Indiana State Sentinel, Indianapolis, Marion County, 28 January 1891 — Page 9

- - - w ! PiGES 9 TO IE. 1

SECOND PART. ESTABLISHED 1821, INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 28, 1891-TWELVE PAGES. ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR,

FEE AND SALARY KEFOUJI

VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE ABOUT IT. The KxUilng Fee Sch. lnle Should Be Simplified What Shall Hm I)..n with Oar Road Lett era to the Kdltor About Other Legislative Ouaitlon. To the Editor Sir: The democratic ! party is, by tradition, principle and platform, a party of economy and reform. It has stood for the masses as against the classes, and its fru.-n.dd are confidently looking to the present legislature to be true to its record of the past and the cardinal objects of its organization. The state platform of 18tO declared in no uncertain language for reform iu the j natter of fees ami salaries of countv ofli- i cers. As au official and as a democrat the writer believes the demand was jut and right. This reform will come. When the law shall take effect is a question that we will not hero discuss, but we do desire to submit a few su.'ge-tions that relate to a subject of vital importance both to the officer and the man who pays the costs. It is a fact known to every one who has given the matter an investigation that the present schedule of fees is vague, indefinite and unsatisfactory, and for the purposes of this article we will refer particularly to the fees allowed to the clerks of the circuit courts. The law of 1SS3 makes it an offene to charge and collect constructive fees, and yet the schedule of fees in many particulars is such that there is an honest difference among courts and ittorneys in regard to the proper conduction of the law relating to this subject. If courts and attorneys disagree bow can others be expected to go in the vtraight anil narrow p;ith? As an evidence of the foregoing statement we will refer to the item of fees charged for filing a claim against an estate, f orr.e of the clerks charge 25 cent?, others 5(i cents, others 70 cents, while others cbanre Si. 10 for each claim. Under Ihe pr sent elastic law the man who charges the lvghest price mentioned can give a fair explanation why hia fees are correct. It is all in the interpretation of the iaw. Another instance : Feme of the courts hold that a clerk is entitled to hi- fees for his record in the book known as the "Register of F es." This, in certain suits, will amount to s veral rlodars. Uther eoune bold that the clerks are not en:itledto any fees for this work. The statute pays nothing direct v uton this point; but there i a provision that entit'es clerks to cent per 1(K) words for copying in relation to any matter where no fee or allowance is made." The c.ns' ruction or inter-f-retati a oi this is the source of trouble n many cases, for in this, as in other Earts oi : the schedule of fees, there is an onest difference of opinion as to what it really means. Questions frequently aris concerning the cb rk's legal fees f ir taxing the fees of other officers, far indexing, for filing, for dismissing a Fuit, and so on throughout almost the entire list of charges. With atlairs in this condit on it is no wonder that there i3 so much dissatisfacton, and toe sooner the remedy is applied the better it will be for all concerned. It is t o much to say that there are no two clerks in the tat who tax exactly alike in a'.l cases. The reason is apparjnt to all who have studied the present tchem es f fees. This condition should te i-o chanee-1 that a suit brought in one eounty will be no more expensive than in mother. In other words, there should be uniformity. To review: The present legislature will doubtless put into effect the principles lug.'ested in the democratic state p'at:orm. and will, therefore, pass a !av placing all offices on n salaried basis. And whether the law takes etteit at once, or sometime in the future, i he present schedule.of fees for the county offices should be itemized, simplified and made so plain and sj ecific that even a child can readdy comprehend and easily understand them. If the present legislature wi.l take this matter in charge and push it to a satisfactory conclusion, it wiil he a favor to both the man who taxes the costs and the man who pavs them. Democrat. Jan. 16. JUDICIAL REFORM. The Oewtion f I'robate Court and the II dnrtion if C rci'lt rrnpnard. To the Editok .Sir; Heading your paper, I see that the great reform drive af ems to be at the county officers. No doubt exists that a very material reduction should be made in their fees, but vhlh this is the case, there should be a very great reform in our judicial system by creating county or probate courts, giving then jurisdiction OVer all probate matter and jurisdiction in civil cawes up to $oG); also, jurisdiction over all misdemeanors on appeal from justices of the peace; taking jurisdiction from the grand jury over all misdemeanors and giving jurisdiction to justices of the peace over the sa ne with right of app-al first to the probate court; the probate ju;!go to tax such fc-s as are now taxed by the clerk of the circuit court ia such cases; the fees to be paid into the county treasury; the judtfe of said court to receive a n dary. Two-thirds or three-fourths of the time of our circuit courts is taken up by the above mentioned business. It can readily be seen that by taking this business from our circuits courts the c rcuirn could be enlarged so that the judges that now have onlv one county for a circuit could as easily preside over three or four. If I mistake not, we cow have fifty-five circuits in the state, and if what 1 have proposed could be enacted into a law, we could dispense with the services of at least twenty-five circuit judges, which would alone save in taxes to the fop:e of the state the neat ittie sum of sixtv odd thousand dollars a year without taking into consideration j what would be saved by Iesrening the work of the grand jury and iu the time ! and expense of the witnesses, who are forced to appear before that bodv without compensation, or the excess of fees to be i pai l into the county treasury by probate i judges. Lawyers, no doubt, will oppose j giving Justices of the peace jurisdiction j over misdem. anora for the reason that they are desirous of having all legation j center at the county s -at. If the present judges can't be legislated out of office or ; their salaries reduced, their jurisdiction ' couM be reduced to that of a probate ; ju'life, and a cir. uit ju-!ge could be elected or appointed to preside over the enlarged circuit of three or four counties. The ' present judges would, no doubt, protest again; t eucb a change as this, but they.

