The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-12-25
SHERIFF'S FEES.

For some time in this county there
has been disputation concerning the fees
TO which the sheriff is entitled for trans
porting insane persons to the asylum at
Oshkosh. It is practically impossible to
secure the conveyance Of insane to hos
pitfalls fer the fees now allowed by law,
and it is difficult to understand why the
state legislature should frame laws which
either must be disregarded or prevent
the very thing for which they purport to
provide. We acknowledge the impreg-
nabie position of o. Moses on the matter
of fees but can find an answer in the
query of Boss Tweed: "What are you
going to % about it?" The sheriff can
not be expected to do from charity that
which concerns the public and for which
the state has made no adequate provision.
To be the companion and, for the time,
guardian of an insane person, is some
thing deserving of more than ordinary
compensation. The statutes make it a
labor of love on the part OF the sheriff
The fees allowed by law ere less than for
any other work performed by the sheriff,
indeed SO low as not to be sufficient to
cover these expenses which do not come
under the head of actually necessary. >"
In serving civil process the sheriff is
entitled to five cents per mile Travelled,
besides other fees connected Herewith.
In serving criminal processes, ten cents
per mile in addition to other fees. In
conveying insane persons only five cents
per mile, without any other fees and it
may be seriously questioned whether he
be allowed anything beyond bare, neces-
sary expenses in returning from the asy-
lum. A law which fixes such niggardlY
compensation for the discharge of very
disagreeable duty is not only unjust but
outrageous, because if rigidly observed
it makes impossible the conveyance of
insane persons to the asylum provided for
them by the state.
The inconsistency OF the law be-
comes apparent when we contrast the
fees allowed for bringing insane persons
before the county judge and those allow
ed for conveying the person found to be
insane, to the asylum. The county
board may have exceeded their just au-
thority in fixing a compensation beyond
that prescribed by law, but they certain
ly err on tie side of justice and make
possible what the law practically makes
impossible One dollar and fifty cents
per day the law allows for the support OF
each patient while enroute to the asylum.
Unless the sheriff who lives at a distance
can reach the asylum by means of an en-
chanted horse he must limit the bill of
fare for his charge to cup of coffee
and sandwich or else do the honors at
his own expense. Two meals will ex-
haust the amount allowed if he enters the
dining room of a restaurant. Why does
not the law limit the amount il the case
of a convict being conveyed to the state
prison? Why does it allow the sheriff
the amount paid for lodging and board
ing O convict while journeying to the
state prison and limit him to the paltry
sum of $3.50 per day in the case of an
insane persona Evidently the sheriff
must put up at fourth class hotels when
accompanied by an insane person and
assume that insanity makes unnecessary
all precautions for watchfulness and care.
The lew allows reasonable sum" for
transporting a convict to Waupun and
the words quoted imply that the sum
allowed in the case of an insane person
is not at all reasonable
The county board has right to fix the
compensation for performing like SER
vice in the case of a convict. Why
the discrimination Allow the fees as
fixed by law and not an insane person
will find his way to Oshkosh or Madison.
We are credibly informed that other
county boards invariably allow the sher-
iff greater sum than that fixed by law
for the very good reason that the service
would not and could not be performed
at legal rates. The law should be amend
ed SO as not to be hindrance and a
source of contention, which it is at pres
ent. There are few persons who would
travel to Oshkosh i'll company with a
mad man, for less than S35. 1t has new
er been done in this county.