Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-03-31
REDUCTION OF FEES.

REDUCTION OF FEES.
On the third page of to-day's issue, will be
found the substitute for Assembly Bill No.
l73" entitled An Act concerning the offices
Of Sheriff, County Clerk. County Recorder.
County Treasurer and County Assessor and
fixing their compensation for the County Of
Fl Dorado The original bill was introduced
in the Assembly, by our representative Mr..
Dunlap, and the substitute by Mr.. CONFESS.
The subject matter Of the measure is Of great
interest to the citizens Of FL Dorado, bur
dencd as the county now is with heavy
public debt. Reduction Of the fees Of offices
has ever met the appreciation ofthe masses Of
the people, and We, as public journalists, ap-
prove the general doctrine. II is however
proper to remark, that the doctrine can he car
ried to such all extreme as to render it injuri-
GUS in its operation, instead Of beneficial
The standard Of compensation may be reduced
iOr, that our best men will not aspire to,
nor accept positions encountered with serious
responsibilities, which yield little or no
profit. We are not prepared to say whether
the amount Of salary for each officer pre-
Scribed in the Bill before us, is adequate or
inadequate. The Objectionable features to
which We would attract the attention Of the
Assembly. (Mr. CONFESS particularly J, are to be
found in that clause which compcIS the off.
GERS named, to collect every dollar of fees
which may become due to their respective
Offices or individually lose the amount uncol.
leeted;; and in the other, prescribing the pen
alticS for violation Of the provisions of the
Bill. With reference to the former, il NAV be
truly said that the most efficient and patriotic
officer will find it difficult if not impossible, to
collect all sums which may DO due to him for
services rendered In such cases the affidavit
Of the officer, setting forth that he had used
re1son"bIe rrertiona 10 cOil<ct the amount,
would be sufficient TO the attainment Of all
equitable ends. without dcductinE such lost
amount from the reduced compensation al.
lowed him by the Bill. In regard to the pun.
ishmcnt prescribed to m offender, in the Bill,
it seems to be altogether too aererc. Some of
the requirements of the proposed law arc mi.
mute and trrhnical. With the main prfncf.
pies Of such law in operation, no gross i'm
prOprrty could be committed by the officer,
nor any grave injury be inflicted upon the
County. Yet, "for wilful neglect or a re-
fiisal to comply with the provisions OF this
Act, or Jor any one Of them, any officer or
officers herein named, shall, on conviction be
subject to fine not exceeding Fire Thousand
DOild1~, forfeiture of their Offices, to i'm.
prisonmcnt in the State Prison, not less than
one nor more than three years, or TO any one
or more Of the said penalties in the discretion
Of the Court We submit to Mr.. CONFESS,
that this is "piling on the agony little too
heavily. 1t savors rather much of the ORA.
CONAN code, to punish the "nrgLrct or viola
ton" Of some one insignificant provision, Of
n technically drawn law, with a fine of Fire
thousand Dollars, and imprisonment in the
state Prison not less than one year. 1t seems
to US, forfeiture Of office, would be quite
enough to visit upon the offender, for any
trifing infraction Of the law. With proper
amendments, the Bill introduced by Mr.. Con.
ness deserves the support Of the Assembly,
and would confer considerable benefit upon
the citizens of FL Dorado.