The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-25
REFORM IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

REFORM IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
The present system of county and town
ship government certainly needs making
oVer.-EvanSville Courier.
There is a loud demand for reform in the
management of county and township affairs.
The next Legislature will probably make
some radical changes in the laws governing
iclpalities.-LoganSpor Pharos
Sentiment in favor of a reform in county
politics is growing all over the State, and
there is little doubt that some effort will be
made along this line. The result of the re-
form agitation is awaited with interest.
Anderson Bulletin.
The movement for reform of township and
county government is growing steadily all
over the State, and when men take hold of
such subject in real earnest there is no
doubt that good results can be brought
about by persistently sticking to it.-La-
fayette Courier
There is no more important work for the
Indiana Legislature to do than the much
talked-Of and greatly needed reform of
county management The best thought OF
the State should be enlisted in this move
ment. Care should be exercised to secure
reform in fact rather than in name only.
South Bend Times.
One of the plans proposed for reforming
township affairs is to abolish the office of
township trustee and give the control of
township matters to the board of county
commissioners Sta.e officials claim that a 6
now administered township government
costs the people more than state and coun-
ty government.-Loganspor Pharos.
The demand for reform in county and
township business is not demanded because
Of the acts of any single official or any
set of officials, but he inadequacy of pres
ent laws is recognized in every nook and
corner of the State, and the demand for
legislation is put with such force that the
majority in the Legislature cannot afford
to fail to make a serious effort to give the
necessary relief.-Vernon Journal.
There is no apparent opposition to the
county and township reform moven ent. But
whatever legislation there may be on the
subject this winter the Republicans will be
responsible for. If mistake is made the
Republican party win be blamed. If a good
reform law is enacted the Republican party
should have the credit, and there is no oc-
caSiOn for throwing away the opportunity
to secure such credit.-Richmond Palladium.
AS both political parties and the State
Bar Association have indOrsed this move
ment for reform of municipal government,
it is hard to see how the Legislature can re-
fuse to carry out the wishes of the people
in this respect. 1t will probably be the
most important legislation before the Gen
eral Assembly during the session There
are millions in it for the people If the re-
vision is made thorough and systematic
-NObleSVille Ledger.
1t is suggested that it would be well to
take from the township trustees the power
of appointing teachers. The present sys-
tenn makes it necessary for the teacher to
stand in with the trustee at all hazards
If he is so unfortunate as to offend his over
lord he might as we'll move out of the town
ship so far as his chance of getting job
is concerned. But we don't see how the
matter Is to be remedied. 1t would not do
to vest the appointing power in the county
superintendent, as that would only intensity
the trouble.-Cannelton Enquirer.
One of the encouraging symptoms of re-
form is the meeting to devise means of re-
forming township and county government,
held yesterday in Indianapolis, where was
manifested an earnest intent to secure the
best possible results. If that committee of
legislators, laborers and lawyers can get
together on measure that promises to
bring about good results there will be a
formidable lobby to antagonize that which
may be against it, and in this particular
at least the ''humiliating" experience will
have been for the benefit of the people-La-
fayette Courier.
1t is to be said with shame that the most
lax and corrupt government within our Ma
ton occurs in that form of government
nearest the peOple-the municipal and coun-
ty affairs. 1t is a silent and stern rebuke
to that popular government which has been
the Americans boast 1t is high time the
powers that be should be rudely awakened
and the evils eradicated. The people of In
diana, irrespective of party demand this re-
form in local government, for it has been
the officials of both parties who have been
guilty and who have sought by the shield
of belonging to the party to escape sus-
picion and Observation-Disclosures Item.
1t has come to be recognized by all polit-
ical parties in Indiana that reform in local
government is badly needed in this State
Both parties are committed to it, and there
fore the best way to obtain it is to keen
it out of party politics as much as possible
and push the reform in behalf of the people
The commission to undertake this reform
met yesterday at Indianapolis, and after
organizing elected as it's president William
Dudley Foulke of this city This in itself
is good beginning, for no man in Indiana
is more thoroughly DESTROYS of clean gov
eminent and progressive methods than our
fellow-townsman. The whole system will
be renovated from top to bottom and the
handling of our local affairs will undoubted-
ly be put very near to the taxpayer and
voter. The fpeople of Indiana have Just
cause to be thankful for this new move
ment.-Richmond Item.
Farmers have almost uniformly claimed
the right to sit on the county boards and
transact the county's business, and efforts
to elect a business man to that position
farmers in any Legislature is larger than
the number of members belonging to any
other calling, and since they have a more
direct personal interest than any other class
in the proposed legislation they should, of
course. be taken into the confidence of this
commission. If the farmers do not have
preponderance in the lower house of the
General Assembly they will bly, hold
the balance of pow er. Any Iropoa ed leg sla-
tion which makes sweeping changes In the
method of conducting county and township
business, that reduces the number of local
offices or seeks to make a central body re-
sponsible can only succeed by having the
support of the men accustomed to hold the
local Offices and their friends who expect 10
be elected to them. 1t is, therefore. of the
utmost Importance that farmer members
receive the fullest information possible as
to the work of the committee and be per-
nsitted to have their views considered with
others before the bill is finally drafted
-Terre Haute Express.