The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-04-17
Senator Reeve and the Benevolent In
stitutiOns.

dianapolis Nelcs, in re- ard TO the leg
islative investigations, have attracted
wide attention. In his last letter he
takes the position that the legislative
department possesses politico ju-
dicial power. He says:
"The law has created certain offices,
provided for eleciing or appointing the
officers. and prescribed the duty Of each
officer in relation 10 each Office This is
Legislative. Ii then proceeds To invesii-
gate the acts of the offiC cr under the law
,re.cribing the duties nt his ofiice, and
this j. Judicial The pariisans ia power
appoint majority Of their own political
faith ON the committee 10 make the inyes
tiga,ion and this is The partisan political
feature i'm con.radstinction To the feature
of public policy involved in the proceed.
ing. and represented by the whole cam
miitee ms deputiZed body. The findings
If the committee are reported TO the Leg
islaiure for its actions. and that action is
had by resolution, or enactment Of further
laws based TN that report.
After showing that this is the high
est civil power that government can
exercise, that in this country the law
is all the government We have, that
the citizens respect the law in pro
portion TO the elements within the
law and the dignity and fairness with
which il is enforced. he proceeds to
show that the committee of ten ap-
pointed to investigate the benevolent
institutions did not investigate, be-
cause they did not listen to the evil
dence that VAS presented, only two
OF three OF them being present at a
time, and consequently that they, as
jury, could not give decision. He
shows, too, that no time was given
the officers to make defense or dis
prove the charges brought against
them, although they might have pos
sessed overwhelming evidence in an
swsr to these charges. He shows
that the committee did not complete
its work, and says:
ut makes m difference whether the
officials charged be guilty or innoceni, cor
rupt ar honest. The Stale, by its com
mite, could only show them TO he guilty
or corrupt by proper charge, proper cx
animation and proper Legislative action,
10 b. shown by the journals; and, until il
so appears the officials are PRESUMED To be
honest and, IL the State proceeds 70 in
vesiigIie and does not complete its work,
then il has abused its power and violated
the guaranteed rights Of the citizen as
well as OF the official"
After showing the absurdity OF
either Of the papers being the report
of the committee, he says:
The State of Indiana is proud State
Her people are proud people. Her vo
tiers send legislators To the capital TO do
their duty. be they Democratic or Repub-
lican. Her citizens cannot safely tolerate
abuse of power or neglect OF duty in the
legislator. They cannot permit any ofic
ial To bc ccnsured. much less condemned,
by such II proceeding as this. Ifthey do,
M man is safe in public or private posi-
lion. No Democrat can permit IL; tor If
such q pre6 lent as this is to be established,
aud Democratic officials be as honest rs
dt-Cl- ltiiCCt de
archangels, and Republicans come into
power and follow such a precedent. Dem
ocratie officials u ny be censured or con
tlcmned without cause or chance tar de-
fence, and the pplitico judicial PAYERS OF
tine government in the hands Of fras-
ment OF legislative committee OF Inves
LEGATION may be more ryrannical than an
African king and in It's conduct sink be-
raafh fl. In. nj 1i.,nffu fl.onrtatu aud
law that attends the court of a police mag
istrate or the commission that assesses
damages on ditch.
81 Ii was in view Of all this, that | de-
clarcd in the name of ms party that SD far
as this pretended investigation is con-
cerncd, the management of the Insane asy
lum has not been shown To be other than
honorable
!. As 10 myself, regard public business
rs do private: when YOU get the right
man Tor the place. keep hirs there as long
as you can. When you find y rule, or
plan. or routine that works well and sue
cessiully, keep il in operation. While the
principal officers OF the government
should he i'm partisan harmony with the
head of the government and with each
other, the sub0rdIRaies and employees
should be men fitted To perforla the duties
required The "spei.s of Office" should
not be used like the spells of war. War
is for destruction, and all time serving ex-
pcdients are proper, and the conversion OF
'spoils' is part of the law. But admin
is,ration OF government looks only to
preservation and permancncy, The very OPP
posiir OF the end in war, and time serving
expedienls are not proper and conversion
OF 'spoils" Is sacrifice of erpediency and
honor to mere cGpidiiy. OF course. this
is my Owa view and | cannot bind my
party by 1t. however much | may desire
il to believe ss do; but philosophy un
derljrs-or shoull GRderlic-all admins
tration of government as well Is enter into
the provisions of every law that goes upon
the statute. those laws being the govern
ment 10 be adRinis cred.
II is for uttering such sentiments
as these that few old "moss back
papers are trying to read Charles II
Reeve out OF the Democratic party
These extracts give but feeble idea
OF the letters he has written. We
wish We had room for the whole oil
the last letter.. We are glad to know
that Senator Reeve has the manli.
ness ia making laws to contend FOL
what he believes will benefit the PEG.
pie. regardless OF the claims OF a few
men OF his party that want Office. Il
the Legislators OF all parties would
fight manfully for what they believe
to be right. it would be better for the
parties and the people.
The statement comes from Wash
ington that Judge Kelley has prepared
and will soon introduce 10 the house