Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-02-03
HOUSE WRANGLTNG OVER
COUNTY OFFICERS PAY
Squabble over Kelly's Bill Makes Au.
thor ASK TO Have Amended Measure
Created to Someone Else.

There has been a strong and steadily
increasing spirit Of unrest aud under
'curr5nt Of disquietude prevalent be.
neatn the surface throughout the ses.
sion in the house Of representatives,
and the smoldering spark was famed
into an incipient blaze yesterday after
noon. 1t has already assumed such pro.
portions that it threatens complete
wiping cnt Of the entire system Of fix
ing and regulating the salaries Of all
county Officers, as it now stands on the
statutes, and the placing Of the entire
matter under the control Of the tax.
payers through the medium Of the coun
ty courts Of the several counties, Either
that or the duty OF tax collectm will
be once more restored TO the county
gheriCfs II is written,
The first decisive step in this direc.
ton was taken in the house yesterday
afternoon, during the consideration Of
Representative Kcly's bin, proposing
10 place all t. the duties Of tax collec.
tion back upon the shertfs, where they
rested until the session OF 1913 split the
work up between the sheriffs and the
troaWrers. The discussion over the
merits Of this bill plunged the whole
house into u turmoil Of dispute aud ar
gumcnt over the tax collection question
and the question Of adjustment Of sal
aries as between sholffs and trcasmcrs
and the upshot Of the whole rmpus
was that Mr.. Kelly bill was sent back
to the committee with instructions TO
amend SO as to place all Of the duties
Of tax collector into the hands Of the
county trcasurers and a special com.
mittac was appointed to submit report
upon tine salaries Of all sheriffs and
county treasurors readiusted 30 as to
meet the proposed changed order Of
things.
This special committee on salaries,
which was created upon motion Of Rep.
resentative Forbes, Of Crook county, Is
composed of Representatives Forbes,
Kelly, Hunt, Michelbook and Pierce, Of
Linn, and they have received explicit
instructions TO report back revised
and readjusted schedule Of sherffs and
/ trcasurers' salaries at the earliest con.
Ivenience for the consideration Of the
horse. Now, IL is all right TO talk
about increasing the salaries Of the
county troasurcrs, because of the in.
creased duties and responsibilities i'm.
posed upon tdcn through the transfer
Of the duty Of tax collector to them,
but when legislature even so much
as intmates an inclination TO whittle
a penny Off the present yearly stipend
Of the state 3 'gunmcn, as the shpr.
IFS were rrcvorently referred to on
the floor of the house during the dis.
pute Of yesterday, well that is trcading
| upon dangerous ground, Previous legis.
latures have dared TO tamper with the
sovereign rights Of the county sheriff,
| but if anybody can put his finger upon
la single solitary trick that has ever
been turned successfully upon Mr..
/ Sheriff, In his collective capacity, by
any legislative assembly Of the past,
that particular "tnek' would be an
extremely valuable asset to the Smith.
sonian institute collection OF relies and
/ freaks.
There are two ways, aud only two
ways, in which the present situation
with which the lower brancn Of the
Legislature finds itself confronted will
work out One ls that after 20 much
"monkcyng with the band wagon
has been INDUCED in upon the question
as II now rests before the house, they
/ will 10 back and pass the Kelly bill,
| placing the tax collecting back IN the
hands Of the sheriff, and the other is
that the whole matter Of fixing aud
regulating the salaries Of all county
Officers will be thrust upon the shoul.
dors Of the cUnty courts, and through
the courts, indirectly upon the people.
While the house is awaiting the report
Of the revision Of laws committee to
repori the amended Kelly bin back
and the report Of the special committee
on salaries, the Blanchard bill house
bill 81, which Is now rdposing Ia the
bosom Of the committee ON salaries, will
bob lp seronely and there will be NOV.
ing pictures.
AIt Blanchotds "iugeeuaut" pro.