Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-09-02
DAVIS PLEDGES
ABOLISHMENT
OF FEE SYSTEM
Democratic Candidate for
Prosecutor Shows It's
Tax Booster.
RAPs ROAD FUND WASTE

An attack on the fee system in IL e
prosecutors office whereby the proseca-.
tor is paid for each case he prosecutes
was made by Paul G. Davis, democratic
nominee for prosecutor in a speech at
the home of Louis L. Stanley, 1850 Adams
street, last night.
Mr. Davis proposed that the fee system
of paying public officials be done away
with and that public offices be placed
on a straight salary basis.
Mr.. Davis said the Office of prosecutor
Is too lucrative as it is, pointing out taat
the prosecutors total fees during the
last eighteen months have amounted to
approximately $4,000.
In speaking of the justice of the peace
courts, Mr.. Davis pointed out that most
of the courts are operated under the
rule that salaries are paid from fees
collected on conviction, thus influencing
the justice of the peace to convict as
many persons as possible.
Mr.. Davis Speech follows:
FEE-GRABBING RING
BOOSTING TAXES.
Your taxes are too high and are grow
ing, higher because Of the graft In the
Marion county courthouse which is un-
der the exclusive control Of the fee
grabbing republican ring.
In 1918 before the unconstitutional
Goodrich tax law became operative, the
tax rate for this county was S2.6S. We
are now told by the republican county
auditor that under the workings of this
law. which the republican legislature has
attempted TO legalize, the tax rate for
this county will be about $3.50 In 1920
This viii make q decrease OF only IA
per cent from the tax rate of 1918, and,
in view OF the fact that the appraisement
Of the property In this county for 1926
is 81 per cent higher than in 1918. we
are assured Of paying in 1920 half again
al much in the way of taxes as we paid
In 1913.
From 1904 to 1920 the amount which
has been collected In taxes in this county
has increased more than 30 per cent and
during the same period Of time, the
county debt has increased more than 80
per cent. In the last six years alcne,
the amount which has been paid In taxes
has increased more than 179 per cent
and during the same time the county
debt has Increased more than 2oi per
cent
Il will give you some Of the reasons
for this unwarranted increase In the pay
ment Of taxes.
In 1918 the city Of Indianapolis pur-
chased garbage plant which was
owned, at least IN part, by Gov. Good
rich, for $500 Mr. Moorman, tho
president OF the corporation which sold
the plant testified under oath that it
was worth not more than $4,000
1t costs the county more than 5000
year to operate automobiles driven by
the republican Office holders and accord.
Ing TO the report of the state board Of
accounts. one Of these cars is used by
the courthouse custodian ia going TO aH,i
from his residence to the courthouse
daily
JANIroRs COST
Sls.OO0 PER YEAR.
"It costs over $4,000 year to ray the
Janltors in the courthouse and IL costs
less than $1,000 year to pay all Of the
ianitors in the Board OF Trade building.
which contains 2lO rooms The number
OF tanitors employed IN the courthouse
has been increased during the period Of
two or three months prior to the elec-
don.
"The republican county commissioners
paid sS37.20 for the work Of putting $S4 6S
worth Of paint aud 1891 worth OF hard
ware on election booths In 1918
'"rhe board Of accounts in its report
OF May 20, 1919, says in part
q" In the preceding pages Of this re.
tort we nave discussed at length the
conditions existing by reason OF laxity
Of the board Of county commissioners In
the management of the affairs Of the
county. The results shown to exist are
not due TO sudden mismanagcmeut u
affairs in 1918. but are caused by neg
Egence and bad practice which have
grown up over a period OF several years
but which seem to be continually grow
ing more and more acute. There has ap-
parently been no effort on the part of
the officers to outline the scientific aud
Continued on Page Ten.)