The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-26

declares ii is the most fruitful source of
crime. II should be stopped by a stringent
law. he says. Furnishing one for carrying
concealed weapons will not right the of
Tense. he says. since the concealed weapon
law of Indiana has been a practical nullity
for years. The restriction ought to be upon
the sale of pistols.
A collateral inheritance tax Is recon-
mended by the attorney general in the FOL
lowing:
Another matter that has consumed a
great deal of the time of this Office has
been the litigation respecting taxation. L
have become thoroughly convinced that the
most just ana equitable tax, and the one
that rests easiest upon those who have to
pay such taxes, Is q collateral inheritance
tax. Such taxes are by no means new,
laws providing for them having existed in
Pennsylvania for three-quarters of a cen
fury, and have been enacted and sustained
by the courts of California, Colorado, Con-
necticutt, Delaware, Illinois. Iowa, Louisl-
ana, Maine, Missouri, Montana, New Jer-
sey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ten
nessee, Virginia. West Virginia n the
revenue laws of the United States, They
exist in five OF the Canadian provinces, IN
England and in most, If not all, European
countries.
These laws, where passed, nave not only
been universally approved. but. so far as
i can ascertain, not one has ever been re-
pealed. / therefore the passage
OF the collateral inheritance tax law on all
estates above $4,000. and that such tax De
progressive in character.
Certainly the State, which has given
constant protection TO the decedent and has
guarded the rights CT property in all the
years during the accumulation OF an estate,
ought in a small way TO be repaid for such
care and protection, when otherwise all
of the decedCnt's estate may go not only 10
strangers from the State, but strangers in
blood and aliens in citizenship. No more
just law could be passed"
PROSECUTORS FEES.
He recommends that prosecutors fees be
abolished and the officers put upon salary
in the following:
Another matter of Importance, the con-
sideration of which has pressed upon me,
Is that of the salary OF prosecuting attor-
neys. Under the law as ii now stands,
prosecuting attorneys profit by the infifc-
ton of penalties upon the accused. This
law Is indefensible and is not of the choos-
ing OF prosecuting attorneys. They do not
want such a law, nor should the state per-
NIT such a law TO stand
mo prosecuting officer, representing the
State. should profit financially by the inn
prisonment of or the infection of the death
penalty upon the accused. Prosecuting Of
fcers ought to be on a salary. Under such
a system the accused could not charge the
prosecution against him to be for mercenary
motives, and the prosecuting attorney would
feel a greater freedom in prosecuting Of
lenses.
"Under the present system many persons
are practically imprisoned for debt They
accidentally commit some trivial offense,
and being unable TO pay the fines, costs and
fees, work out the judgment IN prison. Dy
the present law the State not only loses
their services as wage earners, but Is COM
PEELED at the same time to take care or
them in idleness, while the accused Is MADE
worse by Imprisonment.
Nearly every county officer is now on a
salary. There is no just reason why the
prosecuting attorney should not likewise
be put on a salary. l recommend that
prosecuting attorneys in Indiana be put on
annual salaries, graded according to the
work done and the population Of the dis
trfcts In which the work is done by item.
lust as the salaries of other officers are
fixed under the Constitution. / advise that
the law shall not apply to those prosecut-
ing attorneys in office at the time of the
taking effect of the law"