The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-07
PROSECUTORS LEFT CHAGRINED.
Present Incumbents Not Affected by
Bill to Increase Salaries.

Bill to Increase Salaries.
The prosecuting attorneys of the State
were given a severe jolt yesterday when the
House adopted an amendment to the bill
increasing their salaries. which provided
that the increase shall not affect the pres
ent incumbents. An aggressive lobby of
prosecutors from all parts of the State
has been here off and on ever since their
bill was introduced by Representative
Sparks and fifteen or twenty of them were
in the rear of the hall yesterday when
the bill was handed down on second read
ing. The expressions on their faces dur
ing the various stages OF the fight on the
bill, as IL narrowly escaped death and was
finally advanced with the amendment men-
toned, would make the fortune of the man
who could reproduce them.
When the bill was read ii was accom-
panied by the committee recommendation
that ii be amended so that prosecutors In
circuits of more than one county should
receive $1,000, in circuits Of one county con-
tanning no city of at least 20. 600 Inhabitants,
$3.50. and In all other circuits $500. Mr.. rep
ple of Laporte. Immediately offered an
amendment to. the amendment providing
more than one court, i'm different cities, of
concurrent criminal jurisdiction should re-
cefve $1,000 This amendment was adopted
and the lobbyists did not appear alarmed,
nall that they did not like 1t and their
worst fears were confirmed when Mr..
Stookey sent up a motion that the enact
ing clause be stricken from the bill.
SAYRE WAS PLEASED.
AS the motion of the gentleman from
Kosciusko was read and he was recognized
to speak, Mr.. Sayre. who in the past week
has earned the title of the watchdog of
the treasury" leaned back in his seat with
satisfied smile on his face and whispered.
I'm glad there's a new Richmond in the
field"
1.-THE time is ripe to dispose of this graft
right now began Mr.. Stookey, vehement
ly. Yesterday this House turned down a
proposition to increase the salaries of the
Circuit and Superior judges of the State.
and now 1 hope to see this equally vicious
measure killed. Why should the salaries of
the prosecutors be raised? Is ii because no
man can be found to accept the office at
present by reason of the small compensa-
ton? L have heard of no county Or circuit
that is forced to do without prosecuting at
torney for this reason. On the contrary,
at every election in every circuit We find
from one to half a dozen men anxious to
get the office.
LAS / have said of similar bills the men
who are now actively engaged in lobbying
for this bill knew exactly what salary to
expect when they sought and received cleo
voters who elected him that he would seek
more pay just as soon as he was firmly
seated The prosecutors are amply paid
under the present laws, and this bill should
be killed. / hope the motion TO strike out
the enactng clause will prevail"
Mr.. Boulder, of Clinton, spoke in favor
of the bill. He argued that at the present
salaries good lawyers could not be induced
to take the office of prosecutor.
THE DOLLAR-A-DAY MAN.
NJ
Green, of Switzerland, both opposed the
bill. The latter said that the session of
the Legislature was about half over, and
he had seen little except bills to increase
the salaries of some officeholders. Il
haven't heard of any measures for the ben
eft of the dollar-a-day man." he concluded,
''the man who really has the hard time to
live. Let's do something for him. The Of
ficeholders can worry along on their present
incomes"
Mr.. Sherman. of Decatur, spoke in favor
Of the bill. AS he arose he hemmed and
hawed a little and said that he was a little
embarrassed by his surroundings. Mr..
Sayre, his seatmate, took the hint and
moved down the aisle few seats.
THE embarrassing surroundings having
been removed, shall proceed" Mr.. Sher-
man then began. 81 take 1t that the people
or Decatur county are as intelligent as
those of any county in the State I am led
to believe this because of their choice of
representative. Now, the people of Decatur
county are asking that something be done
to raise the plane of the Office of prose
cutting attorney. At the present compensa-
ton attached to that office no experienced
lawyer can be induced to accept it. and as
result 1t is filled by young law students
who mean WELL but who are not qualified to
meet the responsibilities placed upon them.
When they have an important case it is
necessary for the county to employ a COM
petent lawyer to assist them. Next to the
judge of the court the Office of prosecutor
is the most important in the circuit, and
the salary attached to ii should be sufficien,
to attract the ablest attorneys in the cir.
cult"
HARRINGTON AFTER PEARLS
During Mr.. Shermans speech Booth
Harrington moved up several rows of desks
in order that none of the pearls that
dropped from the lips of the member from
Decatur might escape him. For some rea-
son Harrington has come to take an espe-
cial interest in the oratorical efforts OF
Mr.. Sherman.
The vote on the motion to strike out the
enacting clause was then taken and the
motion was defeated-39 to A. 1t was such
a close call for the bill, however that the
prosecutors along the rear wall shivered
Then up bobbed the bald head of the mem.
Der from Wabash, and they asked them.
selves what was coming next.
"A motion, Mr.. Speaker" announced Mr.
Sayre.
The motion was to the effect that the bill
be amended so that its provisions would
not apply to the present incumbents of the
Office of prosecutor.
II am moved to offer this motion" ex
planned Mr.. Sayre, by the remarks of m,
friend from Decatur. who has told tina
none but students be induced to tax.
the office of prosecutor so long as it's emol
uments are at the present low figure. L
such is the case / see no reason why the
| incompetent incumbents of the Office, and
| take his word for Ii that they are incOmpe
tent, should reap the benefit of the increas,
In salary. They are not entitled to IL by
reason of the efficiency of their services"
| Mr.. Boyd, of Putnam. supported tn.
| amendment. He said that he was opposed
to raising the salary of any man while h,
| was im office.
Mr.. Settlers opposed the amendment OF
the grounds that the real argument in ia
vor of the bill was not that none but in
competents could be induced to take tn,
! Office unGer the present salary, but that tn,
men who are now in Office by virtue O
their services were entitled to an increase,
/ remuneration.
Mr.. Sayre. with his little hatchet. how
] ever. had done the work. His motion wa
1 carried by an overwhelming vote and tn.
| lobby of prosecutors will have to return
disappointed and chagrined 10 their homes
! 1t is not altogether impossible that the bill
i as amended will not pass, as Mr.. Sayre re
marked suggestively as IL was announce,
that II had been advanced to engrossment:
We'll the bills not passed yet, by da,
1 or two
GRIND IN THE HOUSE.