The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-24
THE INDIANA PRESS.

One J. K Workman, who signs himself
Secretary has made great ass of him
self, and has done the cause of the asso-
citation which he claims to represent more
His conduct will serve to prejudice the peo-
pie against the county officers by furnish
ing evidence of that which has only been
a suspiclon.-Frankfort News.
One of the measures introduced, but
which will be garroted in committee, re-
quires railroad companies to stop all pas
senger trains at all stations long enough to
allow passengers to get aboard and disem-
bark. Such bill is ridiculous and would
destroy the fast train service through this
State SO necessary to the business inter-
ests.-Wabash Plain Dealer.
The bill of Senator Schneck introduced
the other day. for the establishment of five
new penitentiaries to be used for the in
generation of young convicts, so as to keep
them away from the influence of seasoned
toughs is not looked upon with much ia
vor. 1t is generally regarded as move
to make more jobs for some more people,
and is not likely to amount to much.-La-
fayette Call.
The annual appropriation for the Indiana
department of geology, up to two years ago,
was $500. a sum in itself insufficient to
carry on the work The legislators of that
date, in the wisdom of their minds, saw
fit to reduce 1T to $500, an amount hardly
sufficient to pay the running expenses of
the Office and museum. let alone doing any
work in the field. In justice to the import
ance of this department larger appropria-
ton ought to be given it-South Bend
Tribune.
What the Republicans complained of as
disfranchisement by the Democratic law
was not merely manipulation of political
majorities, but fragrant Acknowledgement
by unequal representation in actual num-
bers, giving county double representa-
tion over another of equal or greater popu-
lation. A good illustration of the gross I'M
fairness of the Democratic gerrymander is
found in the apportionment for Represen-
tatives for Upton and Hamilton counties
The latter has voting population of over
six thousand and is given one Representa-
tive only. Upton county has only two
thirds the population of Hamilton, but she
has one Representative alone joint Rep
resentative with Clinton. and a joint Rep
resentative with Clinton and Madison.--No-
blesville Ledger.
Representative Lorings bill before the
Legislature for the purchase of toll roads
provides the commission of three men-one
appointed by the judge of the Circuit
Court, one by the commissioners court and
one by the owners of the road-who shall
agree upon the price that the taxpayers
of the entire county shall pay. There may
be sn 10 n to f t price OF
ury, but 1t is as reasonable and right as
for the county to pay for an expensive
bridge situated in some obscure locality.
The toll roads of Fulton county were a
blessing to the people when there seemed
to be no other means or procuring pas
sable thoroughfares. but to-day they are
a financial burden and a hindrance to the
commercial interests of Rochester.-Roches-
ter Republican
In the fixing of fees and salaries for pub
lie officials it looks as If there was dis
position on the part OF the officeholders
to demand too much. and purpose of some
of the leaders in the Legislature to con-
cede not enough. In the progress of events
and in the course of deliberate and I'M
prejudiced consideration there is hope for
agreement on happy medium that will
operate to provide a competent service with
out any show of extravaganza. Some OF
the fee and salary measures proposed re-
duce the compensation of county officers
TO extent that is nothing short of alb
surd. II any of these specified bills should
be enacted into law complications would
ensue thaE would prove embarrassing, II
not indeed disastrous. Public policy de-
mands men for public office of proved abil-
ity. 1t is pernicious argument that tries
to create the popular impression that an
official charged with extraordinary respon-
sibilities should receive no more compensa-
/ ton than ordinary wage Garner in ev-
eryday prz:suies. An era of cheap salaries