El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-01-11
HUNT CLAIMS
BACK SALARY
Attorney General Jones
Also Believes There Is
More Salary Due Him.

Phoenix. Ariz-. Jan 1L-Former
Gov. C. W; P. Hunt has filed with the
state auditor a clai mfor back salary
in the sum Of S4529.51. covering a Pc
Rod OF one year and nine and one
half months, during which the pay of
the executive Office is claimed TO have
been 5000 per annum, instead Of the
$500 actually drawn by the in
cumbent Auditor Boyce has not ap-
proved the demand and will not tin he
has been instructed by the courts to
do so.
On aII-fours with the governors
claim IS one by attorney general
Wiley Z. Jones. who believes there is
due him about s270O for the same Pc
Rod OF employment, based upon a
raise Of salary from $500 TO $1,000.
Rut Jones has not yet filed his de-
mand. His case is complicated by the
fact that IL might be considered hard
y ethical for him to approve the
legality Of a payment Of money to
himself There is assumption that
neither Hunt nor Jones, for political
reasons, cares to start suit for the
money. IL there be suit, Jones hardly
can maintain his legal position as at
torney for che state. while the auditor
hardly can call upon him for legal
advice. though this is contemplated
by the statutes.
How 1t Comes About.
The trouble started in senate bill
= Of the third legislature, which was
designated 10 change the classiftca-
ton OF the counties. for better ad-
was complicated by an admiXture OF
raises for the superior judges. half of
whose salaries is paid by the state,
and the lifting Of the salaries OF the
governor and attorney general
But il happens that the state con-
stitutiou prohibits a change in the
emolument Of an officer during his
term. In the same document (Which
contains much matter of legislative
character) is set forth a schedule OF
official salaries, TO continue till
changed by the legislature. So there
has been contention that special ex-
ception is made Of this first legis-
pay schedule should be effective at
once, instead Of after the end Of the
current official term.
County supervisors generally have
accepted the new law as effective at
once and have been paying the in
creased emoIument. even TO the half OF
the salaries OF the superior judges
charged directly upon them All the
county judges, save former judge
Frank Smith OF Yavapai county, are
TO have made demand
upon the state auditor for the state
part OF their salaries Several suits
the salary claims have been
taken up TO the state supreme court
which has decided IN favor Of claim
ants in two instances and which now
has on the calendar a suit affecting
the pay OF judge F. B. Lame OF Green
lee county. This latter suit is believed
to cover nearly all the issues missed
heretofore and by the attorney gen
sral is claimed TO be one that VIII de-
eide whether he and Hunt are entitled
TO the increases But according 10
other lawyers, the judges occupy a
somewhat different position, for the
constitution provides only that their
salaries may not be decreased during
their terms Of office The document
says nothing about Increases. The
Lame case can hardly be decided be-
fore March.
Qaeer Case For Campbeu.
An interesting side issue concerns
the fact that for II months OF the pc
rod for which added salary is claimed /
governor Hunts place at the capitol |
vas filled by Thomas E Campbell, ]
now governor again, possibly 10 be I
,alled upon 10 approve a warrant for /
he pay OF Hunt for increased emolu- /
nent for work that was done BY
Campbell himself. Hunt has received /
he regular pay for the time Campbell I
vas in the chair Campbell refused TO |
ask for duplication Of the pay TO ]
limselI ana a partisan legislature, at I
he special 1918 sumner session. I
killed a bill that sought TO repay I
Campbell his costs, with pay added, /
-hOugh the appropriation had been
recommended by Hunt