The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-09-14

0tdtS OF F1OrlQa, IN which, under the |
fee system, the Clerk Of the Circuit
Court is paid more than $4,000 a
year for his services. There are sew
eral counties in which Clerks are
paid more than $4,000. There are
many counties in which Clerks are
paid more than $4,000 Sheriffs, Tax
Collectors, Tax Assessors and Coun-
ty Judges are paid. under the fee sys-
tenn, amounts varying from $4,000 to
more than $4,000 per year
Some Deadly Parallels
Under the salary system,
State Attorneys are paid
$4,000 per~year
Under the fee system,
County Solicitors are paid. from
$4,000 to -. $4,000 per year
Under the salary system,
Circuit Court Judges are paid,
$4,000 per year
Under the fee system,
several Justices of the Peace are
paid from $4,000 to $4,000 per year
Under the salary system,
the State Comptroller is paid,
$4,000 per year
Under the fee system,
Tax Collectors are paid from $4,000
to more than $4,000 per year
Fee System Is Unjust
Long ago, the Federal Government,
and all of our state governments, real
izfng that the fee system was unequal,
unjust and unscientific, changed the
federal and state laws so that all
federal and state officials received sal
aries. 1t is not an evidence of my
wisdom for me to say that if the
people Of Florida can get a man to
serve them efficiently as Comptroller
for $500 year, the people of Duval
County can certainly get man to-
serve them as Tax Collector for 5000
year; if the State of Florida can en-
ploy General Attorney to attend
to all of its legal business for $500
year, the people of Escambia County
can employ an Attorney to attend to
the business of its Criminal Court for.
$4,000 year; if the State of Florida
can employ a man to look after all
Of the financial business of the State
for $4,000 a year, Hillsboro County
surely can employ man to assess
! taxes for $4,000 a year; and, comparI.
sons like these can be made in nearly
every county in Florida.
Every one knows that our State
administrative officers give Iaborious
and efficient service for the salaries
they receive. Painstaking and eff
cient servants can be secured by the
counties for attending to the business
| Of the county, at salaries ranging
from $4,000 down to $1,000 per year,
according to the size of each county's
business.
County officers do not believe in the
fee system themselves, since all OF
their Deputies and Clerks, THE PEG.
PIE WHO ACTUALLY DO THE
| WORK are paid salary, while the
officials pull down the fat fees. These
things are so plain that every one
can see them IL he only stops to think
about It.
We all agree, except perhaps few
4 county officials, now holding $4,000
places and doing $4,000 worth Of work
that the fee system is extravagant
unfair, unjust, unscientific and should
be changed to an adequate salary sys
tenn, thereby saving to the people o.
the state at least s250,000 a year. i
this change be not effected before thu
general election of 1916, new officers
will be elected for a term of foul
years, thereby entailing loss to thu
people Of this state Of at least ont
million dollars during this term. Il
state after state this condition hal
been remedied by putting the count!
, Offices on a real business basis, pay
ing stipulated salaries to County off
Gals and readjusting them to tn
changed conditions.
Florida Now Awake
I Florida is awake-wtde-awake II
more ways than one. Her road build
: ing propaganda is the talk Of the na
| ton. Her forging to the front a
| The Great Tourist Resort State ha
been the marvel Of the entire country
! She is hailed as state progressin
} by leaps and bounds, in everythin
? from agriculture to commerce. BIZ
: cause Of this, the progressive sent
t ment In the state is bringing sue
pressure to beaE, tDDt there is grea