The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-15
HOW TO SECURE BETTER LOCAL
GOVERNMENT.

Inc article which General Harrison
contributed to the Christmas number of
the Ladies' Home Journal contains the
following suggestion:
We need general assemblies of the people
IN the smaller civil subdivisions, to be held
ings in which two questions only shall be
considered: First, are the public officers
faithfully and honestly transacting the pub
law nor that. but all l~aws-enforced and
obeyed? AL questions of law reform should
be excluded. left to parties or societies or
or the law, whether We opposed or aided
the making of it,; the strict accountability
OF public officers, whether we opposed or
and the limits of these meetings. There
should be no distinction of persons. Our
law and order movements are too apt to be
conf1ned to what we, not too accurately,
call influential people. Every man and
woman. ought to have a chance to choose
Wealth. we hue; or I race, or re color. T There ssa'l will Se
it has seemed to me that many nave been
chosen the right. There is danger that
such may accept the place they would not
have chosen. Can any working plan be
devised to maintain from day to day an
effective watchful interest among the BODY
of our citizens in the enforcement of the
laws, and in a clean, honest administration
we to accept the humiliating conclusion
that bad things cannot be made good, or
even better until they come to be per-
sistently and utterly bad; or still worse,
that when the river of popular Indignation
has cleaned the stable 1t is only to leave
US without a supply Of water for daily
teal as well as timely suggestion. It
is practical because. in all the towns or
townships and village corporations un-
der the New England system Of local
government, such meetings have been
held since the formation of government
in America The March meeting is an
institution in New England. At these
spond In MANI respects with our town
ships, the voters assemble to hear or
consider the reports Of the town off,
GERS for the year which has closed. At
these meetings n voter has the right
to inquire about any expenditure, and
the chairman OF the Board Of Select
men explain. In later years these
reports of town officers have been print
ed in advance and distributed in the
meeting. The report having been con-
sidered, the voters proceed to elect Off
GERS for the next year. If a board has
acted unwisely it is liable to be set
aside. The officers elected, the voters
proceed to make appropriations Of
money for the next year. The law re-
quires that certain amounts shall be
raised for school. State and county
taxes, etc., but all the appropriations for
building schoolhouses, repairing the
highways, supporting the poor. build
ing bridges, etc., are fixed by the voters.
The town officers canno expend a dol
lar which has not been appropriated or
assess a tax which has not been voted.
Here the township trustee, elected for
four years, is under no such control by
the taxpayers. He can make the most
vicious contracts. purchase school sup
plies which are not needed, and in other
directions exercise the authority OF an
autocrat. The result of the New Eng
land system is that the towns nave the
best local government in the world, and
of our system that it is loose, e~xtrava-
| CANT and irresponsible because the peo-
| pie cannot revise or dictate. If the
trustee is a capable and honest man,
all is we'll: il otherwise. all may not be
we'll. The act of the last Legislature
requiring township trustees to publish
| from time to time the receipts and ex
penditures which they have made. and
a financial exhibit. is a movement in
the right direction.
II. as General Harrison suggests, tax
payers In townships should have mass
meetings once or twice a year to con,
slider the reports now required. examine
and criticise expenditures. appoint com
mittees to consult with the trustee AND
otherwise take an active interest In tn,
! management Of local affairs. townships