The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-12

Material reductions are also made in the fees
and salaries of county auditors and sheriffs. The
bill provides that instead of ST. 200 the salary Of
auditors in counties of 10, 000 population shall be
81. 600 year, So per 100 for an additional go,
600, and $S per 100 for all in excess Of 40, 900.
The county treasurers, the bill provides, shall
receive per cent. on the first $4,000 of taxes
collected, and one half of per cent all over
that amount 1t is provided that all officers elect
shall receive the fees and salaries now pre-
scribed by law.
The bill is likely to meet with strong oppo-
sition, and it is altogether probable that the
forty eight Democratic majority will not allow
it to pass. Mr., Mosier has given the question
of fees and salaries very thorough study, and
he will urge the passage OF the bill. which he is
confident will have the Endorsement of the peo-
pie, with much enthusiasm.
There are several impediments in the way of
fee and salary legislation in the present House
The County Officers Association is one Of the
agencies Of influence which aided in the election
of Jewett as Speaker, and the majority of
Jewett over Gooding is something of an indica-
ton of the power that the county officers will be
able to WELD among the forty -eight majority"
Gooding, it is SAID will favor reduction, in re-
taliation for his defeat, and it may be possible,
if he has any following that something may be
accomplished; but as the Speaker has given the
county officers the privilege of naming the fee
and salary committee, in return for the infuen: &c
exerted in his interest, it is decidedly i'm
probable that any measure which meets their
UlSdpprOvdl, Will ever DC allowed 10 DSCO1u0 d
law.
MORE METROPOLITAN SYSTEM
A bill, prepared by the Democratic ring which
gave to indianapolis the most inefficient police
force that the city has ever had. has been placed
in the hands of Representative Schley, of this
county, providing for a board similar to the
Metropolitan Police Commission, which shall
have the the management of the indianapolis
fire department.. 1t is claimed that the bill con-
templates no immediate disturbance of the pres
ent fire department force, which is one of the
most efficient in the country but where the en-
ployment of new men in the service is necessi-
tated, they shall be selected in equal number
from the two political parties according
to fitness for the work. The department.
however will be compelled to conform to
the rules of discipline adopted by the commits
sion, which, like the Metropolitan Police Board.
will be appointed by the State officers. The
precise provisions of the bill are known only to
the ring of politicians who have prepared it.
There is no apparent need for any change or i'm
provement IN the fire department. system, and it
is reasonable to presume. from the source of the
measure, that there is political scheme in it.
The intention to amend the metropolitan DO
lice law so as to include Fort Wayne Terre
Haute and Lafayette has been abandoned Fort
Wayne, which is irretrievaby Democratic
strenuously objects to the system being imposed
upon her, because it would deprive the Demo
Gratis of the exclusive control of the force. The
objection has been effectnal, II equal consider
alton were given the wishes, and the needs of
the people of Indianapolis there would be no
such imposition here.
PROPOSED CREATION OF A NEW COURT
The opinion prevails among the lawyers in
both branches of the General Assembly that there
is urgent need for the creation of court nterme
diate between the Supreme and the Circuit Court,
and it is quite likely that one of the most inn
portant measures of the session will be law
providing for an appellate court. which will af-
ford relief to the Supreme Court from much of
the work which is now imposed upon it. The
near approach of the time when the term for
which the Supreme Court Commission was ere
ated will expire, makes an intermediate court a
necessity, because cases are accumulat
ing upon the Supreme docket more
rapidly than they can be disposed
of, There are now more than six hun
dred cases pending, and. even with the aid OF
the present commission, the docket could not b.