as well as all othr officials, must be made to understand that it is r-form of taxation the people wint, and tiiat, by thi Lt-rnal, they will have, and legislators, both state ami na'ionai, might as well be made to understand this now as hereafter. If there are not some pood and wholesome laws Cassed by the present legislature there will e blood on the moon leiore another sits. Would or would it not bo consistent and polit c for the present legislators to take a ima 1 slice off of their ta aries, while they are expected to and are so determined to take a slice oft of the salaries of other officials? A dollar a day the people wouldn't object to. II. T. Slmans. Winchester, Ind., Jan. lti.

AN UNJUST LAW. Shonld Inmta of the I mom Hoapltal lte Ted for Their M intniir ? To the Editok Sir: There are laws enacted which when applied become very odious. One of these laws I desire to point out. On page CJ4 and ec. 6 the law reads thus: Hi at the leveral boards of trosteea of the several hospitals for the iniane of the state of Indiana shall make prompt aud full inquiry as to cbe value ot the entitle of every patient ia general hospitals, and of every patient for whose tdinis!i'n thereto application rosy tie made; and if in the judgment o: such board taid tMute be competent to meet the expense of the c ire of said patieut in the hoapital the fact snah be duly recorded by s ad board in the register of said hospital and on uotice received from said board by the clerk of the county in wr.ich end patient may have a letrnl setdemeut io the inamity record required by law to be kept in his office, etc. This law provides that the board may collect the sum assessed against said patient to reimburse the institution or state for care and keeping of the patient. The people point to too hospitals for these unfortunate people w.th pride as benevole t and charitable institutions. Is there any benevolence or charity in charging these unfortunate people for their care and keeping? Bdls have been sent to this ( Washington) countv for collection against three patients, viz.: Wm. Carter, John Pur ee and Morgan Smedley. The bill against John Purlee is more thau one-third of what his property would bring if sold at public safe. The cba. g against Carter is unreasonable, for he is only a common liver, a farmer. In three or" four years this law app ied would eat up such estates and leave tbe wife with children without any support; nil tor the sake of reimbursing the great state of Ind.ana. If a m .in owes debts more than he can pay the law s iys ho may have exempt $K.0 to assist him on in the world. But here is a board that can make out charges against men aud women of unsound mind or insane, send the same to the county where the patients have property and col e t the sums adjudged by tbcm". I an anv person w ho has the "milk of human kindness" in his breast defend euch a law or the execution of the same? I hee parties hae no voice in the proceed ngs which send them to the hospital for treatment. They aro taken against their wi Is, if they have any. bhail the state of Ind ana ass ss damages against these parties for keeping and caring for ti-em while in this helpless condition? Thes same pi-oplt (while in the hospiial) are assessed, and the tax is levied on their property to help defray the expens-es.of the state the same as other people. Yet this law as it stands charges them heavily for keeping them besides the regular tax. This law is oppressive, inhuman and against the principles of civiuzed society and the Christian religion. Again, this law is not constitutional ("see iec. 3, Art 1, State Constitution.) This article provides for the "establishment and support of institutions for the education of the deaf and dumb and of the blind, and a:so for the treatment of the ins -no." If the inmates of t lie insane hospitals are to be charged for their treatment, why not charge the parent' for the support and education of tho deaf and dumb and the blind? The constitution never contemplated that any or either of these c. asses ot unfortuna'e persons should be charged tor their care, treatment and support. The supreme court of Indiana has decided against the spirit of thisliw. (oc. 24, N. L. Reporter, on page W2.) "It is a thoroughly settled proposition that where one is received into a charitable iustitut on for support or treatment, the law raise- no implied obligation to py in ti e absence of a contract." These parties who are sent to the insane hospital are incapable of raak.ng a con ract and, under law, as hid down by our court, there can be no implied contract to pay the expenses for treatment. The court says, in this same opinion: "The wayfaring man who fed among thieves may have been rich aa I'ives, but became under no implied obligation to reimburse the good Samaritan, who st-t an example of charity by pouring oil and wine into his wounds and by lodging Litn at an ion at his own expense." The state has established the insane hospitals, and says to the relatives of the unfortunate: ''Send them for treatment. The people are taxed for their support." This is a charitable act on the part of the state; but it is nigardly to charge these p op e for treatnv, nt, and thus to rob their wives and children of comfortable livings, thus by law making paupers of them. Let this law be repea ed by the legis'ature. S. II. Mitchell. balem, Ind., Jan. 15. KOSCIUSKO ROTTENNESS. Ganff Ital at Warsaw Necessity for Tee and Salary Krform. To the Editor Sir: The last campaign in this countv was fought almost entirely on the question of the financial management for rather mismanagement) of countv affair-". It was asserted on the one side and proven that the county officials charged and were allowed fees many of them constructive for all eervices performed by them, and then received the sa'aris allowed by law in addition, and that the auditor had been allowed SX) per year as salary for a number of years mora than the law provides. All thia was, of course, denied, and, although the republican majority was largely reduced, the old gang held on and were continued in power. It was supposed that they would be rrore careful, for a while at least and their course haa been watched but they, by their acts, are coolly asking the people "What are you going to do about it?" and are going ahead on the old lines of plunder. They promised before election that ther would pub isb a statement of allowances made immediately after each term of the comodssioners' court a promise they did not intend to fulfill, and of course have not kpt. Everv obstacle pos-ihle lias been placed in the wav of any outsider getting at the reconfs, and assurances were iriven a few days ago that the records of the December term of the commissioners' court had not been written uu. but

