The Indianapolis journal., 1891-02-20

il took the General Assembly sharply but
very justly TO task. 1t oyas read in both
houses, and is az follows.
The bill Is substantially the same the law
now on our statutes. with the exception that it
seeks 10 deprive the Governor OF appointing Of
fcers of the Board Of Health, comforting such ap-
pointments upon the majorityof the State officers
named In the bill.
The first section of this bill is clearly unconsti-
tuti0nal. The members OF the State Board OF
Health, being State officers. should be appointed
by the Governor or elected by the people. Tho
power Of the executive to appoint the State Of
ncers Is constitutional and cannot be changed OF
modified by legislation. When that power is
called into action IL must OF necessity be nuga-
tory. To p.ss law giving the Governor. secre-
appoint persons to NIL State offices would virtu-
ally annul the constitutional provision, and
majority of such officers could Overrule the
Governor, and his constitutional right Of ap-
pointment would in such cases cease 70 exist.
The late decisions OF our Supreme Court have
80 fully decided this question that deem argu-
ment unnecessary. shall not degrade the
ecutive department by permitting any other Off
Ger or officers OF State to exercise the power of
appointing any person to State office where 1t
has not been fully and clearly sanctioned by the
sent to chance the plain meaning of our Consti-
tuition by permitting the Legislature to usurp the
functions of any other department of State.
The bill was promptly passed, without
discussion. over the veto by a strict party
vote. which will make 1t necessary for the
Supreme Court to again declare that the
Governor of Indiana has some constitu-
tional rights which Bourbon Democratic
majority is bound to respect.
The most important bill passed yesterday
Was that introduced by Senator Magee au-
tborizing two additional loans by the Gov
ernor Auditor and Treasurer of State OF
500. 900 each. The bonds of the State, to
bear not to excsed 3l2 per cent. are to be
of the State is pledged for their redemp-
tion. The first seven hundred Thousand is
TO carry on the State government, and
the second 10 to meet any ap-
propriations, regular or special, that
suave and plausible way. explained
how these loans will not increase the State
debt. Some of the Senators were some
what skeptical upon the proposition that
81, AGO. 600 worth of bonds could be set loose
without increasing the debt by just that
amount, but there was no doubt of the
alternative that the State would either
have to negotiate these loans OF go ont of
business. and the bill passed without oppo-
sitiOn.
WANT OFFICES FOR THE PARTY.
There was sharp and prolonged fight
during the afternoon on the Magee bill to
put the benevolent institutions of the State
OH q non partisan and humanitarian basis.
The result was that the majority reaffirmed
its policy and determination to retSin these
institutions as O part of the political spoils
and plnnder to be banded back and forth
with every change In the political complex
principal provisions of the Magee
measure have been heretofore stated.
1t provided system of examna-
tions 10 test tho morality and fitness
of applicants for places in the benevolent
institu tions. The management was to he
conducted with an eye single to it's clean
ness and efficiency; it was to be divorced
as far as possible from partisan politics,
and no employo was to be removed for
political reasons.
Mr.. Magee. speaking in support of his
bill said it was indorsed by the presidents
and superirtendents of all the institutions
affected, and also by the Board of state
Charities. It wac measure that appealed
to Justice, humanity and q Christian spirit.
There could be no objection TO il on any
reasonable and just ground, and nothing
could be urged against it except that it was
not Democratic. 1t simply looked
ants toShave charge of the States wards;
it sought to secure the highest ability OBJ
tainable and to divorce as far possi BILE
the management of those institutions from
ator Magee had read To the Senate letters
and resolutions from societies and persons
eminent in the management of the insane.
blind and deaf and dumb.
Senator Grose favored the bill because it
was q step In the right direction. He would
have liked to see its provisions extended to
trustees and others higher up but still
He WAS willing TO accomplish little &C q
time. His duties had made him familiar
with some of the abuses that prevail in the
States asylums and schools, and he wanted
to see q thorough wedding out Of incom-
petents.
Senator Hobson said he had just made
the rounds of some of the institutiOns Of
the State, and he was qualified To say that
the QnestiOn at issne was one not of poll
tics. but humanity that should appeal to
every Senator.
Senator Sweeny gave an exhibition of
prising even in Bourbon Dem
ocrat. He had no patience with
the discussion in progress. He had a holy
horror and contempt he said. for the ex-
preston ''civil-service reform" He moved
to lay the whole matter on the table and
demanded the previous question.
Nobody joined with the small bore poll
tlcian from Dubois. who draws S6 a day for
warming seat and voting to adjourn, and
he craw led back into his shell.
Senator Burke opposed the bill. He
doubted If the officers of the benevolent in
stitutions favored the adoption of this bill.
These officers, ho said, were authorized
to select capable and suitable attendants
and If they favored this bill they thereby
admitted their own Incompetence and
should be invited to step down and out
The civil-service reform idea he denomi-
mated delusion and q snare. He was op-
~
create q hoard of office-tenure-ho holding
employees who could not be reached by the
people. He held that the remedy for in
competent and unit attendants lay with
the superintendents, and If they could not
withstand the opportunities of personal
friends for places and rise to the require
ments of their positions they should give
way to men who could Ii the
idea embodied in the bill was to be
carried out he was in favor of vesting the
right to make all appointments in the Gov
ernor and be done with it.
Senator Boyd made q strong appeal in
favor of the passage of the bill from q
standpoint of humanity, justice and con-
science He was followed in the same
strain by Senator Howard, who urged that
the management of the benevolent institu-
tions was too heavy q load for any party to
carry. The matter. taken out of politics,
would be benefit not only TO the institu-
tions. bnt to both parties. and he earnestly
hoped the bill would pass.
At this juncture Senator Sweeny again
pulled his previous question gag. The
Chair ignored him and Sweeny paved the
| air. gesticulated wildly and insisted that
| he had the floor. Senators smiled weariy
| at the efforts of the man from Dubois to
| transform himself from . vacuum into q
| quantity. The chairman recognized Sena-
| tor Griffith and Sweeny again retired.
| Senator Griffith believed in claiming the
| fruits of party supremacy. In other words,
| the places in the institutions went to the
boys who did the work at the polls. Any
| other course he denominated party treason.
Senator Magee closed the argument in be-
| half OF this measure. He expressed regret
| that his party friends in the Senate should
| see the political rather than the humane
| side of the question. He was willing to put