The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-05-28
PROVISIONS OF
MEASUE TO
REGULATE FEES
WHAT Is CONTAINED IN THE
MEASURE WHICH Is VERY
LIKELY TO BECOME A LAW BE-
FORE THE LEGISLATURE AD-
JoURts.
BY J. n. Reese.

Tallahassee, May 27.-The following
is Singletary's fee system bill, which
is likely to become law:
A bill to be entitled an Act to Pre-
scribe the Compensation of County
Oficers. the Manner in Which They
Shall be Paid: to Require Them to
File Statement of Receipts and Dis
bursements Of Funds, and to Provide
for the Disposition to be Made Of the
Fees Collected by Such Officers In Ex-
cess of Their Compensation, and to Fix
Penalties for the Violation of Certain
Provisions of This Act.
Be it enacted by the legislature Of
the state Of Florida.
Section /. That the fees and COM
missions collected by county officers
shall continue as now prescribed by
laws.
Sec. 2. That the Board Of County
Commissioners of each county shall
provide necessary account books and
forms for keeping an itemized account
of all fees collected and disbTse-
ments made by such officers, and MAX
ing report thereof to the Board OF
County Commissioners as hereinafter
provided.
Sec 3. That the Sheriff, Clerk Of
the Circuit Court, Clerk of the
Criminal Court of Record, Solicitor of
Criminal Court of Record, County
Judge, Treasurer, Tax Collector and
Tax Assessor shall each make a
monthly statement on the first Tues
day Of each month, giving the total
amounts collected as fees during the
preceding month and the total amount
of disbursements. Such statement
shall be duly verified by oath Of the
officer making same. That in all coun-
ties where the work is so great that
the above-named officials cannot per-
sonally perform all the duties of the
Office, they shall be authorized to en-
pIey all needed assistance at reason
able compensation, but the number and
names and compensation of all assist
ants shall be reported to the Board of
County Commissioners under oath
monthly on the first Tuesday in each
month, and If it shall appear to said
Board that unnecessary help is being
employed, or that excessive prices
have been or are being paid there
for, the said Board shall demand a
return Of the amount of such excessive
or unnecessary expenditure, and upon
failure to pay the same promptly, 1t
shall be the duty Of said Board to
institute suit on the official bond Of
such officer and the jury shall deter
mine what amount shall be paid back
to the County; Provided further, That
the compensation of any official and
his deputies or assistants shall no\ exc
coed the aggregate amount of fees or
commissions which the law allows.
Sec. 4. That each of the officers
mentioned In section three shall keep
an itemized account of each receipt
and disbursement In the books provid-
ed by the Board Of County Commits
sioners, which books shall always be
open and subject to inspection by the
prosecuting officer Of any court, any
grand jury, any County Commissioner,
or the Clerk of the Board of County
Commissioners, or any State or Coun-
ty Auditor.
Sec. 5. Whenever the fees collect
ed by any of the aforesaid officers for
any year shall exceed the sum of two
thousand dollars, after paying all
legitimate expenses of the office held
by such officer, fifty per cent of the
amount in excess of two thousand dol
lars shall be paid into the County
Treasury. and should the fees collect
ed during such PERIOD exceed the sum
of three Thousand dollars, after de-
Quoting the legitimate expenses and
allowing fifty per cent of the amount
in excess of the amount In excess of
three thousand dollars shall be paid
into the County Treasury; and should
the fees collected during such period
exceed the sum Of five thousand dol
lars, after deducting the legitimate
expenses and after allowing seventy
five per cent of the amount in excess
of three Thousand dollars, such officer
shall pay the entire amount Of fees
collected in excess of five thousand
dollars into the County Treasury, ex-
cept that the County Treasurer shall
pay into the County Treasury the en-
tire amount Of fees collected in excess
of three thousand dollars, also seven
ty-flve per cent Of the fees in excess
of two thousand dollars and less than
three thousand and fifty per cent of
the fees in excess Of seven hundred
and fifty dollars and less than two
thousand dollars after paying the
legitimate expenses of his office.
Sec. 6. Any officer who shall know
ingly make a false statement of the
amount of his receipts or diSburse-