it happens that some outside parties found out that the statement wa3 false and got hold of a partial list of the allowances ma e, and threw the entire gang into convulsions by filing, appeals to tho the circuit court from a large number of al.owances made by the commissioners. The cases will be pressed to a epeedy trial, and a part of the robbery of tiie peop e, that has been going on for years, put a stop to. A law fixing a slary lor ah county officers the Ader bill, for instances, or something like it is demanded by all except tiie beneficiaries of the present system and their immediate fol owers. Anything like a fee bill can be distorted by a Kosciusko county . ili' e-hold-.-r to mean just as large a pile ot money as he can get away with, and 1 presume it is alout the same in every other county where they have as com pit te sway as they have in this. Tiie salaries should be fixed by the legislature. To leave the amount to be fixed by the commissioners of this county wouid be the greatest farce ever p:it on the boards of any theater in the world. Salaries should be liberal, but not extravagant. Fees should bo collected from litigants t:nd others the same as at present, and paid into the county treasury to create a fund to pay the sa aries out ot. There should be a provision for tho prompt reuioval of any otheer who failed to pt-riortn the duties belonging to his othce, and the law should go into ellect when the other laws passed by the coining legislature take effect. Is anyone wild enough to believe that if the legis.ature should pass an act increasing the pay of county officers they would ask that the law take ellect two or four years from now ? When taxpayers arehavingall that they can do to raise money to pay their taxes with, and farmers have all that they can do to make a living od' of their farms, why should they be asked to help pay a man whoe services in any other calling would not be cons dered worth more than S-'AJ) a year, from ".0 XJ to sT.OOJ a year simply because he holds a county otlh e? The difference is too great, and the people will not stand it any longer. And a party that hail the courage and honesty to puss the sehool-book law and the election law will not be found wanting iu this emergency. L. Warsaw, Jan. 15. A FARMER SPEAKS OUT.

Fee and Salnrr Krf. rm. the Roid Laws inl Oilier Mattvrn. To the EniToit .Sir; If you will pardon the effort of an ignorant democratic farmj er I will try to give my views on a few of the leading questions now agitating the people of Indiana, It seems that the pn sent legislature is to prepare a balm that will heal all ids that the farming community is heir to. I have little doubt that a ma;otity of our representatives have entered the capital city fully prepared with spigots to plug all t:ie gimlet holes in the public tre-isury. But my guess is that while the gimlet holes are bt-ing f topped a few shrewd chaps will be usi:ig two-inch augers to tap the pubi c crib in new places. Fee and salary reform has been the cry. Farmers had faith and xoted acconl n.dv. Now the cry is that it must not affect any one that was elected last fall. That is a "droll idea. What would 1 g.ve for n cuhi n seat in a church if I had to stand u; all the tinv? If the present system is a gouge why tolerate it four years more? My p an is 'hi-; men who were elected to two-year offices, let reform apply to the last year, or one-half the time, tour and six-year oilices to be governed by th-same rue. The tamers ar- as we think, jut now experiencing hard limes. We were promised rel-c-f, unl now we are told that we must hold on for four years. If I was tick and pent for a doctor and he iou!d tell me that he had just what I needed for my ailment and at the same time tell me that I must wait four years before t king a dose I am inclined to ta nk I woul ; s- nd for another doctor. I am not much of a poiiticim, but my observation ban been this, that ligritnmg hardiy ever strikes both sides of a tree during the srviif thumb-ret Tin. If I am to bciievo w hat I read thi- is to be the "great reform legislature." Hut that little move that proposes to put us off four years has run my pulse down to forty. If I have to go to trie poor-house to await results I suppose I can have one consolation at least, to-wit, that the farmers will be viited in 1S! and furnishi d a brand new program. Promises are cheap, but it takes money to pay taxes. I apprehend that some things will be overdone while others will be whitewashed and given new names, but will be the same iuside. 1 see that some one has proposed to put our dirt r ads under the suptrvision of a civil engineer, at a big sahiry. The idea of reducing our dirt road system to a point tint we can pay a man of "function" a larg - salary is prej osterous. Our present system is good enough so far as dirt roads are concerned. What we want is our gravel roa I laws reduced to a practical working basis. We, as farmers, are interested in this subject perhaps as much as any other at thi lime, and I hopo the legis atue will give it careful investigation and enact some law to ieesen the cost of construction and at the same time leave the money in the hands of the fanners. A few words in regard to the election of county superint-ndents. As a farmer I am inclined to favor the present system. It giv s each rural district a representative, while if the people are to elect tiie towns would pick the candidates, and nine times out of ten some old broken down po itician would be given the place to keep him from whining. Trustees are interested and teachers are interested, ami the patrons of our common schools are interested. Under the present eyntem, aa a rule, competent j-oung men are sel cted men who make teaching a profes-ion; men who are fully up with thetim. Again, the selections, when made by the trustees, are made at a time when politics is out of the way. Men can give the matter careful consideration. Men of experience ! are what w want for the office of county superintendent, not broken down politicians. John J. New, Northfield, Boone county, Jan. 1G. ! Juatlce to the Offlclnla. To Tnic Editor Sir: There is a great deal being said and written on the subject of fees and ralaries of county officers. I j am satisfied that the fees in many counj ties that officers are pupposed to be getting i are overestimated. It is a settled fact s that a law on the subject of fees and salaries will be passed during this se-sion of the legislature. In the enacting of such a ! law it becomes just as necessary to do justice to the officer as it is to do justice to the people. For instance take two counties, each containing 2,000 inhabitants. The auditor of one county wou'd le required to do double the amount of work, or more, on account of gravel roads, ditches, etc., than would be required of the auditor of the other county, and there is no supposition about this matter, for such, is the case. A law placing all

