Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1920-10-28
THURSDAY, OCTOBER %, 1920
TELL THE TRUTH

1t takes considerable of the IL
fector's time to keep our Democrat
friends straight In their informatio
but something ought to be done fo
the good Of the public which is be
ing misled. For instance the Demo
cratic committee is publishing col
umn edited by Geo. Bischoff, forme
county attorney and secretary Of tn
committee and Edward Crawford
candidate for county attorney. Ii
its most recent issue it SAYS:
The Abilene Reflector printed
an article last evening in which
1t stated that the Flaw now
makes him (the county clerk,
ex-officio county assessor and
fixes his salary"
Section 11,307 of the Cen
eral Statutes of 1915 says,
Provided, That in any county
having fifty-five thousand popu-
lation or less the county assess
or shall receive such additional
compensation therefor as shall be
allowed by the board of county
commissioners of such county"
etc. Ii you don't believe that
is the law read the section above
cited.
In order that there might be no
misunderstanding Of the matter the
attorney general was asked by Coun-
ty Attorney Smith for an opinion.
The attorney general is the legal
advisor OF all the county attorneys
and county officers in interpretating
the law. There is nothing for any
OFFICER to do but follow his advice
until 1t Is reversed by the supreme
court. Here Is the opinion of R. ]. |
hopkins, attorney general, on which |
the Reflector based its statement:
Topeka, Oct. q, 1920-In reply |
to your inquiry concerning the sal
airy OF the county assessor of Dick
lnson county which is one having
population of more than $4,000 and
less than 10000 1 will call your at
tention to chapter 321 of the laws of
1913 which provides that in coun-
ties having population Of $4,000 or
less the county clerk shall be ex-offi-
clio the county assessor and further
provides that he shall receive such
additional compensation for his SER
vices as county assessor as shall be
allowed by the board of county com
missioner
"Chapter 1877 of the Sessions Laws
d 1919 provides that the county as
SCISSOR In counties having popula-
Ion or more than $4,000 and less
han 10000 shall receive a salary of
bl,2OO per annum. Chapter 321 of >
he Laws Of 1913 makes it manda-
DRY upon the board of county COM
niss1oners to allow the county as
essor compensation in addition toI
hat which he receives as county
Jerk and chapter 1877 of the Laws of d
919 provides how much the board o.
hall allow. h
Il am therefore Of the opinion that Il
Dickinson county the board of "
ounty commissioners must allow the OF
ounty clerk $1,000 per annum for ia
Is services as ex-officio county as al
'ssor and that this is%to be in addi- hf
on to the salary allowed to him for al
S services as county clerk. re
RICHARD J. HOPKINS, tn
Attorney General" WI
In other words the Democratic su
deliberately ignored the hi
'19 law and went back to the 1915 pr
W which has been repealed. Is that I'M
nest? an
If done innocently the authors are
t very familiar with the laws of the
tie; If it was done Intentionally col
ny are trying to mislead the public ha
tn false statements. the
The fact is and the truth is that adj
unity Clerk King and his deputy wit
We never presented an illegal claim has
ainst the board of county commits
ners Of Dickinson county, Kansas.
illegal claim has ever been allow Goa
by the board Of county compis- as
ners for County Clerk King, his nee
'uty or for anybody else. VIII,
n every county of the state of the cial
ulation of Dickinson the county ly a
k Is paid under the law $1,000 as is c
nty assessor and richly earns it RICH