The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-01-11

gested by Various People.
Some ten days ago TIE SENTINEL cent
letters 10 a large number of prominent cit
izens Of the state. irrespective of party,
asking their views on the advisability of
holding constitutional convention. The
following replies have been received:
To THE EDToR-.SiF: 1 am or the
opinion that our organic law is in need of
reconstruction and reformation. While
It may have been entirely suitable and
al quate 10 the conditions and environ
ments of our common wealth in 1872, it -
confessedly inadequate and out OF 10 Mt
with our new and progressive civilization
and conditions. Much OF it has become
entirely obsoieto ami useless, aud
ali such portions should be elm
minated. The provisions for is amend
tnenr, while necessary for stability in gov
eminent, REQUIRE such q cumbersome aud
tedious course OF procedure. sad the pro-
vision that, while an amendment or
anne ndments which shall have been agreed
upon bv one general assembly shall be
awaiting the action of q succeeding gen.
eral assembly or OF the electors, no adj
dItlonal amendment or amendments shall
be proposed, renders it necessary. in my
opinion, that constitutional convention
shall be held as soon as The same can be
provided for by .aN.
As TO the changes and reforms which
should be engr slted on the new cons!itu-
ton, | would suggest:
That the Limitation upon the length of
the sessions OF the general assembly
should be changed from sixiy-one to one
hundred DAYS. Every person who has
observed the workings Of our legislature
in recent years and taken notics of the
amount of necessarily hasiv and iil-con-
Eidered legislation that has been placed
upon our statute books agrees that il
would be a matter of absolute economy.
anu would insure very much better and
safer legislation. 10 have the sessions OF
or general asse mbly extended from ak
~ one TO one hundred DAYS.
l would have the ii itations and powers
of the three coordinate branches or de-
partments OF government more definitely
stipulated anl defined. Tho unseemly
and indefensible clsshing and wrangIing
Of certain departments OF our state govern
ment OF recent years in matters quasi
political have caused every loval and
thinking citizen of our state 20 long for q
constitutions! provision which shall say
IN terms to those intfusted with judicial.
legislative aud executive power, Thus
far shalt thou 90 and no farther"
| would. IN this connection, make pro-
vision for an increase in the number OF
judges constituting our supreme court, 10
the end that we shall only nave one appel
late court of last resort in our state. While
the exigencies of the occasion rendered
it imperative that the new appellate
court should be created, yet
am now, az I always have been.
Of opinion that in the interest
OF economy, uniformity of judicial con-
RiTuction and Interpretation AMI stability
IN the laws OF rights ami liabilities, We
should have but one court in this state ex-
crossing appellate jurisdiction of last
resort, and that should be our supreme
court. so enlarged that, in our court OF
supreme appellate jurisd cticD, Justice
shall be administered freely and without
purchase; completely, and without de-
ni6l; speedily. and without delay"
The fact that an effort has been made
for two successive sessions Of the general
assembly to have an expression of the
electors OF the 9, te upon the proposition
10 have a uniformity IN the tenure of
Office of the various state and county Off
ces IN the administrative department OF
state government, ana To limit the tenure
OF Office 10 one term of four years and
rendering the incumbent ineligible for re-
election, argues stronger than could state
j that a reform Is demanded in that
feature OF our organic law.
/ would have created board OF pardons
and paroles. TO consist of the governor. the
chief officer OF the state board of charities,
snd the Nardens OF the two prisons. This
board to be given power, under proper re-
strietiOns to be provided by Law. to grant
paroles OF prisoners during good behavior,
and 10 grant absolute pardons in proper
cases, and thus carry out the spirit Of our
hi Of rights, that "the penal code shall
DO founded on the principles of reiorma.
ton. and not of vindictive Justice"
In my opinion provision should be
n de for the taxation OF the gross or net
earnings and franchises of corporations or
their tangible properly, or both, ct the
option Of the legislature While. in my
opinion. under our present tax laws, as
now administered, We are making the cor
poratiOns bear their snare Of the burdens
of taxation better than the states that
have adopted the method Of taxing earn
ings and franchises solely, with the well
known faci tiles OF corporations for discOv-
ing methods of escaping taxation. think
We would do wisely 10 adopt the plan of
the old co.ored man. and prepare to catch
them a-comln' or a-gOin'."
Provision should. in my opinion, be
made for registration Of voters in line
with the spirit tor reform and purity in
the exercise Of the electoral franchise.
which has recently taken shape in our adj
mirabe election laws.
Briefly and hastily these are some of the
reforms. with the reasons for their adoD-
ton. which, in my opinion. should be