The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-15
A HOST OF TRUSTEES
THESE TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS HAVE
A wELL-ATTENDED MEETING.
Legislature Helps Bring Many Here
nat HOrner Speaks IN Good
Word for Mr.. HOrner's Book.

association Inc meeting THIS year Is OF
unusual Importance because of the recent
charges OF abuses in the trustees office
and the presence of a large lobby in the
city just at this time to look after the
interests, in the Legislature, Of the town.
ship trustees.
The first session of the meeting was held
at 10 o'clock yesterday morning. President
b. X. Kramer. of Lafayette, occupied the
chair. and W. f. Byrket acted as secretary.
A report of the finances of the association
was the first thing called for. but as the
treasurer had not his report ready the
matter was held over until ro-day.
The reports of the last meeting were dis
posed of and then b. NJ. Morgan, OF South
port, read the first paper on the pro-
gramme, on How Should We Secure
Good Township Roads. and What Changes.
if Any. are Needed in the Law?" The
chief measures advocated by the paper
We're the working of roads by power scra-
pers, a system of thing and underdrain-
age and the educating, by state aid. of a
force of road engineers in each county to
take charge OF the roads as supervisors.
j. w. Doan, of Hendricks county, led the
discussion which followed.
A COLOSSAL REFORMER.
~ hlb VI ISSOIullOnS NtIt AHNfouhSc0
during the discussion and a committee was
appointed to take charge of them. Among
these resolutions was one by b. NJ. Nor
gan, asking the Legislature to amend the
libel law, so as TO make it a misdemeanor
for any newspaper to publish or print the
name of any person in any paper without
his knowledge and consent, unless that
person be a public officer or a convicted
criminal No commands u-ara mazda IN rha
resolution and 1t was referred 10 the COM
mittee.
+. NJ. Clark. of Marion. offered a resolu-
ton to the effect that the present law gov
erning the publication or reports OF truS-
tees De repeated by the Legislature. and a
law providing Tor greater publicity OF re-
ports and accounts be passed in It's stead.
After Superintendent Goss, of the Indian
apolis schools, had mace a brief address,
President Kramer announced the commit
tee on resolutions as follows: j. ID. Nor =,
w. 5. Seaford, >. b. Davis, Il. +. Johnson
and H.. Nj. Griswold.
President Kramer then made his annual
address, in which he urged upon the trus-
tees the realization OF the responsibilities
of their office and a strict performance of
their duties
The afternoon session began at 1870 with
a paper by George l.. Bass, OF Supple
mentary Reading in the Public Schools.
| Males read a paper ON when Should the
| Annual Settlement be Made by Township
Trustees?" The association agreed with
MN IN MS advocacy OF a settlement III
the month of August, or in the month of
November, at the close of each term of
office.
Trustees Makepeace, Bishop and Bring
ham were appointed a committee TO wait
on Governor Mount and invite him to adj
dress the meeting. The Governor sent his
| regrets at not being able to accept the
invitation. but promised 10 do so to-day,
If possible.
A KEEN EYE FOR HIS BOOK.
Senator Horner was then called upon for
a speech. His discourse was largely de-
voted to exhorting the trustees to provide
themselves with copies of "Horner's Re
vised Statutes of Indiana" He said il was
the only book which brought the law down
to date. Later in the day, when the
chair introduced another guest for a
speech, it was thought necessary To an
nounce that the speaker had nothing to
sell.
ID. II. Gorsuch, of Goshen, read a paper,
How Can the Trustee Secure a Salary
Commensurate with the Labor and Ex-
pense OF the Officer" He held that the
present compensation is not adequate, and
suggested that the Legislature be asked TO
pass some measure which VIII permit the
granting of more allowances. The paper
evoked considerable discussion. Some of
the trustees held, with Mr.. Gorsuch. that
their pay was insufficient, but by far the
majority of those who spoke insisted that
they knew what the pay was TO be when
tlt olpOu lOl OltiIt, tldl IL d III Udu
taste to complain now and that the pres
ent meeting was not held for the purpose
OF salary grating"
AT $3.50 O'Clock the meeting adjourned.
having first voted to hold a night session
at Z o'clock.
Mr.. ERR ON GOOD ROADS.
Only a few trustees put in an appearance
in the evening. and, as neither president
nor vice president was among them, VIII
liam Makepeace was elected chairman.
Thomas ii. Perry, chief engineer of the
L. f.. & w. Railroad, read a paper on
Education for Roads" as follows:
IF the great prairie STAGES of the Missis-
sippi valley work out the destiny that ma
ture has prepared them for they will be-
come pre-eminent in agriculture. The eli
mate, the soil, the very surface of the
earth, cut by glaciers and leveled by run
ming water are fitted to develop the highest
excellence in farming, manufactures.
cities, Will flourish when they
arise from the demand of agriculture and
will prosper so long as they contribute
towards its advancement. The promotion
of agricultural interests il the only
permanent benefit that can be conferred
upon this section. Whatever tends To in
crease the farmers wealth. lessen the labor
ana expense incident 10 farming and en-
large the farmers knowledge and intelli-
gence, strengthens and secures the whole
superintendent civilization that rests upon
this agricultural basis. 1t is plain to all
the thinking men of whatever occupation
that any outlay in behalf of the farming
community VIII De a paying investment ana
reflect prosperity to themselves. This ac-
counts for the very general interest mani
tested by all educated people in the i'm
provement of country roads. since all see
how Immediately and profoundly hey
would advance the material prosperity of
the farmer and many see the vital influence
they would have upon his social and in
tellectual condition.
That careful student of human progress.
Macauley, wrote. of all inventions, the
alphabeL and the printing press alone ex-
ccpted, those inventions which abridge dis
tance have done most for the civilization of
on Species This is what a good road
does and in so doing ii not only saves
time and labor and property. facilitates
the transportation and encourages the ex-
change OF produce, but at the same time
deals the death stroke to the evil genius
that renders rural life Improbable and dis
tasteful and vetoes progress-isolation. For
H. is isolation that deprives country life of
the charm, the peace. the wholesome en-
joyment natural to il. and makes leisure
more irksome than work and so converts
life into a voluntary ceaseless drudgery.
QUICKEN COUNTRY LIFE.
Good country roads would bring the
farmers nearer together. they would bridge
the gulf between farm and city and give
the laborers i'm each common interests, thus
charging the mental horizon of both. Tney
would place the farmer In close relation
ship with other business men and with
taIlces they would enlarge school districts
and the increased number OF patrons could
afford &c support graded schools, thus Civ
ing long-needed educational advantages 10
country children. Social and intellectual