The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-07-26
THE immortality OF
UNEARNED INCOME
Ocala, Fla, uly "a. 1919.
TO the Editor Ocala Banner:

To the Editor Ocala Banner:
Hon. Jesse Roberts OF Ohio. accord.
ing to good authority. has returned 70
the state authorities $500, which was
allowed him as an increase Of salary.
and seq mileage, at II cents a nile.
which the state law provides tie
does this accompanying Il. according
to the same authority. believing thar
he has no moral right 10 it. as he has
rendered to the state therefor ser
vice which he regards "a an eQu.va-
| lent Was he right? Would Il have
been an immoral act in him 20 have
retained and used it? The average
man answers no" The average 81.
| fee holder, from the hich-much-a.
mucks in Washington down 70 the
most insignificant county functionary
agrees heartily with the average man.
and illustrates his agreement by bis
practices.
This conclusion is reached on the
ground that since the law allows and
provides it, it must be right As q
certain congressman once said. when
"pocketing" his 20 cent mileage. while
he travelled on a pass. that he wanted
to be regarded as a law abiding citi-
zen"
To the mind of the writer Mr. Rob.
erts was right. Money received AZ
the hands of the public. by a public
official, for which there is not given
an adequate or equivalent return. IL
dishonest money, and no juggling
with words about legality can make
white black or wrong right.
One of the most pitiful spectacles
of petty ''legalized" graft is to be
found in this very matter of mileage
When this country was without rail
roads, and representatives 10 con-
gress had to travel by stage coach. In
easy stages or private conveyances.
there was some ground and justice
in allowing a rate OF 20 cents a mile.
but when the highest rate of public
CdIlIcIS ID uOI ONCL VI y NNAA'f -.
GLIDING Pullman berths. the continue
ton of this rate by the vote and au-
thority of the men who draw IL. Is lit.
| tie less than disgraceful. "A law
that votes a dollar into a mans peck
ct that he does not earn. Is an unjust
law" wisely says the Ohio State Jour
nal, commenting on and commending
Mr. Roberts course.
In this connection the writer wish
es to utterly condemn the fee sys-
tem," which obtains in this state, for
the compensation of county officers.
In too many instances 1t operates %
put into the pockets OF such Officers
sums far in excess of the value Of
their services. Everyone agrees that
public official should be well com.
pensated for his services, but the pet
ty graft, legal or illegal, by which
money, wrung often by excessive tar.
es, from the poor or rich, which
reaches the pockets of public officials.
whether it be an United States sena-
tor on his 20 cent mileage. or some
obscure county officer in excess Of
reasonable and fair compensation.
represents a species of immortality
which weakens the moral fiber and
benumbs the finer moral sensibllities
both of the official and the public
Furthermore. it is the possibility Of
increment from various forms Of le-
CALLED graft, which has degraded poll
tics, and brings it to pass that when
election time comes around We see
little less than a mad scramble for
office 1t is the opinion of men who
have given much thought 10 matters
of this kind that the low grade IN
the kernel of American disconteRs.
and the unrest which voices itself In
the socialistic propaganda get in no
small measure inspiration for their
attitude from the very systems Of le-
galized graft by which honesty il
outraged, and immortality is given the
sanction of law The remedy Is IN
sight, but it is at present out Of
reach Heaven grant that Il may no.
first be felt and applied in some blood
curdling recoil
n ley