The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-26
USELESS OFFICES
 ARE UNF AIR DRAIN
 ON THE TAXPAYERS Y. l.. Burton of Lafayette Mentions Several Which
 Should be Abolished
STATE DOESN'T GET
 ITS MONEYS WORTH
Scores of County Officials Drawing Fat Fees and Salaries Without Giving Adequate Return
 to the State

Y. L. Burton of Lafayette. member of the legislature from Chambers county, writes an interesting letter to The Age Herald, in which he points out some offices that should be abolished. He maintains an enormous sum would thus be saved. He writes as follows:
 To the Editor of The Age Herald:
 l notice in your excellent journal of recent date an article from Mir Frank Julian in regard to abolishing offices and cutting salaries, and in my hum- ble opinion he Is right. However, when you begin along this line, at the next session of the legislature, historic old Montgomery could not hold the office seekers office holders. their friends, parasites, college presidents and other lobbyists who would flock there to lobby with the members to thwart such measures.
 If there Is a curse to the taxpayers 1t is the lobbyist"
 MT Julian is right, and Alabama is being robbed. for not 5 per cent of those holding office fin the United States from President down to con stable could make 70 per cent of their fees or salaries. and 90 per cent of those holding the big paying positions could not make 40 per cent of what they receive.
 l notice in a recent issue of some daily paper there was no money to pay sheriffs to feed prisoners. Why? Because the last legislature passed law increasing their pay from s9 to SIS per month. At the time this law was passed the prisoners were being fed by contract for s6 per month. At pres ent they are fed here for s9; the sheriff receives the other $9; and. why? Just because he happens to be sheriff.
 One of the state examiners, in re- cent report, said that the average earn ing of the probate judges of Alabama was S5000 yer year. Now, I doubt if ? per cent of them could earn 5000, ana many of them could not make $100O per year if thrown on their own re- sources.
 We are paying a county treasurer in every county in the state except Dal- las, in which county understand there Is saved not only the salary, but draws interest on county deposits These of fees of county treasurer cost the tax payers $50,000 or s60,000. when the va rious banks are clamoring for the coun- tvs funds, ready to make the bonds and keep the books, and are already doing it anyway.
 The tax assessor and collector each receive from this county more than s2000 for not more than six months work. while there are bookkeepers toil- ing for 12 to 15 hours per day for 12 long months who are just as competent and as well qualified for from $750 to $1200 per year. One of these book keepers said to me he would like to TUT both offices for the pay of one We are paying circuit judges 5000, and they do not give to the state, on an average third of their time, yet they, with their friends, were lobbying with the last legislature to have their salaries increased.
 The state health officer receives S5000 per annum. as much as the governor and with all due respect to this depart meEt, is Is drawing thousands of dol lars which 1t never earned.
 In this article l am not ref1ecting on my individual They are only doing what the law permits.
 I would like to see the legislature measure up to It's duties, lay self aside, and labor for those who bear the bur- dens. It is not any wonder that the taxpayer groans as he sees his hard earnings vanish into the pockets of those who revel in luxury, 'wearing purple and fine linen and faring sump- tuously every day" while he tolls through winters cold and summers heat from early morn till dewy eve, for a scanty living.
 Let the next leislature shut out the parasite, the political teat sucker, and the lobbyist and give the taxpayers showing and all will be we'll.
 In conclusion. I want to say: There Is not a thoughtful student of economies who does not know that If all graft. rakeoffs, stealings, and all other forms of robbing the taxpayers, were elmi- mated. this government. state and na- tional could be operated on one-half of what it costs at present without impairing the efficiency.
 I am on friendly terms with every officer in this county. and all whom l know in the state, and they are my personal friends. one of them my dou ble first cousin. in this county. Re- gardless of this. am laying self, and selfish interests aside, and am speaking for the toiling masses Yours respect fully, Y. l.. BURTON. Lafayette. July 24. 1914