The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-09-22
FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER "a. 1911.
One Man
For a Million.

) Diorenes should be living today. We
would like to direct him to Tampa with
instruction to call upon County Treas
urer Head, of Hillsborough county.
This man not only is honest as far as
the law makes him honest, but he is
morally honest as well as legally
honest.
Here Is his record according to the
Tampa Tribune:
One Of the striking facts that attract
attention in connection with the policy
pursued by County Treasurer Head in
turning back into the county treasury
all the receipts OF his Office over $4,000
is the altogether unreasonable and ex-
cessive remuneration which has been
paid those holding this Office.
A statement given out by DIR. Head
shows that, since January /, 1911, he
has paid into the school fund the sum
OF $4,000, which represents the amount
above $1,000 which he has received as
fees for discharging the duties Of the
position.
In other words, the office of county
treasurer has paid since January 1 Of
this year about $1,000.
Figuring up to September I, we see
that the average monthly pay Of this
office has been about $685.
That there Is no Office within the
gift OF the people OF Hillsborough coun-
ty the duties and responsibilities OF
which cali for any such remuneration
goes without saying.
Indeed, It is safe to say that no two
offices in the county are worth that
salary.
Then the Tribune goes on to say. and
TIE Journal believes it voices the sen
timent Of nine-tenths of Florida peo-
pie when it does. that all Of us must
appreciate the action OF DR.. Head in
accepting only fairly honest sum for
his services and give him credit for
being the first incumbent Of that office
or any other county once. for that
matter-to give back to the county the
difference between what his services
ar, worth and what he receives for
!. them. we must express some couster-
nation at the fact that under the
present indefensible system of paying
our public officials, an Office like this,
the duties of which are no more than
. clerical. and which. in fact, is an en-
tirely unnecessary function in the
. proper conduct Of the affairs OF the
county. has been costing the taxpayers
of the county over $500 per month.
DIR. Head says the sum of $4,000 is
ample remuneration for all the work
/. of the county treasurer's office, includ-
ing the pay of such assistance as may
be needed from time to time It is GER
tain that work requiring much more
ability and experience in private con-
Germs is not SO wei paid for To put
II In plain words, when the people pay
: a man $4,000 year for filing the
Office of county treasurer, they are
being mulcted in the sum Of $1,000 a
year. There is no other reasonable
construction that can be placed upon It.
The amount that is extracted from
the pockets Of the people in this way
every year would in the course Of a
four-year term build a good many
miles Of paved roads, would provide
vast improvements in our school sys-
tenn. would build the county hospital
that we so sadly need and would pro-
vide numerous other facilities and i'm
provements that would make a better
county and a more contented people.
DIR. Head win probably continue tc
be the only treasurer who win refund
60 the county more than a certain
mount. In fact, as long as the law
allows the fee system to continue. there
Is no reason why the treasurers should
not take advantage Of the system and
profit thereby just as much as any
other official. but the figures ought to
be enough to convince everyone thai
the fee system f. not right and that Il
should be abolished.
Imagine a business concern payins
a man ten thousand dollars a year FOR
the services rendered by the treasurer
OF HiIlsborough county! Omces ars
not made for the purpose Of takins
care OF certain people. and where they
are not needed they should be abol-
ished. This much remains. the fee
system VIII go from Florida at the mex
session of the legislature.