Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-06-15
TUESDAY. JUNE 10. 1909.
COMMENT UPON FEE SYSTEM
Ie TIMELY.

Probably very rev pcopic III -'N
rort News, comparatively speaking
are aware Of the fact that their city
treasurer Is better paid official than
the governor OF Virginia This may
seem startling to those unacquainted
with the facts. but il is so. neverthe-
less. An officer of this place. a city
of something like $4,000 inhabitants,
receives not only as much, bu'
well nigh twice as much compensa'
ton for his services as the CHIEF
executive of the commonwealth Is
maid. And the treasurer Is not
alone: there are at least TWO
other local Offices which pay. In
fees and allowances. amounts nearly
,f not quite. equal.ing the salary oil
the governor.
wba. is referred to as "the antiquat-
ed fee system" is brought prominently
before the public in lengthy speeia'
dispatch from Norfolk TO The WASH
;ngtcn Herald. published in the issue
OF The Herald yesterday morning.
Commenting upon the scramble TOT
the Offices of treasurer. sergeant anu
collector in Norfolk, the writer OF THIS
article remarks that the emolumeh's
of these more or less minor positions
are double and treble the salary paiu
the man who guides the destines OIL
the state of Virginia. He also remarks
upon the fact that Hon. Alvah H.
Martin. the Republican national COM
mitteeman who holds the office OF
clerk Of courts in Democratic Nor
folk equity Is said to receive as mucn
as 100000 annually for his services
Basing his estimates upon salaries
ranging from $1,000 to $4,000. this
writer declares that the State wouio
save more than 100000 annually by
abolishing the fee system-"a relic OF
the old Underwood constitution"
placing these officers upon salaries
The fee system always has seemed TO
be nonsensical as well as costly. There
has never been offered a very lucid ex-
PLANTATION Of the object in having the
treasurers. sergeants OF sheriffs. COM
missioners Of revenue. clerks OF courts
and constables paid in fees. and no
reason has ever been given for allow
-.
deal more for their work than other
servants OF the people who hold posi-
tons equally as important and involv-
ing Jus: as much work. Perhaps the
fees Of enc OF two OF the Offices men
ticned above do not provide excessive
compensation toT the incumbents. but
II undoubtedly is true that most OF
the officers collecting fees receive
about double what the people would
consent TO give them IL fiat salaries
were to be named.
The Herald's article is a timely ore
u IL high tine that the people should
give this matter serious consideration
anc demand Of their representatives 10
the legislature that something b
cone shout "a. on course ~ Is coins
20 be hard to get such a movement
started. and Il win BE- stin harder q
push Il through after q Is started
Nearly every CITY and county Of
fce holder Is . power IN the loca
political situation. and. combined
they yin be able 20 bring tremendoui
choking pressure 10 bear n the JeKis
lsture has the courage 70 undertake
the correction % the fee system evil
In making the heht. Il the move
1ent = ever fairly ssunched. the Deo
BE should remember that there .
nothinE personal N TIE matter, tbs
ne boz y aimed 81 the Zee syster