Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-26

''When I find out who is sheriff
will pay him." declared Bert p.
Stuart, Kennebec County treasurer,
Tuesday when questioned as to the
payment of the salary Of the sheriff.
The county treasurer stated that he
should await a court decision be-
fore paying out any money toward
the sheriff's salary, in order to pro-
tect himself against the possible
necessity of paying the money again,
should court decision unfavorable
to the man he paid. be handed down.
1t will be recalled that John M.
Ster's nominee to succeed Sheriff
Henry F. Cummings of Manchester.
following the ousting proceedings. as
the result of charges heard before
the governor and his executive coun-
Gil, was placed in charge of the Jail
by Chief Arthur H. Field and a cdp-
siderable force of State Highway
Police, who raided the county bastile.
forcibly ejecting the Cummings
deputies.
Since the proceedings before Gov
ernor Brewster and his. council
when the chief executives vote broke
an evenly divided opinion as to sus-
tanning charges, and the subsequent
supporting advisory opinion of five of
the eight justices Of the Supreme
Court, there has been a real doubt
expressed on the part of members
of the bench. bar and citizens as to
the legality of the governors action.
No less an eminent member of the
bench than Albert NJ. Spear, active
retired justice of the Maine Supreme
Court expressed his doubts as to the
new incumbents legal authority.
even after the advisory opinion by
the majority of the sitting Justices,
1t Is understood that quo warranto
proceedings are to be Forthcoming
by which the counsel representing
the ousted sheriff intend to force the
present incumbent, Mr. Eastman to
establish his legal authority for
holding Office.
The salary of the sheriff is set by
law at $500. it is understood, but in
addition there are certain other eX-
penses, such as the salary of the Jail
turnkey, and the cost of cooking and
serving the food to the prisoners, as
well as the care of the sick inmates
of the county prison, which is paid
to him with his salary. The entire
amount is Jumped and paid monthly.
the sheriff receiving in this way the
sum of S406.33. This salary, like the
salary of other county officers is set
by State law and does not require
the authorization of the county
commissioners for payment.
The Kennebec County Commits
sioners in session Tuesday declared
that they were paying the per diem
charge of 81. and the expenses of the
deputies of Sheriff John NJ. East
man, when these bills were presented
snlr Ix,
Sheriff Eastman. The deputies are
receiving no fixed salary.
The commissioners declared that
they We're paying only bills that
could not be duplicated and that
they feel that if Kennebec county is
to receive protection it is absolutely
necessary to pay the deputies. They
are also paying the bills from the
Jail. They pointed out that in the
matter of paying mileage for the de-
puties, they are allowing ten cents
mile, the scale which was put into
effect in January l, 1926, and which
is considerably less than the former
rate.
Orrette ]. Hussey, one of the men,
bers of the board, declared that
there had been a false impression
created with regard to the payment
of bill which was contracted at the
grocery store of Brownell and Nc
Graw, near the Kennebec jail by the
State highway police. This bill. Mr..
Hussey declared was for $16.15 for
provisions to feed the State highway
police, who remained at the Jail in
the absence of Eastman deputies,
after Chief Field and his men had
assisted Sheriff Eastman to gain
possession of the keys.
Mrs Hussey pointed out that this
bill which was presented to them
was tabled because it lacked the
"okey'' of Sheriff Eastman. When
this was forthcoming, the bill was
paid. He declared that it was really
a saving to the county because it
would have cost the county 81 day
as pay to the Eastman deputies be-
sides their meals if they had remain
ed at the Jail, whereas in this case
the only cost to the county was that
for the provisions.