The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-14
FAIR WAGE FOR
commissioners
Of ELECTIONS
County Court Lops Off Fat
Graft-MuSt Do Actual
Work and Pay Is Based
Upon Work Done.

After wrangle or more than an hour
the county court Monday Topped off
the fat salaries OF the county election
commissioners and fixed new rate OF
compensation for them which will save
the co6nty considerable money to pay
for other things.
The commissioners are drawing $4,000
year, the secretary being paid $1,000,
or $3.50 month; the chairman 500 a
month and the third member 1888 a
month.
The new compensation offered the
commissioners on recommendation of
the committee composed of Justices
Strong. Arnold and Maher is as fol-
lows.
The secretary shall receive a lump
sum OF 800 for each general election
held in the county. including Mem
phis;. the chairman $75 and the third
member $35. For general elections held
n the city, the secretary shall receive
s75 for each election. the chairman $50
and the third member s25
For elections held In the smaller mu-
inequalities Of the county the secretary
shall receive SIS, the chairman $40 and
the third member SIS.
For special magistrate elections in
the district the secretary shall receive
SIS, the chairman $40 and the third
member So. The commissioners must
DO all the work incident with the Of
nee, such as providing for registra-
tlons, selecting locations for elections,
giving out ballot boxes, books. ETC.,
and shall not be allowed any extra COM
pehsatlon for extra clerk hire.
Political Lines Drawn.
The personnel of the commission is
=. Il; ,Puryear, chairman; H. o. True,
republican member and secretary. and
Milton ). Anderson, third member.
Inc city administration forces in the
court put up strong fight but lost
out IN the end. Justice Aaron Cohen,
not administration representative and
close personal friend of Mayor Monte-
verde, unintentionally voting with the
antls In favor Of the report,
Justice George B. Coleman, claiming
ne was nonpartisan and not acting for
any political faction, moved that the
report be amended, giving the secre-
| third member $500.
Justice Williams moved to table the
| motion, but lost by vote of l3 to IL
| Those voting TO table: Justices Aycock,
| McCormick, Williams, Houston, Strong,
Harrell, Maher, Clancy, Wortham, Je-
| tel, dowan, knight and Arnold. Voting
not TO table were Justices Allen, Con-
nell, Taylor, Mcdonald, Thompson
Helms, Cohen, Coleman, Davis, Wells
| mcnamara, Finley, Parr and McNultv
A.. me city administration forces clapped
| their hands vigorously, thinking they
mad the antis beaten to a fraze. but
when a vote was taken on Justice Cole
vote of Is to 10.
81 Inc vote on the committees report
| liking the new compensation for the
election commissioners was then taken
the report being adopted by the over
wneiming vote of 10 to 8, every mem
Der except the chairman voting.
Low County Tax Rate.
Justices Aycock, Mccormick, WIIiams
Houston, Allen, Conneii' strong
keough, Thompson, HarrelI. I Mabes
| Cohen, Clancy, Wortham, letter. Parr
Gowan, Knight and Arnold. Against
me report; Connell, Mcdonald, Helms
coleman, Davis, Wells, Mcnamara, Fin.
ley and McNulty. = IA
committee was named to fix com
pensation for the primary board. win
Lee Bartels,, county attorney, as ex.
officio member The committee MI,
report next Monday. Robert M. Met.
call IS chairman of the primary hoard
ana ). G. Carey, secretary, The board
mas not received any salary for nasi
services although the Legislature passeG
an act authorizing the county court tt
fix such pay. ~
On recommendation of the county at.
torney the $150,000 of tuberculosis hos.
pita! bonds were fixed to mature sI,
IN l925 and six each year thereafte,
until the end The bonds were orig.
inally fixed at terms of 40 years. ri,
rate OF interest was fixed at s pei
cent; Mr.. Bartels said that the cit,
would make its half of the issue, nameIS
$lo0,00 on the same basis as to term,
and rate of interest.
This Mr.. Bartes said, would save tn,
county $l72,500 in interest during tn,
life of the bond issue.
| II was announced that the county ia,
rate would be fixed at the meeting mex
Monday. 1t Is understood on good au
thority that the rate will remain as /
Is at present, namely, 81 6S on the s1Ot
or the assessment. The tax rate com
mittee will hold its final session Mon
day aftern09h and will be ready to re
port next Monday.
The appropriation docket was passed
J.; j. Williams, criminal court clerk
will not get any compensation for ex
officto services in the conduct of hi
business. R. l.. BartelS, county attor
ney, was asked last Midday to inves
tigate the matter and 4 wise as to tn
legality of such an api .-iation. FL
advised the court Monda at it woul,
be illegal to appropriat, unity fund
for state salaries
Mr.. Williams claims that the fees o
his office are not netting him $45
month.