The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-24
STORM BREAKS
AT COURT HOUSE
Several County Officials Are in
Open Rebellion.
Action of the Board of Commits
SiOnerS Is Resented.
THEY THREATEN RETALIATION
Hold That Board Members
Draw Too Much Salary.
Paid for Six Days a Week and
Work Only Two.
THEY THREATEN RETALIATION

Dark and threatening clouds, which
for more than a week have been
hanging low over the Shawnee county
court house broke into a storm to-
day when the county officials an
nounced that they would ask for an
opinion from the office of S. H. Brew
stcr, attorney general, as TO whether
or not the county commissioners are
dra wing Il higher Sc larry than the sta
tute provides. Officials at the court
house have chosen this manner of
picking up the gauntlet, which they
claim was thrown down to them by
the county commissioners when the
commissioners on Monday, August 6,
made sweeping reductions in the eX-
penses of practically all county Of
fices, to cover a $11, 200 deficit in the
finances of the fiscal year of 1e14-15.
Mutterings broke into a roar at the
court house this morning when the
statute covering commissioners sal
aries was pointed out.
Statute overs 1t.
The statute reads:
Each member of the board of
county com miSSiCnerS of the several
counties of the state shall receive as
full compensation fer his services for
the county, the sum Cf So per day,
and shall be allowed to receive five
and necessarily travelled in the trans
action of any of the duties of said
office"
The statute names 81, SEQ a year as
the maximum salary of commission
ers in counties with population be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000. When the
vigorous economy moves were made
by the commissioners recently they
own salaries for the next four
months. Prior to these four months
the commissioners had been voting
themselves s125 month each to
cover salary and mileage. FOR the
next four inontEs their measure en-
titles tlaem to 500 month
Only Two Days "a Week
To Justify their action in asking the
opinion, Hugh MacFarland, judge OF
the probate and juvenile courts, points
out that the commissioners are only
at their desks in the courthouse two
DAYS out of every week. MacFarland
believes that the statute plainly pro-
videS that the commissioners are TO
to county work. Il do not claim to
say what the county commissioners
salaries should be-" said MacFarland;
''but / believe their unit of pay is one
day The commissioners have been
drawing the maximum salary provid-
ed without making sworn and Item
lied account of mileage and the num-
ber of days they are on the job. II
this is the proper Interpretation of the
statute, and they have been drawing
more salary than is due them, then
the commissioners are responsible for
a great part of the $1,000 deficit in
county finances. The commissioners
make the other county officers sub
nit an itemized account of days on
the job and expenses of work under
their supervision and L believe they
should do the same"
After Campbell. Too.
In addition to MacFarland's show
ing, another equally interesting
promises to grow out of the cut made
in the office of j. a. Campbell, jr.,
county surveyor. In their economy
move the county commissioners pro-
Vided that the county surveyor will
only be paid for three days work
each week instead of six. Campbell
is far from satisfied with the ruling
of the commissioners and points out
that the statute governing his office
provides that it shall be kept open six
days out of the week. Campbell says
that he does not want to hOller before
he is hurt and is not relieving his
feelings for publication. However, it
is understood around the courthouse
that when the time comes the county
surveyor will also ask for an opinion
from Brewster and put in his claim
for six days work a week.
just Il Little Too Much.
Robert Carver, assistant county at
torney. expressed it as his opinion this
morning that the county commission
ers were drawing a little too much
money for the amount of time put in
by them. Carver, however, refuses
to take any definite steps toward OBJ
tanning an opinion or taking the mat
ter up in any way until the return of
W. e. AtchiSon, county attorney, who
is away on his vacation. When Atch-
ison returns the real fireworks are
expected to begin 1t is also said
around the county attorneys office
that certain matters concerning the
divorce proctor's fees will be taken
up with the board on return of the
county attorney
In return for MacFarland's sus-
picions. the county commissioners
contend that they are at the service
of the county every day whether in
session or otherwise. working for it's
benefit
Pay 1t Back?
Providing contentious of county Of
ficials. headed by MacFarIand, are
sustained by Brewster. the question is
raised by MacFarland as to whether
or not the money obtained in excess
by the commissioners shall or shall
not be paid back to the county.
MacF'arland plans to ask for an
opinion through the county attorneys
office. probably upon the return of
Atchison.
Taggart to Go to Montana.
Washington, D. c.. Aug. 24.-Con-
gresham Joseph Taggart of the Sec