The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-04
PAY OF COUNTY OFFICERS.


MI. FIynn Says There Is No Lobby
and Offers Some suggestions.
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
From time to time, l see and read such
statements as "a powerful lobby" County
officers lobby "a rich lobby to further
the interests of a new fee and salary bill.
As a citizen of one of the very best, if not
the best, county in the State, /, for one, do
not believe such exists and, in fact, / know
it does not.S I am .sfuily persuaded and
safe in saying no such lobby will be in at
tendance during the session. In the first
place, there is no use for it. That a new fee
and salary bill should and will be passed
at this session goes without saying; almost
every one sees the necessity of it, after
having our highest court pass upon the act
of 1891 and declaring it unconstitutional. as
well as several of the different Circuit
Courts having already decided against the
present law, and which have not been APP
peaied. That the county officers, as well
as all other good citizens, hope to see a
fair, just and equitable bill become O law
is true, and who does not? The law of 1891
IS not. 1t does not pay the officer accord
ing 10 population and work done. Here is
an example The salary of the Tippecanoe
county clerk is $500. out of which he pays
his deputies; he gives a bond of $50, 900. The
present clerk has four, and a former clerk
had five deputies. This county has a SUPER
LOT ana a Circuit Court; other counties with
ABOUT the same and some a greater popu-
latlon have but one court and the clerks re-
ceive the same pay as the clerk of the
right? Is it justice? Is it what the law in
tended? A good court deputy cannot be
picked up every day, hardly as easy as one
can a. farm hand or a mechanic, and they
command good pay. / know of two county
clerks who want experienced court room
deputies, and they cannot get them. Per-
sons having a knowledge OF the duties of
county officers will say, at once, that fees
are the proper mode of paying such officers
as clerk, sheriff and recorder. 1t is just and
equitable. The next best, to officer and
people alike, would be combination of sal
airy and fees, based on population and work
performed, adding a percentage for. prompt
CORRECTION as an incentive. The next best
would be q salary commensurate TO popula-
ton. Bond given and providing for the pay
OF deputies out of the county treasury, the
clerks and sheriffs to be under the court
pervision of the County Commissioners,
paying into the county treasury all fees
collected.
When the salary of the county officer is
reduced to and below what he might.
make in the usual vocation he may be en-
gagged in, do not for a moment think an
honest or sane man will throw up his vo-
cation for the mere sake of holding an
office and getting his friends to go on his
bond, paying legitimate campaign expenses
and then almost every day be subject to-
well, call 1t genteel blackmail. if you will,
as l have heard it called. The same fellow
won't want a second term; then you can
elect his successor and force him to be-
come a defaulter if he does not resign. But
/ have more faith in our Republican friends.
We will have a new salary iaw-liberal.
just and right. Republicans have good
sense and judgment enough and to spare
to frame such a law for this State, and
after the 4th of March next, Republicans
will show the country they have still good
judgment, practical knowledge and common
sense to frame law for the Nation, Demo-
Gratis to the contrary, Notwithstanding.
Lafayette, md, Feb. 9