The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-09
FEES MUST BE LOWER.
The Sentiment in Favor of Radi-
cal Fee Bill
Is STRONG AMONG THE MEMBERS
OF the Legfslature-What senators
Say on the suhject-Senator lands
Has Novel Plan of Regulating Fees.

OF the Legfslature-W What senators
Say on the Subject-Senator lands
Has a Novel Plan of Regulating Fees.
If promises, good intentions and ex-
pressions of sincerity count for anything,
1t is certain that the illumination of
enormous court fees will be moderated
if not exterminated by the legislature
which convened this week. The matter
is one broader than party lines, and infu-
entail members irrespective of party are
unanimous in the admission that relief is
imperative. The only difference of
opinion is with regard to the most de-
sirdble method of securing a remedy.
They agree with the Topeka Bar associ-
alton that the STATE JOURNALS agitation
against big fees is a righteous one.
Senator II. s. Lands of Medi cine
Lodge was on the committee on fees and
salaries two years ago. At that time he
prepared bill which, in the subseq uent
complications, got lost in the Snuff e.
Since then he has devoted consider able
time and study to the matter of fees, and
he is prepared for a hot campaign.
To d JOURNAL reporter he said: There
are plenty of practical ways of correcting
the evil of constructive and unlawful
fees. | have worked and studied over
this fee business, and l find graduated
fee bill is next to an impossibllity for
many reasons. The fees should
be regulated not by the popu-
lation of the county, but by
the amount of court business. Some
progressive young counties have more
legal business than a few of the larger,
but slower ones. l don't know that my
suggestion is the best way out, but it is
original with me. My suggestion is to
have the township trustees in the smaller
counties, and the trustees and the city
council together in the large ones, sit as
a sort of sub-legislature in their own
counties to determine what the salary of
each office shall be, and how much the
officers shall be allowed for clerk hire.
This board would have authority to call
all officers and ex-otficers before it
and make them produce books and
records to throw light on court business.
This commission could make readiust-
ment of salaries as often as occasion re-
quired, and | would have the members
get So day, like the county commits
sioners, while in session.
II hope | can be instrumental in hav-
ing the fee system abolished. Fees have
no justification in right. All fees,
whether high or low, should revert to
the county treasury"
Senator Milton Brown of Garden City,
says: Constructive fees are an abom-
ination. l want bill that will be gem
eral enough to cover the evil fully. The
present system is licensed robbery"
Senator billiard of Fit Scott said:
you're all right on fees. l favor abol-
ishing the whole fee system. It's the
biggest outrage in the world'
Senator Sem of Enterprise said: ''The
JOURNALS move is the right one. l am
opposed to the fee system on general
principles. Down in my own county
Dickinson 1 am among those who were
successful in working for sensible fee
bill. The district clerk returns all his
a. ills of costs in both civil and criminal
business to the county treasurer's office,
and the fees are paid there instead of at
the clerks Office. In this way the fees
charged are matters of public record,
open to inspection at ali times"
Senator Carpenter of Chanute said:
''The people in my two counties want a
bill reducing court fees, and propose to
help them get it."