The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-24
LEGISLATIVE COMMENT
By LEWIS H. MACHEN
THE FEE SYSTEM

For many years there has been a
growing opposition to the re. system
IN tnis STATE, quite an influential pVr-
zion OF the press has nani!neccu IL vita
perceptions enect. y rev oihcIals in
the larger cities have been repeatedly
, cited as the recipients ot eNorbltant
compensation.
Beyond doubt there has been Il large
element OF truth in these charges.
Therefore many people. including a
part Of ;nn mem Dcrsnip OF the Legis-
ia;ure. have been led 10 demand the
| total abolition OF tn. present system
and the substitution of the plan of
paying public officials by salaries only.
1T has been frequently suggested.
however, that while there may be in
hivdual Instances Of over3aym cnt. inc
probability is that many OF the a.e-paid
officials get less than they would do
under any reasonable scale Of salaries
that could be devised, and that this
transition 10 the salary plan might
/ cost the State and the counties and
cities far more than is generally sup
posed.
II is also said tina, in most OF these
Offices the work IS variable, and that
1t would be falrcr to continue TO pay
the officials according TO the amount
of work done than to give them fixed
salaries, which in some instances might
not be earned and In others more than
earned. Others assert that while the
compensation Is dependent upon the
fees, ths officials will be more jealous
I'm performing the service for which
the fee Is paid than II the fee should
go into the public funds.
Tho enemies OF the zee System, how
ever. attempt TO rcfute these arSu-
ments by tac example of the United
states government and OF those States
which have adopted the salary system.
II Is but human nature mat the off,
Gals in the cities and the larger coun-
ties. who are supposed to profit by the
continuance of the present system,
should use THAR combined influence TO
prevent Its abolition. Tsis influence,
II fully e1erted. will DO great enough
to prove a stumbling block to taose
who seek to make the change
Though several measures have been
proposed in tho Legislature looking to
greater or less curtailmsrt OF the fee
system, 1t is prac ucally certain that
none OF these can pass.
There IL a feeling among the mem
bcrship of the General Assembly that
in the present condition OF the finances
of the State 1t might be a mistake TO
make UP an immense salary pay roll
without knowing whether the plan
will result in a saving or loss. II is
probable that the officers OF the small
er counties would welcome the change
There arc many members OF the Legis-
lature who would bs willing. II the
state could afford VI, to give all pub
lie officials fair and full compensation
in the form of salaries. even though
II might DC more than they are now
receiving.
As 10 mos, OF the tee-paid offices in
the State. nobody knows what thAy
are nov worth to those who hold them
Perhaps there are many officials who
do not themselves know what they re-
ceive IN any year for their services.
II is the general impression that the
first step in the direction of doing
away with the fee system is TO ascer-
tain how much these officials now re-
ccive
To accomplish this end. Senator wes,
has introduced Senate bill ~, which
requires that all public officers whose
compensation Is paid in whole or In
part in fees OF commissions to keep a
fee book and to report annually the
aggregate amount OF fees and other
allowances received by them.
The State officers are to ale their
fee accounts with the Secretary Of the
Commonwealth and the county and
city officers with the clerks OF their