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

TO Closely by Large Crowd OF
People.
The Hon. Claude Matthews, governor
OF Indiana. had before him an expeciant
audience when he arose Monday after
noon 10 deliver his inaugural address.
. Throughout the reading he was given the
closest attention His address was as fol-
lows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE AND HORSE
! OF kEPRESLNTATIVl sit il with a deep teel
! ing OF the scored responsibilities Of the oath l
! have Just taken that assume the duties OF the
/ Office glverror OF Indiana, AMI 1 desire 10
I return 10 the people OF our state, through you,
/ their legislative representatives, my profound
gratitude Tor the honor ami my earnest
/ suranCes that il shal I've my constant nim and
siinrt 10 IA thfuly execute ami Oh charge The
/ duties OF thI- high Office IN Accnrdsuce with
| the constitution and their wishes, these
may he expr ssed or fairy in erred from time
TO Iime through current events.
The results of the rrcent election, in my
/ judt msnt Clearly indicate that The peope de-
sire tBat greater economy should be . acuced
| IN admIni'terng the government, bOth national
and state. Il I'll that taxation should not only be
| lee -ned, hut be more eqGiiably distributed.
IL is al undcnlable lact that in the years re-
/ Gently passed there has been growing tend
/ ency in Legislation to TOO greatly favor
/ Corporate ons snd mOnopOlies at the expense OF
the farmers the lAbo e-s aud the business
c!Hsses, who make up the great body OF our citl-
zens. Under this common belief the people
! became restless and desired that this inequali-
ty should be remedied and no longer exist
! In obedience TO this welI-expFessed opinion,
! law wisely passed Oy the last legislature
the intention OF VII ch was TO secure fuller
and iairer assessments of properly for taxable
/ purposes IN this state.
1t Has Worked Well.
! This law has worked vel. aud believe will
meet this intention, so far as the assessment of
4 the property of private tizens is concerned.
and II would seem 20 be wise to give this part
OF the law AS it is, at least, fair trial.
! The introduction OF any unusual, vexstious
and unjust methods OF assessing the property
of private citizens WOO tend to make the law
/ unpopular and would be unfortunate.
The plain and emphatic language Of the con.
sututlon is that taxation shall bee quail and
! uniform throughout the state" lie tax law
adopted by the last legisla are and creating n
state board OF tax commissioners. early in
tended 10 make railroad corpors'i ms OF the
state pay their just proportion OF the taxes.
! The persistent efforts of some of the repre-
/ sentatIves of these corporations not ouly TO
1 svade aud resist the law. but defeat persons at
| the elections becau's they had honesty and
| faithfully endeavOTcd to enforce It. show that
/ every Just and proper mesi q should be used
to make thsse corporations perform their duty
! to the state; and would favor such Ame ndment
| 10 this IT, may bs needed 90 secure tia,
result. Aside from this, with a few clearer
definitions and corrections OF some minor in
constituencies. 1 would not suggest thatithe
| general system OF this De tam pered with.
There has been a wide departure from the
| original laws creating bu ldIng, loan and saw
| ings associations. Instead of remaining true
/ to the original IN eai, means of furnishing
/ a sale investment Tor the saving aud security
/ of weekly aud nthly wages OF Certain classes
/ of cit zens. thereby encouraging the build
/ ing aud ownership OF homes. these have now
dritted into banking and brokerage instisu-
/ tiuns and lenders OF money upon a large and
/ dangerous scale.
The most serious source of evil is the evasion
| of just payment of taxes money loaned
drawing regular rates of interest through what
| is known 'peid-up shares" and ten adding
| features OF insurance not at hTst Intended nor
| legtimately part Of these associations. Some
restrictions should be thrown around foreign
! building aud loan associations, not incorpOr-
atsd under the laws of this state, but trans
/ HotIng business with the same freedom granted
other associations complying with our laws. /
| therefore make mention OF this to you, gentle
men, as worthy your careful consideration.
4 Growing Extravaganza.
II is undoubtedly true that for many years
there has been q growing extravaganza in
national. state and local governments. This is
an entire departure from correct principles
! and tins people who have the taxes to pay
nave wissly cal ed halt to the march OF this
/ grow NJ evil.
a correct idea Of this has come down 10 US
from olden times hallowed by age and sane
toned by its wisdom, that a wise economy in
expenditures is Que of the best sources Of rev,
enue.
favor the most rigid economy consistent
with good government in all departments of
the state. An increase OF officers salaries
should be avoided where not of absolute ne
cessity. iessening of both would be pref
erable where the public service would not
thereby be impaired.
In my opinion there should not be an in
crease IN the rate of taxation; on the contrary
hope and be ieve il may be found that there
can De a reduction without sacrificing pubic
interests.
lt ia not indispensable that the public debt
shou d he paid Immediately. Ii was created
LARGELY for public buildings and nece.sities OF
which other generations az vel, az the present
will have the benefit, and can Justly afford in
part, st lsast. to pay. The debt is drawing but
per cent. interest but wou Il cost the people
or 8 per ceRt. 10 borrow the money 20 pay the
incrrased taxes necessary to its immeiisle ex-
extnguiShmrnt. lt Is not q large dsbs for such
state, aud its payment Is not being pressed.
Provision for its grsdual reduction aud ulI-
mate payment would be quite sufficient. But
steps toward this end should not be overlooked
and neglected.
To ask large appropriations is natural and to
be expected, hut 1t 10 your duty to see that
they only made 20 the extent i'm psratively
demanded BY the needs OF the public service
administered with prudeuce aud economy.
A. there hRs been large increase la the sg-
greRate OF Iaxables under the late assessment
law. and this increase is likely TO be main
tanned and probably augmented, I cannot but
indulge the hope that with economy and pru.
dent appropriations you may bs able to make
both a reasonable reduction in the rate of tax
! alton and the state debt.
The surest way TO accomplish reduction
year by year iD such debt would he the crea
tion Of sinking fund to be used solely for
that purpose, and TO be applied as rapidly as
accumulated. With this in visw, invite your
attention 10 the present school tax levy, which