The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-23
PAY OF COUNTY OFFICERS
STATE FEE AND SALARY COMMITS
SION ADOPTS A NEW PLAN.
Reports Sent An Indicate that Large
Sums I'm Excess Of Salaries Have
Been Paid to Omcers.

At the adjourned session of the State fee
and salary commission. held yesterday
morning, the following resolution. which is
the first step toward the formulation OF a
plan that viii equalize the salaries OF the
county officers of the State. was adopted;
Resolved. That the State fee and salary
commission recommend the following:
That, In calculating the salaries of the
clerks. auditors. recorders, treasurers. and
sheriffs OF the State, no other basis be used
than the population and taxable value of
their respective counties: provided, that
the clerks, auditors, recorders. and sheriffs
be allowed. in addition. 1G per cent. Of the
fees OF their respective Offices collected by
them. and that the treasurer be allowed
In addition. one-tenth of per cent. Of all
taxes collected"
The commission may, however. reconsider
fits action in regard to the treasurers and
allow 10 per cent. of the fees accruing on
the collection OF delinquent taxes. The
commission further resolved that all coun-
ty officers were to receive fixed salaries
based on the taxation and population of
the county, TO be paid pro rata at the end
OF each quarter: that all fees. including
the percentage due the officers for collec-
tion, be paid directly into the county fund,
and that all per dierns and allowances of
every kind be not allowed. and that the
clerks fund. auditors fund. recorders
fund, treasurer's fund and sheriff's fund
be abolished. and all payments of salaries
and percentages due the officers named
be paid out OF the county fund.
WHAT REPORTS SHOW.
Reports received from forty-one coun-
ties by Secretary wilkins show an amount
OF $s3.sl1 have been paid the respective
clerks over and above their fees. paid them
directly from the treasury. This amount
includes per diem and court allowances.
An average struck for the remaining fifty
one counties shows an amount In excess
OF the regular fees allowed as salary of
So. III, which makes a total of 1922 that
the clerks of the niiety-two counties have
received In two years over and above their
salaries, or an average OF $543 for each
clerk.
The sheriffs were paid per diem I'm the
forty-one counties for attendance upon two
courts, the Circuit Court and the Commits
sioners' Court, In the period of two years.
including turkeys fees and boarding
prisoners, $l30.7SS more than they were
entitled to. and an average for the remain
Ing hfty-one counties amounting TO $40
w, would swell the total TO 500, 1885, that
was drawn by the sheriffs of the State
over and above the fees they were entitled
TO as salaries. This amount divided amone
the ninety-two sheriffs of the State would
give each OF them $3.50 yearly above their
lawful salaries.
PAID TO SHERIFFS.
The sheriffs' yearly average per diem for
the two courts I'm the ninety-two counties
is $1,000. and the extras. principally for
boarding prisoners and turkeys fees
amounts yearly to $4,000 which repre-
sents approximately 1900 prisoners a year
In the State. with an average detention OF
ten days for each prisoner
The auditors OF the ninety-two counties
were paid I'm the last two years S424 5as more
han they were entitled TO under the law
Ii Is the hope OF providing a remedy thai
VIII regulate the present unsatisfactory
way the county officers have OF payins
themselves out OF the fees OF the off1ces
that has caused the commission to labor So
arduously for plan that will prove salts.
factory In all OF the counties OF the state
The resolution passed by the board yes
ferday Is hoped 20 be a step In the right
direction. and the board will base all future
action thereon.