The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-28
ESTABLISHED 1921.
FEE AND SALARY REFORM
VIEWS OF The PEOPLE ABOUT 1T.
The Existing Fee Sch. dulles should BE SIM
plihed-What shall BE Done with Our
ROads-Letters to the Editor About
Other Legislative Questions.

To THE EDIToR-SI: The democratic
party is, by tradition, principle and plat
form, party OF economy and reform. 1t
has stood for the masses as against the
classes, and its friends are confidently
looking to the present legislature to be
true to its record Of the past and the car
dinal objects of its organization.
The state platform of 1890 declared in
no uncertain language for reform in the
matter OF fees and salaries of county Off
GERS. As an official and as a democrat
the writer believes the demand was Just
and right This reform will come. When
the law shall take effect is a question that
we will not here discuss, but we do desire
TO submit a few suggestions that relate to
a subject of vital importance both to the
officer and the man who pays the costs.
It is fact known to every one who has
given the matter an investigation that
the present schedule of fees is vague, in
definite and unsatisfactory, and for the
purposes Of this article we will refer par
ticularly to the fees allowed to the clerks
of the circuit courts. The law of 1888
makes il an offense to charge and collect
constructive fees, and yet the schedule of
fees in many particulars is such that there
is an honest difference among courts and
attorneys in regard to the proper con-
Etruction OF the law relating to this sub
ject. ii courts and attorneys disagree
how can others be expected TO 60 In the
uraight and narrow path?
AS an evidence of the foregoing state
neDt we will refer to the item OF fees
charged for fling a claim against an es-
late. Some of the clerks charge % cents,
others 90 cents, others 20 cents, while 9TH
ers charge Si.l0 for each claim. Under
Me present elastic law the man who
charges the highest price mentioned can
give fair explanation why his fees are
correct. 1t is al In the Interpretation of
the law.
Another instance: Some of the courts
hold that clerk is entitled to his fees for
his record in the book known as the Greg
ister of Fees" This. in certain suits, will
amount 10 several dollars. Other courts
bold that the clerks are not entitled to
any fees for this work. The statute saws
nothing directly upon this point; but
there l. a provision that entities clerks to
40 cents per 100 words for copying in re-
latiOn 10 any matter where no fee or a low
ance is made" The cons ruction or inter-
probation OF this is the source OF trouble
In many cases, for IN this, as in other
parts OF the schedule of fees, there is an
honest difference OF opinion as 10 what it
really means.
Questions frequently arise concerning
the clerks legal fees for taxing the fees OF
g. I
dlsmisslng a suit, and so on throughout
almost the entire list of charges. With
affairs in this condit on it is no wonder
that there is so much dissatisfaction, and
the sooner the remedy is applied the bet
ter it viii be for all concerned.
1t Is too much to say that there are no
two clerks in the state who tax exactly
alike in al cases. The reason is appar-
INT to all who have studied the present
Hhedu Is If fees. This condition should
De 70 changed that suit brought in one
county Will be no more expensive than in
mother. In other words, there should be
uniformity.
To review: The present legislature will
doubtless put into effect the principles
wggested in the democratic state plat
iorm. and will, therefore, pass law plac
ing all offices on a salaried basis. AND
whether the law takes effect at once, or
sometime in the future, The present sched-
ules of fees for the county offices should
be temized, simplified and made so plain
and specific that even child can readily
comprehend and easily understand them.
II the present legislature viii take this
matter in charge and push it to a satisfac-
Tory conclusion. 1t viii be favor to both
the man who taxes the costs and the man
who pays them. DEMOCRAT.
Jan. is.