The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-02-03
DEMOCRATS TO
DISCUSS COUNTY
SHAKEUP PLANS
sweeping Changes Drafted
in Bill, to Be Sifted at
Caucus Today.
nv Tanxrc D4~u
BY LANES DOSS

Rouse Democrats were to Caucus
tnls afternoon on a proposal for a
sweeping reorganization of county
government, wiping out township
hnes, abolishing many county
Offices, and fixing a salary scale for
county officials.
provisions Of the bill. which is ex-
pected to bring about simplification
OF local laws and more economical
administration, was to be explained
at the caucus by its author. Repre-
sentative Wilfred Jessup Dem.
Centerville). He also is author of
the state reorganization measure.
Dehlnd which Governor Paul v. Nc
Mutt threw all the power of his adj
mnlstration. He estimates the
county measure will effect economy
of 100000.
Provides Three Glasses
Jessup's proposal would divide all
counties OF the state into three
classes on basis of population in
stead of area. First class counties
population more than 100000 would
nave seven or five townships; second
class counties, population 10000 to
lOO,OOO, five townships, and third
class counties, population less than
10000, three or five townships.
NO provisions of the act would
apply to courts or prosecuting at
torneys
Effective May l, 1888, the office of
township assessor would be abolished
and his duties transferred to the
township trustee.
The office of county assessor also
would be abolished and his duties
transferred to the county recorder.
Offices of county highway super
intendent and county surveyor
would be combined under the latter
office and the ditch commissioners
duties assigned also to the surveyor.
Salaries Are Set
Effective Dec. 81, 1888, at the con-
cluslon of present appropriations all
fees of officers would be paid into
the comfy treasury and officers
placed on the following straight
salary basis
First Class-Circuit clerk, $4,000
to $4,000; auditor, recorder, treas
urer and sheriff, same; coroner,
$1,000 to $4,000; surveyor, $4,000 to
$4,000
Second Class-Circuit clerk, $4,000
to $4,000; auditorC recorder, treas
urer and sheriff, same; coroner, $500
d A
Third Class-Circuit clerk, $1,000
to $4,000; auditor, $500 to $4,000;
recorder, treasurer and sheriff,
same; coroner, $500 to $3.50; sur
veyor, $1,000 to $4,000.
Salaries would be fixed yearly by
the county council, and, effective
April 80 of this year, boards of
county commissioners would assume
all dutiles of the present board, of
the board of finance, board of re-
view and board of education Also
effective on that date, the auditor,
treasurer and assessor would be
eliminated from the board of review.
The county coroner would assume
all duties Of the county health COM
missioner, whose office would be
abol ished Office of county school
superintendent continue merged
with that of county agricultural
agent, salary to be fixed by county
council at 81 500 to $4,000.
The county council would be con-
stituted of trustee from each
township and three councilmen.
Thus, in a second class county will
five townships, there would be elect
ed in the November election three
councilmen from each township
with a total councilmanic personnel
OF 20. The trustee and the three
councilmen would form the town
ship advisory board and make nee
essary tax levies and appropriations.
The JesSup proposal contains a
school township setup to take over
school property in new township
boundaries, leaving school cities I'M
disturbed. The trustee and advisory
board would have charge of town
ship schools and supervise all poor
relief.
Justices of the peace would be
limited one to each township, with
both his and a constable's salary
fixed by the county council.