Case Name: Parsons, Appellant, vs. Waukesha County, Respondent
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1892-10-25
Citations: 83 Wis. 288
Docket Number: 
Parties: Parsons, Appellant, vs. Waukesha County, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 83
Pages: 288–291

Head Matter:
Parsons, Appellant, vs. Waukesha County, Respondent.
September 30
October 25, 1892.
Compensation of slierijf.
A salary for the sheriff having been fixed pursuant to ch. 58, Laws of 1881, the county is not liable to him for his expenses for car fare or livery hire in subpoenaing witnesses in criminal cases in the county or in summoning the jury for the regular terms of the circuit court, or for assistance or conveyance in making arrests in criminal cases within the county; nor is he entitled to any fee for the services of himself or the undersheriff or any deputy in receiving or discharging prisoners from the common j'ail.
APPEAL from the Circuit Court for Waukesha County.
The appellant, Parsons, was sheriff of Waukesha county for the years 1889 and 1890. Prior to his election and qualification, pursuant to ch. 53, Laws of 1881, the compensation of the sheriff for services, etc., for which the county was liable to pay was changed from a fee-bill system to a salary system, and he was to receive $2,500 per annum in lieu of all fees and compensation which might have been charged under the former method. At the end of his term of office, he made out against the county, and presented to the board of supervisors, an account against the county for services rendered and money expended by him as such sheriff during his term of office, claiming that said matters were not covered by or included in the provision for his salary. This bill amounted to $1,632.75, and was wholly -disallowed. He appealed to the circuit court, where the matter was tried, and it was found by the court that the appellant had received $2,500 annually under said resolution, and also $20 per month by resolution of the county board for services of a jailer; that the disputed charges were made by the plaintiff for livery hire to subpoena witnesses for the state in criminal cases in Waukesha, county, and for assistance and conveyance in making arrests in criminal cases within said county, and for car fare and livery hire in summoning the jury for the regular terms of the circuit court, and also a charge of fifty cents each for admitting all prisoners to the county jail, and a charge of twenty-five cents each for all prisoners discharged therefrom. The court found that the items of the plaintiff’s bill charged and rendered against the county were properly and justly disallowed, and were all fully compensated by the stipulated salary of $2,500 per annum, and rendered judgment in favor of the county and against the appellant for costs, from which he appealed. ,
C. E. Armin, for the appellant.
D. S. Tullar, for the respondent.

Opinion:
Pinney, J.
When the plaintiff took the office of sheriff, the resolution of the county boa,rd of the county, passed under ch. 58, laws of 1881, was in force, and restricted his compensation "for all services to be performed in the county," for which the county would otherwise bo liable to pay, to a salary of $2,500 annually,' and such salary was to be " in lieu of all fees and compensation for the sheriff, un-dersheriff, and deputy sheriff for all service rendered by -such officers within the limits of such county, for which service the county was liable theretofore, except compensation for keeping and maintaining prisoners in the common jail." Under the system of compensation by specific fees, for which the salary is merely a substitute, the county would not be liable for livery hire in subpoenaing witnesses or for car fare and livery hire in summoning the jury for the regular terms of the circuit court, and as to assistance and conveyance in making arrests in criminal cases the sheriff, under the fee system, could claim nothing beyond the prescribed fee for the arrest and conveyance of prisoners. Crocker v. Brown Co. 35 Wis. 284; McDonald v. Milwaukee Co. 41 Wis. 642; Hartwell v. Waukesha Co. 43 Wis. 313. The object of the statute, and of the action of the county board under it, was to give a gross sum in lieu of specific fees, bub not to open the door for the sheriff to make charges against the county, not theretofore authorized or allowed by law. This construction is strengthened by the exception from the effect of the law and resolution under it of "compensation for keeping and maintaining prisoners in the common jail." The law having made no other exception, the court can make none. Cutts v. Rock Co. 82 Wis. 17.
The words " expenses for safe-keeping " in sec. 4947, R. S., and the exception in the act of 1881 of " compensation for keeping and maintaining prisoners in the common jail," refer only to the same general subject, namely, the maintenance or necessary support and keeping of the prisoners. The sheriff cannot receive, as he formerly did, in Waukesha county, any fee or charge for services of himself or the un-dersheriif or any deputy in receiving or discharging prisoners from the common jail. The case of Hartwell v. Waukesha Co. 43 Wis. 313, is conclusive on this point, and the case of Bell v. Fond du Lac Co. 53 Wis. 433, does not change the rule or justify any different conclusion. The salary provided, of $2,500, is in lieu of such fees or charges, as well as all others, with the exception mentioned in ch. 53, Laws of 1881, and no other- exception can be allowed. The appellant, having taken office while the resolution was in force, must be content to bear the burdens while receiving the benefits arising under it. It is plain that he has no claim against the county for any of the items demanded. The circuit court correctly decided that the plaintiff could not recover.
By the Court.— The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.