The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-19
Fee and salary sugee.tion..

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
While discussions on fee and salary bills
are In vogue is it pardonable to offer a
Few suggestions to the legislators of proba-
Bile interest to the members and of some
Importance to the general public! The pres
ent fee and salary law grades salaries for
all county officers on the basis of the pop
ulation in 1880, and it is likely that many
of the bills that will he introduced into
the present Assembly will likewise base
their conclusions. In that event some coun-
ties will not be justly considered. For in
stance, take the counties of Delaware. Mad
ison, Grant, Jay, Blackford, Randolph and
Howard. Their gain in population has been
surprising since the census of 1890, and
many times out of proportion to the ratio
of increase in other less favored counties.
Any bill regulating the salaries of officers
by the standard Of their rank and inhabi-
tants in 1890 will necessarily work an in
justice to these counties, and perhaps 9TH
ers. Would it not be wise to follow the ex-
ample of the government in their manner of
regulating the pay of the postmasters?
They are allowed a certain salary, and in
addition a specific allowance for clerk hire,
according to the work and receipts of the
office. l insist that this would be wisdom
in our own statutes, and it remains for
some bright lawmaker to take advantage
of this basis of compensation to make a
fair and equal system of compensation to
county officers.
l speak of the county auditors office, for
my experience has been in that line. This
office especially needs experienced and nee
essarily high-priced labor. The couney's
finances are in the hands of the auditor.
He receives all accounts for moneys and
orders all moneys paid out; he makes all
settlements for taxes collected, and appor-
tons the same to the State, county and
corporations, who are all directly inter-
ested. There must needs he a correct sys-
tenn in all this, which can only result from
experience and efficiency. In many, and
perhaps all counties, the present fee and
Of living wages to skilled deputies. and
cheap labor must of necessity be employed.
Why not grade the salaries of county audi
make an allowance for clerk hire based on
the actual needs Of the office, dividing the
counties into different classes as are post
each class. AT the end of each fiscal year
let them be rearranged and classified, and
II there are any Oh ,ges to be .nal . t
enough hire to the office to properly do
the work, as it may increase or decrease
from time to time. I believe this to be a
correct method of regulating the pay of
county auditors. as according to "popula-
ton and services rendered" The people
generally are in favor of giving to county
officials salaries commensurate with their
responsibility and labor, and as a just re-
ward for their merit. But the taxpayer is
directly interested in having good and re-
liable men in power, and especially those
with knowledge and experience to handle
and account for the hard-earned dollars
that taxes take from his pocket. An mex
perienced and careless auditor can ruin a
county treasurer and bankrupt a county
or allow it to be done. All business men
hire labor that can successfully run their
business, and with regard to skill. The
county should be no exception.
BY grading salaries and then allowing
clerk hire, corrected from year to year
as needs be, the interests of the auditor
and clerk can be at orce protected, and
the county can have the benefit of the
zeal of good and well paid bookkeepers.
This reclassifying at the end of the year
could be done by the Governor. State Audi.
tor and Encouragement each or all of
them. and could be applied to all county
offices. The civil-service rules in govern
mental affairs having proved sarist &C orv,
why cannot, in time, the same system be
employed in county and State affairs with
relation to the pay and class of employees?
1 speak with proper regard for county Off
GERS and justice, and in due sympathy with
overworked and underpaid deputies, whose
name is legion. A. c. GARRlGUS
KoLnDn Ind IAN rs.