The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-11-29
HESS AND HIS OFFICE
WILL PROVIDE FOR ONE DAUGHTER
AND MAY BE TWO.
He VIII Appoint a Republican for the
Chief Clerkship-Miss Peacock
to BE Retained.

The report that Alexander Hess, the
new Clerk of the Supreme Court. intends
making his office a family affair."" has
created much of a commotion. Mr.. Hess
brought his family from Wabash less than
three weeks ago, and has not yet COM
pleted preparations for housekeeping at No.
235 North Illinois street. While the newly
elected official admits that he will be as
sisted by at least one member OF his fam
lily, it is not the plan to increase the emolu-
ments OF office through the efforts of the
entire household. Mr.. Hess family In
cludes himself, his wife, four daughters
and a son. His eldest daughter, a grown
up young lady, lives In Chicago. Miss
Grace Hess. the second daughter. Is a
bright-looking young lady of nineteen or
twenty. She was yesterday appointed to
the position of record clerk in her fathers
office. Two younger girls, aged sixteen and
eleven years. and a boy in knickerbockers
will attend the Indianapolis schools and
have no clerical aspirations. The Hess
family, particularly the mother and daugh-
tiers, are greatly distressed over the pub
licity given their affairs by the newspa-
pers since they came to Indianapolis. Mr..
Hess was seen at his home last night in
the midst OF his family circle.
This whole matter came up yesterday"
he said. lover the appointment of my
daughter Grace to the position held by Miss
Sweeney during during her brothers term
of office. Now, / do not understand what
all this howl is about. My predecessor en-
ployed one or two of his family. Governor
Matthews has one of his relatives in Of
flee, and Superintendent Worries employs
his wife. I intend to appoint a man, and
a Republican, to the office of chief clerk,
the position now being held by Edward
Jenkins. However, Mr.. enkin will be re-
tanned for the present. / have had sixty
applicants for the place, but I am not yet
ready to make known the selection. Mhen
told all the clerks that they would be con-
tinued for the present, but said nothing
about the length OF time. l have appointed
Miss Peacock as deputy in the office. She
is a capable clerk. understa IDS the run or
the Office and attends to h9s own business.
year. have also appointed for the pres
ent Miss Josephine Griffith, the stenogra-
pnd dr,, v ~ in a Chicaeo who il also a Ste
nographer. She has been there for two
years and gets a good salary: l have Of
hat she will accept it. If she does, she
will not come before February l see
nothing wrong about that; If she can do
home? There are four positions in the
Office, three of them to be filled by ladies.
L nave appointed one vi. my uduShteis,
Peacock has her position; Now. there il is
in a nutshell. None of the other members
Mrs. Hess will be busy at home with her
younger children, and my third daughter Is
already in the high school. Now. just here.
1 want TO deny a statement In defense of
Miss Peacock. One newspaper has said
that she has been connected with the Of
flee since IL was started. That IL a mistake.
The Office was established in 1916. and 1
think the assertion regarding the ladys
long connection with the business does her
an Injustice"
and the clerk hireg' was asked.
''well. l get 5000 a year-S,0oo, from the
Supreme Court and 5000 from the Appel
late. The State pays for the clerks. The
Peacock will receive 5000. the stenographer
CESS $500. and the record clerk. Miss Grace
Hess. receives $500, In addition TO my sal
airy / am entitled to 10 per cent. on all
collections made by the clerk. Mr..
Sweeney got all the fees, but I am operat-
ing under the aew law. l understand from
office while he had it. ! do not expect TO
make more than half of that amount out
OF Il"
for making copies OF opinions?"
II understand that the custom has been
for anyone making a copy OF an opinion
Office will furnish a copy for the same
price. The other afternoon a reporter
came in and wanted TO get a copy OF a
decision handed down by the Supreme
Court. He brought a typewriter with him
and said that he could not wait until we
prepared the copy for him. The chief
clerk informed him that "A fee of 10 cents
for 100 words would be charged If he did
the work. or that. If he would wait. We
would do the work for him at the same
pose was the real cause or all this news
paper criticism. 1 did not know anything
about the matter. The reporter talked 10