The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-09-03
THE FEE QUESTION

To the Ed.tor OF the Intellieencer.
Dear Sir: When the state tax ex-
aminer's report OF Ohio county was
published some days ago the writer
remarked TO fellow citizen that
something ought TO be done" CHI
zen replied: Yes. yes-but what we
need is some one To tell us what TO
Co ] couldn't tell him. bu. am clad
10 say have found the man that can
and for the information OF nv friend
Ind. the citizens in general who may
rot have read How Il can be- done.
and for the further purpose Of arous-
ing a general protest against the I'M
reasonable. exOrbitant and outrageous
Tee system. | hope you viii grant me
space 70 repeat few Of the reasons
given me.
The man IL Fred O. Blue. state tax
commissioner and he virtually tod us
IN The 1ntelligencer OF Saturday. Au-
gust 81. 1912, how foolish we have
been and how foolish We will continue
To DO unless We kill that fee system
snd adopt a reasonable salary law be-
fore the November election. He says.
IL can De- abolished by an extra ses-
sion OF the legislature. and that u
would be money well spent and would
be commendsble both as 10 necessity
and the prnpriefv Of doing so"
He also says that the money. $500.
saved In he county OF Kanawha
alone for one year would more than
pay for the extra session
Also says "Ohio county could al
low Reasonable annual salaries and
save twelve 10 fifteen thousand dol
lars annually. without including the
interest that the county and districts
should receive on daily balances"
Also virtually says that he and his
chief accountant have a comprehensive
plan 70 work ont these matters. all
that Is necessary Is that the legisla-
ture 20 n work
Also Fays: This 10 the time whom
action ought 90 be taken We would
have nothing 10 interfere There
would he no lobbying By the present
Fheriffs. az they would have little In.
tercst IN n now law. and n the candi-
dates for sheriff came lobbying around
such act on their part would certainly
lead 20 defeat. and ought 20" Also.
There o. no reason for apv sheriff Or
prospective sheriff IN lobby the iegis.
lature for the reason that We know
fairly we'll what each officer receives
and therefore the legislature has the
Information upon which u can tx the
salaries 81 all county officers
fle alFo says. The Law that took
'he fees from the auditor and aecre-
tary ~ state has paid 20 the state
ever and above salaries over two hun
fred and fry thousand dollars since
1905. what shall b. said when We ap-
ply the same principle 20 some 200
o. 200 Officers o. The counties and mu.
nicipant'es7~
would say citizens. turn back 10
the fnfoliigcncer ~ Saturday. August
~. 1912. get ~ risht and 20; o. an u
may make you feel Blue but you will
EO doubt conclude that y0u have been
a ht careless and agree with Mr
We'll Of pittsbureh wherein he says.
You VII always got that Kind ~ ROY.
eminent that Won deserve" I'm con
clueion 7 would say fo The Municipal
Improvement League. you have awak.
cned ne considerably On city Affairs
and ! hope you can 500 your way clear
20 extend a helping hand In the inter
81 ~ the county bv calling citizens
mae4 meeting. or 10 start out a good
healthy petition appealing n the gov
eruor Tor an extra session. % ihat We
may Xii this unhcarable outrage
Yours truly. a FOOL. !