El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-01-03
FEE SYSTEM is A TEMPTATION;
SHOULD BE ABOLISHED BY STATE

DEFENDERS Of the fee system izsist that officers Of
u the law are more diligent in making arrests when
thsre IS something IL It for them" this is true 1t is
sad commentary Officers Constabes to
enforce the Law Just shes and their deputies and
police Officers paid straight salaries they would be
required under their oath 70 enforce the law Just as per
ssteny they do under the fee system If they would
not So shows either that they unduy active IN
the case OF would not Perform their sworn duty IN
the other IN either event they would be unfit for public
Office.
The same argument advanced in favor Of fees for
contabes might be applied to the justices Of the
when brought before them fOE trial There Is
Something in it for them when accused persons
victed-nothng when they Why justices Of
the peace less likely to be influenced because Of this
ditiou than the constabies?
It is this very idea Of something in It" that makes
the fee system at least applied to courts Of justice
unl4stiabls The petty court is essential part Of
Judicial machinery but there Is reason why the
same high level district courts It would be So
not for the fee system No matter how honest
constable may be in making arrests justice Of the
peace nay be in assessing fines, the fact that they derive
their income from convictions only places them under
pioH and creates sometimes the impression thas injustice
Is done for personal gain
seaabe doubt They supposed to stand innocent until
proved guilty. Is the fee system, which provides that
there shah be somethHg IN it, for the arfestiag officer
and the court m case Of conviction but no compensation
Of acguittal calculated to uphold this sacred right?
no court Of justice should be interested in the outcome
Of eases before il In the higher courts judges are not
affect them personally the IemOtest degree. The
tine Of jurors Yet In justice Of the peace courts where
the justices usually act beth judge and jury the fees
OF the justice ana other o1cers OF the court depend
whether OF not the accused person is found guilty.
It speaks well for the integrity Of the justices Of the
peace that there miscaages Of justice than
there are with such system prevailing. It IS because
men Of hgh character Tuls occupy the benches
justice courts fully much because Of the incentive
1t would give less honorable men that all courts should
be freed Of the embarrassment Of assessing penalties Of
which they are to receive share.
is wholly usterial what percentage Of the "costs"
90 70 the justices Of the peace constabes and county at
t0ey In fact the greater the number who derive money
from convictions the greater the iniquity IN the system
for al these officers must look the justice Of the peace
T there is to be anything In It for them"
Cur purpose IN pointing out the evils Of the fee system
is not 10 attack any particular office The office Of
justice Of the peace mentioned merely example
Of the possibilities Of injustice The whole system is
wrong whatever Office used Il wong IN theory
wrong IN principle, wrong IN practice.
is pleasure TO note that Of the local justices
e the peace has gone record faTong the salary
system IN part At least
Some Of the unrest might be alayed if the vozH went
to bsd and stayed there few years.
Everybody would Be wiling to quit being selfish We
ooHld al quit at once.
The outlook in Mexico is regarded BY some as ease
Of look cut
ssw year But the sans old work to be done