county officers on fixed salaries certainly would work an injustice in manv cases. Tipton, Ind., Jan. 14. Justice. "THE SENTINEL'S" GREAT WORK.

The Keren t Knlarem-nt nnd Improvements Letter Itoiled !own. Mr. I A. Kirkwood of Muncie writes as follows: The democrats cf this city note with pride and satisfaction the enlarged and improved condition of Tiik Daily s-knti.vei.. That it is the best aad cheapest democratio newnpaper in tbe central Wrst is a fact that must he apparent to every democrat who-e political faith i bated on patriotism aud wellprouuded iu the pnne ple of that graul old democratio doctrine which teaches peace oa earth and eood will toward mankind. Its editorial contributions m purity of tone, force, clearness and elegance of expression ami soundness of democratic doctrine on current political topics and publ a atiaira rank with thone of the best writers of the country. As such it ouphl to Cud its way into every democratic home iu the state to educate the youth, instruct the middle-agci! and to lilt-m tbe old people yearafteryrar as thry gradually approach the end of the jourcey of a lite of patriotic endeavor. The influence for good should not be limited and confined to tbe I omea of democrats. It ouirlit also to reach the homes and fireside of the honest but luiMnaght republicans throughout the state, fur nowhere is there ereater need of the sunlight of political truths. Its ruUs on therein wou-d be to counteract aad destroy the tendencies and evil ejects of the dootrmes of partissn hatred aad sectionalism that have been taught them by falf-e and unfaithful teachers forneitish ends to their hurt and injury as good citizens of a common country. It is doubtful it the democrats of Indiana can adopt a more eiiectire and I- M expensive plnn of continuous campaign ou be halt of ibe party which represents the cause ot good, honest economical government for the whole people of the state than to secure for The Daily Se--TI-NKL the most extensive circulation positIe. To this end a state organization outtit to be perfected and it shouid receive the hearty support and eocoursgrmeut of the local democralio press, tor whatever temls to strengthen aud promote the interests of the one must of necessity benefit the other. William Mii'er of Mitchell makes various suggestions, among thm the following: Fixed salaries for all ollicials; no candidate's name to be a' lowed to appear more than once ou the official ballots; cities and incorporated towns to liave absolute con-rol oi their own a: airs, and country districts the s:ime; a maximum railway fare per mile to bo fixrol; abolish the county superintendent of schools comm ssiotn rs to choose a county exam ner w ho shall examine applicants for teachers lb enes at "0 cents each. Mr. Miller is for woman suffrage, tree tnub", free coinage of silver and a circulating medium of fit lea.-t SoX) per capita. II. I Lnytoti writes nn exccl'ent letter from Covington, uiging the legislature to beel the demands of tiie farmimr elates for fee an 1 ealary reform, etc. 11 says: "Tiie text book law has saved the f.trmers thousands of dollars. The eeciion law has given us a ballot of freedom. Now, when we go to the polls we know our votes are coun e l. We know th re is no fraud in it. We know it is for u to say who shall legislate for us, and we have ehosi n men to do th s bv a tairand honest ba.lot. If it were not for The extinei., that worked to our interests, we know we would yet b; under greater bondage than we are; but it has ably defended us once and it will again. Its personal cry is to the farmer, and why not assist to (dace it at every fireside in the land ?" Mr. ay'on dec ares that if Tnn Sentinel had the l-iris ating to do the farmers would be content, as thy would believe that thir interests wo'ild b