporary disappointment to
the county officers, but also because
OF my desire TO avoid such a disagree
ment with the legislative branch OF
our state government. The satisfac-
: lion Is from the fact hat the issue Is
o clear cut. distinct and definite.
With the exception Of the changes In
the salaries OF the officers OF Sandoval
county. this - practically the same
bill as was passed last June, and
which ! then felt il my duty TO dis
approve after the most careful con-
sideration. My responsibility as I
understand Il ls 20 all the people of
New Mexico rather than To a few who
are especially interested In this leg
~islatlon. The issue. as Il appears to
me Is, shall all OF the county officers
serve the people FOR proper and rea-
sonable compensation or shall the
taxpayers be compelled to contribute
unfairly, In some cases. 10 those
whom they have selected as their SER
wants?
During the constitutional CoEyen-
ton and afterwards IN the campaign
for the adoption OF the constitution
u was generally claimed that the sal
airy system for county officers would
be a great saving over Che old fee
system. When the people adopted
the constitution, It was with that un-
Outstanding and belief. The provls-
ions Of this bin must. as I seems IL
! me, be "A disappointment to them, be
cause, instead OF The expenses of the
county government being reduced,
they will be considerably increased.
In view of the great tax burden un-
der which the people are laboring,
and OF which they bitterly complain,
Il seem to me that We are not justi-
He'd In providing $4,000 annually for
county officers In excess Of liberal
compensation for the work perform
ed, which Is done by this bill. This
occurs chiefly in counties OF the first
and second classes. though there IL
considerable of it in the third class
counties.
Assessors alone, In all the counties.
would obtain SIS 900 more than JUS
tice and fairness. would give them.
In first class counties $4,000 IN pro-
vided for treasurer. wh1S Il Is well
known that Ia four Of Inv six counties
In this class the work Is practically
entirely done By deputies who receive
from $1,000 Ia 5000. leaving a net
sum TO the treasurer OF from 81. coo
TO t2,s00 for bearing the honor con
ferred by tho people,
Sherins In arst class counties would
receive $500 salary. In second class
counties $4,000 aud In third elias.
counties $4,000.
Under the head OF jailer. third elias,
counties are allowed only f400. which
Is not sufficient 10 employ a man who
can be considered safe for handlinl
prisoners; and al the same time tS0,
Il provided Ia pas "A deputy district
clerk in each OF these counties, wher
u IL a well known fact, except durinG
terms OF the district court, there u
very little work 20 be done.
The county officers are presumed Il
slve their entire Time TO the perform
ance OF the duties 81 their officers and
In tho counties where n competent
man Is unable 10 perform all the du-
ties OF his Office, provision should be
made for deputies whose compensa'
tion should be distinct and separate
from that OF the county officers.
I believe this bill Is wrong In prin'
clple and unfair in the details AZ theS
have been work out. A net salary
should be provided, 40 far as praoii'
cable. for an county officers, and com
~pensatlon In each ease should be com
mensurate with the services per
formed.
I have the honor 10 remain, etc.
Many amendments reducing thess
! enormous salaries were offered by ths
Democratic members. which were
] quickly turned down By the usual mo-