The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-05
OF THE STATES.
Views of Governor Butler on Suffrage
and Other Topics.
His Recommendations as to Poll Tax and
BaIlots-Governor Grittenden on Out
lawry-Legislative Notes.
MASSACHUSETTS,
Governor Buffers First Message Some
Novel Recommendations

day. Hours before the time for him to APP
pear the halls and passages were crowded so
that motion was difficult, and the throng
overiowed thebroad steps and extended even
to the Common. The joint convention for
the Inauguration tool place in the hall Of
the House of Representatives, which was
packed full of people. The aides and
members galleries were opened for ladies',
but the public gallery was reserved fer in
yited guests.
At 1890 the Supreme Judicial Court en-
tered, followed by General Butler, dressed in
an evening suit, carrying a gold-headed cane,
and wearing his usual button-hole boquet.
He walked uu the aisle and sat at the Speak
er's desk, amid applause. His friends and
distinguished guests followed, and soon the
hall of the House was packed to its last inch.
President Croker, of the Senate, admins
tered the oath of office, and Governor Butler
read his address.
GOVERNOR Buffers COMMENTATOR
Governor Butler presents his views upon
free and equal suffrage at great length. He
suggests that an annual poll tax for State
purposes be assessed as now on the polls of
citizens, and then if any citizen chooses to
pay it by voting, let that act be a discharge
and payment of such tax. He recommends
arevision of the registration laws, and that
they be sufficiently guarded to prevent
frauds without being an actual obstruction
TO and a burden upon voters. Regarding a
free ballot and fair count, the Governor says:
"Why not provide that all votes shall be
enclosed in self-sealing envelopes, of the
same size, quality and color, to be furnished
by the State? Then the size and complexion
OF the ballot would be immaterial. The law
still remains on the statute books which re-
quires that envelopes for such purpose shall
always be furnished at the polls. The legal
machinery is ready, and to make it ~effectual
the permissive clause is only to be made
obligatory"
The suggestion is made that a law be passed
allowing women to vote under the same reg
ulations as men, in city elections, which law
shall take effect when it shall be accepted by
a majority of the women voting at some gem
eral election, provision to be made obviating
the objection that women may have to go
into ward-rooms and voting-pl6ces for the
purpose of exercising the right of suffrage.
TIL Governor recommends that the election
of city governments take place on the same
day as the general %eletion, and that election
day be made a legal holiday. The law re-
stricting naturalization to the Supreme and
Superior Courts should, the Governor says,
be repealed.
The labor question will form the subject of
a further communication Considerable
space is devoted to the question of crimes.
and the Legislature is asked to pass an act
providing that whoever is convicted of Will
fully attempting to derail d moving raj
train shall suffer death. The evils of deal
ing in futures and cornering wheat and corn,
ETC.. are dwelt upon, and legislation recon-
mended to stop the abuse. Considerable at
tention is given the reformatory, correctional
and pauper institutions. and it is shown that
the expense for salaries and agents are more
than all other expenses for supporting the
poor by 49, 900. Legislation is suggested
looking to an improvement in the discipline
of the prison, and making the institution
efficient as a refOrmatory; causing the pris-
Oners to be self-Supporting: providing that
every prisoner may work off a portion of his
sentence every month, and the investment of
a certain percentage of a prisoners earnings
in a und TO be given him when discharged,
to start him in the world again.
The employment of convict labor of the
houses of correction outside the walls in rails
ing the food they consume, is spoken of as
profitable. The following institutions, the
Governor says, should be abolished: The
State ~Reformatory for Women, the Reform
School for Boys and the Industrial School for
Girls. They are too costly for any supposed
good they do. The message favors an asylum
WIFI kttlu lIedLtleul LOT ltlOIlC ana leeDle-
minded youth, but not a school. When the
State shall have sufficiently educated every
bright child within its borders, it will be time
enough to undertake the education of the
idiotic and feeble-minded, a well-fed, we'll
cared for idiot is a happy creature; an idiot
. awakened to his condition is a miserable one.
, Careful consideration is given to the insane
Of the State. The extravaganza in buildings
and general management of this cl SIS of peo-
pie is severely commented upon, and an ap-
peal made to the Legislature 10 change all
this in the future, and provide a manage
ment upon economical and business princi-
pies. The Governor says the doors OF insane
establishments, both public and private.
open altogether too easily award, and with
too great difficulty outward, in the reception
and discharge of their inmates. This matter
should be carefully guarded by legislation.
A recommendation is made that a purchas-
Ing officer for all supplies of every name be
appointed, with a salary sufficient to insure
the services of a competent business man; to
be commissioned by the executive for three
years. The Governor congratulates the Com
monwealth that one branch of civil-service
reform, viz: fixedness of tenure of office, is
already in operation in the State, aud has
been since 1879.
Governor Butler then, without saving he
favors any national measures proposed 10
reform the civil service, gets in a blow at the
expense of the Republican administration of
} Massachusetts. who, he says. have very gem
orally appointed relatives 10 subordinate
places. Whole families are sometimes APP
pointed to salaried places. Beside, the rule
is, with hardly exceptions enough to prove
its correctness, that all salaried officials, at
least of the higher grades, have been and are
of a gwen political faith. He says there are
more persons employed than necessary to
carry on the business, and at higher salaries.
He advises that at least one third of these
shall be cut off and the salaries reduced by
law. If any resign on account of such re-
duction he will undertake to fill their places
with competent men. He suggests the pass
age of a law prohibiting two of a family
holding office in the same department, and
further. that if there are two or more already
in. the one vino appointed his relatives shall
go out. Laws should be enacted to reduce