The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-02-12
SENATE Wages
BITTER BATTLE
ON Weiss BILL
Sheriff'S Fee Substitute in
Line for Passage
Tomorrow.
PARTY LINES WRECKED
Move to Throw Control to
Commission Loses by
One Vote.

Commission Loses by
One Vote.
Following swift parliamentary
maneuvers and close votes in which
party lines we're wrecked, the Sen
ate today placed the Weiss prisoner
feeding bill in line for passage to-
morrow.
The measure, offered late yester-
day by Senator Jacob Weiss, Demo-
cratic president pro TEN. of the
Senate. as a substitute for the
Treadway daily-fee bill. which op-
ponents charged would triple the
income Of Sheriffs OF Marion and
Lake Counties, was stoutly defended
by the Indianapolis Senator.
The Weiss bill would place fees
charged BY sheriffs for feeding
county jail prisoners under the sole
control Of the chief examiner Of the
State Board OF Accounts.
BY the scant margin Of one vote,
the Senate rejected a proposed
amendment by Senator Edward c.
HAYS ID, Marion) which would
have restored control over the fees
TO county commissioners.
Also rejected was an amendment
offered by Senator Ralph II. Jerne-
gan tR.. Mishawaka) which would
have inserted a clause prohibiting
sheriffs from making any profit
from the food allowances.
Such a clause was urged today by
indianapolis Chamber Of Commerce,
original critic Of the Treadway
measure.
Roll Call Demanded
When the Jernegan amendment
was offered, Senator c. K. Watson
ID, Fl. Wayne, moved that it be
placed on the table.
Senator Jernegan demanded a roll
call vote. Liet. Gov. NJ. Clifford
Townsend refused 10 grant the de-
mand because of no seconder and a
voice vote defeated the restriction.
Meanwhile the Indianapolis
Chamber Of Commerce. whose criti-
cism Of the Treadway bill resulted
in a storm Of protest over its pass
age. declared the Weiss bill does not
cure the objections to the Treadway
food-fee measure.
William H. Book. executive vice
president, today charged in letter
to every Senator, that the new bill
would make II possible. and We be-
lieve practically certain. that the
sheriffs of Marion and Lake coun-
ties would make a profit from the
feeding Of prisoners"
Profit Motive Assailed
What is needed. Mr.. Book told the
Senators. Is a strict provision pre-
venting any profit making.
This would not be a new prOvi-
sion of Indiana isa. Mr. Book said.
citing the Acts Of 1921 which pro-
vide that mo profit shall accrue" to
sheriffs as the result OF food allow
ances.
This provision has worked salts
factorily since 1921. Mr. Book said.
The difficulties that have arisen
from permitting food being brought
from the outside 10 the prisoners
could be stopped at any time by the
sheriff himself" Mr.. Book added.
Senators we're told that the pres
ent cost Of feeding inmates in all
other Marion County institutions IS
approximately the same as for the
County Jail. between - and 25
cents per day per inmate.
$500 Salary Recalled
The Weiss bill would allow - ,
cents a meal. or 4Oia cents a DAY.
This rate is far out Of line with
allowances for persons on public
poor relief" the Chamber Of Com
merce official said.
IF Sheriffs OF these two counties
are not receiving sufficient salaries, -
Mr.. Book declared. then the Salar-
les should be raised in a regular
and open manner.
The sheriff Of Marion County
receives a salary Of $500 a year to-
gether with a home in which 10
live. all Of which was known at the
time he ran for the Office Mr..
Books letter charged.
ANY kind Of a fee system for feed
ing prisoners in county Jail is anti
ouated and a reyerSion 70 the IN
sound governmental practices Of
years gone by. Mr.. Book concluded.
Senator Weiss bill establishes
maximum costs that may be paid,
and wholly removes the authority Of
county commissioners 10 fix the
feeding fees TO be paid sherifIs.
Maximum Fee Set
The Treadway bill established
fixed rates payable 10 Sheriffs. The
Weiss bill would permit the Board
OF Accounts 10 establish the rate al
any figure less than 1872 cents a
meal maximum.
An effort 70 pass the Weiss bill
yesterday by suspension Of the rules
was defeated in the Senate. when
ftwO-thirdS OF the membership failed
10 agree.
Meanwhile. the Treadway bill re-
mains on the desk OF Lieut.. Gov. NJ
Clifford Townsend. AS presiding
officer OF the Senate. which quickly
passed the Treadway bill last Fri
dsy. Lieut.. Gov. Townsend must first
sign the measure before submitting
Il 70 the Governor. This has beer
deferred because Of the storm Of
protest that followed its adoption
The Weiss measure IS said 10 have
the approval Of the Board Of Ac-
counts and the Indiana Sheriffs' AS
ISOLATION