The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-15

iiOt uiiihc muse eilp1OytQ Dy QedlcfS III
green goods. with the advantage that the
law legaliZes the robberies perpetrated by
them. The safest plan is to legislate these
state and national institutions out of ex-
istence. There are plenty of local concerns
to do the business, and they. as a rule. are
well managed and perfectly safe.-Kokomo
Tribune.
During the present Legislature a bill will
be introduced asking for the appointment
of a commission TO revise the laws govern
ing municipal corporations, including the
laws governing counties, civil and school
townships. cities and towns. At first
thought this would seem a foolish piece of
legislation. but on maturer reflection il may
be the proper thing to do. 1t is a we'll
known fact that the management of finan-
ceS in many counties of the State is very
lax. The same can be said of the affairs of
many school townships and cities and
towns throughout the State.-Plainfeld
Progress.
county discloses the fact tina the most of
them are very much opposed to several
of State Superintendent Geeting's proposed
changes. Especially the proposition to
teach algebra and Latin in the common
schools when demanded. In some schools
this might be done and no harm be
caused. while in others where all grades
are represented and all the studies of the
present curriculum are it would be better
for them TO legislate i'm a longer school day.
<iS L requiring a person 10 nOld state
license before he could become county SUI
perintendent, very strong opposition is de-
Veloping 10 that. All concede that a man
should be proficient and qualified for the
office. but are not prepared to see the plum
hedged about so that only a favored few
In each county could have any possible
show in securing it.-Winamac Republican.
The Indiana Engineering Society has
drafted a bill for introduction in the Legis-
lature which provides that whenever a
1911 - 1:..--.. Il - -l-
ask for the construction of a gravel road
of a certain length, and themselves. by
voluntary subscription. have one-fourth of
the proposed road built, the township trus-
tee must construct a second fourth and
then the County Commissioners must finish
the other two-fourthS. Hundreds of miles
of pixies have been built under other laws.
by assessments on the lands directly bene-
hted. The inequity of this proposes law
is that it contempiates the taxation of
thousands of men who have borne the cost
OF building their own roads. to pay half
the cost of building other roads for other
men who have done nothing. That is TO
say. men who have paid the whole cost Of
roads by assessments on their lands would,
under this law, be forced to help pay half
the cost, by a township tax. of new roads
in other parts of their township. and half
the cost. by a county tax. of new roads In
other parts of the county. We say that is
not fair, and the engineers bill ought 10
fail.-Rushville Republican.
A tax of ia cents on each 800 worth of
property in Indiana is now levied for the
benefit OF the State University and this
tax yields an income annually of over $780,
600. in addition the university receives,
with the State Normal and Purdue, nearly
$4,000 from the State University bonds.
Now it asks for a quarter of a million
more for new buildings. For twenty-five
or thirty years the school has been re-
Oal yin U lo roo \ nc rnm tho 4
and it has been noticed that the more 1t
received the more it asked. And the more
that IS appropriated now and In the fn,
the plans that the managers evidently fig
ure upon. Indiana cannot afford to give
the millions that have been required to
build up such institutions as the Rookie
Teller millions have made at Chicago and
elsewhere. And there is no necessity or
excuse in supporting an institution that is
only at par with other colleges in Indiana
that receive nc State support. Now is the
time to cut off the appropriations. and If
the Bloomington school cannot live as
Franklin. Wabash and like schools do, let
1t die.-Franklin Republican.
The laws of Indiana concerning the gov
eminent of counties. townships. cities and
towns may be likened more to a crazy
quilt than to anything else. From the time
the Constitution was adopted. over forty
yeas ago, each Legislature has had its
inning in adding d patch, until the whole
mass has become Il mass of legal absurd
ity. In this respect there is great cry for
reform. Many of these reforms were
pointed out in papers read by capable men
before the State Chamber of Commerce at
its annual meeting in December. The con-
sensuS of opinion as expressed by these
gentlemen is that an extensive revision is
necessary. and that 1t should be under
taken in a wise and prudent manner after
a careful study of the existing evils. To
this end they favor the appointment of a
commission composed of three competent
men, not more than two of whom shall
be of the same political party, to prepare
a compilation and revision of the general
laws governing municipal corporations. in
Guiding counties. civil and school town.
ships, cities and towns. the present Legis-
lature will be asked to pass a bill author
izing the Governor to appoint this COM
mission. The bill or bills that will be pre-
pared are 10 be presented to the Legisla-
ture at the opening of it's next regular SeS-
sion. Until some better plan is suggested
the Journal indorses the bill suggested by
the State Board of Commerce. for the rea-
son that it is manifest that the machinery
of local government, devised as II was a
half century ago and from time to time
patched up. has long since Outgrown the
State.-Crawfordsville Journal.
other Topics.
Governor Mount is a man of principle and
signifies his purpose of starting out with a
policy in accord with all the principles or
right government.-Bluffton Chronicle.
Altogether, Governor Mount's address is
one Of the best state inaugural papers ever
presented. While comprehensive il is not
tiresome. 1t is not burdened with unneces-
sary suggestions, but goes just FAR enough
TO command attention and respect.-South
Bend Tribune.
In these piping times OF peace it is entire
ly out of place to inaugurate governors
with troops and guards. as though the chief
executive were a royal satrap or khedive in
danger of assassination. The simplicity or
Governor Mounts inaugural was highly
commendable and does him great honor.
Richmond Item.
1t is high time some step We're taken to
ascertain the causes and apply a preventive
of hog cholera. We suppose it would be too
much to expect any such utilitarian work
under the direction of the State Board of
Agriculture. which seems TO eXpend all its
energies in putting up Il very poor ard often
a very immoral show at indianapolis. but
the Legislature can authorize a commission
composed OF scientific men who will do
their duty to this great interest Of our peo-
ple.-Brookville American.
Simply because State Geologist Blatchley
refused to recommend the appointment of
lion county for state mine inspector. Gov
ernor Matthews signalized his last days in
office with a petty piece of spite work. in
the form of a recommendation to the
Legislature that the office of geologist be
abolished, giving as a reason for the posi-
ton taken that the natural resources of the
State are so we'll and fully known that flu
ture reports are unnecessary. There is no
use disputing the fact that Mr.. Blatchley's
two years service to the State have been
of great Importance and value. His reports