The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-14
The Drive Is On

That the 1o33 Legislature is to be asked to abolish the office of coroner in the state of Connecticut is quite evident in the news stories of the last few days purporting to show that from financial viewpoint the coroner's iob is far more attractive than that of even the justices of the State Supreme Court of Errors. Figures were published throughout the state by all the newspapers receiving leased wire service which would up- hold this claim. However. the figures were for from convincing to person who has any knowledge of the administration of our courts. And the prompt denials of many of the coroners was also effective.
 The claim made was that in l93l there was paid to the coroners of the state S9Z,- 663 in fees. There are nine coroners Tn Connecticut. This sum was compared iwth the S6O,500 representing the 193l salaries of the five justices of the State Supreme Court of Errors. Presumably the idea IS to convey to the public the fact that the eoro- ner's office is a source of extraordinary ex- pense, while accomplishing nothing that an ordinary police official couldn't do. As matter of fact the nine coroners did not share this So2,66 fee item proportionately. They are paid S20 day for every day that their services are required. They are also granted expense money inasmuch as each coroner has an entire county to serve.
 Why then should the coroners have re- eeived so much in 193l if each one had no more than $20 per diem for active service The answer is simple when the makeup of the coroner's office is explained. There is deputy coroner in every one of the coun- ties except Hartford and Middlesex. In New Haven county there are two, one here in Waterbury, one in New Haven. The deputy coroner also has his fee fixed by law So does the medical examiner. getting Sl0 for each case and S30 additional for every autopsy. and IS cents mile for trave! expenses. Finding of dead body by psrson other than police officer is re- warded by fee of fifty cents If man brings a drowned body to land the state gives him fixed fee, too
 Therefore, it can be seen that in one year $90.000 bill from the coroners represents money paid to great many officials and not to nine as might be popularly conceived on the basis of the recently published re- ports. And no matter if the office IS abolished the state will have to pay for the work of this officer As Coroner Phelan of Fairfield county puts it, The work will have to be paid for no matter who does it, On fee basis, as now conducted, the whole expense is fixed by law and if there are no cases there is no compensation. We seem to have plenty of work in the three large counties of the state and that IS due to inc fact that they have the largest number of deaths from violent causes.
 A fair comparison of costs between the coroner's office and the costs of operating our courts would show that in l93l the state paid a bill of $l, ,396,707 for expenses attached to the operation of the State Su- preme Court of Errors, Superior Court. Common Pleas Court. State Referees. Re- porters of Judicial Opinions, Sheriffs, Dan bury Traffic Court. and States Attorneys But why compare the two. It's too ridieu- lous. Somebody has the idea that the cor oner's office is an expensive and unneces- sary one. Time has certainly disproved this. It performs an ignoble service in the state and rather well at that. If we turn 1t over to the police we simply force them 10 the expense of establishing one department solely for the purpose of doing the eoroners work and at no actual saving.