Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1916-03-10
ENORMOUS FEES TO OFFICERS.
Many County and City Treasurers Get
More Than Governor of Virginia.
(The Times Dispatch.)

J In line with the policy adopted by
the State in the West fee law of 1914
requiring all fee officers to keep an
account of their fees and file an an
nual report with commission COM
posed of the Governor, Auditor of Pub
| lie Accounts and State Accountant,
the house finance committee, in pre-
pairing the appropriation bill for this
year, has inserted notes showing the
amounts of fees of certain State
officers, who receive as compensation
both salaries and fees. These notes
are for information only, but bring to
attention figures which, if available
ut all, have heretofore been successful
ly buried in voluminous annual re-
ports.
In providing for the salary of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth, the
bill has heretofore read $1,000 per an
mum and fees provided by law. The
only fee this official receives is 10
per cent commission on the sales of
State publications, amounting last
year to 1902, all other fees being paid
into the treasury. The Second Audi
cor is allowed salary of $1,000 per
year, and foot note adds that his
fees, in addition to salary, amounted
last year to $797.0G.
The Treasurer of Virginia is paid a
salary of $4,000 and the commissions
allowed by law. Treasurer A. w.
Harmon, Jr., reports that these COM
missions last year amounted to 49,
935.61, making his Office worth only
$64.39 per annum less salary than is
paid the Governor of Virginia.
| In the case of the Commissioner of
Agriculture, the salary is fixed at
$4,000, and the bill provides that all
fees of his Office shall be paid into the
State treasury.
The appropriation bill carries the
appropriation of 81 900 per annum for
salary of the clerk of the Hastings
Court at Richmond, which is in addi-
ton to the salary paid by the City of
Richmond, and the fees of the office,
reported by Clerk Christian as hav-
ing amounted to $6,35G.d8 last year.
An interesting phase of the fee sys-
tenn debate which has been general
about the General Assembly since the
publication of the immense fees en-
joycd by many sheriffs, scrgcants,
court clerks, examiners of records,
and other officers of the Common
wealth, is the statement that more
than 100000 of the funds provided
by the State and localities for public
education goes into the shape of fees
to county and city treasurers. Exact
figures on this matter are not obtain
able, but the statement was made on
the floor of the house of Delegates
during the past week by delegate
Norris, of Lancaster, and has not
been challenged either by the fee Off
GERS themselves or by those who have
been lobbying to prevent the pas
sage of more drastic antifee legisla-
ton.
List Of Officers Who Get Fat Fees.
The House passed the Norris reso-
luton calling on the Superintendent of
Public Instruction and Second Audi
cording to the best available figures,
the State and its subdivisions eXpcnd
about S7,000,000 on the public schools
annually. From this amount, before
it finally goes into actual instruction
of children, it is alleged that the fee
officers of the State deduct under
present laws approximately 100000.
The fee system report shows the
following county and city treasurers
receiving compensation larger than
that of the Governor of Virginia:
Accomac, $6,723.50; Albcrmarle, ST.
41l.52: Alexandria, $5,9S2.S3; Angus
tn, $l0,792.06; Bedford, $5,637.43;
Campbell, $5,995.78; Elizabeth City
S5,5Sl 81; Fauquier, $6,1l5.57; Hall
fax, S6,993.50; Ienrico, $l3,35G.49;
Loudon, $6,66361; Mecklenburg, &c.
512.71; Nansemond, $5,102.SS; Mel
son, $G,0l0.64; Norfolk, $14,652.G3;
Orange, $G,334.3l; Pittsylvania, SS,-
2S565; Rockbridge, $5,229.54; Rock
ingham, $9,191.33; Shenandoah, $5,-
307.30; Smyth, $5,3G0.35; Southamp-
ton, $5,506.96; Tazewell, $7,919.12i
Washington, $6,529.57; Wise, $7,031.-
81; Lynchburg, $6,947.12; Newport
News, $11,S34.70; Norfolk, $14,371.-
G5; Petersburg, $5.505.34; Richmond
$19,346.24; Staunton, $5,8S5.54; Suf-
folk, S5,3S3.49.