The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-10
THE GARD FEE AND SALARY BILL

thus destroy the trust.
THE GARD FEE AND SALARY BILL.
1t is probably true that the Gard fee and
salary bill is constructed upon a much
more equitable basis than any fee and
salary law that has ever been in force in
the State. The basis. it is understood, is
that recommended by the commission
which was created by the Legislature of
1899 and reported to the last Legislature.
when the report received little attention.
The present fee and salary bill is based
upon the census of 1890. while the calcula-
tions in the Gard bill are based upon the
census Of 1900. In thirteen years there has
been a great increase in the population of
many counties. sc that the salaries in such
counties are much less than they should
be. regardless of the fact that a score Of
men stand ready to take every county Of
flee at the present rate of compensation.
The figures published in yesterdays Jour-
nal giving a comparison of the salaries un-
der the present law and those which would
be paid under the Gard bill are computed
on the amendments to the bill by the fee
and salary committee of the Senate. and
are higher than in the original bill as pre-
scented by Senator Gard. The increases
which will attract most attention are those
accorded to county recorders. These Off
GERS have received less relative compensa-
ton the past few years than other county
officers because Of the greater activity in
a
paid into the respective county treasures
last year $4,000 more than their salaries.
On the basis of the business of the last
two years the Gard bill gives recorders so
per cent. of the fees which they collect in
excess of their salaries. If the activity in
real estate transactions should continue
recorders would receive about the amounts
given in yesterdays table, but if it should
cease the salaries would fall off, The
next greatest apparent increase is in the
compensation of sheriffs. Under the present
law If they collect sufficient fees to pay
themselves they receive the salaries pro-
vided by law. but if they do not they are
short the difference between the fees COL
lected and the salary stated. 1t is asserted
that the prosperous times have seriously
affected the fees of sheriffs. The fees re-
ceived from sales under foreclosure of
mortgages were the source of the largest
revenue in the past, but these have fallen
off largely since prosperity has enabled
those giving mortgages to pay them off
in hundreds of cases where, few years
ago. they would be sold out.
Probably the greatest objection to any
one feature of the bill is that which gives
county treasurers 10 per cent. of the de-
linquent taxes which they collect. The
amount of unpaid taxes in the State is so
large as to make delinquency a subject of
discussion by the tax commission. Such
! delinquency should decrease during the sea-
son of prosperity, but it has continued to
increase. In Marion county the treasurer
is given commission of per cent. on the
collections of delinquent taxes. The present
official has pushed the collections with
vigor and has reduced the aggregate very
much. The figures which he presents show
| that the percentage he receives goes to pay
the additional officers employed in the col
lection, and that the portion which he re-
| ceives is poor compensation for the odium
which has come to his office for his vigor-
| Gus efforts to collect delinquent taxes
Perhaps 10 per cent is too much to pay fol-
| the collection of delinquent taxes, but il
| such percentage will cut down the alarm
| ing aggregate of such taxes Ii should be-
| paid, and would be a good investment A
small percentage and constitutional
amendment extending the term Of county
| treasurers to four years and making then
| ineligible for reelection would be the mos
| effective method Of dealing with delinquent
| taxes.
| The Gard bill as amended by the commit
| tee will come up for discussion in the Sen
| ate to-day. 1t may be amended, but amend
ments cannot be made to apply to singl,
counties because the basis is upon popula
ton as required by the Constitution. Their,
| is no disposition on the part of those who
| approve it's general features to hasten it!
| passage. If there is an error in any feat
| ure, it is that the amount of salary to eacf
| 10000 inhabitants may be too high.