The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-09-16

-e From the Madis0u Courier
LOeal GOveFmment,

-f - from the Madi600 courier
Loeal Gevernmens.
The foundation stone Of The Re
public of the United States is the
principle Of local self government.
All political power inherent in the
people. It is government "of the
people, for the people and by the
people" This principle is SO prom.
inent in all our political history
that departure from It seems
strange and incomprehensible. .s In
our judgment, one of the gravest
wrongs which the Republican party
is pledged to redress, arises from a
violation of this principle. In In
diana, for instance the Legislature
is empowered to fix the salaries of
county officers. We can see no
reason nor justice in this grant of
authority. It is violation of the
principle of local self government.
The officers of Jefferson county
performed their duties for the
benefit of the people of jefferson
county. The taxpayers of Jefferson
county, out of their own pockets,
compensate them for the services
rendered. Why now should the
Legislature step in and FIX for us,
the peopIe.of Jefferson county, the
amount or rate OF compensation to
be given to these officers!
Obviously, Jefferson county is
the party concerned in the trans
action. The only obligation that
rests upon the State in the matter
is this, viz: to provide that the
county has the organization and the
officers required by law. The State
is not interested as the county is,
in the payment of the salaries.
Then, why, we ask again, should
the Legislature be vested with
power that rightf,llly belongs to
the county, We contend with ell
the earnestness of which we are
capable, that the power of regula-
ting the salaries of county officers
should be taken from the Legisla-
ture and invested in the Commits
sioners of each county. Let each
county fix for itself the amount or
rate of compensation each one of
it's officers shall receive. A law to
this effect will be in harmony with
Republican principles. It will also
be in harmony with common sense,
an advantage which the present
law does not possess.
The Republican party, by its
resolutions and platform, and also
by its prestige and fair fame as the
party of progress and equal rights,
is pledged to economy, retrench-
ment and reform. We can't put
our hand on place SO good for a
beginning as this very salary bust
ness. Legislatures have dickered
with it for years, and made q Lar
mentable failure of it. It is a great
source of corruption and infamy.
Such it will ever be until it is
given to the more immediate rep
resentatiyes of the people as
| All citizens, irrespective of party,
are vitality Interested in this reform.
Which political organization will be
most likely to effect it, The war
cry of the Democratic party is ''To
the evictors belong the spoils" Moth
ing, therefore, can be hoped from
it. The third party movement can
have no strength in the Legislature,
| from the nature of things. Tits a
new party. It has not even an ex
istence in one half the counties. Of
the State And where the Inde
dependents have nominated tickets
as in Jefferson county, they have
barely probability Of success
The most they can hope for is t.
divide the Republican vote, ant
thereby secure the election of Dem
ocrats.
Let no man delude himself will
the ilea that Democrats will b,
faithful to the new party. It i
their "time honored principle t.
pledge themselves to third part,
candidates up to the very las
moment, and then-vote for tn,
genuine Democracy, the unscratcll
ed ticket. Gentlemen of all parties
you who feel the burden of excess
i've taxation, consider this reform
without prejudice. Regard it as
business transaction, with coolnes
and impartiality. We respectful
call your attention to the plank il
the Republican platform whicl
covers the subject:
Sec. 8. In as much as great abuse
have grown up under our presen
system of fees and salaries, W
demand such legislation as will s.
reduce and regulate all fees an
salaries as will allow no more thai
q fair and just compensation TO
services rendered.
| nrn hunIrol x,ao,,c 900 ~ ~