guarded. T. J. Cherry writes from Shelbvvil'e advocating a f eand salary bid to go into effect when the laws are pnbli-hed. lie thinks the lei stature should strengthen t: e srhool-book laws so that the old trust could not hope to force the present excellent hooks of the Indiana series out of th' echools. Tiie election law, be thinlcs, is so nearly perfect that little, if any, change ehou'd be made in it. Will H. Paynter, formerly nn active Ind;ana demoi-rnt, writes The Sentinel an able letter from Omaha advocating the nomination of Crover Cleveland for president iu 18'.J2 on a tarid-ior revenue-only platform. Thomas A. Queen writes from Bedford, Ind.: "I think The Sentinel is not only the best democra ic paper published, but the best and mon bir es-t advocate of all questions of justice and economy to tho whole people, anil I make it a point to speak a good word for it on aU occasions and to do a1 1 I can to induce others to subscribe, for I would rejoice to see it in the han is of every good man in the state and many thousand be-i les." THE STATE BOARD. Why It Shoatd It- Wiped Out Some Very Deli ate Outton. To toe Editor Sir: The public has decided that the State fair is practically a fai ure and a burden to the state. Also, that it always will be, under the management of the present s-df-perpetu iting board. Now, how can the state pecure a successful exhibit of her great resources? Not while the mass of the leading stocicmen of the stat i are out of sympathy with the management. Indianapolis, too, ia out of sympathy, and has been ever since the business men got burned b' that "guaranty fund." The present board never can re-enlist Indianapolis in tln enterprise. That means a loss of thousands of dollars at the gat h annually. If a bill now penning in the house is passed it will give IndianajKlis two members of the board. That would enlist ttio city. Io fair can become great w.thout the hearty co-operation of the city where it islocat-Mt. Then, it is purely a business scheme to enlist the city where the fair is located. This plan would increase the receipts of the St ite tair annually from 10,000 to 20,000, barring I ad weather. That would soon do away with the necessity of caliing for state appropriations. Then the proposed bill would otherwise put the management of the State fair into the hands of the men most directly interested, namely the livestock exhibitors. If they could or would not make it a success, then success is an impossibility. When the old board comes to ask aid and 8lf-p rpetuation let the legislature institute the inquiry 1. Is the old board bringing together an exhib.t which is creditable to Indiaua? 2. Why has the board let politics enter into the selection of its president, secretary and the sanitary commission? 3. Why did a member of tho board say that in order to please the majority in tho legislature they selected a secretary who was a town clerk and not identified with agriculture and unkpown to the agricultural and live stock interests of the state ? 4. When the National short horn breedera association donated $J50 to each of several Western state fair to be used as premiums to develop the dairy feature of their breed of cattle, why did the board, unlike other states, refuse to accept the g.-nerous gift and then as It the legislature to appropriate more money? 5. When recent improvements were made in the fair grounds did the expense account ta ly with the treasurer's books? Let the books be opened. 6. Will not the bookB ahow that "called

meetings" of the boani have been unseemly frequent and for insufficient causes? And did the board remain in the city several days upon such c asions "having a pood time," and tax up $.") p-r die u each and hotel and rai road fares to the state? 7. Have the dates of mch "ca'led me-t-

