58.160.  Deputies, appointment, compensation. — The coroner, in all counties in this state in which a coroner is required by section 58.010 may have a deputy. In such counties which now contain or may hereafter contain a city of seventy-five thousand inhabitants and less than two hundred thousand inhabitants, may have such a number of deputies and assistants, to be recommended by the coroner and appointed by the county commission as deemed necessary for the prompt and proper discharge of the duties of his office, and such deputies and assistants shall be divided into classes as follows:  Class "A", assistants or deputies; class "B", assistants or deputies; class "C", office clerks and copyists.  Class "A" assistants or deputies shall be paid sixteen hundred and eighty dollars per year.  Class "B" assistants or deputies shall be paid fifteen hundred dollars per year.  Class "C" office clerks and copyists shall be paid twelve hundred dollars per year.  All other counties shall appoint a deputy coroner, at the request of and upon the recommendation of the coroner, who may discharge all duties and exercise all powers of the coroner, and shall receive the compensation of the coroner while serving in the coroner's absence, be compensated as provided by the county commission or serve without compensation.