The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-15
THE UNPARALLELED LEGISLATURE.

sion is becoming fixed in their minds that
lasting disgrace upon the Democratic party.
The legislative session of 1881 was one of
great Importance, and the entire lime al
lowed by the constitution was consumed in
e~nacting laws of the greatest public value.
commission appointed to revise and
codity the laws of the State-a much-needed
work-had performed their duty, and,
when the results of their labors
were reported TO the Legislature, their
work was ratified after due deliberation,
and amendment where found necessary.
The laws of Indiana were believed to be in
better shape and more carefully worded than
ever before. The citizens congratulated
themselves in the good that had been effected,
and rested in the hope that for several years
at least there would be no necessity for fur
Their laws, other than those imperatively de
manded by the growth and development of a
great State. The penal, ~reformatory and
benevolent institutions were all under eff
cient management, and the affairs of the State,
generally, were being administered in a man
mere consistent with economy and the public
welfare. Such was the condition of things
when the late Legislature convened, hut
such, alas, it is not now.
There was, however, a pressing demand for
original legislation on certain subjects.
Gfpoo fbn or~avsaot;ou - H. Ckoto H.
people had been suffering under an
unjust and discriminating system of fees
and salaries. County officers had re-
ceived enormous emoluments for compara-
lively trivial services, and there was appar-
emily no redress. In many cases litigation
could only be INDUCED in by the rich, for
the poor could not afford to go to law, even
to obtain their rights or to establish them
beyond question when they were ascertained.
Time and again the Legislature had passed
law to remedy these evils, but, under the pc
found impossible to effect much in this direc-
ton. Public sentiment became so strong
that, in 1881, an amendment was made to the
organic law OF the State empowering the Leg
islature to regulate this matter completely.
r, 4---v
county officers should be the servants of the
people, but they had become their masters,
receiving enormous fees. accommodating for
tunes in some instances during q single
term OF office, and so directing local politics
that t1,a e,oooee;or- uoa .uoo4.ooiI-, - Ill.
control. This question was one of the issues
of the last campaign, and reform was prom
ised by both parties. The people had a right
to expect that the Legislature would do
something, or at least make an effort, on the
fee and salary question. But such was not
the case. The subject was not even preached
in the Senate, while in the House nothing
was done further than the introduction of
two bills, which were allowed to rest undis-
turbed on the files for the remainder of the
session. The Democratic majority was too
busy in advancing party measures
and providing places for a few
fayorites, or too susceptible to other in
1uences, to even so much as consider a
subject on which legislation was universally
demanded.
Another matter that needed attention was
the proposed drainage of the Kankakee
region, thereby nearly a million acres of
land, now waste and worthless, could be
reclaimed and made valuable for agricul-
tural purposes. As a preliminary step, the
previous assembly had provided for a survey
of the region by a competent engineer.
His report was before the Legislature in a
succinct and intelligent shape, so that the
necessities of the case could be easily COM
pretended. Governor Porter, in his biennial
message, earnestly urged that the work be
commenced, and the people in the Northern
part of the State greatly desired it. But
nothing was done, for the Democracy had too
political legislation on hand.
Again: 1t was necessary that matters per-
tanning to the early completion OF the new
State-house should be carefully considered,
But no attention was paid to the subject
until almost the last day of the session, and
it was then too late to do anything definite.
Again; The State was indebted to mum
of individuals for work done, the most
striking instance being that of John Martin,
whose claim had been favorably passed upon,
and who had a warrant upon the State treas
ury for the amount, but could not get his
money without an appropriation. There
were several other debts, equally just and
honest, which could have been col
lected by law from private citizens or corpo-
rations without difficulty, but under the
constitution the State could not be sued, and
the dishonest Democracy took advantage of