; nigs comcnted in any marked degree with t the dates if the b hi plays at the theaters, ! anniversary of liobby Burns, etc.? Did those good agriculturists get to hear Lang- . try, Mary Anderson and other celebrities? i If so, it is hoped the appropriations have not been entirely lost. & Have members ot the board paid tho i railroad and hotel bil s ot delegates from eounty fairs to get their votes and influence? It will be well to consider all thee points. Jan. 1G. Hayseed. The juetlou f Ilr1. To the Editor 7r: I am not a college profes-or but a plain country farmer, and yet I want to take issue with Professor J. W. Jenks in bis ideas on road improvement as set forth in his interview in a recent iseue of The Sentinel. His plan of abolishing the system of working out road tax, paying a 1 road taxes in cah and hiring a county road engineer at a large salary, will hardly meet the demands of the people in these hard limes when retrenchment is th watchword. If it were as chap I do not believe it would be as eflective as even the present system. It does not require a eKll-d engineer to grade and drain a wagon road. A sensible man living near the road who has an interest in it and who would be answerable to his neighbors for any misuse of his power can make as good and much cheaper road thn a skilled engineer. Practically, this system was established in 1S1 and on- of the first things the legislature of 1SS3 did was to li-dcn to tho demands of the people and repeal it. The bad roads of Indiana are being greatly improved every year. All wo need is a little more money expended every year for permanent improvements, and none for high salaried officers. Let the legislature enact a law authorizing the town-hip trustee to levy a tax of not less than 10 cents mr more than SO cents on the hundred 'dollars valuation for permanent, road improvements, to be expended under existing laws, and rive years will see every road graveled or macadamized w here material can be had to do it. Columbia City, Jan. U. John Gkoss. When MiAtl Ke for m Take KfTc ? Tothe Editor .Sir: "Fair Hav," in The Sentinel of the 13th, made a clear s;atement ot the general views of the public in regard to the "foe and salary" question. When the bid is enacted it can go into immediate force from and after its p-a-srget but be applicable, of course, only to ollicials elecied after tho passage of the act. As the terms of the various offices of state and county begin at widely varying dates after the regular election, it would certa;nly be more practical to apply the n w system to all elected after its passage. Then to undc'take to put it in force, on a given future d de, which would make it retroactive in ellVct on all the officials elected under t!,e present state laws, unless the time set is placed seemingly so far in the future that the act would appear lik- pmcr-stination. Put if the ac t goes in o immediate force against all ollicials enumerated, whi are elected to the several otiices und-rthe law in force at the date of their election, the whole question w u d be s-ttlcd to the satisfaction of the people as it would appear, an I do justice t officials elected under the present state laws. B. C. SHAW. Indianapolis, Jan. Vnrtins Kef"ftns Penismbd, To the Editor S'.r : I hope the legislature will pass laws this winter to reduce the salaries of aU the state and county olTicers, and that the business of the townships shill b - let to the lowest responsible bidder, and tlat a sup.-rinten lent of townships sha 1 perform all the duti-s in place of a trustee and assess' .-r. And, fun her, tint all persons owning property in this state shad be compelled to make a aworn statement of their indebtedness and rile it in the auditor's office of I he county in which the property is situated, and that all note- and mortgiges shall be taxed at their r-al value, or be null and void. That saloon licenses huil be paid to tbe county treasurer in p ace of the corporations. I would pay oft' the state debt by increasing the tax to 40 cents per? KM, and thereby save the interest to the taxpayers. As the ior c'ass of fanners cannot avail themselves of colleges and universities, we believe there is too much money appropriated by the state for a favored few. I hope The Skntinel w ill call the attention of our representatives to these matter-. Saltillovillc, Jan. IS. QU'TE A ROMANCE. An Unlucky Wnirer, h Separation aod a Sulxeqiiant 31 rr reje. At the conrtdiouse in this city J. R. Jones and Mrs. K. Atvrood were married by a lo al minister, writes an Owensboro, Kv., correspondent of tho Globe-Democrat. Vhere they came from could not even be learned. Now comes a letter from Livia, McLean county, which sliowg the marriaso to have been the eeauel of quite a little een-ation at Antioch church. Near thore a protracted meeting was in progress and a large congregation had assembled, when a woman, heavily veiled, walked rapidly up the aislo ot the church and, catching bold of the arms of a stranger, walked out the door. His chagrin and tho womau's evident gratification attracted no little attention. An investigation revealed the fact that on the very day the couple were to have been married at Cowling Green. The groom, however, had bet on the wrong horse nt the Bowling (ireen fair, and. losing all his money, had decided not to marry and lett the scene of his misfortune. His alliance took in the situation and followed him to Livia, The day after the church mystery the pair put in 'an appearance at tho depot ami bouht two tickets for Owensloro. As the train nn led out he summoned up courage ! enough to call out: "Good-bye, boys, we are going to Ow nsboro to get married, and sure enough they did. -- . Blak i lie C"rvort on Pay. Richmond Indep nJent. We notice that a co-cmploye recently left a switch open and a fellow-workman went to bis death. There is a call from Greensburg for a legislative interference I tnr a cIioiwa of thU rule. W believe a j hi 1 has already been introduced looking to this end. Let it pass. This thing is ! getting to be monotonous We do not bei 1 eve thee lellow-workmen are right or they would not kill each other so. Let the railroads get the right kind of fellow-work-i men or pay the damages.

FEE A.ND SALARY REFORM.

