The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-05
THE FEE SYSTEM

Columbus Ledger The fee system should go.
 Roanoke Leader: So far we have seen no argument advanced in favor of the fee system. Then why do we retain it?
 Montgomery Times: The abolition of the fee system would not only be an advanced step in a perfected civil system, but a rich contribution to the state treasury.
 Talladega Mountain Home: When the fee system is abolished Alabama will have plugged up the most expensive leak that was ever sprung in the old ship of state.
 Roanoke Leader Knock out the fee system and turn the excessive sums paid certain officials into the state treasury. What say Governor Conner and the law makers?
 Talladega Reporter: The fee system is getting knocks all over the state. It is said as long as there are fees the of ficers just will keep busy at somebody s expense.
 Florence Times: The iniquitous official fee system is receiving hard knocks on all sides, and it looks like it will be knocked out as soon as the legislature can get a whack at it. So mote it be.
 Franklin Times: The fee system prom ises to be one of the problems for the ex- tra session of the legislature to solve. That there is a need for change in some of the larger counties along this line no one seems to doubt.
 Scottsboro Progressive Ages The in- iquitous fee system will, it Is hoped be abolished by the extra session of the leg islature. All state and county officers should be paid salary, and when they fail to do their full duty by the people they should be punished.
 Anniston Star: The fee system is being attacked throughout the state. The sys- tenn will act wisely by coming in and sur rendering. When the people of Alabama go after anything they get 1t, and a large majority of the people appear to be on the trail of the fee system.
 Gadsden Times-News: The candidates for county offices and for the legisla- ture will be asked some searching ques- tions anent their feeling toward the fee system during the next campaign. Only the legislature can change the system, but it will be the one big issue of the campaign and many will stand or fall by it.
 Alexander City Outlook. Down with the fee system" >is the slogan of the press and leading thinkers of the state. It is up to the legislature in extra ses- sion to do something to remedy this graft breeding system of paying our state and county officials. If 1t requires an amend ment to the constitution to secure the abolition of the system, 1t should be done as speedily as possible.
 Dothan Eagle: There is growing sen- timent all over the state against the fee system. In Birmingham the fight has been sprung. This will likely lead to doing away with the system in Jefferson county and making the office of sheriff pay less than the job of being President of the United States. The Columbia Breeze goes into the question for Hous- ton county, that is, 1t publishes the viewi of another man along this line.
 Wilcox Banner: The Birmingham press started the war against the fee system 1. of the state, and like the silver ques- tion, may become the test of a mans de- mocracy. It now seems that the old sys- tenn has not an advocate exceptsAmone the ex-office seekers, and should the special session soon to be held put thai officer on a salary and S40OO or $5OO0 b< considered sufficient we will look fol many withdrawals from the race on ac- count of i'll health or pressing business matters not heretofore considered. Four thousand dollars may seem a small sun as connected with an office attended witt so much abuse and ''cussing." Higdor would certainly not undergo another tern on the salary basis with 5000 as a max imum, but others will; so the citizens ot Birmingham are in fair way to save tn, state and county about s5O,00O a year.
 Mobile Item: The press of Birmingham and many of the people are making mighty fuss and stir over war upon the fee system for officeholders in the state The agitation has become quite acute even to the point that one paper, tho Ledger, has begun voting contest on tho question: Fee or no fec" There i. somo thing more than mere talk in the movement and evidently there are som, in Jefferson county, the home of the chiei executive of the state, who could, if they would, furnish some mighty good argu ment in favor of abolishing the fee sys tenn and placing all the officers on a sal ary basis
 The fever has not caught on in Mobil, county, but it is intimated in certain quarters that the question may be strong ly brought to the fore prior to the nex campaign for county offices. Whether tn, anti-fee system will find many champions here remains to be seen.
 
 THE WHEAT KING % L