The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-25
COUNTY PAY POWERS
BILL DELAY ASKED
Continued From Page One)

over county officials are now fixed
by the legislature.
Both Representatives LeGrand and
| Morris attended the meeting Of the
board yesterday.
AS agreed upon between commits
sioners and Representatives LIE
Grand and Morris, the proposed
legislation will fix maximum ane
minimum limits between which the
county commission a. alter pres
ent salaries. No salary, the proposal
will specify, can be lowered more
than $500 a year, o raised more
than $500 from its present state-fixed
level.
Thus, should the proposal become
law, the salaries Of every elective
and certain ~top-bracket appointive
official whose compensation is reg
ulated by the state, will come with
in scope of the county commission.
In addition to the salary-jurisdic'
ton matter, the commission hearo
and approved two proposed legisla'
tive bills drawn by the Wilmington
Port commission, and which will be
introduced in the general assembly
this week by Representatives LIE
Grand and Morris. One bill provides
for a continuance, without time
limit, of a two-cent county levy or
all real property for earmarked use
of the port commission; the othe1
would empower the county Abe
board to grant a minimum Of $4,000
end a maximum of $12, 900, annually.
to the port commission.
No Opposition
Both bills were prepared by c. D.
Hogue, chairman Of the port com.
mission. Anticipated opposition to
the diversion of ABC funds failed
to ma~terialize, and the county COM
missioners authorized LeGrand and
Morris to submit the measures to
the legislature without delay" The
two.cent levy legislation merely con-
tinues a law in existence for six
ears, but which expires June 30th,
next.
Several county elective officials,
including Sheriff c. David Jones
and Thomas A. Henderson, clerk Of
the superior court, appeared before
the board during discussion of the
controversial salary jurisdiction
matter. Acting, they said, as spokes-
men for their departments and 9th.
er officials who may be affected by
the legislation, they questioned the
commissioners closely as to probable
policy should the commission re-
ceive the requested authority over
salary.
Commissioner Harry G Gardner,
of the movement, answer
ed for the county board by assert
ing that its about time the COM
mission be given authority over
salary expenditures. We are held
responsible for levying and collect
ing taxes, and it is only fair that
we shold have a voice in how a good
ly sum Of it-as these salaries con-
stitute-is disbursed.
1.-THE boards policy" Gardner con-
tinued, will be pretty much as it
has been in the past. I see no effort
being made now or in the future
substantially to alter salaries this
proposal will affect. We simply
want to protect ourselves against
possible salary jumps which, con-
ceivably, could come at a time when
the county is ilEprepared to meet
The aggravated traffic situation
in and about the city, and its re-
sultant effect on the county re-
corder's court and law enforce
ment agencies, precipitated a
spirited argument between Com
missioner Gardner and Marsden
Bellamy, county attorney.
After reviewing the traffic sit
uation and pointing out that the
recorders court W a S being
with petty traffic cases
might more properly come
jurisdiction of a justice of
peace or police traffic court"
Commissioner Gardner proposed
that the county attorney confer
the city attorney to find
some means" of setting up traf-
fic courts as the logical solution"
to the situation.
Attorney Bellamy commended
that such a move would necessi-
tate a legislative act.
After considerable discussion of
possible ways and means of re-
the recorders court of
the burden of minor traffic infrac-
the commission unanimous
ly approved Commissioner Gard
ner's motion authorizing the coun-
ty attorney to confer with the city
legal chief and EFFECT adequate
legislation to rectify the situa-
Earlier in the meeting, Record
er's Solicitor Winfield Smith ap-
peared before the board and out
lined to its members h in
creased work thrown on the lower
county court by the local traffic
situation. Solicitor Smith asked
commission to endorse his ef-
forts to secure salary increases
from the legislature for his Of
ice and that of the recorders
court Judge.
The salaries Of both Solicitor
Smith and Alton A. Lennon, re.
corder's judge, are among those