The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-15
JOEL 4. BAKER oN srIiiE RACK.
Put Through List of Questions by
a Senate Committee.

Put Through List of Questions by
a senate Committee.
The Senate committee cities and towns
had Joel A. Baker assessor of Marion coun-
ty, in the sweat-box for brief period yes
terday. The committee met in Room rs, i'm
mediately after the noon adjournment. Mr..
Baker had been summoned TO appear, and
was on hand. Senator Mccord called the at
tention of Mr.. Baker and the. committee to
a circular letter that Baker had sent to the
county assessors of the State, asking that
they contribute to fund for the prevention
of legislation that will be hurtful to the in
terest of county assessors. The letter was
sent out during the early part of the session.
about the time a bill was introduced propos-
ing to abolish the office of county assessor
Afterward other bills were introduced. the
general effect of which WAS to restrict the
number of days, at So a day, during which
the assessor might look for concealed tax
ables.
Mr. Baker admitted that he had written
the letter. Indeed, 1t would have been fool
ish to have denied it, for one or more MEM
bers of the committee had received copies of
the letter. Mr.. Baker pointed out that it
was distinctly stated in the letter that the
fund to be raised was not for corruption pur-
poses Senator McCord stated that any idiot
would have had gumption enough to have
put that in the letter. no matter what was
the purpose of it, In answer to questions
Baker stated that he had assessed assessors
in counties having a population of less than
$1,000 IS each, and assessors in counties with
a population in excess of that amount had
been assessed SO He had received he said
responses from only about fifteen assessors
Senator McCord said to Baker that he re-
garded his action as uncalled for, as entirely
unwarranted and as a reflection the COM
mittee.
Baker protested that he had meant no re-
Election on the committee, and that the pur-
pose of raising the money was to employ
some one. probably an attorney, to go before
the committee and present reasons why the
law relating to county assessors should not
be materially amended. had proceeded
in this case as he would If he had had a
case in court. He was asked if he had Sc
county assessors, and he replied that he had
retained Mr.. Pickens. Senator Collett re-
marked that it looked to him as though the
impression were abroad among the assessors
that the committee did not understand it's
business, and as though it were necessary
for some lawyer to come and make 1t plain
Mr.. Baker again protested that he meant
reflection on the committee, in no shape
form, and If he had, gone beyond the
bounds of propriety he was sorry for it. Mr.
Baker perspired freely, and was very red at
times while the investigation was in prog
ress, and was apparently relieved when
told that he was excused.
Before the committee adjourned Senator
McCord reported a substitute for one of the
bills that have been presented for the pur-
pose of curbing the appetites of the county
assessors. This substitute provides that in
assessor shall not be employed more than 100
days in the year; in counties of from 10000
to 1900 the assessor may work $50 DAYS: in
counties of from 10, 600 to 81, 600, $50 DAYS: in
counties of from 5000 to 10000 $40 days; in
counties having a population of over 40 COO