Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-11
PAY MORE Than
LAW ALLOWS IT
States Attorney Charges Supervi-
sOrs and Judges of Election
Given Excess Salary.
REFERRED TO STATE MEETING
County Board Hears Communication
From Thompson, But Takes
No Decided Action.

Both supervisors and judges of
election in Rock Island county are
paid more than the law allows.
This was the substance of a COM
muniCatiOn read at the meeting of
the board of supervisors yesterday
afternoon. The author, States At
torney Floyd E. Thompson, pointed
out that the judges of election have
been receiving Sc per day, whereas
they should be paid only So; and
that supervisors should receive
$3.50 per diem, whereas they re-
ceive So.
Appended is the communication
from Mr.. Thompson to the board,
which explains the matter:
I'm view Of the coming session of
your state organization, feel it my
duty to call your attention at this
time to certain matters, so that
some action can be taken consistent
with the views of this board.
The law has not been followed
in this county with respect to COM
pensation, either for supervisors or
for judges and clerks of election.
l am not advised what the practice
has been in other counties of the
state, but likely there have been
like transgressiOns of the law in
other sections For your infOrma-
ton | call your attention to the fol-
lowing:
Section 80 of chapter So, Hurd's
Revised Statutes G910. provides:
The members of the board of su-
no CHI
the sum of S2.5 per day for the
time actually and necessarily en-
gagged IN the discharge of his duties
as member of such board of super
visors, to be paid on the order of
the board out of the county treas
ury. and mileage cents each way
for necessary travel, and no other
allowance or emolument directly or
indirectly for any purpose what
ever
"This is the only law on this sub
ject 1t is true that in section SO
of the same chapter there was an
attempt made to paw supervisors
and assistant supervisors who are
residents of the county seat. while
they are serving on the board of
supervisors. So day. This at
tempt, however, is in contravention
of sections II and II of article 10
Of the constitution, which provides
in substance that the fees of all
township officers shall he uniform.
Under the statutes of this state
supervisor serves in A dual ca
Dacity He is a town officer and he
is likewise a county officer An as
s'stant supervisor is county Off
Ger OnIv They are county officers
when they are serving on the board
of supervisors or on committee
work of said board.
Election Officials.
Section GO of chapter 46. Hurd's
Revised Statutes G91O, provides:
All judges and clerks of election
in counties of the second class shall
be allowed the sum Of SO per day
for their services"
81 am advised that in this coun-
tv it has been the practice for some
time to pay to these officers the
sum of SIS a dav. the officers bas'ng
their claim upon the eight-hOur dav
statute. This is not a valid claim.
In the construction Of such stat
utes the term day is uspallv held
to mean the natural dav of % hours
commencing and term mating AT
midnight. The eight-hour daT stat
ute does not apply to services of
an official character. The services
of Judges and clerks of election are
official services, and. therefore, I'M
der the present and existing statute
they are entitled to SO a day and
no more"
The board voted to refer the mat
ter to the convention of county Off
Gals of the state, which is to be
held in Rock Island in August.
County Clerk H B. Hubbard was
authorized to present the matter to
the convention