The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-17
ON FEES AND SALARIES
A JOINT MEETING HELD IN THE
sTATEHoUsE.
Legislative Committees Meet with the
Fee and Salary Commfssion-The
Discussion.

The committees on fees and salaries of
the House and Senate held joint meeting
in the office of the fee and salary COM
mission on the third floor OF the State
house yesterday afternoon at O'Clock.
Judge Timothy E. Howard. of South Bend.
president OF the commission, and William
a wilkins, its secretary, met with the
committees. Judge Howard discussed by
sections the bin prepared by the commits
sion, the object OF which is to amend the
present fee and salary law. tabulated
statement is being prepared for use by both
committees showing the amount allowed
county officers under the present law; the
actual amount received by them, which
does not always coincide with the amount
allowed and the amount they are permitted
70 make under the amendments proposed
by the commissions bill.
This tabulated statement is being made
MP in accordance with estimates furnished
by Secretary wilkins. Judge Howard told
the committees that IL was believed by
the commission TO be an utter impossi-
oility 10 frame law that should reach
out and give exact justice to all of the
officers in the State. There are certain
ent law which cannot be remedied. These
grow out Of the fact that some counties
have more business relating TO gravel
roads than others, while In some coun-
ties there are more changes of venue
taken than IN others, and variety OF other
causes Some officers will, therefore, be
compelled TO do their work at a certain
secrihce as compared with the treatment
accorded other officers under the new law.
The principle of this law. proposed by
the fee and salary commission, said Judge
Howard rs that all sorts Of fees and
allowances shall be absolutely cut off and
the officer Is to get no compensation what
ever except what Is provided in the bill
that Is. a fixed salary and 10 per cent of
the fees collected by him and turned into
the treasury.
The new bill takes from sheriffs their op-
portunity TO make money out Of boarding
prisoners. Whatever is furnished to the
Jail or courthouse under the new law will
be allowed by the County Council and then
The contracts for furnishing the articles
must be made by the County Commissioners
as I'm other cases. I'VE think the allowance
made to the sheriff OF $40 for the first
100 inhabitants and $40 a thousand for ev-
cry thousand above that is sufficient said
Judge Howard.
A number of members of the committee
from the Senate and House thought that
township assessors ought to be allowed
more compensation than s. day. as at
present. Judge Howard stated that the
commission desired TO particularly impress
the committees with the fact that ne sal
aries OF the Governor and the judges of the
Supreme Court ought to be increased, that
Oh sc 1ONcIiOt W fc-otVs 50 dS TO MAKE IL
the largest paid of any State Official and
these of judges 10 be fixed at $500 each
Under the new law county clerks will re-
cefve $50 a thousand for the first 10000
o. population and $50 a thousand for each
600 above that number, and in addition
10 per cent. OF all fees collected and turned
into the treasury by them. The same prin-
ciple Is applied to the other county Of
acers.
The chairmen of the Senate and House
committees requested Judge Howard to
meet the committees again to-day at L
o'clock. which he agreed 10 do, although
he had intended to return TO South Bend
this morning.