Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-12-05
NUN II E ID.

of Clerk OF Court aud Register OF Deeds.
1t charges that the fees of the clerks of
are "qute too high amounting, in the ag-
gregate, to some fifteen hundred or two
thousand dollars per annum
perceive that subscriber does not pre-
tend 10 safe this amount from any personal
knowledge of his own, but derives his knowl-
edge from the complaints of others
That there are found in all communities
and at all times, men who are ready to com
plain of any and every compensation al
lowed for official services, and complain of
their enormity and exhorbitantcy, will not,
| presume, be denied by even subscriber
The causes of complaints are as various
as they are prcposterous.
Some complain because they think it is
popular with the people; others complain
because they were not elected to an Office
themselves: and not uuirequently they com
plain because they have unfortunately been
obliged TO contribute largely to the support of
one or more of these officers
Now | do not say that any one of these
causes prompted the remarks of subscriber
presume not.
| am as great a stickler for salaries
aud small fees as any other one; but when
! say so, intend to be un lcrstood that the
business shall be low and tho services small.
The salary of an officer should be common
suratc with the duties and responsibilities of
the office.
That in two or three counties of our Ter
ritory. for instance, Milwaukee, Racine and
Iowa, the salary of the clerks of courts may
be some more than barely sufficient to de-
frav their necessary means of subs stance;
but how is it in the other counties of the
Territory. and much the greater portion
thereof? In these the amount of salary Is
mere pttance--not enough TO pay tor the
l;cht and fuel for their Offices
Let us take a glance at the duties of the
clerks of court. In the first place they are
Obliged 20 furnish themselves with suitable
offices at their own expense, at the county
scat of their respective counties. They are
likewise obliged TO be there night and day,
,d g.. ororr d,y,s ro,,oct thew forGeit the
sum of ten dolllrs They arc made respon-
s.ble for all records and deposits of money
an, ,Lo;, h,ods. and No, mn
LII. Sc ,.o,. ma
r. .. ,.a n..,;a, ;n,aros.oI NJ o,hcr
~. A. . :; o,.oa ,,.;,h s,c,
h;aL ro..Lr,;o w., ;ns.o,d of tho
g e. h,ndrcd or two
-, l..,hn-;hor, svr,os,s
,brcc G,ur,hs Of the clerks IN the Territory.
do mo, ON m ,ro .,ro gct one hundred and
e.. 1o,,,,. ,,,r ,,,,,,,,, for al tbo;r services
i ...lu.;o vh,t oor,n,,s,t;on &c
49, ,.,:.,j r.Lr,;os9
> ,,n..,,,.oo
- - ~. ,:.,, 10 ,o,.nn,
No ,odno,;an 81 ,ho;r f.os. hnt No, mako a
s,,,o,,:,,, rol,,c,;o,, cf tho Gao LII 70 oporote
,,..,l.,a,, 1,o r,r.;,o.,, ;,ros,oo,;yo of tho
amount of bus.pcss done in each coun,v.-
For instead or correcting tho owls COMPLAIN
cd Of YOU would be INJECTING greater ones,
bv doing Injustice to ninc-twclfihs, for the
slkc of doing Justice 10 three counties A
measure IS called GOOD or evil in proportion
IN the number of objects it benefits. The
o,.c, IF all LEGISLATION should be the grea-
,r,t oood 10 the greatest number
II tho s,Iaries of the officers complained
oro,c ,oo b;ob in Racine or anv other coun
:, -, ,ho dsIoo,tion from those counties
mako , uovc 70 have them reduced to ac-
.on,noa,,o ,bom
IJo mo-, hoIovs conerallv in the doctrine
Of martial lcoisl,tion. still that system has
.l,aodv h.an enorafeJ into our civil coda.
.,3 :, ;s NOW too l,,e to condemn the nrac-
tcc We have our Town system. our
ro,,,,,,, .,,,,,,, .,d our Co-noration system