The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-02-08

them, they were either destroyed
or else a notation of the DISPOSE
ton of the matter was penciled
upon the envelopes, and that finished
it. There was no order entered
upon the minutes concerning the
matter under consideration. The
communications and other papers
were passed from one commissioner
to the other, and action taken by
the mental telepathy method, Chair
man Bell apparently acting in the
capacity Of mind reader. APPARENT,
he was eminently successful, fol-
the other members of the board
invariably nodded acquiescence
when they took a surreptitious peeE
at the envelopes, kept face down
on the table.
This method of transacting pub
lie business affairs differs materially
from that practiced by other public
bodies, as for instance the city coun.
Gil, where a definite order of busi-
ness is reading of communica-
tions," and where, the business be-
ing public, 1t is handled in a public
manner so that the world may know
what the public servants are doing
and how they are doing it. How.
ever, this practice of the county
commissioners may be born of habit,
because they may not before have
han an attentive audience ready to
tell their employer, the public, OF
the efficient manner in which they
are handling county affairs, and
now that the matter. has been called
to their attention it is possible that
in the future their mode of pro-
cedure may smack less of the star
chamber variety. If it does we
promises to put county affairs be-
fore the readers of this newspaper
in fair and impartial manner, be-
lieving that they are entitled to
the news.
One communication, however, was
handled in public manner. 1t was
not read out loud and it is not
known what it contained, but from
conversation INDUCED in, with the
desire that the matter
might receive some publicity to
clear up misunderstanding, it was
gathered that someone had COM
planned that some election. officers
had been paid more than others
for services at the polls during the
recent election. In fact, it ap-
parently had been openly charged
that some election officers had been
paid more than others and that to
cover up the transactions cash as
well as check payments had been
made by the county. This, how
ever, does not seem reasonable, and
was fatty denied by the county
clerk and commissioners. 1t was
explained that some election officers
had been paid more than others, but
that was because the law governs
such payment on a sliding scale for
the length of time worked. An
election officer may earn anything
from So to $50, depending upon
how many hours are worked. Some
bills had been reduced because some
Of the officers had tried to collect
for services performed at the pri-
mary election, whereas the law de-
,lares that such services shall be
performed without pay.
1t was decided to send a bill to
he federal government for expense
lccruing because of an epidemic
Of sickness among Indians at Fort
McDermitt, these being government
charges.
A remark was made, while bills
we're being signed for payment, that
The bounty on noxious animals
would bankrupt" the county if
hey became much heavier, and the
opinion of the commissioners and
district attorney was expressed that
he bounty law should be repealed
1t the present session of the lepis-
ature, on the assumption that wild
'ats are dangerous animals and are
,oing to be destroyed by ranchers in
Is great numbers as possible
there is a county bounty
attached or not.
The bill of Assemblyman Sites
low before the legislature, to in
'rease the pay of Assessor Smith
md Chairman Bell, came up for dis
,ussion, and it was explained that
he raise for the assessor, to $4,-
500 per year, really didn't mean
raise at all, because out of that
sum he must pay all deputy hire.
t is desirable to pay him in this
manner because the state pays a
percentage of the expense of his
,ffice. No comment was made on
he proposition to raise the pay of
he chairman of the commissioners
o $500 per year, but apparently
he proposal was satisfactory. It
S possible that other salary in
'rease bills for Humboldt county
,fficers may be introduced during
he closing hours Of the legislature.
Nothing was said, either, of the bin
hat would permit higher tax levy
or advertising purposes" which
Underneath is understood to pro-
Continued on Page Twelve)