Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-14
Committee Hearings Tuesday
in favor of the salary being perma-
nently $4,000.
For WaterviIIe Court

For WaterviIle Court
Former Attorney General William K.
Pattangan appeared in favor of the sal
airy of the recorder of the municipai
court of Waterville being fixed at $500
per year. and explained that it was
clerical error which caused 1t to be hXed
at s4o0. He stated that this latter amount
was too low-in fact that $500 was none
too much with the increase in the duties
| with the growth of the work of the court
! He stated that he did not appear ask
| ing for an increase but that it be fixed
at the amount intended by the committee
| two years ago. Relative to the pro-
vision that the salary be paid from the
treasury of Kennebec county rather than
| by the city of Waterville. as now is the
case. Mr.. Pattangall stated that the sal
airy of the judge was paid by the county
and it was reasonable that that Of the
recorder by paid from that source also
| Senator Bartlett of Kennebec, and a
| former mayor of Waterville, explained
the nature of the clerical error which
resulted in the bill finally making the
salary of recorder $500 instead of $500, as
the committee finally agreed. He also
favored the county paying the salary.
Frank Plumstead, the present recorder
Of the Waterville municipal court. was
present but did not speak.
Former State Treasurer Elmer E. New
| bert of Augusta and Judge George F..
Emery of Biddeford appeared in favor Of
the act providing an increase in the sal
nj the
$3.50.
Judge Emery stated that a corporation
Of the size represented by the State pay
ing only $1,000 a year for the same work
would occasion wonder as to whether 1t
was getting an efficient man.
State Treasurer Simpson, the presen,
| incumbent. read figures showing the sal
airy paid state treasurers in other New
England states, the lowest outside Of
Maine being New Hampshire, which pays
$780, while Massachusetts pays 5000 and
Rhode Island $500. He stated that the
treasurer signs in the vicinity of $4,000
checks a year. while there are other du-
ties which make demands upon the treas
urer.
SACTh VI &OuTlS TdIlk u. 4 emerson Oh
York county appeared in favor of a bill
which carries an increase of 500 for the
salary of the assistant in his Office and
$50 additional for part time clerk hire.
John E. Abbott, chairman of the board
of county commissioners of York county,
also spoke in favor of the increase and
Judge Emery also supported the proposed
! increase.
Former Attorney General Cyrus r.
Topper of Boothbay Harbor spoke in sup
port of bill providing for increase in
the salary of clerk of courts for Lincoln
county and he took occasion to state that
the county does not owe a cent and has
5000 in the treasury, and it costs less 10
run Lincoln county than any other county
in the State, these facts being presented
in support of the claim that the county
was able to provide for the increase ask
ed. which is $500 above that paid now.
Clerk Of Courts Merrill of that county
spoke briefly, presenting comparison Of
the expenses of his county with other
counties.
County Commissioner Eastman of
oxford county appeared in support of
bill preceding for the expenses Of
county commissioners when away from
the county court house on matters per-
tanning to their office He stated that
1t was not an increase in salary that is
being asked but allowance or provision
Tor expenses. This was taken up at
the annual meeting of the county COM
mlssloners of Maine last summer, He
explained that commissioners often
nave to make long trips to hold hear
lngs and stated that he paid out $500
last year as his expenses in attending
hearings. He was asked If the salaries
as hxed two years ago did not add a
sum for expenses and in reply Mr..
Eastman said this was the case but
That in many of the counties this was
the wrong way to provide as it could
not be anticipated. In reply to another
question from Sen. Conant of the COM
mlttee ne stated that it was impossible
to average those for an estimate as it
would not be told what demands might
be made in attending hearings away
from county building.
Somerset County Bill
| Attorney Weeks of Fairfield appear
ed in support OF bill providing for an
increase in the salary of the register
| OF probate of Somerset county from
$1,000 to $1,000 and he left with the
committee a letter from the judge of
probate of that county, favoring the
proposed increase.
MERCANTILE AND INSURANCE