Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-02-19
THE PAY OF COUNTY OFFICERS.
VIEWS OF SENATOR NICHOLS.

which the editor of that paper informs
me was taken from less fair Democrat
ic organ, and not executed by himself, as
he would cheerfully copied it all if he had
had it. While the article is right in the
main, so far as it goes, except parenthet-
ical insertions, yet in view of the fact
that many persons evidently think that
all the officers of the county are wholly
paid by the taxpayers of the county, and
acting from this belief are numerously
petition ing the General Assembly of the
State to change from the fee to the salary
system and for greatly reduced pay, the
article may mislead, and therefore ask
the indulgence of your columns for a
more complete exposition of my views.
First, l am opposed to change from
fees to salaries of all officers now paid by
fees for many reasons, chief of which are
the following:
As our laws now stand, the Probate
Judge, Recorder Clerk of Courts, and
Sheriff are almost wholly paid by the per-
sons who do business in these offices, and
hence but very little burden to taxpayers.
To abandon fees and pay by salaries is
for taxpayers to assume the payment of
four more necessary county officials,
which is certainly not desirable. To re-
tain the per cent-fee system, which is
generally thought to be too high, and
turn the surplus incomes of these offices,
after paving the officers (if there be any
surplusl into the public treasury, is to
approve and endorse thing as right
when done by the people, which we so
loudly condemn as wrong when done by
the individual. For example, the expires
sion is frequently heard that our county
officers are public robbers, and yet
we would have the county through her
treasurer do the same thing, and call it
public benefactiOn." Is this consistent
with any mans inward prOmptingS of
fairness and right? Do we want to make
our offices sources of public revenue, and
the people who do business in them pay
tribute to the government in addition to
the expense of the office? Can 1t be that
the people are clamoring to force men
who are compelled to go into courts of
Justice to obtain their rights, or defend
themselves against wrong in civil actions
at law, not only pay the costs thereof but
have insult added to injury by forcing
them to pay other mems taxes? Or the
man who buys farm pay S1.2o for re-
cording his deed and perpetuating and
protecting his title as required by law,
and then declare by another law that 60
cents is for the pay for the work of him
who did it, and the other 60 cents to help
pay the taxes of the seller and of others,
or as | have previously cited. Say by
law that a widow of deceased husband
must take his estate, that has been the
energy and pride of their joint lives to
accumulate, into the Probate Court for
settlement, where she must not only pay
the costs of settlement, but have por-
ton of the estate of this widow and her
orphan children cOnfscated to the gov
vernment for the payment of other peo-
pies taxes? For my part | never can
endorse a system that to me, as now see
it, seems so foreign to every sense of
right and justice.
If the pay of these officials are too high
let them be scaled down to what they
should be, but give the benefit to those
who have it to pay.
There is small portion of the expenses
of these four offices now paid by the tax
payers that think should be paid as the
rest is, and for this purpose Il bill was
recently offered in the Senate to do this
with Recorders. Other will promptly
follow as righteous result OF the dg.ta-
ton of the question.
But not only do | think the proposed
change from fees to salaries is wrong in
principle, but would in a short time be
no relief to taxpayers, but and election
eering scheme and corruption fund, the
collection of which would be neglected
until the incomes of the offices would not
pay their expenses and thus necessitate
the election or appointment of new
official or collector of fees.
But l am informed that am cenSured
and misjudged for introducing my bill to
reduce the pay of the Auditor, and that
the claim is made that it was because the
present incumbent is Democrat. Now
let us see. The cry is for lower taxes
and as l am informed, and still believe,
the Auditor is the highest paid official of
the county, paid by the Taxpayers of the
county, and as thought, the proper place
to begin was at the top, and if successful
in its passage, then others could follow,
first to the relief of taxpayers, and then
the Others OF the two Auditors in the
district, one is Republican, and besides,
the reduction, if made, would scarcely
apply to present incumbents, SO that Mr..
Henderson would not be wronged, except
in his prospects for a second term, which
he is under no obligation to accept if the
pay is too small. 1t seems next to i'm
possible to so frame bill as to regulate
the fees of all the officials in single
legislative enactment, but on the contra
ry will require one for each office, and
thus take much time. Hastily conceived
and considered remedies too often bring
fatal results.
That the pay of most county officials
is too high, seems to admit of little doubt,
and as one of the servants of the people |
should gladly aid in doing their bidding
upon this or any other question, but
would like what is done to accomplish
the desired end. But let us not forget
that we too often most neglect the chief
source of taxation. For, while politicians
seek to impress us that the opposing
party is RESP onsible for high taxation be-
cause of inability or extravaganza in the
of State affairs, yet the fact
is that the levy for State purposes is but
a drop in quart when compared to leyies
for county purposes, and the levy for
pared to township levies, and yet these
latter are given least attention. For ex-
ample, what causes the.difference in the
rates of different townships, or between
township and municipalities, where state
and county llevies are equal? Is it not
simply local management? 1t is right |
that state and county taxes should be |
jealOusly scrutinized; but let us not for
get townships, where the burden Of it is
too often made, and in seeking reform |
look all along the line, and be sure that |
changes don't mean new evils |
and increased burdens.
Cuyahoga only three years ago adopted
salaries instead of fees, and is now back. |
asking and imploring this General AS |
sembly for permit to return to the old
fee system, because of increased burdens. |
J. W. NICHOLS.
DISORDERS WHICH EFFECT
The kidneys are among the most formid-
able known; diabetes, Bright's disease,
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