The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-17
THE LATE LEGISLATURE.
An Infamous Political Disgrace to the State
Of Indiana.
RorrENNEss AND MBEciLrTY.

AZBluSE DGWqCIdIC GtIdttAc ah0
who were always in the market, and made no at
tempt to disguise the fact Had this Legislature,
with its odious record, been hepuohcan instead
of Democratic, the party that fathered IL wouio
receive a telling rebuke from the voters at the
hext election. This, however, is suppositlon
contrary to reality. During the last twenty-five
: years the Republicans of this country have zone
considerable legislating, but they have never
been accused of drawing money for loaEng, or 0.
refusing to investigate and punish tne mem
bers of their own party occupying of1clai pos,
tons, when charges of corruption were maze anu
substantiated. During the session OF the recent
Legislature. members drew at the rate or 30
per day. and the Democratic policy most OF the
time was to sit in the hall, chew tobacco, ana
figure on extending the session and covering up
charges of corruption. Many of the Democratic
members have been awakened from their lassi-
tude long enough to make pitiable exhibitions. of
themselves. and to bring shame, disgrace and
humiliation upon the people of the State, but
these spurts have simply been in keeping with
the general complexion of the record OF the
Democratic majority.
Itcan be said, however, that no Republican
has d~isgraced himself and his constituents.
Each and all have shown a disposition to work
for the interests of the people, to discharge their
duties faithfully and we'll They are IN no man
ner responsible for the rottenness and imbeclllty
that has characterized the body. They return to
their constituents with clean hands and the sat
isfactior of having performed their duty.
PERIODICAL PLUNDERERs.
BhelbyviTe Republican.
The Legislature has finally let go its grip. On
Monday it dissolved in disgrace and confusion,
Safeguarding and money-grabbing being Its
characteristics to the last. Considering that
che Constitution allowed them TO sit five more
days, great surprise is felt that they did not stay
to the last minute. They, no doubt, think they
deserve credit for great self-abnegation, as they
: might have secured thirty dollars more apiece
by sticking to the constitutional limit. But
they are gone, and may Indiana never see their
like again. By general consent the retiring
body is denounced as the most worthless, dis
honest and disgraceful legislature that the State
ever had. Ever the Democratic party bushes
as it takes a dissolving view of their gang of i'm
beetles and corruptionists, returning to that OBJ
security which alone BELTS their shame. These
scoundrels have so gerrymandered the State
that they hope to be able to get together every
two years for all time to come duplicates of the
worthless frauds who have vexed and robbed
the State during the late session. Little they
care for the welfare of the State, so they are al
lowed to plumber periodically.
AN UNHAMPERED DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY.
Greencastle Times.
The Indiana Legislature has at last wound up
its tedious, expensive and disgraceful session of
nearly four months, during the continuance of
which observing citizens have been shown the
capabilities and inequalities Of an unhampered
Democratic majority. They have shown them
selves capable OF despoiling the State treasury
unscrupulously, of tampering and dallying with
jobs, and of frittering away the peoples time
and money aimlessly. and to no avail. They
have demonstrated their incapability
to dea! with large questions affecting the welfare
and relief of the State; to take up and dispatch
important measures with the promptness and
confidence that characteriZes honest legislation
and marks the honorable legislator, and to wean
themselves away from the stringent lines of
bitter partisanship long enough to consider ra-
tionally matters of justice and equality. They
have exhibited inordinate greed and great liber-
aitu IN tho apnrapriafICu af fupda RI dafrqvinC
their own salaries and personal expenses, and
have again left unprovided for many important
interests of the State.
POLITICALLY INFAMOUS
Evansville Journal.
It is estimated at indianapolis that the regu-
lar and special sessions of the Legislature will
have cost the State, by the time the expenses
are liquidated, the enormous amounts of $l5O, 600.
To show for this large amount of money and
nearly a hundred days of legislasion, about
one hundred and fifty bills were passed, most of
them of minor Importance, some of them vi
cious, or politically infamous like the apportion-
ment bills. The specific appropriation bill and
other necessary measures failed. If the Democ-
racy can stand such a record the Republicans
can.
cARB1ED Off EVERYTHING PORTABLE.
lafayette Journal.
1t seems that some of the economical legisla-
tors at Indianapolis who, all winter long, have
opposed everything from the bill for the coffin of
. senator to an appropriation for a college, car
ried off all the portable articles in the House,
including inkstands, and took them home with
them. A few more conscientious legislatures,
with as keen an eye to public welfare, and it
will be necessary to chair down the State-house
when they get ready to go.
A-DIsHoNoRABLE BODY.
Union City Eagle.
and hangers-on. but the per diem Legislature
sould not do the honorable thing of paying the
Just debts of the State. Thousands of dollars
Tor those who have no claim upon the State, and
not a cent for the honest laborer, who has made
and kept his contract with the people.
A WORTHLESS BODY.
columbus Republican.
The Legislature has at last adjourned. 1t is
no reflection on the few good and competent
men of both parties to say that, as a whole, it
was one of the most worthless bodies of the
kind that ever assembled in the State, and there
will be a genuine feeling of relief to know that
It is ended.
IN INCUBUS REMOVED.
Huntington Herald.
Since Monday the people of this State have
breathed more freely on account Of the removal
of an incubus which has been weighing upon
them for the past three months. The State AS
sembly adjourned on that day.
LET THE PEOPLE REJOICE.
Kokomo Tribune.
The people of Indiana should be prepared to
sing to-day in lusty chorus the Ions meter doxol-
ogy over the adjournment of the worst Legisla-
lure with which the State has ever been af-
aicted.
MAY WE NEVER SEE YOUR LIKE AGAIN.
G0nnersvine Times.
Goodbye. General Assembly of the State of
Indiana We hope your like may never again
assemble, as it has succeeded in DISTINGUISHING
nearly one-third of the voters of the State.
THOROUGHLY USELESS.
cambridge City Tribune.
A careful search of the records will fail to
show that there ever existed a more reckless, ex-
travagant and thoroughly useless assembly since
Che organization of the State.
WHY THEY CONTINUED.
MuEcie Times.
The majority in the Legislature are appar-