The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-18

as very reputSive ~ many gcod snd n gut
minded people among Ger large family OF
citizens. Among them Is Ihe-ssemingly-
fixed idea that ''pubiic" parsimony is pub
lie economy" she has gone 50 far In carry.
ing out this idea-endeavoriDg TO practice IL,
in the blind delusion that il is profitable
that she has not only called out the pity and
sDeers of her neigbbors, but she has turned
aside and INSTRUCTED the forces that were
pushing her toward he front in the ranks OF
the States, and retarded her own progress for
many years. have been called upon more
than once to publicly condemn ii, and had
hored her officials would abandon it.
That they have not done so is very clearly
demonstrated quite often, aud her session
laws are bi ennial evidence that she still
lshoIs under the miserable Authorization.
She is an inland State, far from the sea.
board. bat she has the larges. Capital city of
any State in the Union. She has more acres
OF coed land in proportion to her area, and
portion, than any other State. Her natural
resources are more valuable and durable,
considering other things, than those Of any
other State OF the same area Free from
mountains, with great waterways by lake
and river. situated mid way among the great
est States, with q population exceptional for
enterprise and intelligence she should and
could have been the second State in the
Union ct least, bat for her few peculiarities,
the most ininical and least defensibIe of
which is this llusory idea that public par
simonv is public economy" Her colleges
have been starved and treated like tramps
Scholarly and wealthy people have had large
sums to bestow on such institutions; bat
they have Stunned those of Indiana aud
made endowments on those of every other
State, because her Legislatures have
treated them as if they we're unworthy of
existence. The State University, the State
Normal, and Purdue, have been
sneered at and kicked out of the Legislature
SIS IL they were poor relations who were fore
ing themselves upon the State and were I'M.
worthy of recognition. Had they been lib
orally fostered by the. State to day they would
have been richly endowed by wealthy men
and women as objects worthy OF great gifts,
and need not be beggars for enough to barely
exist, and be compelled to receive that with
sDeeIs and contumelious curses for daring to
ask for something.
There are many like instances in her his.
tory relating 10 various things The imme-
diate occasion of this article is Professor
Collects report as State Geologist. My face
fairly burned with mingled shame and in.
dignatlon az saw his report OF receipts and
expenditures.
The total appropriation was $50 per
month, or 81, $50 per yesr-about the salary
OF q second class bookkeeper In a second
class commission house. The expenditures
were 81, 1916; producing book of nearly
200 pages, with engravipgs, maps and the Ia
Dor OF several scientists in different depart
ments and branches paid out by the
State Geologist, and he relies on
the justice of Indiana" to reimburse him.
Coco LorGl Justice? A sense of justice in
such soulless bo5y' John Collett, a
man honored by the wisest among
the wisest men st hume and abroad as
among the first in his profession, who mas
given to Indiana his skill and lsbors 10 the
development of her wonderful natural re.
sources and brought to her millions OF dol
lara OF capital, and given her an interna.
t.onal reputstion-John Coliett Is COM
PEELED to rely on the justice OF O State that
appropriates 81 500 for her State Geologist to
pay his services and salary-to refund TO
him three quarters of bis salary. advanced
Dy him IN necessary expenses? And be
furnishes vouchers for every item, even
down to g paid for packing reports to be
sent out under the law to the various coun-
ties. Look at these items and sums in the
fore part of the book and then at his map in
the back part, and the lndianians cheek
that does not redden with shame must be a
queer compound to take human shape.
II there is any one thing that should have
been made the subject OF liberal appropria-
tions it should have been geology. 1sshould
have been made department and every en-
ergy supplied to it; the ablest professors
with corps of assistants; and aid should
have been given with a liberal hand. Had
this been done it would have repaid the
s ate 8 thousand fold. Thank fortune tor
giving us John Collett. There was nothing
little in him, and the State has the invalaa
BILE benefits OF his voluntary labor and per.
sopal sacrifice, to his own honor aud her
shame. 1t is high time for In diana to real.
lie that it is not wise ito save at the spigot
and spill at the bunghole."
Compare the appropriations made to pay
the hangers on" about the existing General
Assembly since last January-(the clerks and
jsnitors and other so-called employees. ap-
pointed for the Houses and committees, fully
one.half OF whom nave nothing to do, and
not oyer seven or eight work two hours a
day with that for the services rendered in
the Geological Department.. Compare the
value to the State of the work land the
world, for that NATTER in the two places
Compare the mental callber and acquire.
meDts OF the occupants of the two places
Even compare the General Assembly itse [
and the value OF its work, as whole, with
its cost. The former runs into the hundreds
OF thousands Of dollars, and the latter does
not reach the plural number of thousands in
Indiana. Look at other States and see the
contrast with Indiana in the estimate placed
on the value of geological investigation, and
OF the services of competent men to make It,
Let lndlana's legislators have done with
this picsyune policy. Let the vicious leaks
in The Treasury be stopped-for they are not
few-snd let such liberal aid be given for the
development OF the States highest interests
as will command the best results, aud give
nc self.respect at home as we'll az respect
abroad. We have neither now in this con.
nection, and are not entitled to any.
G. n. r.
Plymouth, April l6.