The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-27

While there is every reason to believe
that more han nine-tenths of the town.
ship trustees faithfully perform their
duties under the present laws, it must
be admitted that the system is open to
country the recent charters have sepa-
rated the Council. which raises revenues
and votes appropriations, from the
Mayor and his executive boards, who
expend money. This is because of the
evils which have been experienced
where men who vote money also expend
1t. But, as a matter Of fact, the town.
ers both raise and expend' public money.
In the case of the township trustee the
checks upon him are limited. He is as
near an autocrat as a man can be made
by the laws True. some of his esti-
mates must be approved by the County
Commissioners, but hat has come to be
a formal thing, as most commissioners
approve. With a four years term and
the autocratic power conferred upon the
township trustee, there Is great danger
that lax practices and extravaganza
may result. That danger appears in sew
eral cases where these officers have
made reports. One has kept the run of
the business in his head" and the re-
suit is that he borrowed several large
sums of o which he forgot to put
into his official statement. Another
made so extensive purchases of school
material and gave so many notes that
his successor Is embarrassed at the out
set: and this same official is alleged TO
have said that he did this to tie up his
successor. The man that does that sort
of thing should be sent to the peniten-
tiary.
Citizens who have made themselves
familiar with the management of town
ship affairs say that the expenditure has
been increasing in recent years out of
all proportion to the growth and de-
mands of the townships. Money is ex-
pended for the advantage of favorites
rather than the taxpayers generally. In
stead of trying to save public money.
some officials display an ingenuity in
devising schemes by which they can
put the last cent into their pockets. In
many instances this is the case with
County Commissioners. In this county
the comparisons made last fall between
the prices paid by the County Commits
sioners for service and materials and the
current prices for the same, made ii
very clear that the interests of tax
payers are sacrificed to the advantage
of favorites.4
To the management of county and
township affairs. the expense of which
comes outSof the pockets OF taxpayers,
and which constitute. with municipal
expenditures, nine-tenths of the taxes
they pay, very little attention Is given
by the people. They are interested
about the national debt and are indig-
nant at valuations fixed for the raising
OF a State tax. but pay little or no heed
to county. township and municipal taxa
ton. Ii seems not TO trouble our people
very much that local officers waste their
money and create needless burdens,
but the issue OF a few millions of ma
tional bonds is discussed at every cross
roads postoffice. 1t would be much more
sensible to scrutinize the management
Of local affairs and devote to the devils
ing of better methods and safeguards
of county and township affairs the time
spent in discussing currency schemes.