The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1873-01-23
POINT PLEASANT, WEST VA,
Thursday, January %, 1878.
Reduction Of Foes.

AoouI AL lho newspapers OF Tue olaIe
condemn aud boldly deuOunce the passage
by the Legislature the act reducing the
fees and salaries Of Justices, Clerks, Slcr.
riffs, aud other county officers TO such a
point as to render these places undesirable
and which will cause many good and com.
peient officers to resign their positions,
aud make it almost an impossibiliIy to gel
competent men to Gil these places. 10
MasOn-the second county in the State 10
point of wealth, and the third in popula.
ton, .he Office Of Prosecuting Attorney
has been made mere honorary Office so
far as compensation is concerned The
County Court Is prevented by this act from
paying tho Prosecuting Attorney over
$50 scar for bis services while the
Prosecuting Attorney Of a small county
like Wayne is allowed 800 Ia year Look
OF the inequality Ond injustice of the law.
The Committee in presenting the bill, dis
played little wisdom or common sense
The Office of Clerk of the Circuit Court
uOder present arrangement, is seriously
crippled 10 its business by so much Of the
work formerly done in this Office now 60.
lug to the County Clerk, aud taking this
aud the reduction Of $50 per cent. in the
fees Of the Office, the Office is rendered on
undesirable one. This kind Of economy
is false, and the people will end it out to
be SO, when the county Offices arc filled
with incompetent men. This will Iatu-
rally be the result Of this unjustifable re-
duCtion of salaries aud fees. We hope
the Legislature for the welfare of the State,
will repeal this law, and re.enGCt the
law regulating Iho.fces Of officers, now in
the Code. Without distinction of party,
Democrats and Republicans, dcnounCe the
act and dCplOre its consequences to tue
public service.
The Wheeling Register, the bold aud
fearless organ of the Democratic party Of
this State, in speaking of this matter, has
this to say; The effort seems to have
been to re-cnact the provisions of The code
Of 1860 in rcspeCl to fees, forgc(ul Of the
fact that one dollar has not now the same
purchasing capacity it had prior to 1860
The expense Of living is such thatno more
money can be saved out Of an annual in
come of one thousand dollars than could
have been saved out Of Eve hundred dol.
lars, twelve or fifteen years ago.
"Wc believe in economy in State ex-
pcDdilures, and would suggest that if tue
Legislature desires 10 reduce the taxes
paid by the people, little rctronchmcnt
in its own expenses would accomplish
more gCncralrelief than will be effected by
reduction Of officers fees which are paid
by individuals for services rendered, and
constitute no charge tall upon tbo public
treasury. The Legislature might as well
attempt 10 reduce taxes by lowering the
price Of -four, fuel ard other nccessaries Of
life. Let some reduction be made in those
expenses that are made cut of the general
treasury; for example, 10 the per diem Of
'thc members during the Legislative re-
cess; and a.more salusary effect will be
produced upon taxation than could be ac
,COmplished by the entire adjustment Of
the fees allowed to Justices, Clerks, Pros
,ecuting Attorneys and other county off,
GERS"