The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-26

of Improvement ie assessed upon property
benefited and the payments are made in
ten annual indictments, thus making the
burden of improvement scarcely notice
able. Under this law hundreds OF miles
of streets have been improved in tho
cities and towns OF Indiana and the law
has been adopted a. u model In many
other progressive states.
1t may be said also in passing, that In
diana practically inaugurated the move
ment for the Australian ballot, when has
become so general all over the country.
and that many states have patterned their
school-book laws after our own. During
the same session of tho legislature The
SENTINEL urged the passage OF th5 bill to
repeal the infamous conspiracy law, the
bill TO prevent the robbery OF coal miners
by the pluck-me stores. and in fact all the
splendid laws which have made that leg
islsture lasting fame.
Although il has to some extent been
oyershadowed by the other grea, reforms
of 1882 there is no reform that has been
accomplished since the civil war that is OF
greater significance or farther reaching in
its effects than the state board of
charities law. This law prac-
tically creates a standing, non-partisan,
investigating committee. clothed with
full power to investigate az any time any
charitable or reformetory institution OF
the state; to require witnesses to testify
under oath 10 require officers TO produce
books and papers; to make personal ex-
animation OF any part OF such institution
or any person confined therein, and TO
publish the result of its Investigations.
No political party in power in any state of
the union ever gave such extraordinary
nth 10 wi ard 10
tinize and make Do bile the conduct OF its
officials. This law has admittedly been
of the greatest benefit in elevaling the
administration OF our benevolent and re-
formaiory system, and as The SENTINEL
predicted it has been bulwark of defense
to the party In power against unfounded
and malicious criticism. THE SENTINEL
advocated the passage OF this law from
The first, and has since been its constant
champion.
The Street Railway Franchise.
Shortly after the adjournment of the
legislature a franchise was presented to
the council, Endorsed by Mayor Denny
and the republican city administration,
which would, II passed, have continued the
grip OF the Citizens' street rail- way company
upon the city for another thirty live years,
with practically no additional restrictions
to those which now govern il, and which
are popularity considered, and rightly, too,
of no practical value. THE SENTINEL at
once attacked tho new franchise and sue
ceeded in so arousing public sentiment that
the council and board of aldermen, though
largely composed of the tools OF the street
rail way. burst not pass the franchise. The
fight wGs a long and bitter one. But in the
end the franchise failed. Had it been other
wise the people of Indianapolis would not
now be in position, as they are, to dictate
terms to whomsoeyer shall secure the
privileges OF operating the street railway.
At that time THE SENTINEL declared that
mo franchise ought to be given away to
anybody" and it has harped upon this
principle from that day until this, tue
consequence being that 1t has been made
the base of the proposed new franchise,
and its truth has been so generally ac-
cepisd that no proposition looking to the