The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-16

OF the duties of his position. Since the removal
OF the adjutant-general's Office into the state
house he has classified the muster-in and muster
out rolls, company histories and other miscel-
laneouS matter, which made necessary the en-
plOyment of some additional clerical help. The
numerous applications by the war department
and pension claimants for certified copies of
the records has greatly increased the work OF
the otnce. There were issued during the pres
ent incumbency of the acknowledgement 1914
certificates and 1O,629 official letters written.
White Caps.
During the past year a number of outrages
upon the personal rights OF citizens were CON-
mitted in one or two counties of the state, by
persons banded together under the name Of
"White Caps"
They excited such terror by their unlawful
practices that for q time no evidence could be
procured duplicating any person engaged in
such outrages
Evidence was however, finally procured
against the principal participants, who were
indicted and their trials set for Dec "a 1855.
The defendants have taken change of venue
and the time OF trial is now fixed for March %
Additional evidence has been obtained which
VIII lead TO the indictment of several others
and some who would have been arrested have
fed from the state. The lawlessness has been
completely suppressed.
lntlmations have been given by persons i'm
pllcated that they desired to arrange with the
state; agreeing that no further Outrages would
be committed II the prosecutions on the part of
the state would cease. | felt that the state
could not afford TO compromise with persons
guilty OF such ofenses, and have instructed the
authorities and the counsel employed by the
state 70 prosecute all against whom evidence
can be obtained TO the full extent of the law.
Live stock.
In my inaugural address and 10 my message
to the last general assembly called attention
to the importance of protecting The live stock
Of the state from contagious or infectious dis
eases. The legislatures OF nearly all the west
ern states have enacted laws creating a board
of live stock commissioners clothed with au-
thorty 10 regulate the importation OF live stock
injected with contagious diseases, and to estab-
llSh quarantine regulations, and making II the
duty OF all persons owning or having in charge
animals infected with contagious disease to re-
port the same to the board of live stock com
missioners. | earnestly recommend legislation
upon the subject.
Election Reform.
/ earnestly invite your attention to the i'm
perative necessity for revision OF the election
laws, so as TO guard more efieotually the exer-
else of the elective franchise and secure to the
people fair and honest elections. 1t is mani
fest that the public faith in the purity or our
elections has become shaken, and the feeling is
widespread that the decision at the ballot-box
no longer reflects the honest judgment of a ma
iority of the voters. 1t is needless TO say that
The ballOt-box is the superstructure upon
which is built our representative form of gov
eminent, and in our ability to maintain its
purity lies the only hope OF the perpetuity Of
our free institutions
You cannot render the state no more exalted
service than TO frame and enact such laws that
will, so far as legislation can accomplish, pre-
vent the corrupt use of money, preserve the
secrecy OF the ballot, secure pure elections and
punish by the seyerest penalties all who may
be guilty of committing fraud upon the ballot
box, of bribing attempting to bride any
electOr, or of corrupting in any manner the
sutfrages of the people. The ballot should be
printed by the state and procured by the voter
only at the polling place under such restric-
tons as will give every voter the opportunity
to select and vote the ticket of his choice with
out interference by others, and eongregating
and electioneering about the polling place
should be strictly prohibited. The law should
be so framed as 10 exclude all surveillance
over the voter while casting his ballot
ANY voter who actually moves out of his pre-
cinct and desires to continue his residence and
right to vote therein, should be required, at the
time of moving, to file with some officer desig
mated by law, his sworn statement that It has
Intention to continue his residence In such pre-
cinct And the voter now residing out of the
precinct in which he claims the right TO vote
should be required, within given time 10 file
a similar statement. The sworn statement
should be annually renewed, and every re-
newal should be filed at least six months prior
TO the occurrence OF any general election, and
contain the statement that he has not, since
moving out of the precinct exercised the right
of suffrage elsewhere.
I would recommend that the election pre-
cincts contain not over two hundred voters,
and when after any election 1t shall appear
that more than that number of votes have
been polled in any precinct 1T be made
the duty OF the county commissioners at their
next regular session, to reorganize the pre-
cincts so as TO reduce the number OF voters
within the limit prescribed by law.
feel that / cannot too strongly urge upon
you the importance of giving the matter earn
est and early consideration, in order that legis-
lation upon the subject may not be defeated by
the constitutional expiration OF the session.
Constitutional Amendments.
At this session it will be appropriate for you
to propose and agree to such amendments to
the constitution as your wisdom may suggest or
experience has shown to be necessary. The
present instrument, which was adopted nearly
forty years ago. has not been changed except
on two occasions.
While it is advisable, and in some cases nee
tSSdtAs tildS euhlc % Us pIONiSiVuo ohou'N NC
amended, it is not believed that necessity ex-
lists for a constitutional convention.
Every proper amendment can be effected in
the manner provided by the constitution, at
small expense 10 the people and without pre-
senting the opportunity of unsettling system
of government well understood and tested by
long service.
would recommend that the constitution be
so amended that all state and county officers
shall hold their offices for term of four years
to commence on a fixed day, and with, perhaps,
a few exceptions, be ineligible TO hold the same
more than four years in any period of eight
years. No good reason seems to exist why the
term of certain officers should be limited to
two years, while others whose duties and re-
sponsiblities are no greater should have a
term of four years. 1t is my opinion that two
years is too short a period for any officer to
acquire that knowledge of the duties of his
Office necessary to enable him TO discharge the
same with the degree of efficiency expected by
the public. There has always been manifested
a willingness to continue faithful official four
years in office; but at the same time a strong
public sentiment seems to prevail against elect
ing an administrative officer for longer period
All temptation should be, as far as possible
removed from every officer to use his Office
neglect his duties to secure reelection, and
thereby allow such officer to devote strictly his
time to the duties thereof aud render the most
efficient public service. The designation of
fixed day on which terms should begin would
secure uniformity. In the case of state officers
il has frequently occurred, and may occur
again, that new state officers have come into
pOssession of their respective Offices during the
first DAYS of the legislative session, and having
had no opportunity to become acquainted with