Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-04-22
TILE ZEE

closely related To the subject 81 law
reform IL the fvc question. IN my jrrig.
mcnt. au ideal system would ~ Nv nave
every official paid a fixed SALARY a. the
reasonable value for services performed,
- ihai ~ official would have y Wtuni-
airy interest IN his official work except "a
earn hi> salary.
This j. not a new though with me-.
More than q quarter of a century ago !
took office W. mayor ~ IIuHt-viilC. with
The understanding that the marshal rc
c%urdrr. city attorney. aud city secretary
and treasurer shoulk receive tNci al
aries aud ~ fees. anil the mayDr and al
dcrman only nominal pav Cor meetings
aud that system H. still IN u.s., I'm Hunts
Vile and has proven very successful
J have never joined. however. y. The
wholesale condemnation 81 oar nlhlir
officials who have. under the law. been
dependent largely upon fees Tor their
support. although aware that uudcr tine
lcc system there have been many abuses
and inequalities. AMI n0 doubt collection
of unlawful fees.
We have had many great Governors
w Texas and I am Not advised that any
~ them favored an absolute abolition
nf the fee system. although they have
stood for reform and against the abuse
Of The system
The last legislature passed NV art M
which ~hcriffS and all other county "
ficrrS were substantially reduced a. tn
possible compensation. hut - the law
doe. not ~ into effect until December.
1914 many may not havc been aware ~
it, passage.
Conditions differ widely in many of the
counties ny thr state and u would ~ diff
ficult. VI not impossible. a. adjust our
selves a. "A salary basis for al public IT
ficialS without creating u great financial
burden upon s0mc counties. and perhaps
affecting efficient service.
The constitution would have az hr
amended ~ put all officers upon n sal
AIRY basis. even ia the largest counties.
III MANY counties III this State. for iH-
stance Harris. where l live. the re-
sources ~ the county and revenues from
fees paid hv litigantS. ~ the State aad
~ offenders ia miSdcmcanor ease. are
sufficiently definite and certain IA war
rant the county in going upon u salary
basis exclusively. unless il hc IN some
If the small precincts. where there \
very little business.
ID may hc possible 10 40 classify the
business.
1t may DC possible 20 80 classify the
counties AZ IN some a. have all o%fficerS
upon \ fixed salary. while in other cuun.
tics ID may he necessary 90 have certain
Officers paid salaries and others allowed
fees.
If ! Am Governor II will ~ my purpose
~ have adopted Il system whereby every
officer in the state. where possible. will
b. paid i fixed salary. letting all fees
earned by his office 80 into the proper
treasury. and VI a. ~ certain Officers nr
counties ID il necessary 90 allow fees ra.
ther than salaries. the law should guard
against improper or excessive fees.
If ] am Governor II will W. my pur
pose 10 have adopted n system whereby
every officer in the State. where possible
will BE- paid 2 fixed salary. letting hl
fees earned Nv his office ~ into the prop.
rr treasury. and IL aS ID certain Officers
or counties il il necessary a. allow fees
rather than salaries. the law shnuld
guard against improper or excessive fees.