The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-07-01
FEEs Or COUNTY oFsscEns.
A mi.tery or the Case. Giving ssAs
Facts OF Interest 20 Oar Taxpayers.

A Misiery or the Case. Giving soas
Facts OF Interest 20 Oar Taxpayer.-
Ever since the enactment by the tirst
legislative assembly Of Wyoming Ter
ritory, Of the hw providing for fees
and allowances for county ofiicers. the
belief has been growing into eonyic-
tion that our taxpayers were paying too
much for administering the county Of
fees. ThisconyietiOn has brought about
many attempts ON the part of suisse
quent legislatures 10 repeal or amend
this Law; but all were unsuccessful, ow-
Ing TO the opposition and influence
brought 10 bear upon the legislative as
semblles By those who were directly in
terested In keeping the fees and salaries
at the high figures allowed by the law
OF 1862 The legislature of III being
unable TO agree upon a general reduc-
tion OF fees aud emoluments, enacted
special laws on this subject, one for
each county in the territory. Even
these laws, while they reduced public
expenditures In some of the counties,
were unsatisfactory to the people; for
the salary bills gave excessive pay TO
officers, while the public service suf-
fered for the want OF proper admins
tration of the several county Offices,
and the failure OF the county treas
uries TO receive the high and excessive
fees which heretofore had swelled the
pockets of the officials which fees
wereb by virtue Of these laws TO be paid
into the county treasury.
Disguised with all the previous ef-
forts at retrenehment and reform made
by our legislators, the taxpayers in
1879 demanded the total repeal of all
fee and salary laws. and the enactment
Of n uniform system Of reasonable fees
and compensation for all county officers.
Several candidates OF the legislature
were publicly pledged to bring about
the desired change in our laws. and be-
ing elected, worked together in framing
what, after due consideration, great
study and much discussion, was deemed
the most equitable, benefcent and eco
nomical measure that could be devised.
As In former years. much opposition TO
this fee bill was manifested from the
outside; many attempts to persuade
members to vote against 1t were made;
and threats were uttered, when the bill
was upon its final passage, that it
would never become law. The bill,
however, finally passed the two houses
Of the legislature, was signed by the
governor, and became a Idtc.
The parties interested In the defeat
of this measure did not, however, stop
here. They became desperate, as much
money was at stake and they con-
spired TO defeat the ends OF Justice, and
the efforts Of the Representatives of the
people in behalf of economy and re-
form, by committing crime The
enrolled copy cf The idio ,eas stolen and
in great glee the miscreants exclaimed (:
what are you going to do about it
nowr" supposing in their ignorance of
law, that no means were at hand, no
evidence could be produced, to prove the
several provisions Of the law enacted
by the legislature.
Thanks to our intelligent and incor-
ruptible judiciary. and the able labors
Of Messrs. Z. N. Potter and w. II.
Miller, attorneys for the county of lar