The Indianapolis journal., 1897-11-25

a practical and imperative necessity that
something be done by the administration to
restore confidence, otherwise the last state
of this country will be worse than the first.
-RichmOnd Item.
1t is understood that good many of the
gentlemen who had to do with the framing
of the Chicago platform of 1886 now regret
that they are not in position TO join Uncle
horace Boies in his self-congratulation
that he was not a participant in that Incl
dent-Logansport Journal.
The people of Indianapolis are determined
TO suppress the smoke nuisance which is
caused by factories using soft coal, the
Council having passed an ordinance requir-
ing the use of smoke consumers. The people
OF the entire State are interested in this
movement, as they do not want the state
house still further spoiled and the soldiers
and sailors monument disdgured.-Laporte
Herald.
The friends of Mr.. George F. McCulloch
will learn with regret his determination not
to be a candidate for Congress. The senti-
ment in the district was fast crystallizng
around him as the proper man to carry the
Republican banner of the district to a sue
cessfu and glorious victory. Not only in the
district but throughout the State there was
acknowledged his fitness as a candidate on
account of his availability and ability. Mr..
McCulloch however, although a busy man,
Will not lose interest in the cause of the
Republican party and his friends hope at
some future time that he will permit them
to show their appreciation of his services to
the party and the high esteem in which he
is held as citiZen.-Muncie Times.
Every taxpayer in the county-aye, in In
diana-will approve of the precedent set by
Judge B. s. Higgins, of the Boone Circuit
Court, in the matter of claims for special
judge The custom has been for judge
when called to neighboring circuit to
charge for day each coming and going, be-
side the time actually employed, and there
are many instances of Judges leaving their
nome, coming TO Lebanon and returning to
their home the same day, claiming for three
days service. The practice seems to be
general all over the State, and the cost to
taxpayers enormous. Judge Higgins, when
called away from home, claims only for eX-
penses and time actually employed. -Leba-
non Pioneer.
The Charlottesville Journal which, pre-
sumably, speaks with authority, being pub
ished in the home county of Governor
Mount, says the Governor has stated to
many of his home friends that "he has not
been, is not now. nor will not be in the race
for United States senator in the approach
ing canvass" This announcement should
serve to call off some Of the people who
have been insisting that he enter the race,
particularly when it is further explained
by the same paper that Governor Mounts
ambition now is to serve the people of the
State in the office to which he was, by the
OF In6lr votes, cnOSen anu 4HdhS
his administration second to none which
has preceded it in times OF peace" The am
bition is most worthy, and the record thus
far made most promising, and it is, there
fore hardly correct that there should he in
terferenoe with the programme by coterie
of politicians.-Lafayette Courier.
Everybody will and must admit that our
county governments are run by most ex-
pensive machinery. The laws setting this
machinery in motion are pieces of patch
work. patch upon patch, and made during
period of eighty years. With the advance in
knowledge and the experience of all these
years the laws for the government of coun-
ties are but very little, if any, better than
they were when the first Legislature met
Each Legislature since has added bulk and
expense to the machinery without the least
improvement If conscientious and earnest
municipal reformers can see the good eff
fects of centralized power in city govern
ment the leaders of thought on county gov
ernment certainly have precedent for be-
lieving that similar results will follow a like
policy when applied to the larger COM
munty. OF course 1t would require an
amended or a new Constitution. But the
time is ripe for new organic law and 1T
will not be many years until constitu-
tional convention wifi be provided for
Charlottesville Journal g.