The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-08-28

JOuT0Al anu ICp1iAbCA ny
in the "Kenosha Evening News" Data
used came from residents of cities not
ed. The Journal will be pleased to re-
eeiye further comment from officials
and residents of cities mentioned.
The cry Of graft" is often heard
from the motorist who is arrested by
speed officer and tried b7 some judge
or justice of the peaca The cry is
lust as loud in Wisconsin as elsewhere
That's human nature.
Nobody loves a fine particularly
the paying part. Many motorists not
familiar with the workings of the plan
whereby the officers receive fiat sal
aries believe that all speed cops"
Judges and justices are grafters and
that they are being shaken down when
fined. That is not true. You can
rest assured that when arrested in any
of the following cities your money
goes to the city, county or state and
that the officials concerned don't get
penny of it.
Who Gets the Money?
Here's what happens to your money
after you have been picked up by a
motorcycle officer and fined for a
speed offense: In Amigo all money
received in fines goes directly into that
citys general fund. Appleton gives
the money to the city treasury, first
deducting a part of the court costs
which goes to the policemen's pension
fund.
Baraboo pays all fines collected
under the city ordinance to the city
treasurer and such fines as are col
lected under the Sank county ordi-
nance revert to the county treasurer.
Beaver Dam turns all fines into a
city fund.
Beloit splits all fines into three
parts, portions going to the state, coun-
ty and city and portion of the city
part going to the school fund.
Chippewa Falls pays a part of the
| fine money to the city, part to the
state and fee to the judge handling
the case. De Pere pays both fines
and what they term the motorcycle
officers fee into the general fund of
the city treasury.
| Eau Claire gives it's fines to gen
eral fund and small percentage to
the police pension fund. Fond du Lac
gives the major portion to the city
treasury and the court costs of 81 to
| the county. An allotment of 95 cents
from each fine is also credited to the
police pension fund
Little Goes to State.
| Green Bay pays all fines -into the
city treasury. Kenosha pays fines to
state, city or county after costs are
paid, but has adopted ordinances
which keep the state from getting but
| little of the money.
| All fines collected in La Cross go to
the city's general fund. While in Mad
ison the major portion of the fine mon
ey is added to the highway mainten-
ance fund for road upkeep, small
officers fee is still allowed for mile
age.
In Manitowoc the arresting officer
still gets witness fee.
Marinette, Marshfield, Menasha and
Neenah turn all fines into the city
treasury. Menomonie turns the money
over to the state school fund, while
Merrill turns fines collected into the
fire and police commission fund.
Fines in Oshkosh go to the city
treasury and Portage divides them
among city, county and state funds,
dependent upon the violation. Racine
gives to its city treasury all fines,
while in Sheboygan all prosecution
fines go to the city and thase brought
on state charges otthec ounty.
Stevens Point puts all fines into the
city treasury, as do Stoughton, Wau-
kesha, Watertown, Wausau and Wis
consin Rapids. Superior differs a bit
in that the money is placed in the
regular municipal court treasury as
are all the fines collected in that court.
Some Is Pocketed.
But where the "fee system" still
holds forth, it is different. The city or
county gets little Of the fine money,
which is pocketed by both the officer
making the arrest and by the justices
and judges in many instances. Know
| ing this, it is indeed hard to under
stand the attitude of some cities and
counties in still operating under the
"fee system" There, if anywhere, the
cry of graft" is ofttimes justified.