Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-02-17

the points arising from the evidence therein: have
patiently Listened 20 the argu meut of council in
behalf Of the coutest0r and contestee, and sfter
mature delibers;ion the committee have instruct
ed me 10 report that in their opinion james II.
Vavier, the sitting member, has been duly elect
ed to the Office Of senator from the district com
posed OF he counties Of Jennings and jackson
Also the committee are OF opinion that
plausible grounds of contest existed. they re
commend that the contestor be allowed his per
diem and mileage up to this date inclusive
The committee further recommend that the
cOntestor and contestee each be allowed 500 for
attorney fees, and that the costs of taking depo-
sitions, except for attendance OF Witnesses, be
allowed
The report also embraced resolutions in &C
cordance herewith
The report was concurrcd in and So the resOlu-
tons were adopted
Mr.. Cobb moved to reconsider the vote con
curing in the reoprt Of the committee, aud TO
lay that motion on the table.
The latter motion was agreed to.
FHEs AND SALARIES
The S.nate then proceeded to the considera-
ton of the special order for this hour being the
bill ). g. regulating the fees aud salaries OF
state and county officers; the question being on
a motion to strike out sec. 7-having reference
20 the fees Of county auditors.
Mr. Richmond was In favor Of striking out
every section which refers TO Increasing the pay
of county officers. he read from the law re-
curing reports OF fees received to be made TO
the state auditor; and also from statements of
fees filed with that officer in pursuance OF the law
referred TO. Many county officers bad not com
piled with this provision of the law, and be sup
posed the reason was that their receipts were so
high they were ashamed to report them. BE
also read letters from county officers, stating that
selfish motives would prompt them to urge an
increase of fees. but for the public good they
agreed that il was not best, that the fees were
ample. even in the present financial state OF AT
fairs. This was no time in the history OF onr
state for an increase of fees De insisted that
the amendment should be adopted, hoping that
the bill itself would be eventually voted down.
Mr.. Cobb also in favor of striking out the
seventh section for county auditors are better
paid for the services rendered. than the other
county officers. At a time like this we ought 10
be careful not to increase the fees Of officers
beyond what is absolutely necessary. In justice
the people of the state this section ought GER
tainly 10 be stricken out. All county officers
except sheriffs. receive enough pay.-thOughs II
NAV be considered not enough in times like
( these by the officers themselves for everybody
seems to have more grasplng disposition than
common Ii consistent with duty he shoulC
vote for this section, but be could not, and woul,
| Mr. Wright had no feeling about this matter
| but If the gentleman from Howard Mr.. Rich
| nond would withdraw his amendment to The
amendment he would withdraw his also, anC
I move to indefinitely postpone the bill with d
| view to making that the test vote
| Mr.. Cason co1Gseled senators TO reflect DE
| fore they act hastily upon the matter. TIL,
statement OF fees read 10y the senator from
| Howard were certainly lower than he expectet
= "A.
| list is in itself quite lo0-evefy county audto
he's to employ deputy at times. and in most o.
| the counties they n I've deputy during the Ell
| tire year Taking into consideration the re
sponslbilltes and expenses OF that Office, ana ID,
| charities the incumbents thereof dispense. tn
| pay proposed is not too large The clerks ant
| other officers count one figure as a word while
/ in the auditors Office three figures are counted
| for one word. You should pay your county of
| fcers a salary sufficient TO command competen
\ men. He attempted to show that il is bad econ
omy to reduce the fees of any officer.
| Mr. Corbin favored the motion to strike ou
| this section, and could favor motions to strik,
| out-the balance of the sections. This bill be
| longs to the class of blood suckers that hav,
appeared here since the beginning OF the session
The theory of it is that the sources of the peopl,
| are inexhaus;iblo. All we have got to do is t.
tax the people, and they viii dig it out of thu
| ground. Gentlemen seem to ignore this las
| fact, but it is nevertheless true The theory o
raising salaries TO obtain honest Office holders i
| bad one. The contrary is true: YOU give
thief the opportunity and that is all he wants
| In this time of extravaganza and of high prices
| 1t Is DO time TO take money from the poor ant
4 give it to the rich.
| Dir. Douglas referred to the resolution he in
| troduced some days ago, concerning an associa
ton formed by county officers, which was pos
sessed of moneys for the furtherance OF the ob
jects ofthe bill under discussion, viz: an increas
OF fees. He wovld not have introduced that re
solution had it not been that some members o
that association not more than a week ago in
quired OF him whether any member of this legs
lature had received any benefit from that fund
This led him to make inquiries, and he learne'
that a committee OF three had a fund made u
by levying taxes on officers of the different coun
ties OF the state, which they were empowered 4
distribute.
| He had been in favor of increasing the salar
Of county officers, aud was vet in favor of il, bu
took il high insult to the legislature OF tia
state of Indiana that a fund should be raised i
order that it might have its influence upon me-
the people have sent here to represent them OF
this floor. Those who furnished that association
with money were probably innocent. and if 8
they have been wronged. But why was this fun
raised?
Mr. Cason was requested TO say to the Senat
; that the fund raised by the auditors was On
$500. aud it was simply for the purpose of em
pioyiug some person to draw up bill, and wa
not employed for any other puapose. Th
, Sheriff ; fund was only Sis. and perhaps som
$40 has been expended for the purpose of draw
. ing up bill on their part-the balance remain
! ing in the hands OF the treasurer.
Mr. Cobb was authorized 10 say that the clerk
Of the various counties have not contributed on,
cent 10 this fund.
Mr. Douglas. |. that was the object of tn
! fund il was ali right II the people had been 81
far mistaken TO send men here not capable o
drawing up bill OF that character, then they di
well to employ men with the capacity and abilit
: TO frame such bill, and gentlemen possessing
such ability ought to be paid for their services.
He would regret to live in state where i
was hard matter to get an honest county Off
Ger. The question in framing bill of this kin,
is: What is the right and proper fees to be ps
/ for the service performed? not what is the low
est salary we get a man TO take the offic
: for. The county auditor is probably the on
most lily paid. He should vote for the bill as
is. although ia his opinion the fees and salarie
should be increased more than the bill propose:
Mr. Richmond demanded the previous ques
ton.
{ The demand wiS seconded by twenty-six sen
{ ators.
The question being: Shall the main questio
be now put.
Ii was 20 ordered
The seventh section was thea strickea fror