The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-12-29
FOR ABOLITION OF
THE FEE SYSTEM
BY THE LEGISLATURE TO BE
URGED BY HERRlck
Messaee viii BE More Than a Fare.
we'll and Some Drastic Reforms
VIII Be Proposed.


, no lack of recommendations in the
hessage which Governor Myron It.
'Herrick is now preparing to be deliver
ed to the general assembly when it
convenes next Monday week. The re-
firing chief executive has been hard at
work upon this document since his re-
turn from the East several weeks ago
and 1t 10 not yet completed.
II Is certain that something will be
said regarding the fee and salary ques-
tion. The governor has spent much
time in conference with Attorney Gen.
eral Wade H. Ellis and Auditor of
State Guilbert on the various branches
Of this subject. There are reasons for
believing that he is an advocate OF
the salary system in all departments
and against recompepsing public off,
cials with fees. II is said that he mas
gone SO far as to declare In private the
belief that the oil inspectors, who draw
the heaviest salaries under the fee sys-
tenn of any Of the state officials, should
be placed upon a fixed salary basis. 1t
is also said that he believes that the
secretary to the governor, who gets
about $1,000 annually, principally
through charging .notaries public 81
annually for their commissions, should
be treated In the same way.
Attorney General Ellis has decided
lieves that constitutional method can
be arrived at whereby every county
officer will be paid literally for the
services he renders. The constant OBJ
lection to the fixed salary system is
that In the small counties the officers
will get niggardly pay If paid upon the
basis Of population or cases filed. Some
plan, II is sincerely believed, will ap-
pear In the governors message which
will give the legislature aeworking
medium at least.
Governor Herriek has also consulted
with Secretary Of State Laylin, who.
as chief supervisor. is at the head OF
the election system Of the state, with
a view 10 recommending needed re-
forms in the ballot laws, especially
those relating to the nomination OF
candidates. The demand for these re-
forms is general and the governor will
endeayor to meet II.
Whether he will recommend the
abandonment of the separate party
ticket is not known, but it can be said
that some Of his counsellors are bit
terly opposed TO 1t, 1t is guess that
he will not go that far. This reform
relates, OF course, only to general cleo
tions. In the matter of the primary
election II would notsbe surprising to
hear of a recommendation for q fixed
primary day for all parties to nominate
their candidates. In Governor Her.
Tick's own county of Cuyahoga at the
recent Republican primary the greatest
frauds were discovered and some Of
the perpetrators have been indicted
for certain offenses.
The power of political committees
will be eurtailed Under the present
law these committees have the right to
do away altogether with primary cleo
tions, or. II the decide that one shall
be held, they have the authority to fix
the time, place and conditions. This
power has been sadly abused In all of
the large cities of the state, the COM
mittees virtually being given the right
to nominate the candidates of their
own choice.
The general primary day will shear
them Of some of this power, and a plan
insuring the right Of any man to be
voted for will take away the rest.
Probably nothing has discredited the
provision giving to the secretary OF
state the right tn determine which Is
the proper committee in county
whenever a dispute arises. Many times
the secretary has been called upon to
exercise this power, and almost invar-
fably dissatisfaction has followed. An
amendment has been proposed that the
state central committee of each party
shall decide which of the rival minor
bodies is entitled to legal recognition
In the county. In the matter of filling
vacancies In the election boards the
proposition has been advanced that
upon the death, removal or resignation
Vi o. nuCADNA VI any Va thCoO uodihb
the chairman Of the political commit
tee representing the party entitled to
be represented in the case shall be
notified and shall be given q certain
time in which to call the committee
together and make a recommendation,
Failing in this, the secretary shall
make the appointment. These vacan-
eies are becoming more numerous ev-
cry year.
The election board Is beginning to
be looked upon as stepping stone to
higher Office and ambitious men work
with the political committees to be rec
ommended for membership. The sug-
gestion has been made that the law
should provide that no person accept
ing appointment as an election board
member should be eligible for Office
for the period which his term Of Of