When a clerk dies, his successor shall charge in the fee books of the clerk's office such lawful fees as do not appear to have been charged therein for services performed by the decedent, and make out fee bills for such fees, and also for any fees charged on such books by the decedent for which he does not appear to have made out fee bills in his lifetime; except that such of those as appear to such successor to be for more than is allowed by law shall be reduced by him so far as, in his judgment, is necessary to make them legal.