Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 141, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1914 — CAN COUNTY AGENTS HOLD ON REGARDLESS? [ARTICLE]

CAN COUNTY AGENTS HOLD ON REGARDLESS?

That la, Regardless of Whether the County Connell Appropriates Money For Tuem.

Some time ago the county council in session in Rensselaer decided that it would not appropriate money for the hiring of a county agent. Money previously appropriated was to employ an agent to June 30th onlyL-Oounty Agent O. G. Barrett will sever fife connection with the work at that time unless a decision by the supreme court sustains the contention of the county agents that it is mandatory on the council to appropriate the money.

The law says that they “shall” make the appropriation and a judge in Fountain county held it to be unconstitutional on the ground that it gives the council and the public no option in the matter. The case went up to the supreme court from Fountain county. That county is the home of J. A, Stahl, who as a member of the legislature fathered the measure providing,, for the employment* ftl the agricultural experts. The case was advanced by the supreme court and a decision is daily expected. If the court should hold that the law is constitutional then it is probable that Mr. Barrett will continue to hold his job and that the coud ty council will be compelled to ap propriate the money for his pay. If it is desirable in any county to change agents the power to do so lies with the board of education, who have the power to make the selection 4 in the first place. Mr. Barrett began work in this county the first of July, 1913.