The herald., 1895-09-03
THAT SWEEPING FEE BILL |
Its Provisions Apparently Cover All
Possible Cases
Even County Officials Must Pay for Swear
ing to Demands-Thc Position oi
the Pensioners

1t would appear that the provisions of
the new county fee bill are much more
sweeping than was at first supposed, and
there are others besides the old pension
ers who have been treated to an unpleas-
ant surprise. County Clerk Newlin yes
terday posted up notice to the effect
that under the provisions of the law he
had no alternative but to charge 25 cents
for all alfidavits, and IN consequence all
county officers would have to pay that
amount before they could get their de-
mands for salary verified. This OF course
caused much xicking, but there was no
way out Of tho difficulty, and the fee was
paid under protest. Township Justice
Young, who is compelled oy law to make
out his repor and attest its correctness
under oath before the county clerk, was
assessed 50 cents. % cents for swearing
to his report and % cents for making
oath to the correctness OF his demand for
fees. Under this ruling. all demands
against the county which have to be
sworn to will cos. the holder 25 cents.
and will doubtless be the cause of endless
annoyance and complaint not so much
on account Of the amount involved as
because OF the manifest injustice of th 9
thing. The county clerk, however, says
that he is powerless ir the matter, and so
the able citizen will have to pay up at
least until the next meeting OF tue legis
lature. which may make the necessary
correction in the law.
In tho matter OF swearing to pension
vouchers, the point has been raised that
while the law is mandatory as to admin
istering the oath by United States officers
free of charge, nothing Is said about fur
nlshing the certificate. ETC., and under
the rec bill these officers, should thoy
feel SO disposed, could charge much more
than the 25s cent fee demanded by the
county clerk. While it is conceded that
this may be technically correct. it is also
conceded that it was evidently the in
tent of congress that the old soldier
should be able TO collect his pension
without cost to himself, as IS shown by
section 5498. revised statutes of the
Uniteo States. which specifically says
that there is but one case where even
these officers Omitted States officers)
authorized to administer oaths are rs
quired to administer oaths free of charge,
j. e., in the execution of vouchers for
PENSIONS This would seem to be con-
elusive, and even ii .he United States
officers were disposed to raise the point
which they are not, it would in all proba-
billty be decided against them.
In this view OF the case the situation is
a rather peculiar one. There are in this
county nearly 400J pensioners, and Of
this number about one-tourth, or nearly
1000, will probably present their claims
on the first day they are due, which will
be on Wednesday next. To handle this
business in, the past ct tho county clerk S
office has required the services of half a
dozen or more deputies during the rush.
| and they were kept on the jump. Neither
NJ. Van Dyke nor Mr.. Owen, clorks res
| pectively of the United States circuit and
district courts. have deputies. and should
the pensioners refuse to pay the fee and
insist on those gentlemen administering
the oath they will have their hands full,
especially as both of their courts are now
| In session.