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


leading citizens in all the walks of life.
This charter aroused the opposition of the
peanut politicians and ward workers OF
all parties, who saw in it-what was one
OF its best features-ths death OF
their dominance in the city govern
ment As the majority in the
legislature was democratic the hardest
part of the battle TO secure the adoption
OF that charter devolved upon this paper
The task of advocating it was no light one,
but TIE SENTINEL accepted it without
complaint and made one of the best fights
in its career in behalf of the charter
Not Till the legislature was in it's last
throes was the bill enacted into law. IL
was Immediately put into force and its
successful workings soon converted all its
honest critics TO its support and silenced
the opposition of all others. Under its pro-
visions the city government has been ad-
ministered on strictly business principles
for the first time In its history. Public
improvements have been made and pro-
lected on O scale never before attempted
and the finances of the city have been put
In better condition than at any previous
time within the past twenty-five years,
and the police and fire departments have
been raised to degree of efficiency and
discipline heretofore unknown in Indian
apolis.
The New Tax Law.
OF the legislature of 1891, in addition
to the city charter. THE SENTINEL de-
manded new tax law. fee and salary
law, and q lau creating On appellate court.
None of these measures were at first fa-
vored by all the democratic members Of
the legislature. But the fight in their be-
half was never lessened until they were
all ~ Il ~
tax law has been subject OF attack by 6ll
the corporations. great and small, doing
business in the state. In the campaign of
1892 the republicans fought it bitterly. and
made 1t the leading issue of their canvass.
In the effort to break it down they had
the support OF all the corporation attor-
neys, tae railroads, banks. etc, uniting
in the attempt TO deceive the taxpayers
by making them believe that the new law
imposed additional burdens upon them.
But the people were alive to their own in
terests and the law stands today substRn-
italy unchanged Under its provisions
I millions OF dollars of property have been
| placed upon the tax duplicate which had
| previously escaped taxation. No increases
| have been made In any case where the
taxpayer had been wont to pay his Just
! proportion OF the general expense of gov
| eminent Ia the past. But the railroads,
| telegraph, telephone and other great cor
pOrations have at last been forced 10 paw
! their share of the taxes. Under its pro-
| visions, too, the work of wiping out the
state debt has already begun, and where
| county officials have done their duty
| there has been a material reduction in the
! taxes assessed against ordinary property
| owners.
The fee and salary bill enacted by the
same legislature has cut down the extor-
/ tionate fees of the officials throughout the
entire state, and while it has not met the
approval OF the otiiceholding class, 1t has
. the unanimous Endorsement of the tax
payer
THE SENTINEL also urged upon the le0is-
lature the necessity of enacting suburban
street railway law which should, in some
measure. give the people relief from the
monopoly enjoyed by the Citizens street
railway company in Indianapolis While
no roads have been constructed under this
| law, it's existence and the. possibility
offered by its provisions Of getting foot.
/ hold within the city itself has drawn the
attention of capitalists until competition
in the indianapolis street railway business
has become an assured fact, as shown by
/ the bid offered to the board OF public
works Yesterday
began the work of securing full compli-
ance with the excellent features OF the
new tax law, and to the instruction
which it gave TO assessors. county commits
sioners and others having to do with the
enforcement of the law il believes is
largely due the success OF that most mer-
] itorious measure.
Lat Years Great Fight.
The summer and fall of 1891 witnessed
! a very remarkable city campaign. The
republicans attempted to consolidate the
/ worst elements OF both parties with the
truly good" but unthinking republicans
/ who vote the ticket bearing their party la
! bel regardless of its merits. They made
! the basis OF their campaign hostility to
the new charter and by promises OF sol;
/ times" TO the ward workers and their con-
stituents sought to carry the day. THE
! SENTINEL laid bare their pans and prof.
ects and maintained the righteousness OF
! the city charter. The result was an over
whelming victory for the democratic
ticket, and as a consequence, continu-
ance of the best city government Indian
apolis ever enjoyed.
During all this time the work OF educat-
( ing the people on the tariff was continued
/ completing their education In the Austria
I liam system was not neglected. In a word
( THE SENTINEL was continually preparing
( it's readers for the great presidential con-
! test Of 1892, when, 1t felt, popular govern
ment in this country must be upheld or
I 90 down forever. In the work of organ
! izing the state for the campaign it did not
! hesitate to give its advice. Feeling also
J that with him as a candidate the demo
/ cratic party would stand better show of
/ success, and that its principles would be
more clearly defined, it advocated the
/ nomination OF Grover Cleveland Tor
/ president. This course was an
/ tayonized by considerable ele-
ment oil the party within the state, but
! was vigorously maintained. The sweep
] ing democratic victory of last November
/ has amply justified THE SENTINEL in its
! course. In the campaign preceding that
/ victory hard work was done for the dem
! ocratic state and national tickets. The is
/ sues were clearly and concisely presented
/ 10 the public and no doubt had great in
/ fuence in shaping the results. at least In
! Indiana. Indeed the various clipping
| bureaus" are authority for the statement
/ that no paper in the country was so widely
copied and 80 frequently referred 10 in
other newspapers as THE INDIANAPOLIS
} SENTINEL
OF course the foregoing is but very
imperfect review of THE SESTINEL's
! achievements under its present manage