The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-13
INDIANA NEWSPAPER OPINION.

Governor Matthews is right In urging the
passage of a compulsory education law.
The perpetuity of free government depends
upon the intelligence as we'll as the honesty
or the people, and the logic of a compulsory
tax TO support public schools is the logic
of compulsory attendance thereat for a
period sufficient TO make intelligent citizens.
-~Richmond Item. SRI
Governor Matthews an in
crease of the Governors salary from $1,000
to $500 a year. However inadequate the
present salary may be, the time for increaS-
ing ii is not o,portune. The people will ex-
pect the Legislature to exercise the utmost
prudence and economy. And. remember,
there is another senator to elect in 1899.
New Castle Courier
The country road is to the farmer what
the railroad is to the City. 1t is his medium
of transportation to and from the mar
kets. The towns should be as much inter-
eSted in good roads as are the country dis
trictS, as II enables them 70 draw upon the
farms for needed supplies, and with good
roads towns and farms are brought into
closer communication and with less effort
than by any other medium. Montpelier
Leader.
The people, as a rule, regard the men they
elect to office as honest and honorable. and,
with but few exceptions, they are. Even
this is no argument that such officers as
handle public funds should not occasionally
make an exhibit of their receipts and dis
bursements. a large per cent. or the taxes
paid go into the hands of the township
trustee, and it is but right that he, of all
others. should make an explicit annual
showing OF the townships financial condi
ion.-Middletown News.
The election of the Hon. Henry c. Petit,
of Wabash. as speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives means a recognition of merit
that will be gratefully appreciated by every
Republican in this part of the State. Mr..
Petit established his claim TO leadership
in the last session, when, as a first termer.
he was one of the most influential i'm coun-
Gil and one of the strongest members in
debate. He has GOODNESS and diScrimina-
ton. is admirably poised. and his experience
fusion of the gang Of cormorants who hang
about the committee rooms of every law
making assembly.-Marion Chronicle.
Tie Governors recommendations for an
intermediate prison are timely and are in
keeping with the ideas of all those people
interested in prison reforms. He asks for
some halfway prison or which
will allow of IA separation OF the prisoners.
Bringing the question home. ii does not
appear right that the several boys just sent
to the penitentiary from this city, who are
not hardened criminals. should be thrown
in with older men. adopts IN crime, from
whom the boys can learn lessons In wrong
doing. There should be some place provid-
ed where those not hardened can have ex-
tended to them all the opportunities of
Observation-Disclosures Courier.
There is a demand from all parts of the
State that the Legislature pass a law to
prevent building and loan associations from
passing into the hands of receivers and the
business being at once closed UP. thus fore
closing on the loans which cannot be col
lected at cnce and robbing the borrower of
his home. Ii is likely hat there will be Il
bill introduced providing for the appoint
ment OF a trustee instead OF a receiver and
for the continuation OF the business Of the
associations. so that the borrower may not
suffer the loss of all his little earnings
which have been put into the little home
and which represents all the property he
has got. Such a law is badly needed.-El-
wood Call-Leader.
The matter of compulsory education will
doubtless receive the attention of the Legis-
lature this winter. Ii is for our own safety
that We should have every one of school
age grounded in a fair English education.
Everyone in whose hands the conduct of
generation, should be able to read and
write the English language. should know
something of the Constitution of the
State and OF the Nation, and
should h~avea5ags decent acquaintance
fair knowledge OF arithmetic and geogra-
ply. Other States have found compulsory
education 10 be necessary. 1t is becoming
necessary for Indiana. There is no greater
hardship in compelling children to go to
school than there is in compelling people
TO pay school taxes.-Goshen Times