The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-08
FEE SYSTEM EVEN
 |NVADES THE CITY Plans Whereby Dog Catcher Always Gets His Money BRINGING A VICTIM Aged Man Feels Weight of City Dog Catcher's Rapaciy Although
 Dog Belonged to Some-
 one Else
BRINGING A VICTIM
By ALIEN J. KREBs, JR.

Much has been said and a great deal more written from time to time about the evils of the fee system. Little or nothing has ever been done towards correcting this evil, which is slowly, but surely, rotting the very core out of the f1imsy fabric of decency in the sovereign state of Alabama. It may be news to the average citizen of Bir- ringham to find that this germ of fees had squirmed it's way into the govern- ment of the city.
 For three years a superintendent of the license of dogs has been hired to see that everyone who happens to have a canine in his possession pays the city a revenue of $1 for tag. w. R. kiley was ap- pointed to this office by the commission CTS sometime ago. His salary is based on the number of tags he sells and the amount of fines collected by the city for his activity.
 On the docket of the city jail appears the name of one. A. PolSrovesky, and op- posite his name the charges of "Un- licensed dog and receiving and con cealing stolen property appear. The name of the arresting officer, according to the evidence of the docket, is w. R. Riley. A. Pokrovesky is storekeeper at Morti- mer station on the South Ensley car line He is an aged Jew, bent with age and sad of countenance, the husband of a crippled and invalid wife, fond father and a hard working man. Riley was never known to Pokrovesky until he made his appearance at the front Of his modest little grocery late yesterday after noon. A dog of the mongrel breed wagged his tail contentedly at the stranger as he commenced to ply the keeper of the store with various and divers questions.
 "Is this your dog?"
 L l. J~-- TD-1~ rovesky.
 "where did the dog get this tag. then?'' questioned the doughty catcher of ca hines.
 Well" said Pokrovesky, ''this dog just took up here; there is a negro woman who rents from me upstairs who likes the dog and she got tag for him. l am not the owner. The woman upstairs owns him. She bought the tag. The dog just loves to lay around here, so I let him."
 "Get ready and come on; I have got you under arrest" Petrovesky com menced to explain and splutter ntermit- tently and begged not to be taken from his business
 Petrovesky appeared at the city bastile, weary of step and haggard with care about 7 o'clock. His name was duly docketed and the heinous charge put against his name detective of ssthe higher type happened in the office about this time and asked the chiefs permis- sion to go the mans bond. The chief consented and Petrovesky went his way.
 Now, in the parlance of the politician, fees is fees" and here is how the fees come in. When Superintendent of the Dog Department Riley has collected an amount in licenses and fines to the ex- tent of $4000 the city is satisfied. All over that amount collected goes to the man .I~ ~H tl~ you are arrested today for not paying your dog license and are haled before the judge of the recorder's court and fined $10, the superintendent receives S5 for his trouble; that is, provided he has already furnished the coffers of our great and growing city with said s40o0 for the year
 The life in a big city is a cnch to fathom provided you take a chance and dive deep enough.