The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-01-13
INDIANAPOLIS, January IL.


thorough and able State papers ever
placed on file In the State House.
No clearer exposition of the State
debt could have been made. and the
message, as a whole, is regarded here
as rejecting great credit on the wis
dom and ability of your fellow
townsman, Governor Conrad Baker.
The Senatorial question is the all
absorbing topic with members of the
General Assembly as well as With
politicians. The contest becomes
fiercer as time progresses, and the
opposition to Hon. Will. Cumback
becomes more determined on the part
of his opponents. Still he will lead
off handsomely In the caucus, which
IS to take place on Thursday evening,
but il is not claimed that he will
have strength sufficient to elect
him on the first ballot Judge
Frazier will receive the next
highest number of votes, while
the respective candidates, nine in
all will each receive complimentary
votes on the first ballot, after which
it Is pretty sure Orths friends will go
to Cumback. 1t is limited that a
Cumback, and that some twelve or
fourteen members will refuse to go
into the caucus at all This prob
ably will not be done, sbut the rumor
was quite current on Saturday and
this morning. In any event, however,
or whatever move may be made on the
part of the opponents TO Mr.. Cum
back, his election is regarded as Ger
tain, except in the event that the more
ardent friends of Governor Baker
should present his name, and insist
on bis entering the contest. In that
case, his election would assuredly
take place on the first ballot.
The members of the Canal ring"
are at work, and will make a strong
effort to have the State assume a debt
of SIS, 200, 900, of which mention was
made in former communication to
the JOURNAL, but the project will fail;
at least it is thought no outside press
ure can be brought to bear on the
Legislature that would result in such
calamity to the State.
The number of applicants for
positions of all kinds, clerkships,
positions as door keepers, &C., is
increasing. Members are beset
on all sides, In the State House,
on the road to their boarding
places. and at their rooms. It must
be pleasure to be legislator and
have so many interested and admiring
friends to call on you at all hours of
the day. A few days more will thin
out these ofice-seekers, and members
will have more time then to devote to
their duties.
As the Senatorial question occupies
so much of the time of members, but
little will be done in legislative mat
ters until that is settled, when the
two bodies will get to work at once
and expedite business as fast as pos
sibie.
Both branches of the Legislature
meet at 2 P. NJ. to day, when the Gov
ernor and Lieutenant Governor will
be inaugurated. Q. K. j. W.
AgricuI ,ural Prison Reform - Gov
ernOr'S Message General Assem-
bly,.
The agricultural interests of the
State have been receiving earnest at
tention at the hands Of the State
Board of Agriculture. The anniver-
sary of the Board-its sixteenth-was
held at the Bates House, on the 7th.
Among the noticeable features of
the meeting was the fact that many in
attendance declined altogether to par
take of the champagne furnished for
the occasion. An earnest effort was
made by the Board to abolish at our
| State Fairs premiums on horses for
speed alone" and to prohibit intoxi-
| eating liquors In or about the State
Fair grounds. Measures were also
| considered TO induce the Legislature
to provide for thorough geological
survey Of the State; and last. but not
/ least, a step was taken for a plan by
which the Board of Agriculture and
the horticultural Society might here
| after meet together.
| The management of these Societies
is in the best of hands, and under
their administration a new impetus is
| being given to the important indus
trial interests Of the State. The
4 State that best protects industrial in
4 lGIGobS, OOSb pEOtGClS It's DGUplG, was
a sentiment offered at a banquet-and
it might have added commerce. The
people that best protect their interests
best protect their State. The State
Board is doing a noble work, and
their labors will be felt over every
acre of our territory.
A hopeful movement is on foot to
secure prison reform. It seems to
have originated among the Society OF
Friends at Richmond. A meeting has
been called here on the 18th inst,
and the Legislature has been address
ed upon the subject, asking that the
Prison Directors be not elected until
after that meeting shall have deliber-
ated. Governor Baker has also given
the subject full consideration in his
message and his suggestions will, no
doubt, meet the approval Of the
thoughtful and humane throughout
the State, as wise and timely.
The Hall of the House of Repre-
sentatives was crowded to excess to
hear the message of Governor Baker
1t was listened to with marked atten-
ton throughout. 1t will be REGARDED
as very able document. The Gov
ernor has evidently with great energy
and consciensciousness devoted him /.