The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1921-06-02
Is RAID PLANNED ON
COUNTY TREASURY?


Will be made To compel the county
court to allow the county assessor an
extra $500 per year on account of II
law enacted by the recent legislature.
which law cannot possibly take effect
expires on account of the conStitu-
cXuireS on account of the ConStitu-
tiOnal inhibition mentioned in II recent
issue of the Chronicle. The ConStitu-
ton of West Virginia plainly and cX-
pressedly provides that the salary of
an official may not be raised during his
term of office. When the Chronicle. in
IA purely news item. mentioned the fact
of the passage of the law and stated
that 1T could not 20 into effect until
the expiration of the term of the pres
ent incumbent. il did not dream for a
single moment that Assessor Yoak. or
the GrantSvillc News for him. had any
intention of trying To secure the raise
in salary meant for the assessor who is
TO be elected in 1924. However it is
well that the Jews has let the cat out.
and the county court and taxpayers
Inay prepare for what the News warns
against-an attempted raid on the
county treasury.
1t can hardly hp argued that the pres
cnt officials are entitled to raises in
salary. as they are fairly intelligent
men and presumably knew the emolu-
mcutS to he received from the offices
which certainly were not forced ON
them.
Now since the News 80 strenuOuSly
objects To the Chronicle passing opiu-
ions, we will state Il fact for the bcne-
lit of the old sister The new law pro
viding for the $500 increase in the snla-
~ OF the assessor will not apply until
the expiration of the term of the pres
cnt Incumbent. except at the end of a
mighty fine little lawsuit. Why? Be
cause III the first place we seriously
doubt if Assessor loal will ask for the
increase when hc understands the law
involved in the case. Secondly. we have
Iull confidence that the county court
Will turn down the claim. ii presented.
on account OF the constitutional inhibi-
ton. And thirdly the Taxpayers of the
county will not stand idly 10y and SEE n
Whack taken at tine treasury. so long rs
there are courts To prevent il.
We trust We are brrraying no conf
dcGcc when We inform the News that
the Attorney General has already rul.
ed IN lac matter. and that in his rulin.
will he found no grain of comfort foi
".!N one desiring the present salary of
the assessor raised. For the bcncfi
OF The news. we might also state that
the question has often been before the.
"uprem" Court of The State. and il has
Invariably held that the constitution
could not be set aside to crafty the de
sires of an individual.
The News undoubtedly gets its in
formation concerning the actions of the
county court from some source other
than the courts records. No mention
OF "clerk-hire" is made in the records.
although we do find where the court
consented to the appointment of am
Office deputy by the assessor but moth
Ing was said about compensation for
such deputy. We understand that the
court Informed Mr. YOak that ii was
not likely that any funds would be
available this year for the payment of
the ONCE deputy's salary, and on this
subject we prefer the courts judgement
TO that of the news 1t is distinct
relief in these days of cxtravagancc
to find one body that is holding down
expenditures instead of recklessly and
ruthlessly spending the money contrib.
uted by Ongsuffering and overburden.
ed taxpayers.
The charge that the court discrimi.
mated against Republican office-bolJ.
erS Is either based on asimine Ignorance
or malicious classifying. The county
Court has nothing whatever to do viii
the salaries Of county officers as the
same are fixed by statute and are nor
subject to change by the court.
The court does have power to fix the
SALARY Of the deputies allowed thc
county officials, or rather To fix the
amount that shall be allowed for DEM.
Ties and clerk hire for the yorioi,s or
ices. Now what did the Court dog
II gave Republican sheriff. with 81
salary Of $1,000, was allowed 5000 for
deputies The sheriff has one deputv
and If either the sheriff. deputy or the
N''' ''A' @''WH W III SHOW iIdf fIUt
deputy IS undcrpaid for the amount Of
work done for the county. we Will pass
the hat and make il up
II gave Democratic county clorl,
with salary of 81, 200. and with more
IMAM twice the work of the sheriff IN d,,
5000 for deputies
~ gave Democratic circuit clerk
WIN me enormous salary of $500. n
deputy at 500 per year.
IL gave Republican assessor with n
salary Of $1,000 for six months work
two assistants sat $500 cscb for two
ana 0ne.half months work
Now we leave it to- anyone 81 tba
Republicans are not being treated mucb
Detter than the Democrats
Before leaving the subject we would
Ike TO ask the Ncws 10 come ONT and
say Without eqivOcstion whether or
not u iayOrs the Idea OF boosting r,o
salary Of the assessor $500 or i'm ot,cr
words. is the old darling in ON the sal.
airy grab
The Chronicle is natfootpdly against
St. "s"''''
NOTICE
will not be responsible for any debts