The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-19
AN ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW.

Four years ago the Republican State con-
vention nominated Albert G. Porter as can
didate for Governor of Indiana. He had not
been seeker of the nomination. He held
high and honorable Office in Washington,
which was suited to his tastes and training.
But at the call of his party he abandoned
that, placed himself at the head of the col
umn, and after very arduous and brilliant
campaign was elected by majority of more
than 6, 1000, the verdict of Indiana settling the
greater verdict of the nation, and making
possible and certain the election of Garfield
and Arthur in the following November -Four
years ago, at this time, other men holding high
place were asked to lead the Republican col
umn, but the reply was that the chances were
too great for defeat, and the use of their names
was refused. Possibly some of them might
now be glad to have the honor they then de-
clined thrust upon them; but in politics it is
not usual to give either honors or important
trusts to those who have shown themselves
Indifferent and half hearted. 1t will not be
out of place for the convention to-day to re-
view, in brief, the administration of Gov
Porter, which, while it has not been called
upon to grapple with any specially great ques-
tons that have arrested the attention of the
country, has been of the broadcast and most
liberal character, prudent, economical, digni-
fed and creditable to the people of the whole
State.
The day following his Inauguration, in
speaking of the Governors address, the Jour
nal said: '"rhe inaugural address of Governor
Albert G. Porter marks new departure in
the political history of Indiana. 1t calls pub
lie attention to the fact that Indiana has Gov
ernor who is at once a practical statesman
and friend of the people," When he came
into office, there were before him laborious
duties connected with statutory revision. A
Democratic Supreme Court had decided the
amendments unconstitutional. Without ref
erence to the merits of questions involved in
the amendments, acting upon what he be-
lieved to be the right Of the people to express
their preference by the ballot he urged in
his message that bill might be passed again
submitting the amendments to the people
An act was passed, an election held, and a
proclamation of ratification was issued, max
ing these amendments a part of the organic
law Of the State. BY this stroke the last
e CO.. ho4x
whites and blacks was swept away, the time
necessary to confer legal residence for voting
more strictly defined, the right to read just
fees and salaries put into the Constitution,
and a wholesome limitation of municipal in
debtedness established. He also suggested in
his inaugural address the creation of super
visory board for the State benevolent and
penal institutions, charged with full power to
investigate methods and management That
the purity of the public service was subse-
quently demonstrated in the charges brought
against the management of the Northern
Prison. No officer, unconnected with the
management of the prisons being designated
by law for the investigation of charges of mis-
management relying on his sense of duty in
the matter, the Governor was not only present
at the investigation, but aided in the exami-
nation of witnesses, with fairness that has
never Leen questioned by any one. That he
commands the respect of his political orpo-
nents is shown by the frequency with which
his suggestions, non-political in their nature,
were adopted by the Legislature of 1888
Many of these suggestions were of strong
practical importance, among which were his
recommendation to the State Board of Agri
culture of the Importance of allowing a rep
resentation of industrial interests in the
board, of the Importance Of the collection of
farm statistics on soils, manures, timber,
drainage, chemistry, etc, and in offering a
prize for the best and most thoughtfully pre-
pared county report; also, his recommendation
of an amendment in the law favorable to the
health and safety of miners; his plea for the
recognition of women in the State civil
service by the recommendation of the appoint
ment of a female physician in the Hospital
for the Insane, which has also been accom-
plished; the amendment of the penal law Civ
ing to convicts larger credit for good con-
duct, thus so increasing the incentive to
proper conduct as greatly to assist the disci-
pline of the prisons; his recommendation for
new and complete survey of the Kankakee
and other swamp regions Of the State,