The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-09
THE FEE SYSTEM AND ECONOMY.

- NHe 'SHeFa! SSsclnpi. Is TO DO It's
duty consistently, II will at this scs-
sion pass some measure partly, at
least, destroying the foe system and
substituting therefor reasonable sal
{ AIRY plan of compromising those public
officers who now wax rich and grow
fat on fees. 1t is idle to prattlc about
economy mere ana economy there. and
yet never alter a system so obviously
q drain on the people and so outraC-
sously eNtravagan;. a salary sys-
money in the public treasury ana cut
ISm a source Of immense waste.
| There is lesson for tho legislator
or Virginia in the experience of Gull
I ford county. y. c. There the fee sys-
iem OF compensation has been done
away with and salary basis substi-
.tuted with telling effect. Auditor Abb
BOT has just completed the financial
statement of the county referred 10. in
which nc shows that, during the ascal
year ending December !, 1911. the
oounty saved by the abolition of the
fee system. the sum OF Slc,771.sc.
Prior TO tho establishment OF the sal
airy and auditing system this amount
rould have been calmly pocketed by
the fee officials The total receipts
disbursements and salaries required
Si5,Sooso. The balance is TO be cred
sted to the school and road funds. so
that the schools will get ;2,so5i2 and
the roads Slc,oi65o. The saving in
IN. previous year, 1910, was slO.395.ll.
showing decided gain for the year
1911 and a total saving for two years
81 s:3.ls1.os.
Illuminating. i. IL not. Gui!rord
county is somewhat well-,o-do coun-
~. blu, there arc many counties in
Virginia far richer. A little more than
$4,000 saved In ono ycar-think Of It!
lust ono North Carolina county gives
s2.so5 TO schools and sio.oi6 to the
public roads in one year through this
economy, Wig shouldn't, this money
be devoted to the schools and roads in
Virginia counties? AS Il is. the schools
and the roads go begging. and the
money which they might have is snug
~ stored away in the eapac!ous peck
cts OF fee officials who do no; need st.
because they, without 1t. would still
receive an excallcnt compensation.
This shows striRingly that the fee on :
GERS gain is the peoples loss. What
hetter Illustration could there b.' OF
the wastafulness Of the Zee system;
At the presen; rate, Guiltord county
IN less than ten years Will save slo0,-
600 by rs action in abolish!ns the fee
system; in Virginia that 100000 will
20 into the bank for the private use
OF oHiciais of no especial efficiency
and OF negligible public service.
The General Assembly can mt =
r,or to this graft. system. Your lAgis-
istor can help 80 -. Mt. citizen, and
yon ought 10 write 10 him ana tell hin,
that YOU desire this .niquitous eNtrav-
asance stopped. Where. O where are
the Senator'S ana Representatives. wins
Cast summer advocated 80 strongly the
abolition OF the fee system" VIVA; ara
obey doing ahou, It? Why is tho coun-
~ press silent? Why arc the peorls
hushed? Why talk Of saving when :
thing like this is allowed to stand?
Why hasu', the fec system h..,,
abolished? The answer l. Jill, ~.
legislator fears TO opno.e ,.e fas an
cisls In his eounty. he K afratd .,
their Influence acraid q them In ono
cases; he is putty in rhc.r hands /.
IN. question resolves f,.cr I'M, III,
The interest o: the oneisls :, bo,n.
or the interests Of the waters i, ao,,a.
"a word from hone 10 inc legi.,.tn.,
ebou; tins wi,ls ro,,,r IA,
crate pensioners tasuy n.o,es, ,Ia.