CRIMINAL PRACTICE.
Mr. Robinson's bill [H. R. 377] concerning proceedings in criminal cases was read the third time.
Mr. ROBINSON: Under the present law, if a man is fined but $1 it costs him $15 to pay out. A fee of $5 is always charged up against the defendant for the Prosecuting Attorney when the prosecutor nor his deputy neither is present. This bill provides that when the defendant pleads guilty the fee shall not be allowed to the prosecutor. The bill is in the interest of the fund for the reason that it will lessen the fine, and will be an inducement for the defendant, if guilty, to plead such.
The bill passed by yeas 58, nays 24
Mr. BEST, explaining his vote, said: For the reason that I do not think the bill in the page: 293[View Page 293] interest of Indiana, but of the criminal classes, for the reason that it shuts out the allowance to the Prosecuting Attorney, who is now the poorest paid officer in the State, I vote "no."
Mr. FRENCH: As one who has had experience as Prosecutor I vote "no."
Mr. GOODING: I do not think this favors the criminal, but that it is criminal to draw a fee when he is not present. The present law is robbery - to rob and plunder unfortunates. It prohibits the gain of those Deputy Prosecutors who go about hunting up petty violations of law, and thus robbing wives and children of necessaries of life.
So the bill passed.
