Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-03-06

| SALARIES DOUBLED
Many County and City Treasurers Re-
ceive More Compensation For Ser
vices Than Governor.

cclfe AUTe COMPENSATION fOl ott
vices Than Governor.
Richmond, March 6--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 annual report
with commission composed of the
Governor. Auditor of Public Accounts
and State Accountant, the House Fl
nance Committee, in preparing the ap-
propria ton bill for this year, has in
serted notes showing the amounts OF
fees of certain State officers who re-
ceive as compensation both salaries
and fees. These notes are for infor-
rnat:on only, but bring to attention
figures which. if available at all, have
heretofore been successfully buried il
VOlumlnouS annual reports.
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 a 10
per cent commission on the sales OF
State publications., amounting last
year to $302, all other fees being paid
into the treasury The Second Audi
tor is allowed a salary of $1,000 pei
year, and foot note adds that his
fees. in addition to salary, amounted
last year to $797 06
The Treasurer oe Virginia is paid !;
salary of $1,000 and the commissions
allowed by law. Treasurer A. w. Har-
man, Jr, reports that these commits.
sions last year amounted to S2,935. 81
making this office worth only $64.3s
per annum less salary than is pait
the Governor of Virginia.
In the case of the Commissioner 0,
Agriculture. the salary is fixed ut S3,-
800. and the bill provides that al
fees Of his office shall be pad into the
State treasury.
The appropriation bill carries the
appropriation of $1,000 per annum for
salary of the clerk of the Husting:
Court at Richmond. which is in addi
Son to the salary paid by the City OF
Richmond and the fees Of the office
reported by Clerk Christian as hav
inc amounted to S6.35G. IS last year.
An interesting phase of the fee sys'
TEN debate which has been general
about the General Assembly since tho
publication Of the immense fees en-
loved 10y many sheriffs. sergeants
court clerks. examiners Of record:
and other officers of the Common
wealth. IS the statement that moro
than 100000 of the funds provided
bv the State and localities for public
education goes in the shape of fee
to county and city and treasurers
| Exact figures on this matter are no
available. but the statement was mad
on the floor of the House of Dele
gates during the past week by Dele
gate Norris. of Lancaster. and ha
not been challenged either by the fe
officers themselves or by those VIII
| have been lobbying TO prevent the pas
sage of more drastic antifee legiSla
ton.
The House passed the Norris resolu
ton calling on the Superintendent 0
Public Instruction and Second Audito
for information on this point. Accord
ing to the best available figures. tn
state and its subdivision cEpend abou
s. 900 900 on the public schools al
nually. From this amount before
finally goes into actua! instruction {
children, it is alleged that the fe
officers of the State deduct under pre-
ent laws Approximately 100000.
The fee-system report SHOWS u
following county and city treasurer
receiving compensation larger tina
that of the Governor of Virginia:
Accomac sG.723 80. Albemarl
S7.4l4. 50; Alexandria, s2,9S2 .s3; A
gusta, s1O,792 .06; Bedford S3.63 "a
Campbell. S5.995.78; Elizabeth CIT
!, -s5.5s1 30; Fauquier. s6,l15.7'; Ha
: fax, s6,e99 80; Henrico, Sl3'"oo. \
L.oudoun. s6,663 81; Mecklenburg, st
512 10; Nansemond, s5,1o2 IS; NJ
son, s6,010. 81; Norfolk, sf4'692'. 6