Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1902 — THE LAW AS IT IS. [ARTICLE]

THE LAW AS IT IS.

Considerable has been said by the local republicans regarding the unconstitionality of a part of the law fixing the time when county officers shall hereafter take their respective offices. We herewith publish the act in full, that The Democrat readers may see for themselves what flimsy grounds they have for making the assertion: AN ACT fixing the time that the term of office of County Auditor, County Clerk, County Sheriff, County Recorder, Prosecuting Attorney, County Assessor, County Coroner, County Surveyor and County Commissioners, shall begin In each county in the State of Indiana; repealing all laws and parts of laws in conflict therewith, and declaring an emergency, [S. 168, Approved March 11,1901.] Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That the term of office of the County Auditor, County Clerk, County Sheriff, County Recorder, Prosecuting Attorney, County Assessor, County Coroner, County Surveyor and County Commissioners, in each county lu the State of Indiana shall begin on the first day of January next following the term of the present incumbent, Sec. 2. All lawsand parts of laws in conflict with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed. Skc. 3. Wereas, an emergency exists for the immediate taking effect of this act, the same shall be in full force from and after its passage. The contention is that the act says “county clerk,” in referring to that office, when in reality the title should be "clerk of the circuit court.” Now, Jasper is one of the counties in Indiana where the clerk is greatly affected by this act, and here it extends his term from May 1904, to Jan. 1, 1905. This officer is usually referred to as “county clerk” and in blanks sent out by the republican state committee is so disignated. Even the door leading to his office in Abe’s $175,000 court house has the name “Co. Clerk” in porcelain on its center, to direct strangers to his office. It will be noted that the title of all the officers mentioned begins with “county,” and the intent of the legislature is so plain that no court would have the temerity to set the law aside on such a slight technicality as the one claimed. It cannot be confounded with any other office in any way, and if the matter ever does reach the higher courts they will not waste much time in squabbling over so plain a case.

Do you want to save money? If so, buy your fall and winter Hats of Mrs. Hershman; strictly up to date. We can furnish The Democrat and Indianapolis Daily Sentinel each a full year for only $3.20. If you want a good democratic daily, call in and subscribe. Irwia & Irwin are making loans on farm or city property at a low rate of interest and commission and on more liberal terms than can be obtained elsewhere in Jasper County. I have private funds to loan on real estate at low rates for any length of time. Funds are alwayß on hands and there is no delay—no examination of land, no sending papers east--absolutely no red tape. Why do you wait on insurance companies for 6 months for your money? I also loan money for short times at current bank rates. Funds always on hand.

W. B. AUSTIN.