The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-21
THE FEE Bulls THE TEST.

! FEY THE TEST.
With the money tax bill law OF
the land. with tho enabling aot dis
posed OF, with tho gamo bill on tho
calendar. with much OF tho local log
islation passed. and with tho primary
bin reported. the only measure OF
in the House Is that. regulating the
fees OF public officers.
4 The prospect IS that this will be tho
most actively contested measure that
comes up for action at tho present
session. excepting not even tho mo-
morabie money tax. This Is natural.
1t affects not only every locality, but
1t prescribes the income of large
number or men who are politically
prominent and more or less influential.
There arc few Fundamental facts
regarding the question or fees with
which wo wish our readers TO be ia
miiiar during tho hight that is ahead.
In the hrst place, II the Brewer bill
con be restored to- its original form. It
has chance of passage number
or prominent members are ready to
support 1t: almost half the House
stands pledged 10 vote for some re-
form; others, who are not bound In
any way. 40 not lla.e the attitude of
those VINO have contested the bill.
That which many OF their reprcscn-
tatives approve Is certainly Endorsed
by the voters OF tho Commonwealth
This must not be overlooked. Indeed,
II there is before the Assembly ono
Oill upon which 1t may truly be said
that tho people are unite, II Is the fee
bili Voters have very definite idea
OF its operation. They realize that the
ices which oiuceholders declare do not
come from the public treasury consti-
tute tax upon ntigants
With that common sense which al
ways marks the second thought OF In
teiligent vo.ers, the people Of Virginia
have decided that they had rather pay
fee officers definite amount than to
pay them Indirectly. in sums unknown.
Furthermore, there is general be-
lief that fees are cherished not only
because they are profitable. but he
cause they constitute a splendid means
OF upbugding political influence. The
Zee officer who can remit his charge
assuring the loyalty and the vote OF
that friend. There. has been 10 proof
offered that this Is being done. but 1t
seems highly probable when one re-
members that certain fee officers who
are not affected by any of the bills
pending before the Assembly arc as
actively at work against them as are
tho mon whose income is at stake.
That which many of our Legislators
approve, md that which the people de-
sire, is something that may be
achieved, and should he achieved. with
out any great upheaval. The number
of fee officers whose remuneration Is
excessive is comparatively small. The
Others, working as hard and discharg-
ing as responsible duties. receive no
more than they deserve This very
fact makes the continuance Of excess
sivc fees to n few officers the worst
possible discrimination and the gross
est Injustice. To reduce the cxorbitant
incomes TO a rea sonab BILE ncure, and to
cQualize all OF them. is neither very
great nor n very eNacting task
Tho duty before the Assembly is thus
plain-to pass law that will limit
the Income OF fec officers to proper
amnunt-the prevailing market rate
win the Assembly do 1t, by restoring
the WestBrewer bill to It's original
form?
The answer will no test OF the
mcmbers-the best test of tho session.
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