The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-03-11
TWELVE PAGES.
The Fee and salary Bin.

The fee and salary bill, which has passed
both houses and is now in the hands of
the governor, is one OF the most impor-
tant measures ever enacted by an Indiana
legislature. 1t is the result of a compro-
mise, indeed, as nearly all important en-
sctments are. "All government" said
EDMUND BURKE, sis matter of barter and
compromise" Nothing could be truer
"Many men Of many minds" assembled
together can only reach conclusions by
mutual concessions.
The fee and salary bill, as passed, ma
terially reduces the emoluments of all the
important public oficiaa of the state. 1t
establishes the system Of fixed salaries for
al officers and the covering OF all fees
into the treasury. II will take effect as to
all Offices embraced within it's provisions
upon the expiration OF the terms of the
present incumb enis. 1t will 90 into force
rs to at least half of the Offices before the
next legislature cOnvenes. 1t will put an
lend to the evil of constructive fees.
II is a measure Of great merits
and great importance, and if Governor
UovEY kills il, he will assume an onerous
responsibility for himself and party.
The fact should not be lost sight Of by
che people that from the beginning OF the
session there has been concerted effort
on the part OF the republicans to prevent
any legislation whatever on the subject
of fees and salaries. The republican
leaders have not concealed their determi-
nation to prevent. if possible, democratic
legislature from introducing the great re-
form to which both parties pledged them
selves in the last campaign. The vote on
Abe conference committees report in the
two houses illustrates the attiiudue OF the
republicans toward this great question
IN the senate the republicans flibustered,
md INSTRUCTED the consideration OF the
report as long as possible, and finally, with
The exception OF the venerable Senator
YANYAN. voted solidly against it, which
was equivalent to voting against the bill
In the house similar tactics were en-
ployed, and finally, the republicans, with
the solitary exception of Mcdowell,
voted against the report.
There is no doubt that the republican
senators and representatives in opposing
this bill simply registered the edict OF
their party caucus. Their purpose was,
from the beginning, to defeat any legisla-
zion at all upon this subject. with a view
20 loading the burden of failure upon the
democratic party. Their course was un-
statesmanlike and unpatriotic in the last
degree, and should be, as We believe it
will be. emphatically rebuked by the peo-
pie at the next election.
The democrats are entitled to great credit
for their persistent, and finally successful,
efforts to give the people a fair measure OF
| reform. If the bill which was passed is
permitted to become law, and if it shall
De sustained by the courts, as we are con-
lfident it will be, there need be no lear
that the next legislature will repeal it.
That body will doubtless strengthen and
perfect it and supplement it by a mate
rial reduction in fees. But it viii not re-
store the old system. Reforms do not
go backward. 1t is difficult to get a re-
form measure OF any kind upon the
| statute books. But once embodied into
law, il is much more difficult to destroy
or impair it. The democratic legislature
has done grand thing for the people in
passing this bill. The democratic party
has again shown itself to be the party of
reform, while the republic party has
once more exhibited itself in the charac-
Ger Of an enemy of all reform. The issue
thus joined lie one upon which the demo-
cratic party can appeal to the sober, sec
ond thought of the people with perfect
confidence.