Brissenden v. Howlett

The question presented on this appeal is whether an elected officer’s compensation, fixed on a population basis by a statute enacted prior to the commencement of his term, may be changed by reason of fluctuation in population, despite the constitutional provision which prohibits increasing or diminishing salaries during terms of office.

The petitioners are county superintendents of schools in eight different counties in Illinois. They were all elected for four-year terms commencing the first Monday in August, 1959. On December 2, i960, the last Federal census became effective, and disclosed…