The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-01-27
PROPOSED SALARY
BOOST IS FOUGHT
Fattened Pay Envelopes for
County Commissioners
Stirs the Senate.
palladium Specially


Indianapolis. Jan. 27.-The first
fight In the senate that has marked
the present session took place Thurs
day afternoon when FTemings bill to
Increase the salaries OF the county
commissioners Of Allen county was
called up for third reading and pass
age. Before Il had proceeded far
amendments were tackled on raising
the salaries OF the county commission
erx Of Marion. Lake. St. Joseph and
vigo counties. There was an instant
isappearance OF party lines and af-
ter m intense fight the bill failed of
passage because 1t did not receive
the constitutional majority Of the sen.
ate, which Is 26. The final vote stood
Is for to - against. with Senator Lam.
bert absent. The bill was not defeat
ed. 30 IL has an opportunity OF being
called up again, and Its promoters
are confident of passing IT.
Senator Gavit introduced ono OF the
amendments and Senator Higgins. an
other and they mustered back OF them
several Republicans who supported the
bill. Upon the Democratic side the
fight against II was made by Stotsen-
berg. Carleton, Shiveley. Harlan. Cur
tis. Hauck. TraylOr. Yarling, Trautman.
Powers. Park, Long. Lamont, Jackson.
CRUDE, Gers and FarlOw. Fleming Sc
cured the support of such Republicans
NJ Durrc. Gavit. Crumpacker. Hibberd.
Higgins, Hunt, Jenkins. Kane. Kimmel,
Moore and Wood.
Carleton Flights Dill.
Senator Carleton led the floor fight
against the bill by introducing an
amendment providing the raise should
not affect men now In office. which
was lost.
Every commissioner In this state
knew what his salary would be when
he went ont to get the office" said
Carleton In the leading speech. as he
touched off the fireworks In the In
surgent wing. I'VE are pledged to
economy. yet there Ii every indication
that this In only the beginning of sal
airy grabbing. One Of my friends has
told me that there are already enough
bills Of this nature proposed to lift
925.OOO.OOO out of the treasures OF
tUC uy0to 8uu 8SotuiSOucsy SAo"Ss -
upon office holders. II we do bust
ness in this manner. In two years
the party will receive condemnation
which II richly deserves"
EYES," spoke up Senator jackson.
land the trustees will be here In few
days to demand more salaries, with
the township assessors close upon
their heels. ] am opposed to starting
anything that cannot be stopped At
the proper mark"
Senator Rats, Republican, Clipped
IN At this moment. with spoonful Of
sarcasm for the Democrats:
II am satisfied" said he. none Of
the members told their constituents
anything about raising salaries dur.
ing the campaign. II SO. the complex
Ion Of this house would have been diff.
ferent. Public sentiment must pre-
vail In this legislature or we'd better
switch to some form OF government
In which anarchy will prevail"
Grant county officers have ap
preached me In the same way thai
these other counties are coming for
ward for increases" said Senator
0hiveiey. "T3ut I am here to stick Il
platform pledges. and that's what thu
party must do or It will be discredit
cd"
"But look at Marion county," object
cd Senator Clark. I'VE are on thu
same salary basis which we had I
quarter Of q century ago with over 10(
percent Increase in population.
II am for economy" said Senator
Fleming. but am not in for false
economy" Then he told why Allen
county commissioners should be pait
more.
Before the final role had proceeded
very far II was seen the vote would
b. very close and both sides redoub:ed
their efforts to win. Several changed
their votes after first announcing
them. and many were absent. When
Il was seen the bill had not enough
votes to pass II the opponents tried
10 adjourn. but Senator Fleming in.
sisted upon the absentees being
brought In and he held the ballot open
until they had been summoned. All
were found but Lambert, but still he
lacked one vote Of passing the bill
although under parliamentary proceed
ure the bill was not defeated. and ma,
BE- called up again.