Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-02-21
Mr.. BOOHER'S BILLS
ARE NOT POPULAR

a couple OF bills which merit a quick |
quietus. II they are ever reported
out OF committees 1t should be with
recommendations that they be indie
finately postponed. Their passage
would be costly error.
One of the bills provides that public
moneys placed on open accounts in
banks shall draw interest of two and
one-half per cent on daily balances.
The other takes away the power Of
the county commissioners Of Elko
county to provide for additional assist
snce in the several county offices in
cases OF emergency.
II the first mentioned bill should be.
come a law the banks would refuse
to accept public moneys except as
term deposits. and the counties would
then be put to the expense OF con-
structing suitable vaults and pur-
chasing burglar proof safes, and 1t
would be necessary to otherwise safe
guard the county treasures against
robbery.
Paying interest on open accounts is
unheard of in banking. Individuals
who place their accounts on deposit
subject to check do not receive inter
est, nor do they expect 1t. They place
their money in banks for safe keeping
and in consideration of this the banks
are welcome to use part OF IT, No
more should be expected from the de-
posts of public funds than from those
of individuals. 1t is worth something
to county to have its funds safely
guarded. and as an economic PROPOSE
tion this bill should be killed.
The object of the second mentioned
bill is evidently to do away with the
office of deputy district attorney of
Elko comfy. This office carries
salary of only 800 per month.
This bill occasions considerable sur
prise in view of the fact that this
county's district attorney Is proper
tionately the poorest paid in the state.
Esmeralda county pays $2,400, and the
ties Is fixed by the commissioners:
White Pine county pays $4,000, and
fees as public administrator; Washoe
county pays $4,000 and expenses and
deputy is allowed at n salary of
$4,000: Humboldt county pays $4,000
and expenses, and Nye county pays
$3,6OO, and the number and compensa-
ton OF the deputies is fixed by the
commissioners.
Elko county is the wealthIest and
next to the largest county in the state.
and the work in the district attorneys
office has increased correspondence
with the county's growth In the past
Few years. Instead OF cutting down
the salary of this office, the general
sentiment, as 1t appears to us, Is for
raising 1t.
II has also been reported that q bill
may be introduced which will prohibit
the district attorney from taking pri.
Yate practice. II such a bill should
pass there Is not doubt that we
would soon be without district ut. |
torney, for no lawyer in Elko county |
would accept the office under such |
conditions, with the salary as Il is at |
present. II the district attorney is
prohibited from taking civil cases his |
salary should be made to correspond |
to the salary Of the district Judge. The /
same qualifications are required for
these two offices.
Everyone who is familiar with the |
work OF the district attorneys office |
knows that 1t is very frequently i'm
possible for one person to conduct
the work. During last year twenty.
Six felony cases were tried, and there
were one hundred and slxty.two con.
victions In misdemeanor cases The Il
district attorney Is frequently called
away from the county seat on legal
matters for several days at a time. and
II he were without a deputy II would
be necessary to close the office.
The public do not want the eff.
cheney Of the district attorneys office
impaired. Nor does the great majority
believe in niggardly salaries for public
There are business houses
In Elko In which salaries almost as
large as the district attorneys salary
are paid TO clerks, to say nothing Of
the salaries paid to office men. The
professional services rendered TO the
county by this office would cost an in.
iiyidual many times the amount OF
he salary.
No ono questions the sincerity of
suppose of Assemblyman Booher. but
very expression we have heard on the
natter. and they are many, has been
D the effect that the salary should
Q raised to correspond with the sal. |
rIes OF other important counties OF
ie state.
We believe that there are places 4
here retrenchment in expenses could
} effected, but We hope that our leg.
lators will not strain at n gnat and I
'allow an eagle. For instance our h
ate tfntyaraifv lie agtipc TO- ,n.ra.t III