The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-13

/ areas yet unorganzed. create vast and varied
/ interests which naturally divide public opinion
/ as to the policy of the government. The con
| 'tinuance of our national existence and pros
! lperity, depending upon a wise and honest ad-
minIstration of the powers and duties OF the
| government, will always develop political dis
sensions and create party divisions. thus period
i leaily arousing the masses to pass Judgment
/ upon alleged evils of legislation and deviation
| from constitutional principles. A check is put
/ upon inaladministration reforms are peaceably
| Drought about, the government policy as to
4 great political questions Is directed and de-
termined as majority may demand
/ The present depressed condition of the business
and industrial interests of the country the
| careful attention and study of the legislator.
/ The earth has yielded bountiful harvests pro-
/ duce is abundant; all of the material for active
business and increased prosperity seems to exist
/ yet the last year has witnessed succession of
/ failures and disasters among the commercial,
i industrial and financial institutions OF the
! country that has shaken confidence and seri
| ously disturbed the business interests of the
1 whole land.
/ The rapidity with which colossal fortunes have
i been accumulated of late years by private indi-
| viduals: the development and fostering OF rail-
| way and other corporate bodies of vast wealth
I by government aid the aggregation of the money
of orr country in various combinationsof power,
| and the influences which they exercise in shap-
ing legislation, raise the inquiry whether legisla-
| ton has not been too much in the interest of
/ capital and wealth. and against the Industrial
masses of the country. The laboring- classes con-
stitute great portion of our population, and to
this elementwe are largely indebted for ourpros-
| perity. They comprise, in great measure the
/ honest intelligent thinking citizens who, by their
suffrages, seek good government, and rightfully
/ demand recognition of the fact that labor Is
honorable; that employers shall not be dlscrlm-
mated in favor of, as against the employed, and
such protection under the law as will enable
| them to assert their rights whom endangered by
combinations OF capital The. general wei
| fare of the State is largely dependent
upon the individual success of its citi-
zens and we should always bear in mind
| that the sure avenue to competence and
| wealth is not by the inflated bubble of specula-
/ ton, to which, in the main, our periodical dis
asters to trade and commerce are attributable
butby honest toll, patient industry and legiti
| mate exchange of actual values and products.
! The passage of laws having in view the foreeo-
| ing objects and conditions of capital and labor
| and the abolition Of unnecessary taxation which
eats up the fruits of il "or is in the interest Of
| the many forms dem. ed to give us substantial
| business prosperity. am aware that these re-
! forms can only be generally and successfully in
/ augurated through the exercise of the powers of
/ the federal government, but do not deem it i'm
| proper to refer to- them upon this occasion.
| SUGGESTIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE.
| The closing days of our biennial sessions of
| the Legislature are invariably flooded with a
mass of bills, all demanding immediate action.
| BY reason of haste and confusion many of them
| properly matured and considered. / sincerely
! hope you may be able to adopt some rule or
regulation that will, to some extent, avoid the
evils attending this recurring condition of legis
| latiye affairs
| There is not much danger of erring on the side
of too little law The world is governed too
much, and that was undoubtedly the principle
that governed the trainers of our Constitution
| in restricting thelength of our legislative ses-
sions The fact that such provision has been so
| long sanctioned by the people, without an effort
/ to, change, it. argues we'll its wisdom meas.
ure tending to serve the stinterests of all the
| people of the State. Hence it becomes matter
| of duty for each member to diligently and ear
| nesty cooperate with his fellow members in
perfecting and advancing the most important
| measures, and among the most important are
! those needed for the support of the State and
its institutions. The passage of the general and
specific appropriation bills shonld not be left to-
| the uncertainties attending the closing days of
| the session 10 provide for the public wants of
| the State is the paramount duty of legislation
| To wisely and economically 3expend the means
| provided, is of the most impol tant trusts
contiied to those clothed with the management
| of State affairs
Laws that by long existence have become IA
| miliar to the people, and the observance of
| which is established, SHOULD not be changed
without reasons that are cOeent and unquestion-
j able, as frequent alterations and amendments
| tend not only to confuse the public mind, but
| the learned professions of attorneys, counselors
and jurists are often at loss to disagree upon.
and determine what the law really is, and the
| practical application and observance of it
4 fail by reason of its uncertainty. Changes
| in the law are frequently made at
| the solicitation of inconsideHable portion Of
/ the people and in the interest of localities with
| out being demanded by the general public or of
| general application, the principle of which is
prohibited by our Constitution. 1t is to the re-
| peal, modification and judicial construction of
this class of hasty and Impracticable legislation
! that so much of the time and attention of our
| Legislature as we'll as our courts is given.
The supposed necessity for change in the
| law is often more imaginary than real, as eXem-
| plifed by comparison of the legislation of
different States. In an adjoining sister
State, the Constitution of which and
the occupation. commerce and business
of its people being similar to our own
no stay Of execution on judgment in court of
records allowed. All property sold at judicial
sale must bring two thirds of the appraised
value and no redemption of real estate after ju-
dicla sale is permitted, while In Indiana we have
a general provision for stay of execution on
Judgment of court a law authorizing a provision
in contracts waving the benefit of valuation and
appraisement' laws, and right of redemption
of real estate sold On execution. Most of these
laws have been in force for over quarter of a
century, and, Notwithstanding so very different
seem to be well settled and ac-
cepted as satisfactory by the people of
each State. To do away with the stay of execu-
| ton and the right of redemption in our State
! would undoubtedly be regarded as oppressive by
| the debtor class. and the repeal of the act au
! thorizing waiver weuld be considered by the
! creditor as an impeiiment 20 the collection of
| debts Upon the other hand the people Of our
sister State would undoubtedly consider a law
| authorizing the stay of execution and the right
of redemption RS, unreasonably delaying the col
lection of debt and the sale OF property without
| apprasement unjust to their debtor class
| The biennial message contemplated by the
/ Constitution touching the condition of the State
ton, having been submitted to you at the open
ing of this session by my predecessor it will not
be expected of me to make specific recommended
tons in this address, but during the progress of
i your deliberations, whenever the occasion for
4 such action arises. shall communicate the same
:. to you by special message.
! woulo, however, invite your attention to the
act Of our Legislature of 1881, giving aliens the