The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-27
A CONSPIRACY uNMAsKEp.

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What the Journal and Republican
members of the Legislature predicted
during the session when the Democratic
managers refused to amend the fee and
salary law has come true. 1t was not
amended because the Democratic man
on the ground of unconstitutionality
and the old system of e~xtravagant fees.
which both party conventions had
pledged to abolish, would be- restored.
Now action has been begun to test the
cOns~titutionality of the fee and salary
law of 1891 by the sheriff of Vieo county.
He and those like him are not content
with such compensation as the law pro-
vides, namely. railroad fares. hack
charges. hotel bills and an allowance for
the officer attending the prisoner. In
der the existing law the sheriff was al
lowed 5000 by the auditor for taking a
prisoner from Terre Haute to Jefferson
vile. In addition to the railroad fares
the auditor allowed So. the legal per
diem OF q deputy. So for hotel bills and
S3.25 for hack fares-a liberal allowance.
Not satisfied with a compensation which
covers expenses literally, the sheriff
demands S54.60. or fifteen cents a mile
for each prisoner, or SAL 10 in excess of
the necessary expense and above the
amount for which responsible parties
would doubtless contract to take each
prisoner from the Vigo Jail to the
southern prison.
1t is true that S24.10 is not a large
sum, but any amount paid in excess OF a
reasonable price for public service is an
injustice to taxpayers and tends to
stimulate a sentiment in regard to the
public service which is d~emoralizing in
its influence. The people of Indiana have
demanded that the abuses growing out
of the fee system shall be abolished be-
cause it is a growing evil. They know
that in some of the larger counties in
the State county officers holding posi-
tions requiring only fair business quail
ifications, and the duties of which are
performed by ~subordinates. are paid
larger salaries as fees than Cabinet
officers or Justices of the Supreme
Court of the United States receive.
They know hat men who hold the
leading county offices four years often
retire with fortunes. They know that
from this evil a practice has grown up
by which State and county expenditures
are increased from year to year. In this
county the reports show that minor Off
Gals whose salaries are fixed, draw sums
largely In excess thereof. Year after
year the attorney of the County Commits
sioners in this county. under contract
to perform all the duties required of
him, has drawn twice that mount from
the treasury. Over one hundred election
inspectors, engaged two days in can
wasting votes. are permitted to collect
pay for six days. Those who look over
the accounts allowed in this and other
counties cannot fail TO be impressed
with the feeling that officials have exer-
cised the greatest ingenuity in concOct-
ing charges for the people to pay.
AS above indicated, the attack upon
the fee and salary law of 1891 is a con-
spiracy of county officers who came
here last winter To lobby to repeal that
act, but who concluded, upon the adj
vice of lawyers, to assail its conetitu-
tionality, to the end that the extrava-
CANT fee system. which the people have
denounced, may be revived. They seem
assured that when once revived a GER
~rymandered Legislature will defy the
demands of the people for relief and
reform, trusting to control the lie <isla-
tive branch by unconstitutional appor-
tionments. The taxpayers, even in
Indiana, may be reused by injustice and
insult to rise superior to the Rerryman-
der to strike down the growing evil of
tax eating.