The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-24

respective courts before The 10th day
OF January of each year, as well as
the amounts paid by them 10 deputies
clerks and stcnogruphers. y failure TO
comply with this Law would be pun
ish.d by 4 fine not exceeding 1900 and
in the discretion of the court or jury
trying the case, by Imprisonment in
jail not exceeding thirty days. Provi-
sion Is made for reporting such OFF,
ciats To the grand juries
Ihr AunItor OF i'uUic Accounts IL
required to report 10 the Legislature
/! on tn. frs; uay OF February every
session the names Of such cinccrs and
the amount VI compensation received
by each during the preceding year. 1t
might be setter TO require the Audi
tor $ report to cover the two previous
years. so thar Il continuous series of
reports may he had. Exempted from
. tAe operation OF Ike bill are notarics
public, commissioners in chanccry
justices Of the peace, county supervis-
ors. consta5les and tn: officers OF in
corDorated towns
II Is not perceived that any great
narm could come of requiring these
ofticlais 10 report also. They are public
officers, and the public has right to
know what they are being paid for
their services.
for the reporting Of TINS Information
Dy the Secretary OF tae Common wealth
ana the clerks 10 the Auditor of Pubic
Accounts, unless ii may he inferred
from the fact that the Auditor is TO
prepare the blanks upon which these
reports are to be made. Otherwise the
hiil appears to be IN proper form.
Since it carries no appropriation
lthat worst handicap OF measures).
and does not call for anything but
information, and that, too. of kind
wnlch the public has an acknowledged
right 10 know, there should not be
the slightest doubt of Its passage And
yet there Is doubt
Those officials who are reaping the
richest harvests from the present .ys-
TEN do not caro- TO havs the public
know just how rich their particular
gold mines are. It will be something
more than marvellous 81 they do not
strain several nerves in tho effort to
keep this information in the same i'm
p=netrable darkness in which # has
remained these many years
Moreover. they will recognize this
measure as the foundation stone Of
new structure. which. from their
standpoint. would be highly detrimen-
tai TO the general welfare and to- their
particular welfare on the side.
1t would be a sweet and blessed
thing II all of these officials would CO.
operate in forwarding instead of hin
derins this inevitable movement The
fee system Is doomed in this State and
In all the States II the Legislature
can get complete information as 4
basis of action. there is no doubt that
its determination VIII be equitable and
conservative
II sucn information Is denied. the
next session is likely, under the pres
sure OF an aroused and perhaps indig-
nant public opinion, to wipe away the
whole obsolete system and substitute
a plan which will press most heavily
upon those who are now making such
efforts to escape It's heavy hand But
men are ever prone to seize the pres
ent advantage and allow the remote
evil to take care of itself
There is much talk these days of an
office holders trust" There is some
fact and much exaggeration in what
has been said on this subject. The
underlying truth Is that the people
do not relish the idea that public SER
wants should ever undertake to be the
public's masters. and any serious effort
In that direction will ultimately prove
more than serious for those who un-
dertake It.