The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-12-03
WARNS AGAINST
PAYING INCREASE
Governor Writes County
Treasurer On Increase
In Judges Salary.
MAY BE HELD LIABLE
Declares Treasurer May Be Lii
able for Sum If Grant Is De-
clared to Be Invalid.

Governor John J. Blaine has taken a
hand in the situation which has arisen
in Kenosha county over the increase
of $4,000 voted by the county board of
supervisors for the salary of Judge q.
B. Belden, judge Of the circuit court
Of Kenosha, Racine and Walworth
counties, according to information
which became public today. In let
ter to the county treasurer of Keno
sha county, Governor Blaine has sent
a warning that in the event the law
was held invalid, the official could be
held personally responsible for the
amount which had been paid out.
The governor states that he believes
that Gas a matter of fairness" this
possibility should be called to the at
tention of the county treasurer.
Letter States Governors Stand.
The letter from the governor to the
county treasurer reads as follows:
County Treasurer,
"Kenosha, Wis.
"Dear Sir:
"I have been informed that the
county board Of your county has had
under consideration the salary Of the
circuit Judge, under the provisions of
Chapter 217, Laws of 1926. That chap
ter was Bill No. 400 s..
II enclose herewith a memorandum
which / attached to said bill when it
was deposited with the secretary of
state. / deemed it only fair that you
should have a copy of the memoran-
dunn, for if the law should be held in
valid because Of the violation of the
constitutional rule Of uniformity of
county government, your personal la
bility for having paid the money would
be involved.
II felt that as a matter of fairness
to you as, public official, it ought to
be called to your attention.
"Yours very truly,
"John J. Blaine,
Governor"
Includes Memorandum.
Included with the letter was a copy
of the memorandum filed by the gov
crnor with the bill. It reads as fol-
lows:
"This act is local act though gem
eral in it's terms, affecting the RacHe,
Kenosha and Walworth county circuit
court. 1t provides that in judicial dis
tricts containing city OF 10000 popu-,
lation or more, and less than 10000
population, each county of the circuit
may pay to each circuit judge an an
nual salary of such sum as the coun-
ty board of each county shall deter
mine. That means that the circuit
judge of that county may receive an
annual salary from each of the three
counties in the circuit if the county
board so determines.
"The bill does not provide that such.
annual salary shall be in addition to
the salary paid out of state treasury.
1t reclassifes salaries payable to cir
cult judges and substitutes the coun-
ty method of paying salary for the
general law in all circuits coming
within the classification. This classi-
fication of counties is of doubtful
validity and the constitutional rule of
uniformity of county government may
be violated.
81 have no objection to the counties
paying the salaries in place of the
state, but l can not give formal APP
prevail.
'While in terms it is general pro-
vision, in fact it is only local, and the
three counties having resolved in favor
of the bill, / withhold disapproval.
81 file the memorandum, however, as
merely suggestive of the possibilities
involved and to call the possibility to
the attention of the secretary of state
as auditor.
"John J. Blaine, Governor"
A report reached Kenosha this
morning that the county board of Ra-
cine county, which had rescinded its
action of voting an increase of $4,000,
as Kenosha county did, has nov voted
an increase of $1,000 in the salary of
the circuit Judge. Walworth county
several weeks ago voted an increase
of $1,000.
1t is presumed that similar letters
have been written to these counties
regarding the technicality which
might arise in connection with pay
ment of the voted increase.
Borah and Berger prepare bills at
Washington for government operation
of anthracite mines; freight cut on