Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-12-20
Fourth in a series Of five stories or
the fee system in Government.

system that provides fees for pub
lic-office holders.
But an Associated Press survey
shows moves for change require
leadership by legislators, news
papers or organizations of citizens.
Some one, or some group, has
to blow the whistle.
Examples Pointed Out.
For example:
A State Senate investigating
committee in Texas made a report
in 1888. 1t contained what may
well be a classic example of the
use, or misuse, of the fee system.
In a number Of counties the
fee system has caused a multiple
ity Of trials and sentences" the
committee said.
It cited the interrelated cases
of three men who were convicted,
among other things, of robbery,
burglary and theft in three differ
ent counties. It added:
I'm all, these three companion
defendants were convicted in 1874
cases in three counties, and the
State treasurer paid the officials
who participated in their trials
sums aggregating $6,32295."
The committee figured such de-
PENDANTS could be tried once under
an habitual criminal statute and
put away for life at considerable
less cost to the State.
An amendment to the Texas
constitution was adopted in 1885.
1t limited the fee system to coun-
ties of less than 10000 population.
A 1913 amendment made a fur
Their cut in the number of fee
paid officers by putting all
constableS, sheriffs and sheriffs'
deputies on a salary.
West Virginia Record.
The Charleston CIV. Va.) APP
bureau provides this account of
an attack on sheriffs' fees I'M
West Virginia:
The fee system for sheriffs
was abolished by the 1947 Legis-
lature. The Charleston Gazette
spearheaded a campaign which
enlisted the support Of other
newspapers. It was hailed. as al
victory for the State press. .
Under the system, sheriffs were
paid a salary (they also function
as treasurers of the counties), but
their principal source of income
was from fees for feeding county
Jail prisoners committed to their
care.
They were allowed a fixed sum
as feeding costs, then allowed to
pocket the excess after meeting
actual charges. It was charged,
during the bitter 1947 legislative
fight, that sheriffs of the more
populous counties made vast sums
from this practice"
The 1851 Legislature repealed
the ban on these fees in the
smaller counties.
Campaign by Ohio Bar.
The Iowa Bar Association has a
continuing campaign to get rid of
justices of the peace. The Des
Moines AP bureau reports:
"The association tried it at
previous legislative sessions with
out success. 1t will try again in
1853.
THE association is concerned
not so much with the fee system
as with the fact that most justices
Of the peace know little about law.
Its plan is to set up a modernized
magistrate system with the same
jurisdiction as justice courts but
requiring the magistrates to be-
lawyers and to be paid a straight
salary"
Public health groups in Iowa
made a futile effort to revamp the
coroner system.
The coroner has been under
criticism elsewhere on grounds
that he can take Office without
any scientific qualif1cations-with-
out necessarily knowing cyanide
from sugar.
His Notwithstanding deaths
which occur under violent or sus-
picious circumstances-has been
taken over by medical examiners
who are physicians in five States
and New York City.
Foes Of the fee system have
used varying methods but none,
very probably, more extraordinary
than those detailed in this re-
port from the Tallahassee S(Fla)
AP bureau:
TN Leon County (Tallahassee) /.
the activities of justices of the
peace and constables became so
unpopular that the county COM