The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-30


them that are not qualified, vet don't be
lieye that any law that we could pass would
bring about the millennium in any of the
institutions al our State. Ii is the fault OF
those Who execute the law, and not the fault
of the law itself. i undertake to say that
Indiana has as efficient corps OF County
Superintendent as any State in the Union.
Feeling as / do that the Law as it now stands
gives an average efficient corps OF County
Superintendents; that the people do not
demand the change, and that under the pres
ent law we are accomplishing all that we can
accomplish any way. / am in favor of let
ting the law remain az ii is. / think We
ought 10 keep the subject OF politics and our
public schools apart. What would this
change do? 1t would require every person
desiring to become County Superintendent
TO go through the political wire-pulliug nee.
e;sary &c get the situation. 1t brings politics
right into the school-room. All the County
Superintendents will 60 out in June. Unless
there are grave snd potent reasons for bring
ing about this new order. we had better leave
the law as it is IL there is anything Indi-
ana has to be proud of. it is her system OF
| public schools. No class of persons in the
| State has done more to accomplish this than
| the present corps of County superintendent,
For the sake OF keeping politics out OF the
| public schools. and on the principle that we
should let legislation stand if it fuldlls its
| purposes, am opposed to this bill.
Mr.. TAYLOR: / maintain that the gen.
| tleman on this floor who best represents his
| constituents prevents vicious legislation
| rather than ADDS simply TO the volume of its
| statues. / don't know that there are any
| people sending petitions here asking for the
passage OF this bill under discussion, I am
| friend OF public education. NV candid
| judgment and belief is that there is no nee
| eesity for change of this law. The further
| removed you have common schools from the
cesspool OF politics the better for the educa-
tional interests of the State. For this reason
| will vote against the bill
| / don't think that the people are crying out
for a change through any petition or any
memorial, and / don't think aAy change
| should be made.
Mr.. BOYD: My objection to this bill is
that 1t makes our County Superintendent
an elective officer. l believe it would be a
| bad plan to take this matter out of the
hands Of the trustees. Ny constituents are
not demanding that the law be changed,
and for this reason alone shall vote against
| the bill.
Mr.. HARRELL: 1 don't think there
| ought TO be a distinction between the
| County Superintendent and the selection of
| judges of the Courts and other officers. We
| want to bring our officers down as near to
| the people IS possible. The gentlemen
| arguing against this bill say it would put
| the selection in politics. So far as politics
are concerned, think affairs are Just as
tees as they would be in the election of the
| County Superintendent. 1t is much more
| easy to corrupt one or two Trustees than to
corrupt the whole county. Why do you
elect the Superintendent OF Public Instruc-
| ton and not elect the County Superinten-
dent? The people demand change in this
matter. 1t should be brought down directly
| to the people. ] am in favor Of the election
| OF County Superip tendents by the people.
Mr.. WILSON: Under the present system
OF electing our County superintendent il
occurs TO me ii is easier to set up lob than
1t would be under the proposed change. The
only argument used against this measure is
that il is dangerous TO trust the people with
their own interest. j take it that the people
are the source of all power. The people
SAID TO us as represen tatives you may pass
any mes sure or law that you choose to pass
and we have no way TO circumscrlbe your
powers in this matter. 1t is said by the
opposition that il we take this election out
of The hands of County Trustees we place it
in partisan politics. Is it not in partisan
politics now? am decidedly in favor of
the passage of this bill and letting the
County Superintendent be smenable to the
people.
Mr.. GORDON: l favor the bill for the
reason that believe in the wisdom OF the
people in all matters in which their govern
ment is concerned. suppose that no mem
Der would say that the people were not wise
when they selected him to represent them
| If there is such thing as q cesspocl of
politics this affair is already plunged into it.
Mr.. DEEM: / am in favor of this bill for
| two reasons; first, believe IL is right, and
second, my constituents demand 1t.
We want to make these men come
direct from the people and let them be re-
sponsible to the people for the careful con-
| duct of their offices.
Mr.. MOODY: / certainly am opposed to
any change in reference to the manner of
-,<s, - - LII
the County Trustees will select the best men,
and they will select them at time when
the question of politics is not at q fever heat
Why should We experiment? The people
are satisfied. Where are the petitions asking
for the passage Of this bill?
Mr.. COPELAND: ! think this is q very
important matter. 1t has been said by gen
tlemen on the floor several times already
that it is the custom OF Indiana Legislatures
TO be continually hampered with laws. [
think it one Of the distinguishing marks OF
the prudence, wisdom and erudition of the
| English Parliament that they are inclined
to let well established laws alone. We
| should go slowly when making radical
| changes. IL has been said that one of the
reasons why We should elect County Su-
| periDtendent by the people is because We
| elect State Superintendent of Public Ia
| struction. There is a wide difference in
these two officers One is removed far above
| the scandal OF public politics; he has no
! close relations with the people; yet petty
dislikes may defeat good man for the Office
| of County Superintendent. This bill would
make room for incompetent men. By their
| peculiar ways of manipulating the machine
OF politics they would be able to triumph
over men of influence and ability. 1 shall
| partly oppose this bill.
Mr.. ROBERTSON: There have been two
| we'll defined theories One is that il is IN
| safe TO trust the people; the other is that it
| is safe. / chance ID be one of those Who
think that the people can De trusted. have
| confidence in the intelligence of my people
| and l believe that they can be fully trusted
| for the selection OF public servants. am in
favor of giving TO the people the power that
| rightly belongs to them.
Mr.. PASSAGE demanded the previous
question.