Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1893-01-14
A RINGING REPORT.
OF Secretary Amber, of the Bar Asso-
citation, on the Fee System.

Mr.. B. NJ. Amber, secretary of
the West Virginia Bar Association,
Incorporated in his annual report to
that body some important sugges-
tions. Among other things he dis
cussed the lee system in the follow
ing sensible manner:
Another subject calls for action
the people are alive to 1t, too-the
compensation of officers. When
sheriff is paid more than a>Supreme
Judge, we think something is wrong;
but when the Office of ST. erif in q
single county is worth more than the
aggregated salaries of all four of our
highest judges. we wonder that such
a thing is possible.
Our Governor receives hardly as
much as the Secretary Of State de-
rlves from the question able function
of launching corporations under the
great seal of the State, so much to
the disapprobation of the outside
world. Our Auditor has valuable
perquisites not generally known.
Our County Clerks, in some instan-
ces. are better paid than the judieia-
ry. Our prosecuting attorneys have
the temptation of multiplying in
dictments for the proportlonats
swelling of fees.
If any of the illustrations are faul-
ty, that detracts nothing from the
fact that the salaries are insufficient,
while the emoluments of officers paid
in fees are unequal, and in some
cases inordinate. OF course, some
people think $2,250, the salary of
our highest judge, is more than any
one man ought to make in the short
space Of twelve months; and few
have observed that some offices de
rive through fees, several mes that
sum. 1t may require some nerve to
insist on the right principles in this
matter; but this body can gather the
facts, and properly presented, they
are beyond the reach of adverse ar
gument.
Our State has vastly grown since
its formation. Prior to 1872 our
circuit judges received $4,000, now
they have 81 500. During the past
thirty years West Virginia has pass
ed through q formative stage She
has spent much for build Dgs, schools
and other imprC yementS thrt were
lacking. Her demands Tor expeDdi
ture in some directions must be less
Her resources GER ainly have increas
ed. The material development in
progress throughout tue State, i'm
poses Oh the judiciary greater re-
probabilities, and the settlement of
untried questions. Without enlarg
ing, We may safely say, that the State
can afford to dc better than when
she frat organized; and it would be
a wise and just measure to pay her
judges better, even If she bad to raise
money BY taxation. Bat there is
probably anoti er way. If the fees
of all clerks, sherts, prosecuting
attorneys and State officers could be
turned into the public treasury, an
appropriate salary, without perqui
sites, could be fixed for each.
For instance If all of the salaries
and fees Of the offices in the State
House were pooled and re-distribu-
ted, there is no way in which a COM
mittee Of half sense would allot eth
er to the Auditor or Secretary of
State more than to the Governor, or
give TO our judges less than any of
the others. But the income Of some
of our clerks and sheriffs, if known
throughout the State House, would
start strike st the seat of govern
ment.
We need not expect immediate ac-
ton on this subject. The officials
interested to oppose this change
have large influence with the leeis-
lature. They largely elevate from
obscurity the constituent elements
of that body; and yet full pressn-
tation of actual facts will be under
stood by the people who can be
trusted when the truth is unveiled.