OLD BOOKS' INDEX.
The Judiciary Committee's clerks' index bill [H. R. 219] coming up on the third reading -
Mr. CRAIN said it would be ruinous as to clerks' fees.
Mr. WATSON (who introduced the original bill No. 108), thought the House would pass the bill if it were understood. The amended bill [No. 219] proposes simply to give the county commissioners power to authorize the clerks to index the old books. In many counties these books are not indexed. The provision is not imperative - the compensation not to exceed 15 cents per hundred words.
Mr. WOLFE thought it would give scope for constructive fees.
Mr. PEELLE. There was no law requiring the old records to be indexed; and this gives the Commissioners a discretion to order this indexing of the old books. The bill was right.
Mr. O'NEIL said the law requires the clerks to index their books, but not the old ones. He feared this bill would be merely a dead letter, because these indexes could not be made for 15 cents a hundred words.
The bill was finally passed the House of Representatives - yeas 59, nays 23.
