Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-18

had so increased that the Official had
found himself obliged to take on addi-
tfonal clerks for whose compensation
no provision was made and who had
to be paid In whole or In part out of
his own salary, and we want it to be
made plain that as whole the county
officials of the state are at the present
time providing at their own expense
a considerable proportion of the cler-
ical work necessary to the performance
OF their official duties. 1t cannot be ex-
pected that under these conditions
clerks will generally be paid adequate
wages. To remedy this situation as
we'll as to remove all possible incen-
tives to anything that might SAVIOR of
improper conduct we recommend a
plan for the compensation of clerks
similar in it's nature to that recon-
mended for the state employees.
I'VE you'd provide for the employ
nlent of clerks of the three grades each
possessing substantially the same
qualifications as set forth for state
employees. We would then make it the
duty OF the county commissioners to
determine, after hearing the represen-
tations Of the several officers, how
many clerks of what description each
county officer might employ, they to
fix the wages to be paid to the clerks
OF each grade, which should be uni
form through all the offices in a given
county and might vary in the several
counties according to the standards
Of compensation which the county
commissioners might determine. We
believe that the county commission
ers would not handicap the work in
any public office by refusing the
necessary help for any of the officials.
Each official could make his own selec
ton of employees and would know ex-
actly what could be paid to them. The
clerks would receive their wages direct
ly from the county treasurer in accord
ance with a payroll furnished by
the county commissioners and all the
embarrassment of the present system
would be avoided
The report speaks as follows on
municipal courts:
Comparatively few Of the judges
of municipal courts came before us
with statements regarding their work
and we are satisfied that if we had re-
quired their attendance, hearing and
digesting the whole story connected
with their work, the task would have
been far beyond what we could pos
sibly undertake in the time allotted to
us. The disparity in the work of the
several courts by reason of varied
jurisdiction and practice is so vast
that any equitable adjustment of sal
aries would, we think, necessarily in
yolve corresponding reimbursement
Of the practice, and we have not
attempted to cover this ground.
I'm the case, however, of such who
have appeared before us, we have en-
deavored to form conclusions in the
light of the testimony heard, and as
tc these We submit recommends tions
In the case of the others we have not
received from any source information
which has led us to feel warranted in
recommending changes.
The Portland municipal court is
in session for criminal purposes every
day in the year excepting Tuesdays
which days are devoted to a volumin-
Gus civil business, and at the Grim
inal sessions either the county attorney
or his assistant is always in attend
ance, and frequently both. We think
that the salary OF the judge should be
$780, and that of the recorder $500,
It being understood that additional
provision will be made for clerical
work in connection with the recorders
office
we recommend that the salary of
the fudge of the Piscataquis municipal
court be S140o and that of the recorder
5000.
we recommend that the salary of
the recorder of the Houlton NUM-
ciDal court be fixed at $500
The compensation of the judge of
the Belfast municipal court consists
OF the fees of the office We recon-
mend that he be given a salary of $500
per annum, paying over the fees to
the county.
I'VE recommend that the salary of
the PASSPORT municipal court be fixed
at $3.50.
THE judge of the Sanford municipal
court is now paid in fees and we
recommend that instead he receive a
salary of $500 per annum, paying over
| his fees to the county.
I'VE recommend that the salary of
the judge of the Caribou municipal
court be fixed at 81 900 per annum.
I'VE recommend that the salary of
the Judge of the Millinocket municipal
court be fixed at $500.
I'VE recommend that the clerk of
the Auburn municipal court be paid
a salary of $1,000 and that the fees be
paid into the county.
1--WE recommend legislation that
will provide the sum Of $3.50 annually
for female clerical help in the office
OF the Lewiston municipal court