West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-03-14
The other Side.

by q citizen and voter, THE NEW
ERA has little concern, and the gen.
tleman who dared TO exercise the
prerogative Of free citizen has, at
our request, In q published inter
view, shown the weakness and fall
iacy of Mr.. Fortney's pretended
grievances. THE NEW ERA has to
do with the question OF increase in
the salary OF a public officer, who Is
already we'll paid for his Official ser.
vices. Regarding the salaries paid
TO the other county officers, we have
nothing TO say at this time, nor has
1t any bearing upon the merits of
the case In hand ; there has been no
effort made publicly, especially
through the newspapers, To secure
such increase, as there has been for
the prosecutors. IL there had been,
We should have enlightened our
readers on the subject and endeav-
ored TO discuss it fairly, and If the
demands should have seemed to be
unreasonable, would have opposed
IL To the best OF our ability.
The county court who arranged
the salaries of all county officers,
had the same authority TO increase
the prosecutors as the others, and
did undoubtedly consider the mat
ter fairly, and with equal Justice TO
all, taking into account the duties to
DO performed, and IL Mr.. Fortney
could have convinced the court that
his services were worth more, the
allowance could have been increased.
The salary now paid Mr.. Fortney
is $500, In addition to his fees col
lected from defendants. THE New
ERA in a former article estimated
that the fees thus collected would
amount to $500. On further inVes-
tgation we find our estimate was
too low, for many fees have been
collected In cases which the record
does not show, as yet, 20 be closed
up, and others that are not yet paid
Will be. The law provides that de-
PENDANTS who do not pay up tim liq-
u0r cases especially may be sent to
Jail, which has the effect In most
cases to bring the money, as IL did
very recently, the defendant paving
part and giving bond and security
for the balance. We found one batch
OF indictments against one man.
numbering thirteen, which were
paid, and not included In former
estimate, bringing $3.50 from one de-
PENDANT. A low and safe estimate OF
the amount received, and 20 be re-
ceived, In such cases for the year
1888, Is $500, so that his income from
his ONCE Is not less than 81, 900.
Mr.. Fortney may claim that this is
An oVerestlmate, but we think not,
and believe his receipts will exceed
this amount. II he will show us
from the records the cases in which
he has received, or will receive, his
fees, or the cases In which they are
not received, and his fees are less
than $500, We will publish the result for
his benefit.
AS to the actual time employed In
the discharge of his official duties,
Mr.. Fortney endeavors TO make the
Impression that his whole time Is so
employed, we mean such time as IL
usually devoted to business by pro-
fessional men, say six to eight hours
| each day. We know very we'll, as do
those OF his neiRbors who are at all
familiar with his habits and meth
DDS, that the duties OF his Office do
not require any such devotion to
business as that, and we believe the
former statement we made that not
more than one-half his time 10 nee
essary for the discharge OF his official
duties Is correct. Five members of
the bar say that less than one-half of
his time Is thus necessarily employ
ed. 1t is generally conceded that
the lawyers at the bar OF this county
are not starving, and for fear we
| might underestimate the value of
our prosecutors services, we have
ascertained through friend the
Views Of several OF them bearing
upon these questions. Five practic-
Ing attorneys, members OF the bar
here, have expressed opinions, and
all state their belief that the prose-
cutting attorneys income from his
ONCE Is larger than the average in
come of the lawyers at this bar. and
| four Of them state that they believe
his salary Is large enough. Five OF
them say that IL vacancy ia the
Office should occur, and the county
court should All the vacancy by APP
pOintment, and the services OF either
should be desired, he would accept
the appointment, two of whom saw
at the present salary, two at q lower
salary, and one not mentioning any
sum. Thus 1t would seem that the
| county court has dealt very literally
by him, and we do know that with
habits OF economy and industry, Mr..
| FOrtney, or any other man with n
family no larger than his, could,
during the eight years he has held
the office, out Of the income he has
received, have laid the foundation
/ for a fair competency.
Mr.. FOrtnsy states: II came TO
the conclusion that I would try my
luck with body or men who were
/ more familiar with q question like
this one" meaning the Legislature.
The men who compose the Legisla-
ture are not, and cannot be more "a
miliar with the dulles Of the prose
cutOr Of this county than the mem
befs Of our county court, and the
/ application 70 the Legislature with.
0at formal application % the court
/ for their Views on the subject, was
not only snubbing the latter, but a
serious reflection upon their ability
20 act intelligently IN the matter,
and also an EFFORT on his part 20 com
| pei them to do what ne believed
they would not do, and what their
constituents would not Justify them
! IN doing.
OF course N ne had succeeded, his
'Bit Of History" would not have
| nuuoarod hfff A tho srrfao mos, ~ flo