VIEW3 OF THE DEMOCRATIC PFlESS. A Varletf of Opinion nn thm Snhject Gen. eral l-uien'l fur II f-rm, but Some IMffcrenre a to Irta. Is The Drift of Democratio Oyiaiou. Noble County Democrat. It is undoubtedly true that it would be better for the people, and much better, too, for the county officers to bare a just system of salaries that would reasonably compensate for work actually required to be done, and no more, and compensation that is regularly paid in stated quarterly salary. And we hope the legislature will be able to come close to the accomplishment of a system that will operate equitably as between all sections and eountiesof the state. And we repeat here, that it ought to be a real reform, and that the people of the state ought not to be deceived by demagogues, and made to be.ieve that something labeled "reform" is what they expected and what was promised unless it be real y and honestly so. Whatever tbe system to be adopted may be, if it do not lessen the burdens u?"n the public revenues if it do not result in a net saving to taxpayers it will be but a sham ; and the time will come when the pretense must appear to the confusion of those who may have resorted to merely perfunctory fulfilment of a promise, in order to escape the real difficulties in the way of substantial and logical reform. Of this one thing we may be perfectly assured in advance that whatever may be done by this legislature will be condemned, criticised on 1 misrepresented by the republican press throughout the state, and we want to be able to defend it. Wo want it to be as near right as possib e to carry the characteristics of a rea., substantia! and sensible effort for actual and iuni nci.vL reform. It would be perfectly easv to "abolish the f-e system ;" and. in a superficial pense, that a one would be re-spon-ive to the popular demand. I'ut ti:o people want the salary system to be a c,oor one, an equitable one, aud one that shall accomplish reform. They want the spirit ot their demand fulfilled. What LnGmnjre ! ni crt Ilerannd. Laijrftiiee Democrat. It will be conceded, we think, that the point the people of LaGrar.ee county ask in the formulation of anv new fee or salary bill is this: That the law must provide that the emolument? of the ollicers of La' i range county shall be reduced. With one exception, there has not been a single plan suggested that will cut down one penny the compensation paid now iu Li'i range county, or any other county witii less than 1',.00 people. All tiie other scheni ?. including one whi. h baes th" salaries upon the wealth of the county as shown by the appra sement, will, while having the desired ellect in most counti a, absolutely increat-e the salaries paid -in'-thts-eouMy, utel iu three and possibly four others, putting our county on a par with others one-third to one-half largt-r. and d-ing. iu some instances, twice as much public b'lsiees-". Jsuch a law would be an intolerable outrage upon the people ot this county, who have voted, more than in any other, that this burden shall be re bleed. We su-.'get to our neighbors who desire to take action on the subject tomorrow, that they ask the legislature to uass a law that will place the power of regulating the pay of county officers in the hands f the people of th? countv served, and al ow them to pay, not in proportion to their numbers, nor in proportion to their wealth, but in proportion to the ui-tual amount oi work their public servants shall be called unon to do. Such law should provide that all fees should be paid o- sectm d in advance and be turned into the county treasury, from wh- nce the salaries would be drawr. In this minner it is es imated by p"rsons qualified to judge with much accuracy, the tax-pavers of IiGrange county could be saved from three to four thousand do lars per year, and no county would be made to eutier from salaries too high or too low. because some other county had more or less people. This pit" has b"en in su-.-cessful operation in Illinois for a number of years; it has never been improved upon and never wiil. It Wi l 11 Uactied. Roctport I tniocrat. The democrTtic party will profit oriole by the laws passed good or bad, ;-s tha case may be. It, therefore, behooves democratic members to be on the alert, to study carefully each m-asure t'i at comi s up for cons'uleratii-n, not alone with referenee to the elfect it may have upon his own county or district, but with p-i-Tence to its ellect in the whol: state'. Let ; :h-!i democrat r-.iiiember that bis party i rtsponsible for his actions, and remember too that every promise of leiorm made in the democratic platform must be carried out. The last legislature enacted some excellent laws amort; them the soliool-book law and the election law; the former has been more thin doubly worth the co.t of the entire session of the legislature to the people, and the latter has, without doubt, done the people a great service a f-erviee far above money value. It has saved tbe people from a vortex of political demoralization and ruin into which it was certainly and vapidly sinking. It is now generally conceded that at the present session of the legislating a fee and sa arv law will be passed. This is one of the things promised in the Democratic platform, and as eoon as it was known that the partv had captured the legislature, it was equally certain that the promise would be redeemed. There is some difference of opinion among prominent Democrats of the state as to how this reform of the present fee and salary system will be reached, but it will be reached. An Inault tn the lllitare, (Linton Call. One reason assigned by those who are opposing a law that would reduce the emoluments of the officer recently elected is that the 150 men who compose the present legislature could not stand the pressure that will be brought to bear upon them by those whose incomes would be affected by a reduction. This is an insult to every man elected to that honorable body and alpo to their constituents. To assume tht Indiana's legislature is composed of mn who can be corrupted and the wi'd of the people defeated is placing a very low standard upon the character of our law-makers. The GU gives warning now that party fealty will never coerce a majority of the people to indorse the democratic party in Indiana if justice be delayed by that partv or its representatives. We may fold our tents if we lonzer

