The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-19
THE PAY OF ASSESSORS
AN APPEAL WILL BE MADE TO THE
NEXT LEGISLATURE.
Feeling that I'm Many Instances As
SCISSORS Are Underpaid-An Or
ganfzatfon Effected.

Representatives of the township assessors
of Indiana held meeting at the State
house yesterday afternoon and formed
permanent association. the immediate OBJ
ject OF which is TO secure legislation at the
approaching session of the General Assem-
bly, that will make the office of assessor
more lucrative one. The assessors already
have county organizations. and each county
was entitled to one delegate at yesterdays
meeting. Seventy-fve per cent. of the coun-
ties I'm the State were represented
The organization was effected by electing
e. o. Pfelffer. of Elkhart, president, and
T. II. Seward, of Jonesboro, Grant county,
secretary and treasurer. A legislative COM
mittee was appointed as follows: L. II.
Seward Jonesboro; Charles 3. Greenwood.
New Albany; Z. o. Pfeiffer. Elkhart; c. p.
Schoon. Munston, Lake county, and John
w. Fraza. Terre Haute.
The legislative committee will undertake
10 secure the adoption of bill changing the
laws governing the work of the assessors so
that they will get more money. At present
the assessors receive 81 per day for sixty
days i'm townships under $1,000 population;
in townships of $500 or over they receive
salaries of from 81 900 to $500 per year. the
Council. The compensation in the town
ships under 5000 is wholly inadequate. in
the opinion OF the assessors. and the bill
the legislative committee will prepare Will
provide that the assessors are TO be paid
from s.. 80 to s. per day for sixty days in all
townships under 5000, and in townships OF
from 5000 TO 5000 they are to be paid grad
ed salaries not TO exceed $500.
FULL POWER TO ACT.
The legislative committee was given full
power TO act for the association and an
other meeting of the state organization
may not be called until after the Legisla-
ture adjourns. However, the State Board
of Tax Commissioners a few days ago
called a conference of county assessors for
Jan. IA, Is and 16, and as township assessors
will be welcome at this conference they
may decide to kill two birds with one stone
and hold a meeting of their newly-formed
organization at that time.
THE township assessors do not receive
enough money, when the nature and extent
of their work is considered. said +. o.
Pfeiffer. of Elkhart, last evening. but the
present law works an especial injustice on
the assessors in townships of from 5000 to
5000 population The work in these town
ships cannot be done, and done right, in
sixty days, and at 81 per day the best men
cannot be secured to do the work. Taxa
tion is the most important phase of gov
eminent and competent men should be en-
gagged in the work of assessing property.
I'VE do not apprehend any serious Oppo-
sition to our bill. In fact, we have yet to
breach the subject TO senator or repre-
sentative who does not indorse the move
ment we are starting. The members OF the
State Board of Tax Commissioners are
with us and we have good reasons TO be-
lieve that Governor Durbins sympathies
with our bill. There is nothing secret
about the movement We have started, but,
on the contrary, We believe that the more
the public learns of the situation the bet
ter the chance We shall stand of securing
a change In the present laws"
The township assessors now in office were
elected two years ago for a term of four
years, hence IL the change in the law they
desire is made this winter they will receive
the advantage of the increase in salaries for
the remaining two years of their terms.
unless there Is a provision In the bill that
it is not to take effect until the present in
cumbents go out of office.