The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-10
A SYSTEM OF LEGALIzED ROBBERY.

Encouragement Smith is not a valuable
public servant and is as far as possible
removed from a political reformer. yet in
one respect he is rendering a good public
service. BY his rapacity and greed he is
doing more than any dozen other men in
the State to bring additional odium on the
fee system General Grant once said in
substance that the way to bring about the
repeal Of a bad law was to vigorously en-
force it Possibly Attorney-general Smith
hopes by his vigorous pursuit Of fees to
bring about a repeal OF the system, but
those who know him will be more apt to
conclude that he is simply making hay
while the sun shines and trying to feather
his nest while the plucking season lasts.
How well he is succeeding is shown by the
fact that his official income last year ex-
cesded 10000. Of which 5000 was his legal
sal; y and the rest fees drawn out of the
never earned 5000 a year before he be-
came Encouragement this is doing pretty
we'll. But Mr.. Smith has not got enough
yet His pockets are deep and his greed
horse leech, he cries. Give, give" This
is his last year in office, and he evidently
hopes to make 1t his best. From all parts
Of the State come accounts of the rapacious
demands Of his deputies and agents, and
while they are working the out counties
Smith himself is attending to the home
business. On Monday he filed eight suits
in the Marion Circuit Court agaipst three
express companies, two palace car COM
panies. two telegraph companies and one
telephone company doing business in this
city. These suits are ostensibly to collect
taxes alleged to be due the State from these
corporations. but really they are to make
fees for the Attorney-general. There is no
present necessity for the suits. The ques-
ton Of the liability of the corporations
under the tax law of 1891 is now pending
before the Supreme Court Of the United
States. ard IL the case goes against them
they will doubtless pay their taxes without
suit But this would not suit the Attor-
ney-general. He wants his pound Of flesh
In the shape Of fees. and hence he goes
into court and asks for the appointment of
a receiver for every one OF the eight cor
of office, and no time to lose. If there is
such a thing as legal Matchmaking these
suits come under that head.
The Attorney-generals office has become
being the home of law and fountain of jus
tce It has become a sort Of legal robbers
roost A high administrative office has
been turned into a den Of cormorants. The
State nave been trying for years to smash
finds it's safest refuge and it's boldest ex-
ponent under the dome of the Capitol.
These suits against corporations are only a
feature of the general system In other
| proceedings the fees that go to line the
Attorney-generals pockets come out Of the
hard earnings of the tax-burdened people.
The public school fund is robbed. Every
taxpayer in the State is held up. Trust
funds are sques zed, estates are plundered,
and the dead es well as the living are
made to contribute their quota in order
that the fve-thousand-doll salary of the
Attorney-general may be swollen to $4,000
or $4,000 oy fees. The whole system is an
Outrage on the people and a disgrace to
the State, and should and must be re-
| formed.