The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-02-19
LEGISLATIVE GOSSIP.
FRIDAY. EEB. Ia. 1879.

FRIDAY, FEB. IA, 1879.
Friday was an entertaining day to the
many citizens and strangers who crowded into
the House OF Representatives to witness the
proceedings of our lawmakers. There was
nothing apparently interesting to spectators In
what was supposed would be dry debate on
the matter of "fees and salaries" But during
the afternoon the debate finally drifted
into the domain of national pol
itics, which gave many representatives
an opportunity to air many old campaign
ideas which had been lying dormant for many
months. Such debates for reasons not read
lily understood, almost always entertain the
spectators and listeners around legislative
halls. Governor Williams was present during
large part of the afternoon, and seemed very
much interested and entertained in the pro-
ceedings. Among the ladies we noticed that
Mrs. Governor Hendricks was an interested
listener. The galleries above and the narrow
aisles below, well the space around the
speakers desk were crowded with eager and
interested spectators. The question of fees
and salaries of county officers has been the
subject of much discussion for some time past
Many of the repre- sentatives announced that
they had made positive promises to their con-
stituents that there should oe some positive
legislation on the subject by the Legislature.
Others had made promises, but stated
willingness on their part to engage in it; SO
that there seemed to be on the part of all who
participated in the debate an agreement that
something ought to be done in this matter o
"fees and salaries" Many members were lib
eral and generous in their views,
and manifested disposition to
adopt them into whatever laws might
be agreed upon, and that while extravagant
and lavish remuneration should be avoided,
yet there was commemorate feeling running
through the debate that parsimoniousness and
niggardly treatment toward county officers
should be avoided, and the Sentinel notices
this feature in the discussion with pleasure.
Instances were given in some cases on the part
of S me county officials who were disposed to
construe the present law so as TO give them
exorbitant fees, beyond what a fair and faith
full understanding of the law allows, and there
seemed to be quite a difference in differ
ent counties; for instance, some officers
charged Sl.25 for a marriage Hcen'e, while in
Others it amounted to S2.25, and some coun-
ties we named where $3.50 was charged. Mr..
Speaker Cautborne, with Representatives
Sleeth, Thomas. Taylor, Saint and Others were
in favor of uniform salaries, SO far they
could be made so. and in fact the drift of the
debate was in this direction. There was de-
yeloped during the debate the fact that this
matter rather a u11ucult SUBJECT OIL le1lSla-
ton, at least in very many features many
formidable objections sCggested.themselves.
Judge Osborne was rather severe in some of
his observations upon county officers, as also
was Representative Saint and some others.
Sheriff Presley and Clerk Ransden, with some
other interested gentlemen, formed a ve-y at
tractive study to lookers-on at times, as the
more substantial grandeurs of county official
life were glowingly depicted by some of the
speakers.
The debate finally drifted into an interest
Ing and not ill-natured nor hostile discussion
of other matters, not exactly decided politi-
cal discussion, but rather a tendency in that
direction. The pleasant and picturesque
appearing representative from Mont
gomery county Mr.. Maurice Thompson,
in casting about for illustrations
of fraud and corruption, very naturally grav-
itated towards some of the mammoth speci-
mems so frequent during Grants admlnistra-
ton. This let loose the tawny lion from Jay,
Ex-Congressman John Peter Cleaver Shanks,
vino Immediately plunged into the jungles of
the late warm which he ranged at will-shak-
ing the Legislative halls with seonine roars
while the long, tawny locks of the distin.
guished representative moved themselves
sportively about his classic. brow. He sought
to wither Mr.. Thompson with the inquiry eff
Thompson evidently understood him to mean
those burned by the Republicans, and con-
fessed his ignorance by remaining silent.
Major Gordon followed Dir. Shanks, confin-
ing himself in his instruction to some legal
points contained in the "fee and salary" dis
cossion, which he discussed and placed before
the House with great force and clearness,
making very entertaining and interesting
contribution to the debate, and in ais illusions
to the prevailing fraud and corruption OF, the
! times, was quite as severe on his own party as
/ his opponents, and 1ntimated that he world
come over to the latter as soon as the "bill of
fare" IN the great Democratic hosiery was
made inviting enough to suit his
! political appetite and digestive APP
1 paratus. To question from some member as
to whether he would support General Grant
for a third time-he almost committed him.
| self against him, but qualified 1t somewhat
/ later. The majors remarks were received
with evident delight and approval on all sides
frequently meeting with generous applause.
Mr.. Archie Johnston, the National repre-
sentative from Montgomery and Parke, en-
gagged in humorous discussion of many
points-claimlng for his party eminent
honesty, which was met by the remark from
every one that it had never had the chance OF
| doing any stealing, which was humorously
received. Mr.. Johnston declared himself in
favor of just and equitable "fee and salary
bill"
Mr.. Schweitzer entertained the House with
some quite original and humorous remarks
from his standpoint, deprecatlng that the dis
cussion had drifted into politics and the late
war, and declared himself in favor of salaries
for county offices. Mr.. Willard, having open
ed the discussion, rather taking ground against
the proposition, that under the constitution q