Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1901-02-14
THE SALARIED SYSTEM.

THE SALARIED SYSTEM.
 Several of the larger, as we'll as the smaller, counties of the State have adopted the salary system in lieu of the fee system for compensation of county officers. Among the larger counties of the State that have adopt ed the salary system are Sebastian and Washington. At the present ses- sion of the Legislature one of the representatives from Sebastian ccun- ty introduced bill to abolish the sal ary system and restore the fee system in that county. The bill was passed by the House and sent to the Senate. It came up for consideration in the latter body last Tuesday. and upon that occasion Senator Sengel. of Se- bastian, addressed the Senate as fol- lows:
 Mir. President, I did not anticipate that the bill would be before the Sen ate this day I wish to say to the Senators that the repeal of the salary law of Sebastian county is opposed by 9 per cent of the voters of the coun- ty and 1 firmly believe by 99 per cent. of the property owners. We have had seven years experience under the sal a1Y act and it has worked satisfacto- fily to all except the odiee-holders. and they certainly must be pleased with it, as they knew what the salary was before they accepted the offices. and they have stood for reelection. and some have even gone so far as to be reelected to third term care not II the bill was passed by the House through the aid of the repre- sentatiEes form our county. They did not represent the wishes of our peo- pie, and 1 hope the Senate will not lend itself to a scheme to replace this burden on my people We have pros pered under the salary act. our conn ty finances are in good shane. comfy script is worth 9S cents, and a general era of prosperity prevails in our conn " affairs Why disturb this h2pDy condition down here far removed from the people it directly affects? If our people want this law repealed they will say so, and I have remonstrances from the best citizens of our county against the repeal of this law. hone the Senate will stand by me in behalf of my people and kill this bill"
 And straightway the bill was do feated, only one lonesome Senator vot- ing for it.
 hls reminds Us that at the last ses sion of the Jefferson County Demo. cratic convention resolution was unanimously passe q instructing the delegation from this county in the next General Assembly of the State to introduce and cause 10 be passed q bill placing Jefferson county on sal arled list. Up to this writing. how ever, no member of the Jefferson dele agtion has made a move to introduce the measure as instructed by the De mocracy of the county in convention assembled.
 II will be seen from Senator Sen gels address that the salary system is highly satisfactory in Sebastian county. It is known from past expe- rienee that the fee system has been prolific of frauds and rascaity in both primaries and 1t least one general election in Jefferson county There fore tho Democracy of the county in convention assembled has declared in favor of the abolshmoat of tho fee system and tho establishment of the salary system And if the delegation from this county in the Legislature do not introduce and cause such bill to be passed, they will he faithless to their instructions and false to the best interests of the people of Jefferson county.