continue to rob the people by a foe and salary law that ought t have been displaced years ago by something better. Prorata Mum It Kept. lP.rt'ni Sun. The people of the state are expectinc reforms that will result in the lessening of the already burdensome load of taxation, that is bearing down bo heavily upon their purses. The democratic party gained control of tb" state at the November election upon pledges of reform, and it now stands in an attitude to make good those ple-elge-s, ami to show to the people that they were not made merely to catch, the vote- of the fanning and labo ring clases of citizens, but that the party is in full sympathy with the platiorm upon which the victory was won. The people expect it and they demand it, and the demeie-ratic representative that casts hia influence against these declarations of reform will bo held as a Judas by the people of the i-tate. The Sun has no fcara that these promises will go unfulfilled. What the r-oil TV ill Do, Muncie IIoraUL The opposition to the passage of a fee and salary law by the present legis'ature conii s from county officers mainly. It 13 not confined to party, eitner. Some oi ihese have threatened their representatives and' the press for favoring such a law. All the IL ml.l has to say, if such a law, just anil equitable, is not pas-ed this winter, the people of 1 1 is state wili see ta it that a legislature is elected in ls;v that will pas a law to put t'.io salaries of county officers on a fair basis. The democratio partv promised the people of the 6tate a reform in this direction in their state platform, ami ti e people took the partv at ita word, and a failure to keep the plecfgowill prove fatal. Rather A luW tti Tin. Murtic'Tille lie port r There Fcems to be a disposition on tha Dart of the legislature to laKc up the matter of fees and salaries of county officers and deal with it thoroughly. It is true a great clamor bus been made in some sections f.-r a reduction ed f- es, but it isaqurstionthat will b;ar the closest scrutiny. It is a question of more than j as-ing importance, and slmuM not be acted on too hastily. Again.it is a qu s ion whether or not men Qualified to fib the otiices could be found will ng to assume the responsibili'i9 were the salaries cut one-half or en; -third. Thee arc questb-ns the legi lature should diligent y inquire into be fore thev act too hastily.

Where Fcea nni Slr a tVf Xot In Iuue, Pliraici'h Pni rtf. The fee and salary question is one that will bear over.iaulin and revising, because abuses have grown up un !er the pres-nt law which ought to be remedied, but that the peon'e are demanding the ra -lieal change TiiF M:tinel endeavors to make it r.ppear they are we very much, doubt We? were actively engaged in politics in various parts of the state, both before and after the state convention, an 1 heard many spe e hes from both democrats and republic-ins in this Mate, and we do not cad to mind now that we h-ard in a single instance the question of fe-cs and salaries mentioned Ierv Mfmbfr I Pledged. Ktooni fie'd Daicocrtt. Every member is pledel to the reduction of fees an I salaries and the pre-sure isse hard that it is not likely that the republicans wiil att'-mpt to obstruct the passage of such a law ; belt in their caucus on Wednesday night many speeches were made favoring the obstruction of every measure proposed by the democrats. The democrats have the p iwer to redeem theil promises, even though the republicans may attempt to obstruct every motion, and as the policy of the democratic party is the policy of "the people, they are with, the people and will pais laws forth.3 people. A Sl-w J 1. rem Sentin-i.J The pubject of fees ami salaries continues to be a publ.c theme for the press of the state. Nearly every paper in the state and about even' thir l man vou meet urges a fee an I salary bill, but few offer anything tangible in the way of a measure. It is presumed tint a number of the members will have some measure to present when wori b-gins. D it introducing a bill and having it pass both houses is different. So that the work on a just and equitable fee and salary bill will of necessity be flow. The Qti'ekor li TIttr. l'a"ie Oarty Pmocrat. The poom-r the legisli'ure proceeds to piss a fee an 1 salary bid die more popular it will become with the people. JAPANESE TORTURES. The Worst of Them Ail Was Death From Lnrk t t Sleep. C'hi-airo Times. "Yes, until recently they bad exquisite methods of torture ami punishment in Japan," said li bert Joh .stone, of Tokio, who has lived in that couutry the last twenty-seven years, and who was at the Palmer house yesterday. He said this in connect":en with a conversation ani discusion of the pr pose l treaty extension throughout the Japanese empire. Th Japanese, said Mr. Johnst'-ne, were willing to grant Europeans and foreigners generally free access to all parts of the country, but they insisted that all orcigners i-hould be amenable to Japanese laws before a Japanese judge. "Aside from crucifixion, the beheading of maidens, and the ilotuing of soles, thev had, twelve or fifteen yea. a ago, what t have always considered the most refined and exquisite torture possible. This was death by lack of s'e-'p. Cruel? Thre is no word in the English language strong enough to dv-nouuee that bestial and outrageous treatment. It was done like this. A regular box-like trap wa prepared, say fix feet high by two to two and a half feet wide. At the" top was a wooden mould cangur it was cabed in the native tongue where the head of the imprisoned man was firmly held. It was so arranged that by assuming any other than an erect position the whole weight of the offender 8 lody would rest on the chin. The man could neither lean backward nor torward, noi could he rest nt any great length of tim on his feet. The torture st endured ia a thing impo-sible to conceive. There wat absolutely no chance for the nun to sleep. "Another terribl punishment devisevl was to take a wooden p'.iver, saturate it thoroughly with turpentine, then urive It beneath the big toe-nail of the ctfprit and set fire to it. but these ba baric custom have eleparted. The Cod Napoleon has bc -n adopted, only it is one thing to formulate laws, but decidedly another to administer them." lah Inate!. Smith, Grr A Co.' M .ntVrd "Yon gave the caterr carte Hanche foi the flipper, Ftippose, pn a?" inquired the bride e ect. "No, indeed,' replied old ' Struckoyle; "he insisted oa cash ia ad vanCC,"