, 1872-12-30
The Bill to Pay the Garrett Bonds
1.-The New Revenue Act.
The Governors SalarJ---New Public
MISREPRESENTATION Con-
genu0n.
The Tippecanoe Battle -Ground-.-Limit-
alton Of Legislative Employees
Per Diem Of Members.

sion OF the Legislature, just closed, accom-
p1ished more for tho good of the State than was
ever accomplished in the came length Of time
forty days-by any previous Legislature. Tie
wisdom OF calling the session has been fully JUS
tilted in passing
THE BILL TO PAY TIE GARRETT BONDS,
il no other act Of that body is taken into consid
Grafton. Dy the act to redeem al Of the out
standing "1ntcrnal Improvement bonds" tho
State is saved from liability to redeem eighteen
millions OF canal stocks, and the most sturend-
GUS "jo5" ever devised in this State has been
defeated, and q fraudulent claim that
has been before every Legislature for
fifteen years has been eettlcd by
constitutional amendment which prevents any
future Legislature from paying any part Of it.
There are twcnty-si1 of the old "Internal I'M
provement bonds" still uuaccountcd for, that
have probably been lost.
TIE NEW REVENUE ACT,
providing for uniform assessment OF property,
and for tho collection and return of taxes there
on, which passed the recent Legislature and has
now become a law, is very long, containing 800
sections. 1t changes the entire system af assess-
ment, and reaches many species Of property that.
heretofore escaped taxation. Owing t. tue brief
period allowed for it's consideration and discrs-
sion in Committee and by tho Legislature, some
Of its provisions may not DO practical, AMI may
even be in operation; but it is believed that it
will save to the State over 920D. 900 annually,
without increasing the ratio of taxation.
THE GOVERNORS SALARY
in this State, previous to 1864, was So 600; in
addition, the State furnished Q house in which
the Governor resided. Tho Executive Man
sion," however, WAS dilapidatcd old house.
and, being regarded as unhealthy, Governor
Morton refused to live in it during his second
term His salary Of $4,000 did not cover his ex-
penses, and the Legislature finally agreed to
allow him $1,000 year in lieu of houae-rent,
thus indirectly increasing his salary, and ayoid
ing the constitutional provision which prohibits
the increase or decrease Of the Governors
salary during his term OF Office. Governor Nor
ton continued to receive $4,000 per annum up to
the TING ST.. he e. was elected orr to the
The latter gentleman also continued to receive
e8,000 and furnished his own residence, until
the winter Of 1870, when tho Democrats elected
their candidates for Auditor, Treasurer, Secro-
tary., Attorney General, &c. These gentlemen
house-rent, but would pay him just what he
actually paid for housc-fent, viz. 81 500 per
annum, when Governor Baker refused to accept
any part Of it, end lived on his $4,000. This was
se dna @ M yh ia eneF
leading politicians, and the Sentinel, tho Demo
cratic organ, .applauded their decision, and COM
mended their care for the peoples money.
Since Mr. Hendricks election as Governor, how
ever these gentlemen hayo been filed with holy
horror at the treatment OF Governor Baker, and
say the amount due the Governor must
be made up to him in some way, and
that hlr. Hendricks must be allowed
3 sum adequnte to support him in 8 position IN
keeping with the dignity Of the Chief Magistrate
OF the great State OF Indiana IMg Governor
Baker conceded, and no Urged tae Legislature
to pasa bill to giyo the Governor S5, GOO per
annu1n, with resideuco, and, until residence
Was provided, 81, 900 annually. 1t was necessa-
~ that this should become law this session, or
it would be imperative, as Governor Hendricks
will bo inaugurated at the commencement of the
regular session, in January, and the constitu-
tionA provision referred to above would prevent
his receiving any part OF it,. So the act was
promptly pae,ed by Republican Legislature.
Thus has Governor Baker heaped Goals OF tro
| upon the heads Of MIR. Hendricks and his party
associates. Governors Baker and Hendricks arc
Tow upon the most an1icable terms, and they
have determined to SIMPLY change pisces. MIR.
| Hendricks will become Governor, while Gov
crnor Baker will take Mr: Hendricks place in
| the old law firm Of Hendricks, Hoard e. Hem
| bricks. Tho new firm will bo Hoard, Hendricks
d Baker.
| NEW PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
| No action whatever VAS taken toward building
| Ne~SS AAoN3ts
Reformatory Institutions, or Insane Asylums, -
| tho whole subject being allowed to pass over by
common consent. Tho State has no Executive
Mansion, though there is little doubt
but that liberal appropriation will be
| made for that purpose by the reg
ular session; but the building Of q State
House, to cost not less than 20 600 600. is mat
! ter Of moro importance That the State is sadly
| In need of new Capitol, no one will deny; and
to assert that tho present old shell is disgrace
to State occupying the position indiana does
among her sister States, to say nothing of ite
| total unftnesa and want of room for the pur-
poses for which it is designed is drawing it very
| mild. Great efforts will be made to induce the
Legislature ut least to levy tax for that pur-
poso, and appoint . Building Committee, to be
composed Of gentlemen of tho highest chnrac.
ter to adopt plans, otc., preparatory to com.
monce building in 1875.
| TIE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
WAS also suffered to 70 over to the regular ses
sion, as wei as all propositions to reform the
Judicial system OF the State The general senti
ment OF the members OF both Houses seemed tt
be in favor Of calling Constitutional Conven
tion, to which body could bo referred all propo
sitions for Judicial reform or increase OF Cir
cults. This matter will be thoroughly discussed
at tho regular session and tho opinion of thos
best informed upon tue subject is, that the Leg
ielatnra will cali tha Convention to meet earl,