The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-09
THE sIxTIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

day last night could afford TO go to the
people of Indiana for Endorsement upon its
record. 1t may have passed a few unneces-
is positively vicious the fact is not upon its
face. This. however, is a negative virtue
deserving no praise. The Sixtieth General
Assembly is entitled to high consideration
because of the Importance of its general
legislation. 1t has taken up and passed
upon measures of Importance to the whole
State. 1t has enacted a law which will put
the building and loan associations under
conservative restraints which will insure
the safety of the depostor and check the
cupidity which has characterized the man
agement of some associations. 1t has met
the demands of BUSINESS men by legislation
designed TO relieve them of some of the
burdens incident to insurance. 1t has
passed an intelligently discriminating anti
trust bill. 1t has met the wishes of labor
with factory inspection law with the re-
peal of the special verdict act. and with a
law which will do away with contract pris-
on labor. 1t has put Indiana in line with
the foremost manufacturing States by
creating a board for the arbitration of diff
ferences between employer and employee.
By its penal and reformatory legislation
Indiana has been placed with those States
which attempt to deal intelligently with
prison convicts by restoring to society,
without the faint of the penitentiary, those
whose age and offenses make reform posi-
bic. In connection with this progressive
advance the Legislature has adopted the
system of the indeterminate sentence,
which practically transfers the pardoning
power from the executive to the convict
himself, if his record and offense make
pardon possible. 1t has taken init:atory
steps to looking after and rescuing the chill
dren who have been receiving elementary
instruction in infamy and vice in county
warehouses; and like institutions. By a
series of restrictive measures it has in
sured greater accountability the part
of public officials and has made it possible
to bring defaulting officials TO certain ac-
countability as criminals.
Such are some of the more important
measures which the Legislature has added
to the laws of Indiana. 1t is such legisla-
ton as will put Indiana on the list of the
progressive and influential States of the
Union. In this connection it should be
added that this change has been made
without increasing the taxation of the peo-
pie. In its general appropriation bill and
in other measures calling for money there
are few items which require explanation,
much less defense
Outside of the apportionment act and
that amending the election law, and few
other so-called caucus measures there has
been very little partisanship in the pro-
ceedings of the Legislature. Quite early IN
the session, by a sort of tacit agreement,
the two parties in the Senate took part o.
day to revive the alleged crimes of their
predecessors in each party in which none
OF those present were involved. Since that
day there has been no overhauling of rec
ords. All of the more important measures
which became laws received the support of
men of both parties. The closeness of the
two parties in the House would have made
it impossible to enact many useful meas
ures If the Democrats had not joined in the
support of them on their merits. 1t is a
very great qualification to the Journal to be
able to bear testimony to the evident desire
of the Democrats in both branches to assist
in the enactment of salutary laws. 1t may
be doubted If ever the members of the two
parties in an Indiana Legislature have
gone to their homes entertaining for each
other so general feelings of respect and
regard.
There has been much talk of the influence
of the lobby. The sure refutation of al
| charges of that nature is found in the
| character of the legislation. The lobby has
been small and inconsequential The senti-
ment of the Legislature was so hostile that
its atmosphere was not congenial for the
| third house. One can always hear legisla.
| lures denounced as ignorant and corrupt
| This may once in while be true; but
| judged by its record no candid man of in.
| tellgence Will say that the Sixtieth Gen.
eral Assembly should be put in that list
| Indiana will be most fortunate State ii
| the successors of the Legislature of 1S9
| shall good n record