The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-01-30

FALSE ECONOMY IN LEGISLATION.
The bill to reduce the compensation Of
county officers, passed by the House Of
Representatives last week, may on first
blush be looked upon as an economical
movement in the direction Of reform
yet when taxpayers investigate the sub
jeCt thoroughly in all it's minor details,
and understand the ultimate object Of
its provisions, they will probably agree
with us in the assertion, that 1t was both
unwise and impolitic to pass II without
consulting the interests of the Commu
nifty for which it was designed. Had the
measure had for its object the reduction
Of a heavy burden, in the form of taxa
tion, under which property holders are
desperately struggling, it would have re-
ceived and merited the applause of hon
eeC men. But as tits, it is only designedto
anect litigants, by throwing open a new
door to lawyers that will enable them to
charge more exorbitant fees, at the ex-
pense of men who have been selected to
fill positions Of honor, trust and respon'
sibility. Representatives who voted for
it, as we'll as those who refused to oppose
its passage, merit the bitter reproach Of
constituents whom they neglect to repre-
sent. When the law regulating the fees
of the county officers was framed on
liberal basis, it was generally understood
that they were made sufficiently large to
protect sheriffs, auditors, clerks, etc,
against losses which they would neCes.
sarily be compelled to stand by reason
of the homestead and other acts then in
force. The Legislature should bear in
mind that officers who are compelled to
rely upon fees for their pensation
suffer as we'll as other people from the
stress of hard times, whereby litigants
are incapacitated for the payment of
costs, and should not forget the fact that
the number of defendants who are in
position which enables them to seek ref
uge behind the homestead law inCreas-
ing within the past few years, is very
good reason for granting them additional
protection instead Of divesting them Of
their rights, by making their Offices po-
sitions of great responsibility and no
profit. The people are anxious to have
competent men elected to positions of
honor and trust, yet any course pursued
by the Legislature, that has tendency
to make public positions uninviting, will
discourage better class OF men from as
piring to such positions, and can only re-
suit in inducing class of machine poll
ticians to volunteer their services, who
will not scruple to make up the defiCien-
cy in their shallow incomes, which the
law we have denounced will certainly
cause.
If an insurance company is permitted
to protect itself against contingent losses
by charging exorbitant rates on hazard.
GUS risks, and bank is allowed to charge
high interest on uncertain securities,
why should public servant be Compell-
ed to labor without the assurance of
reasonable compensation for his servi-
ces? There is certainly no reason for ig.
noring his rights. To remove the only
protection he has against losses is unjust
and certainly not magnanimous in men
who claim to possess those broad ideas of
statesmanship that elevate them above
their Vulgdr constituents. An officer said
to us the other day that he would will.
ingly sell his uncolleCted fees at dis
count of thirty per cent if he could find
purchaser. Although this may appear
startling, still it indicates that officers
who depend solely upon fees are in no
condition to stand an additional reduc-
ton of fifteen per cent in their incomes.
The people of Ohio, we feel assured, are
not miserly, niggardly, and unreasona-
BILE class of men. They desire that their
officers shall be what they should be-
honest, upright and competent men. In
order to secure the services of such men
they will undoubtedly concur in the
opinion that the remuneration Of county
officials should be sufficiently large to
Justify efficient representatives in dedi.
eating their time and talents to the pub
lie. The bill will not reduce the rate of
taxation a particle, for litigants are the
only persons benefited as they pay all
costs in lawsuits, and consequently con-
tribute to the incomes of the executive
officers of different courts. 1t is only
right, and certainly very proper that
those who embark in litigation should
pay for their foolishness. Litigation
will increase if it is made cheaper, and
certainly no sensible legislator will
maintain that such change can ever
add to the prosperity and happiness of
any people. To be brief, the bill is a
great fraud -ButLer Co. Democrat