Garber v. Clayton County
Garber v. Clayton County
Opinion of the Court
II. It is insisted that the claim was allowed by the District Court without evidence. The position finds no support on the record. We do not understand that the case was heard alone “upon the transcript,” but that the case, as shown and presented therein, was what was tried and adjudicated, but upon what evidence is not
In other words it is insisted that, as the county judge’s salary depended upon the population of the county, and as he receives (and did for the year 1863) fees instead of salary, the compensation of the sheriff, contemplated by this section, is taken away by this change, and that he is entitled to nothing for such services.. In this view we cannot concur.
The law expressly allows pay for (-what may be styled) these extraordinary services. If the amount thereof is not fixed, then he should be allowed what would be a reasonable compensation. Looking at the case from this standpoint alone, the judgment below should be affirmed, for no part of the evidence is before us, and we cannot, therefore, say but that proper proof was taken, and the allowance made, based thereon.
But it will be remembered that when this section was passed, the salaries of the county judge, treasurer and clerk of the District Court, were all in proportion to the inhabitants in their several counties. The object was, as to the sheriff, to graduate his salary by the same rule, and reference was made to the county judge alone for brevity and as a matter of convenience, instead of to each and all of the others. The basis of the calculation is just as
The right of compensation was not intended or designed to depend upon the existence or non-existence of the office of the county judge. The salary of the one, according to the system of county organization and government as it then stood, was only given therein as the rule or basis upon which to make the calculation.
In thus construing the statute, we preserve and carry out the object of the law in allowing this compensation. The other theory would repeal and render of no effect a statute, and deprive an officer of compensation in the face of the clearly expressed legislative intention. As sustaining these views, see Cole v. Supervisors of Jackson County, 11 Iowa, 552; Mather v. Converse, 12 Id., 352.
Affirmed.
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