Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-02-12
COMMITTEE HEARINGS
The following committee hearings
were held on Tuesday:
SALARIES AND FEES
Androscogsin and Aroostook County
Salaries ard Clerk Hire Matters

The Committee on Salaries and
Fees heard several matters Tuesday
afternoon in Room 43, including mat
ter; relating to salaries and clerk
hire in the .tndroscoggin and Aro0s-
took county courts ard the Lewiston
municipal court: and the act :"
amend Chapter g.. Revised Statues,
relating to fees paid registers Of pro
bate.
Rep. G:irccion Of Auburn spoke for
increasing the salary of tho Andres
co.sin register of probate'froni $500
to $1,000 and clerk hire from $500 to
$1,000. Mrs. Parker, the clerk in the
office, explained the large increase
in the work and stated that proposed
legislation would greatly add TO the
duties. 1t developed that part Of lc"
pay came from the registers own
salary. Rep. GGrcelon said the work
had about doubled the past Two years
and that tho clerk was very efficient
John ID. Clifford. Jr.. OF Lewiston
spoke for an increase from $1,000 to
5000 for the treasurer Of -AndroScOS
gin. s&%inG that the present treas
urer was Il very capable man and to
retain efficiency in such Offices, the
inducement to take the Office must I've
increased. The business is very
heavy. with 81 open accounts, and
constantly increasing.
Senator Parent OF .,nGlroscoegin
asked for increase OF the. register OF
deeds salary from $1,000 to $500 and
clerk hire from 5000 to $1,000. SEN
ator Googin asked that the county
commissioners salary bc raised from
$3.50 to $1,000.
Rep. Hrann Of Lewiston said his
request was unusual because the
clerk OF the Lewiston municipal court
! asks for no increase but one for his
assistant, from $3.50 to $1,000, and that
will not come from the State but from
tho city which makes about $4,000
annually from the court.
Rep Rounds asked Rep. Brann how
it was that Lewiston can keep the
court fees, when Portland has to turn
it into the county. Mr.. Brann replied
that he didn't know but supposed it
was in the COURTS charter-"and we
have way of keeping things
Yes" said Mr.. Rounds, even the
ballot boxes"
"Oh. that was in Auburn"
But they used to do it in Lewis
ton. I once lived there"
Assistant Attorney General Frank
lin Fisher explained that an error
had been made when some previous
laws were printed, SO that the salary
nf tho c1nr1y 6
the $500 as voted by the Legislature.
and asked that when reported the bill
| make the correction.
Some discussion was had regard
ing the disposition of the Cumber-
land county salaries and clerk hire
| items and it was finally decided that
they should be referred to the Cum
berland county delegation. which
should have a hearing in Portland
and report to this committee.
Senator futile and Senator Thorn
ton of Aroostook explained the in
creases asked for that county and the
recommendation of the Aroostook
county delegation as follows:
Judge of probate from $1,000 to
$500; register Of probate, no change
change: register of deeds. northern
district, $500. no change; register of
deeds. southern district. $500 to
$500; county treasurer. $500, no
change; clerk hire, register of pro-
bate. 1924 to $3.50: clerk hire of
courts, $500 to $4,000: register of
| deeds, northern district. $500 to $1,000;
southern district, $170O to $3.50.
Theodule Albert. register at Fort
Kent. said he had been paying his
clerk s124 yearly out of his own
pocket.
Judge Joseph b. Reed of Portland
explained the meaning Of the act re-
lating to the fees paid registers of
probate and said that it was n small
fee of II 1-2 cents allowed the reg
listers by the newspapers for draw