The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-18
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1o, 1869.
The Fees Cut on.


Senators from Philadelphia county, and was
favorsbiy reported by them few days siooe.
On Tuesday evening the Senste passed the
bill. II provides that the amount Of costs and
ices for any one year, 'mmencing with tho lst
Of January, which shall ba paid to the several
officers named, shalt never exceed certain
specified sum, as follows:-
District Attorney $4,000
Clerk of Quarter Sessions 5000
Sheriff 4OOO
Coroner 6oOU
This, it will be noticed, includes all OF the
county officers, who ars at present in receipt
Of the heaviest proportion of the "plums" of
Official power. At the present time, it is CUE
rently stated, and on good authority, that the
following are the sums received from fees by
the officers above named:-
District Attorney $50, 600
Sheriff $4,000
Cor0nee l5, 900
AL ofthe receipts from these Offices above the
frst-named sums shall hs declared forfeited to
the city treasury aud IA applied towards de-
oreasing the expenses of government; in
other words, the section of the law which has
phia an annual amount Of at least $50, 900. 70
exactly the ex tent OF tha amount saved will
the burdens of taxation bs reduced. In addi-
ton to the present Offices, which are thus dis
posed of, there remain Others, to which the
second section ofthe act supplies the standardo
remuneration. The Recorder OF Deeds, Register
OF Wills Clerk OF Orphsns Court, Prothono-
tary of District Court, Pro Monetary Of Court
of Common Pleas, aoi Clerk of Quarter Sss-
sions, in addition TO all the taxes they now
pay, are required to pay to the city annually
One-fourth of all the fees received by them
over $4,000. Now the reason of the difference
between the mode OF payment of the two
Glasses of officers ia clear. The first section
applies to those only WHO receive their fees
from the city treasury. The second
receive their fees themselves directly
from the parties. As the Clerk of Quarter
Sessions falls under both the classes, he is
placed in both Of them. The fees OF all the
officers of the second class are much lighter
than those of the first, aud as they are for
services actually rendered, it is probably only
Just that they should retain e-half for it is
about that amount which is deducted for
taxes. In order that no chance for
deception be allowed, it is m Ide the ddty Of
the officers in question to file with the City
Controller an exact statement of all the fees
received, and swear by affidavit to the correct
ness of the account, aud the act especially
makes false swearing liable to prosecution for
perjury. By another provision the act is not
to take effect until the expiration of the terms
of each of the present incumbents.
OF the justice and eminent propriety of
suoh law there can be no division of opinion
The sbsurdity OF permitting the Clerk of
Quarter Sessions to receivs5$1S, 900 for his
duties is self-evident. That he should get
more than the combined judges Of the court
in which he is Clerk is ridiculous. The
people have long demanded this change on
both the ground OF reason and economy. The
saving Of thi $50 900 to the city is in reality
the deduction from the tax rate OF just that
anounts and consequent relief to that ex-
tent of the sum saved. Nor have the present
officers any cause OF complaint. The bill
delays the commencement of its effect until
their terms have expired. Had 1t been other
wise 1t might have been said that 1t was
gentlemen had lost the control of the places
In question, that therefore they favored
outing of the fees. There can be no charge
Of partisanship now urged against the
bill. 1t lis reform, not party device. We
have so often and 80 urgently argued in favor
Of Just such law, that there can be no doubt
Of our position now. 1t is called for by every
one except the flock of hungry cormorants
who hang around Fifth and Chestnut, and hope
in the future to secure the spoils thus cut OFF.
1t will meet with the universal support OF all
men who are not politicians per Sc. OF course,
all such will denounos il; for are not they
we'll defined as "men without any visible
means of support ?" and are not the crumbs OF
these offices one of the invisible means which
keeps them from the AlmshOuse But all
right-thinking men CON mend the effort. We
urge upon the House OF Representatives a
hearty assent to the action of the Sepate, fOl
IL is clear TO all that to defeat the bill is tC
legislate against the people, and openly and
directly In favor of the political "ring."
The PennsylVRDia Railroad
THR annual report of the Pennsylvania Rail