Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-12-22

I
august body. The Democrat is the Of
fetal organ Of the city, and presuma-
ably OF the officials. In taking issue
with THE GAZETTE on the "fee sys-
tenn long and labored effort was
made to show the beauties Of the eys-
tenn which ended in the statement,
from official figures, that In one month
The receipts from fines amounted to
Sl400. This sum, Il was claimed, paid
the policemen, court officers, fire em-
ployes, guards, feeding prisoners, and
stationery, besides some 500 or
$500 during the year for such illustri-
GUS specimens OF financiering as the
employment Of counsel at 5000 to tell
the city how to do nothing, while two
street-car corporations squabbled over
a right Of way. These figures are Off
clal, evidently, coming from the official
organ Of the city, and therefore can be
relied on implicitly. Taking Mr..
Gibbs figures az basis of calculation,
Il will be found that while the city re-
ceived $l4O0 in one month, the fees for
the officers Amounted to $l1 200 for the
same period This not fair division
Of the fruits of labor" by any means.
1t is not "toting fair" OF course, THE
GAZETTE does not believe that the case
cited by Mr.. Gibbs is the universal
rule, but rather the rare exception; but
should we cut the fees in halves,
the officers would receive ST.
600, which is more than that
number Of men should receive in one
month. Another point deserving at
tention Is the item In the statement
given in the Democrat, to.wt "Pay
Of court officers, $780, Out Of this
fund It is presumed that the recorder
receives 800, and If he does, he is en-
titled TO It.; he earns il, every dollar.
There Is, however, 5000 remaining for
other court officers. Who are they,
and what duties do they perform ?
The city attorney and the city secre-
tary are paid in fees, 50 it cannot be
these officials, The marshal is pro-
vided for otherwise, and it cannot be
that Official. Who, then, can be the
"other court officers - If there are
deputies, there is no authority of law
and no rule Of equity for making their
salaries tax upon the people. Col
/ lecting fees is a land-oilice business,
( and If an officer has more of this work
than he can attend to, and has TO have
, deputy, he should at least pay
r for his services. This two hundred
dollars per month is only S2i0O per an
= mum, but II devoted to the purchase Of
? "oats, S3l per cent. would be saved on
4 this one item in addition to the mar.
; ket price, which would be sufficient 70
= immerse the city hall and the court,
= house in oats for century II kept up
e 'In year." continues the Democrat
a "the police-fund pays out SIS, 1917 a
: free translation Of which is, that in q
r year the fines amount TO SIS 397. Re
a Stunning Mr.. Gibbs calculations for the
e time, the three officers who receive fees
e must have the snug sum OF $li7 ,l75 L
/ divide among them No wonder the
n official organ lauds the fee system
/ The GAZETTE admits that the re
: ceipts Of the police-fuud is q 'ta1
9 upon crime but II would remind III
o neighbor that all violations of city or
b dlnsnees are against the peace ant
i good order OF the city, ant
Is not against the peace aut
e good order Of those fortunat,
e officials who receive fees. II tn,
h primary idea Of punghing by fine Il
II recompense for a wrong suffered 4,
Y proposition which THE GAZETTE repu
IF dates then the city and not the Off
B. GERS should receive the money. A
a change from the fee to the salary sys
II tenn would make the Offices les
!, desirable, hut it would Increase Tia,
II police fundn considerably. Wher,
! now man is fined one dollar anc
y costs he could be fined two or four
If which would double or quadruple tn,
: returns to the city, and be even lighter
% ON the culprit. 'Pistol.toters' coulc
1t be fined 500, all of which would 9,
. into the city treasury, and otheI
4; oilenses in proportion. To say thar
is delinquent will call for Jury and tina
IS jury viii assess the minimum fine /,
p doing a violence to the inteerit,
n Of jurors which they do no
le deserve, and which is unjust to our cit
Q lena The late discussion or oui
Of municipal matters has brought to Ugh
m attate Of affairs in the management o
10 our city which Is highly detrimental
Is VIZ, that, while our bonds sell at par
% our current credit is so low that oatl
rs cost more than they ought TO. What d,
y we want with so much oats. any
a how II behooyes US to make ever,
II, end meet, save every dollar posslbIe