The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-13
EXCESS FEES NET
STATE MORE THAN
$4,000 THIS YEAR
Fee Commission Reports Show Prac-
tically AL Country Officers Make
Less Than Law Allows.
COURT CLERKS CONTRIBUTE
HALF OF REFUND
Law Does Not Apply to Richmond
Until Expiration Of Terms for
Which Present once Holders We're
Elected.

The treasury OF the state Of vir-
ginia will be enriched by &s3,272.97
as the result of the operation for the
first year OF the West fee bill, accord
Ing to the report madA yesterday by
the state fee commission. composed
of Governor Stuart. State Auditor G..
Lee Moore and State Accountant w.
Frank Smyth. This amount repre-
sents fees collected by officers in ex-
cess of the allowances and expenses
allowed by the law. Due to certain
provisions OF the statute, the amount
diverted into the treasury Of the state
will exceed the figure for 1915 by a
considerable amount.
OF the total amount a refund wsN
he made by only one treasurer. this
being $9.116.T0. Commissioners of
the revenue will refund $5.s6s.54.
this coming from two officers: court
clerks. $15,S46.0s. and sergeants, So
341.64. No refund was necessary from
any sheriff or examiner of the rec
ords. In the majority of instances
the fees collected during the year
were below the allowance and ex-
penses under the law. in numerous
cases the fees being less than Is per
cent OF the amount. Except in four
instances the excess fees are in the
cities
Became Operative January I, 1915.
The West fee bill. regulating the
compensation to be received by COM
missioners Of the revenue, examiners
OF records sherffs. high consta bles.
city sergeants. county and city treas
urers. and clerks of courts. passed the
general assembly in 1914 but did not
49,
1915. The maximum amount which
each of the officers mentioned in the
act may receive. with the exception
OF the examiner OF records, who may
receive commissions not exceeding
81. 900. exclusive OF commissions on
omitted taxes and expenses Of his Of
nee, and the clerk of the supreme court
OF appeals who may retain $1,000 and
the expenses of his Office, Is controlled
by the population OF the city or county
in which the incumbent is an officer.
Each Of such officers is allowed to re-
tain out of his fees and other collec-
tons. in addition to his allowance
fixed by population. expenses of his
ONCE in a sum not to exceed the ex-
penses of the Office during the year
ending December 81, 1918. unless the
state fee commission, when request is
made of II, considers an increase JUS
tiffabIe.
The allowances which may be re-
tanned under the law, are as follows:
Counties where the population is under
$4,000. the allowance is $4,000: be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 population,
$4,000 and $4,000 and over. $1,000.
This act does not apply to the
county OF Prince George until 1918
For the cities under 10000 population,
$4,000; between 10000 and $4,000
population. $4,000: between $4,000 and
so, 900. $500 and $4,000 and over.
$500. This does not apply to cities
OF less than 1000 population, hence
Buena Vista and williamsburg, do not
come within the law.
Richmond Not Afected This Year.
Provisions. Of the, act limiting the
compensation Of fee ofiicerss do not
apply to officers in cities having a
population Of 100000 or more until
the expiration of the terms of office
of the incumbents at the time of the
enactment of the law. Richmond Is
the only city in the state to come
within the provision of the law. and
the term of it's Officers will not ex-
pire until December 81, 1917. The
statute, therefore, Will not become
operative in this city until January
q. 1918.
The collections of the fee officers
In Richmond was AS follows: j. B.
Pace. treasurer: total commissions
$16,543.70, allowance and expenses
116,204O3; w. H. Sands, examiner OF
records, $1s,751.SS, allowance $4,000
and expenses; John L. Satterfleid. city
sa-y Aant, $17.Sss.s5, allowance and
expenses $1s,7ss,ss: J. H. Mercer
sheriff. fees s4,e42:3s. allowances and
lNtrH $50 ~tshle fAaa a1Q 7Sa a. ~.