The Indianapolis journal., 1902-12-11
They Want the Legislature to Provide
for Salaries to he Paid Direct
from the Counties.
MUCH GRUMBLING IS HEARD
SALARIES THAT DEPEND UPON FEES
FALL BEHIND.
An Organization VIII he Perfected to
at Once Begin WOrk-Other
Political News.

ganizing to make a fight for an amend
ment TO the fee and salary law. They want
the law so changed that they will be paid
a salary direct from the country treasury.
AS the law now stands the sheriff receives
a salary. but he must collect enough fees
from his office TO pay the salary or he is
left with the bag to hold.
A secret meeting of the county officials
was held at the Denison yesterday after
noon at O'Clock that was attended by fif-
teen sheriffs. representing seven of the
thirteen congressional districts of the
State. Every effort was made to conceal
the fact that the meeting was held. The
men did not register at the Denison nor at
any of the other hotels. and they pledged
themselves TO the most rigid secrecy. How
ever, the news of the meeting and what
was accomplished leaked out.
Among those who were active in arrang-
ing for the meeting and who took promi-
nent part in the proceedings yesterday
afternoon were Sheriff William N. Swain.
of Muncie; Sheriff c. c. Bradford, of
Marion, and Sheriff Joseph c. Andrews, of
Portland.
Sheriff Swain, of Muncie, was selected as
chairman of the meeting and his deputy
was made secretary. Sheriff Swain stated
that the object OF the conference was to
devise ways and means for a state organi-
zation to look after the interests of the
sheriffs at the approaching session of the
Legislature and called for suggestions.
THE PLAN ADOPTED.
After some little discussion it was decided
to adopt the following plan: The sheriffs
will hold district meetings at the earliest
possible date and perfect district organiza-
tions. Each of the district organizations
will select a delegate or representative for
a state committee, which will, consequent
ly, consist of thirteen members. This COM
mittee will meet in Indianapolis within
the next two weeks and organize by elect
ing permanent officers and appointing com
mittees
The principal committee to be selected Is
the legislative committee that will have
| charge of the sheriffs' affairs at this win
| ter's session of the General Assembly. A
bill will be prepared amending the fee and
salary law so as TO provide that the sher-
| ifs will receive straight salaries from the
| county treasures and not be dependent or
the revenues of their offices. In the mean.
| time through the district organizations
and individually, the sheriffs will work or
| members of the Legislature and endeavol
| to enlist their support to this bill.
The predicament in which the sheriff:
ind themselves in Indiana is due to too
much Republican prosperity-they do no
| have enough sheriffs' sales. For man,
| wears the sheriffs office was one of thu
| most lucrative of the county offices. Ths
| sheriff was paid in fees and in some coun
| ties these fees were sufficient to make
| man independently rich in two terms, OF
| four years. Several years ago the fee anC
| salary law was adopted by the State Legis
| lature placing the sheriffs salaries bu
| providing that they must collect enough IL
| fees from their offices to pay their salaries
| n they collected more than enough to pa,
heir salaries they must turn the surplus
! nto the county treasures. This Law
worked all right for a year or two, bu
Hhen under the Mckinley administration
he country advanced to such a remarkabl.
| prosperous condition, the number of sher
IFS sales-the chief source of revenue IL
| the office-fell off TO such an extent tina
the sheriffs are no longer able TO realiz
| enough in fees to pay their salaries.
MUCH GRUMBLING.
One sheriff who was present at yester
days meeting fell short of his salary $3.50
in two years. Others, all over the State
are running behind at the rate of from $50
to 5000 a year. One sheriff had but on
sale in the two years of his term. All o
fees in criminal cases to pay their salaries
But such fees are seldom paid and the rev
enues therefrom are comparatively insig
nificant. The sheriffs have enough comin
to them to balance their salaries but ther
is so much of this that they can never col
lect, or If they do il comes in small drib
for years after they are out of office tina
things have reached a point where man
of them have refused to stand for re-elec
ton.
In one of the smallest counties of tn
State, where the office of sheriff carries
salary of but $1,000 the present incumben
has realized only $500 per year for the las
two years, and when he was asked
make the race for reelection he spurne
the offer. Previous to his election he ha
been in the business of buying poultry an
eggs on small scale, and he said that h
| would not give up that business again 70
i've years of the sheriff's office.
The trouble is general all over the Stat,
ii rs seid and the men who participate
tically every sheriff in Indiana was heart
lily In sympathy with the movement an
would do all in his power TO help the wor
along.
Some of the district meetings will be hel
this week and all of them will hay
been held by the middle of next week S
that the district delegates can get togethe
not later than Dec. 20. The Legislator
| will convene on Jan. s, and there is gres
deal of work 10 be accomplished prior
that date.
FAVORS VOTING MACHINES