The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-18
THE NEW SALARY LAW.
Mr.. Van Arsdel Defends 1t Against
Gov. Matthews's Criticisms.

NOv. MuttneWS'S LrittcisunH.
To the Editor of he indianapolis Journal:
In answer to what Governor Matthews
has said in regard to the fee and salary
law, which he signed under protest, I
would like to say that the Governor Is en-
tirely mistaken wiaen he says that the
committee has Disseminated against DEM
ocratic counties in the present law. / am
very sure that it will not be possible for
the Governor to name a single Democratic
county in the State that has been discrim-
mated against In the present law in the
slightest particular. He states that the in
creases have all been in Republican coun-
ties. This is partly true. for a reason that
will be obvious TO everybody who will take
a little time to investigate the law of
1891. passed by the Democratic Legislature.
and compare it with the law recently en-
acted. In the law OF 1891 the county OF
Allen was given in aggregate salaries some
thing like $3.50 more than Vanderburg.
While Allen had a slightly larger popula-
ton than Vanderburg, many of the offices
in Vanderburg had as large business as
the same offices in Allen, and the tax
duplicate of Allen was less than 5000. 600
larger than that of Vanderburg. Allen
county was given, / think. about $4,000 in
aggregate salaries more than yigo. While
t@%O "a A@lOA foo NAA1
business of the offices in vigo was about
the same as in Allen. AS the Constitution
requires that salaries should be based ON
population and services required. the COM
mittee, in preparing the present law, either
had to largely decrease the compensation
of the offices in Allen county or had I'd
largely increase the compensation of the
officers in Vanderburg and Vigo. AS the
committee believed that the Democratic
law of 1891 disseminated against Wander
burg and vigo. and also believed that the
salaries, considering the population of the
counties, services required and the ex-
penses Of living in such cities as Evans
vile and Terre Haute, it decided it would
be wise to raise the salaries In these coun-
ties SO as to be something nearer right in
comparison with the county of Allen, and
l am sure the public will decide with
the committee that the present law is not
an extravaganza one as to any OF the coun-
The Governor states, again, that there
mas been no Increase given in any Demo-
that it is hardly necessary to mention 10
the readers OF the Journal. All of the man
there has BEEN a large i hne ssasf Il w nnn,s
lation or business went Republican in 1894,
probably to the surprise Of Governor Mat
tneWs, put not to the surprise of the people
or the State. and when the committee in
creased the salaries in such counties as
a. ware. Ldkt. Sl. JQSRDn.
etc, 1t increased them not because any OF
them We're Republican counties, but be-
cause tnere MAD been a large increase in
population and in business-in fact, the
salaries for some of the officers in these
was required in conducting the business Of
the offices. IT the Governor can name a
single county in the State that has in
creased largely in population and business
that did not get an increase under the
salary law recently enacted-I care not
what it's politics may be-I am sure the
committee and public will be obliged to him
II ne VIII kindly do so. His charge that
the salaries of the officers of the counties
were raised which had representation on
the committee is disproyed, specially In the
county of Marion. An increase was not
had not been large increase both in popula-
ton and business, but because the COM
made the salaries in Marion large enough,
for the present, notwithstanding the largely
Marion county were of the same political
faith as the representative on the com
mittee from this district, and also his per-
The Governor also charges that the COM
pensation of Republican State officers has
or is rightly reported, this charge is too
ridiculous TO even be considered. l am
as all the readers of the Journal, know
very well that the compensation Of the
Republican uaris state officers will be very large
state in the statehouse BY the new law
- N'"Ot OAAsft ~ w LIN law VI VII D0
shown clearly TO the people in the cam
paign Of 1896, ard ! think Governor Mat
cussion of the Issues of the campaign OF
1896: that there will be a very large saving
The Governor also charges that the COM
mittee has increased the pay of the deputies
in some of the State offices. This is true.
tors office. for instance, the salaries for
the deputies in the insurance department
the law Of 1871 SCI at si. iaeotoae Which sis w vase so on low
that ex-Auditor Henderson paid one Of
these deputies out Of his own fees $500 in
addition to his salary, and to one other
deputy 1880, in addition to the salary
provided in the law of 1891, and he had
of men properly qualified for those impor-
tant positions. AS the law of 1895 takes
the committee knew 1t would be impossi-
bic to find the right men. to fill these inn
tn Se Committees nHs,eon raised az a tb saia aaiar 1r ~ = s no
1T would have been wiser to have made the
salaries as much as 5000 or s., 400, as the
to have the services of cheap men in any
of these positions. 1t is true that the com
mittee did not heed the solicitation OF
Governor Matthews to raise the compensn-
ton Of his private secretary and also his
clerk, for reasons which were TO the COM
The committee has not claimed that the
law WI, OF 1898 was 2 perfect law. u would
into such details in the way Of investiga-
ton as would be necessary. In order to
prepare a law that would be absolutely fair.
but we Go believe that the law OF 1896 is
as fair as ii was possible to make IL in the
time given to the committee 10 do the work.
Counties Of the State will not grew alike;
some Will decrease in population and busi-
ness; others, OH account Of development Of
gas or oil. or some other Ike reas on, VIII
increase very rapidly in population and
business, and it will be necessary, i'm all
probability, to readjust the salary law in
in 1897, and again In 1899, in
much the same way as the govern
ment adjusts the salaries of the postmas-
ters. The fee and salary committee is
willing to leave to the considerable judg-
ment of the people the question % the
fairness of the present law. The con NIT
tee tried to be absolutely fair, and l am
sure the people of the State will give the
committee credit for this intention.
w. G. VAN ARSDEL.
Chicago. March "A.