Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1848-01-27
Fees and Salaries.

Mr.. Stewart, of Marion, near the commencement of
the present session of the Legislature, introduced
bill to regulate the fees and emoluments of county
officers. The bill referred to the committee on
the judiciary, who opposed 10 general law of
this kind in consequence of ITS interfering GENEROUSLY
with the emoluments of officers in the smaller coun-
ties, and reported the bill back with an amendment,
limiting It's provisions to Marion county During the
canvass, which resulted in the election of MIR. Stew
art, the question agiated amongst the people,
and all the candidates for the Legislature agreed that
the fees of officers in this county too high and
ought to be reduced Mr.. Stewart, in accordance
with what he conceives to be his duty, and in pursu
of instructions then given, as he understood has
presented this question for the action Of the Legisa
ture An effort is being made, the part of the
county officers to defeat this of rerenchmen
and reform by the cry of "ocal legislation" and
much abuse is heaped upon Mr.. Stewart for his efforts
TO benefit the common school fund, some think, to
the amount of some three or four thousand dollars
per annum over and above fair compensation, which
now goes into the pockets of officers, who have, in
some instances, become rich and saucy at the expense
of the people. The question presents itself,
whether the cry of local legislation shall prevent
this valuable reform, which, if adopted In Marion
county, will at once be held up beacon light for
other counties occupying similar position, from 60
Ing into effect The bill allows the clerk of Marion
county eight hundred dollars per annum and four hun
dred for clerk hire; the auditor and treasurer
hundred each the sherlf one thousand and The re-
corder SIX hundred-he fees to remain at present !;
but the overplus and above said amounts to go
into the county treasury for common school purposes
BY these provisions it will be perceived, that the
cry of local legislation is false cry No difference,
not the slightest, is made in the laws of the State.
far as the people generally concerned. The re-
form solely relates to the officers themselves; and
with regard TO all the officers concerned, the clerk
only excepted, have given it their opinions, when
approached the subject, that their offices with the
best management will not produce as much per an
num- as the amounts allowed in the bill. Their efforts
defeat bill, however, to indicate that the
emoluments Of their Offices worth more, aud this
the people generally believe The question is,
shall the clerk receive than twelve hundred dol
lars the auditor and treasurer more than hun
dred each, the sheriff more than thousand, the
recorder more than six hundred dollars per annum.
Mr. Stewart thinks this fair compensation-a CON-
pensaton which many of his constituents think more
than enough but lest he nigh be charged with dem
agoguism illiberalty he has placed the compensa
ton as above stated Should the bill become a law,
one good object will be attained The precise amount
received as compensation by these officers will be
ascertaned If they too low they can be ncreas-
ed. If they too high, the bill regulates them
properly. The bill has passed the Senate, and has
been sent the House of Representatives for
rence and will he published hereafter,