St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-19

Mr.. Herbst Proposes Ten Conun-
drums to the County Officials.
To the Editor of the Globe.
l do not at this moment wish to dis
cuss the fee system; the matter will
come up before the chamber of COM
merce In due time, and l am endeavor-
ing to obtain few facts upon both
sides of the question, so as to reach the
truth, lead where it may, and with that
end in view. will you kindly allow me
the use OF your columns to ask those
officials who work under the fee system.
and who are familiar with the figures
and other items, few questions in
which the public are deeply Interested
as taxpayers, and which the public
ought to know.
oDe-To whom do the public offices be-
long?
Two-If you answer 'to the people," then
where should the surplus MONIES go after
paying you, as employees of the people. full
ample and generous compensation for your
services?
Three-It is currently believed that during
the past ten years or so, the sheriff register
of deeds, city treasurer, clerk of the district
court,and other fee offices in Ramsey county,
have collected for their personal use and ben.
eht from SIC, 1000 to $50, 00v every year. If
this general impression is untrue. will Won
furnish the public with the actual figures.
under your certificate, so that this wrong may
be d1speiled and justice doneyou in the pub
lie mind?
Fourth-If these figures are true unon
what grounds do you justify your receiving
such large fees for public services and so
dIspcoportionate to the services rendered
when you compare them 10 the public arduous
duties of such services as the iudges of our
courts and other salaried officers?
Flfth-Are the present fee officers of this
county and city unwilling to exchange the
present fee system for a generous, just and
reasonable salary, to conform to vour duties
and responsibilities? and if so, could the PEG.
pie find honest reliable and competent men
who would accept those Offices for gener-
Gus, reasonable and just compensation, and
do equally good work as you are at present
doing under the lee system?
SlX-Are the salaried Offices such as county
auditors, municipal court, probate court,
comptroller's office and similar salaried of
nces. poorer managed for the public than the
sheriff's Office, justice of the peaca. clerk of
the district court and similar fee offices?
SeVen-Are not those men who have many
real estate transactions usually heavy tax
payers? Are they not entitled to have their
work done for actual cost to the pubiicg IF
so, should what they have paid III excess of
that actual cost go towards reducing their
taxes or for forming basis to reduce the
fees, or should that surplus go into the pock-
cts of the official who has already had ample
and just compensation for his work
Elght-Would justice be better or poorer
subserved by paying the justice of the peace
fair and just compensation for his duties,
than by allowing him to be dependent upon
the plaintiff in suits for business and sup
port?
Ninth-Some of the foregoing salaried Of
hcerS receive in addition to their salaries
small perquisites in the shape of fees. If
their salaries are ample for the labors per-
formed should not their time and labors be-
long to the public, and the fee part dispensed
with?
Tenth-Would the public and taxpayer be
benefited by changing the present salaried
oflces into the fee system, and why should
the fee system prevail with one set of oficres
and not with others very like in their methods
and ]abors? a H HERRsT
st. Paul, Sept. 1890.