Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-21
URGES ABOt|T|ONOF
STATEFEE SYSTEM
Approval of Straight Salaries
Is Given i'll Report Of
Commission.
EXCEPT MINOR OFFICES
Recommendations of b d v
Are Submitted to Cen
cral Assembly.

Unanimous approval OF straight
salaries for state and local officials
with compensation based on tho
value of the services rendered. was
given in the report of the State Fee
Commission submitted yesterday to
the General Assembly. together with
recommendations for the abolition Of
the fee system in all except few
minor positions.
Clerks of courts trcasurcrs, COM
missioners of revenue. Common
wcalth's attorneys and shcrffs would
be put on salary, by Recommendation
OF the commission. No change in
the compensation Of justices of the
reacc. constables und coroncrs is
proposed. the commission stating.
that. while it was committed to the
principle of straight salary. 1t did
not believe that it would be prac-
ticable To completely eradicate the
fec system At the present time.
The West antifee nc; was laudcd
by the commission, which admitted,
however, that, while it was efficient.
many abuses had crept in. The sal
mission reported, is in line with the
tendency OF other States TO abandon
compensation by fee and commission.
II also believes, it reports, that the
In la .
and maximum salary based on the
value of the services performed. the
commission declaring that the amount
OF work should justly determine the
pay.
Fnvors own Abolition.
Abolition Of the office OF Examiner
OF Records. with the work of the
examiners being performed by COM
nissioners OF revenue. is recon-
mendcd The commission also favors
its own abolition. evidently consid
erinE that the report and rccommcn-
dations complete its usefulness.
commemorative attorneys, accord
ing To the recommendations of the
commission, would receive from So
500 10 $1,000 in irst-class cities, and
from 5000 to $4,000 in other cities
and counties. Judges OF the circuit
courts ana judges OF the corporation
ur criminal courts would fix the COM
pcnsation.
Fees liked by law would he re-
ta!ned for sherins. but the commits
sion recommends that n separate al
lowance be made for prisoners IN
jai!s. II would empower the Super
intendcnt OF the Penitentiary to nix
the food allowance on n ration basis
or daily per capita, and all rat!ons
or money allowances would be given
TO or expended for the sole benefit
OF the prisoners.
Compensation OF Court Clerks.
Clerks OF court would be compcn-
stated al the rate OF from $500 to
$4,000 by the commissions recon-
mcndation. In addition. they would
receive office allowances. The salary.
would lie determined by the govern
ing bodies Of cities, towns and coun-
ties. The same rate of pay is sug-
Ecstcd for treasurers, with an al
lowancc for deputies and other eX-
pcnscs. The present commission on
state taNcS and a commission of one
fourth o: per cen, on all money
tained, the whole amount included in
the total going 10 make up the maxi
mum salary.
commissioners of revenue would be
h!owed the commissions by law for
assessing state taxes on real and
personal property and FOR assessing
county or iistrict levies for. personal
property and compensation for count
realty assessments. They would he
required TO serve continuously from
January 10 August 10, and woul,,
ih"n he required TO forward their
books TO the Auditor OF Public A.
counts me OF 50 a day being as
scsScd Tor every day after August
10 for The first fifteen DAYS. and slo
day thereafter. Their minimum
earnings would be $1,000 and maxi
mum, $1,000
Simplify Thy Income Hank.
The commission recommends oho,i.
lion of fees for issuing Iicens.s a,d
t'"HH'ers' II recommends thar blank
,nterrogatorics aud income tax re-.
'"rh blanks bc simpliiicd
Abolition OF boards OF r.vinu j.
urged Ia thoir place the commission
recommends boards OF Capitalization
made up Of the treasurer. c,,rk .,a
CHAIRMAN OF the board of sIif.r,isars
counties and in cities In MANN,
eSer!hfd b. law OF ordinance. pm.
iit "r"rihes on complaints would h.
uIuHeo during the month of Fen.
INC Chairman. who would l.,
INC chairman OF the board Of .r,,-
Nisors. would receive. 81 .
the others would serve vi,hn,,, ~.
y bill carrying some OF no ,..
u.rs OF 'h% commissions rcpor, Ma.
,h'roouced in the Senate yes,orJa,
hy senators beverley. Grava,t Gnni
'ich' Miller and Mapp. The hin Gro
d.eh q State Tax Commission an,
i'shes the present state Tax Ron,
and local boards OF review. !, cr.
h'es county and city boards o, .on.,j
revenue. ''''s