The Indianapolis journal., 1898-11-23
A VAST WORK BEFORE 1T
TOWNSHIP AND COUNTY BUSINESS
REFORM COMMISSION MEETS.
subcommittee to Consider Many of
the DetaiIs-A Continuous
Session.


Officers of the State Board of Commerce,
who for two years have been striving for
reform in county and township government,
were gratified at the large attendance of
the members of the commission formed to
present bill to the coming Legislature on
this subject, when the commission met at
the Commercial Club yesterday morning 1t
might have been desirable for more repre-
sentatives from the General Assembly to be
present, although that portion of the COM
mission was very we'll represented The
State Bar Association, the State Federation
of Labor and the State Board of Com
merce were all fully represented. During the
day there were number of discussions of
various phases of county and township gov
ernment that need reforming, and the mem
bers of the commission were unanimous in
saying that the day had been instructive.
An executive committee of twelve repre-
senting the various organizations present,
was appointed, and after the preliminary
session yesterday the executive committee
made considerable progress toward submit
ting a plan for work to the commission,
which is to reconvene this morning at 10
o'clock. Under resolutions adopted yesterday
the executive committee is to divide various
branches Of the two topics, township and
county affairs, among numerous subcommit-
tees. A suggestion that the executive COM
mittee appoint on the subcommittee men
known to be well posted on various branches
of the two forms of government whether
members of the commission or not, was
adopted. 1t is the purpose to reflect in such
bills as may be drafted the public sentiment
of the State. 1t was asserted yesterday that
the commission cannot procure legislation
that it can only suggest it-and that unless
it is backed by the people of the State there
is doubt as to whether anything can be
accomplished at the coming session of the
Legislature AS in all such movements, oh
structionistS appeared yesterday who seemed
to see more difficulties in the road of legisla-
tion than could be overcome The large ma
jority of the members of the commission
however, appeared to feel that in the next
two months, by hard and diligent work on
the part of the commission, a satisfactory
constitutional and comprehensive system Of
government for township and county corpor-
ations could be formed which would meet
with the approval of the people. There were
suggestions from several that members of
the commission, representing various por-
tions of the State, should begin missionary
work with a view of educating public senti-
ment, at once, using influence with their
local newspapers and agitating the question
among the thinking men of the various com
munities. 1t was pointed out that in every
community are ultra conservatives who
oppose any idea advanced simply because it
is new, and that these, with the influence
and aid of those who have selfish, pecun-
larry interests in seeing the present system
continue, would be able to block legislation
if they were not properly combated by
public sentiment. Experiences of cities like
indianapolis and Evansville in getting new
city charters were used as illustrations of
the sort of opposition that may be expected
to measures intended to work reforms of
generally admitted abuses. There was con-
siderable enthusiasm manifested at the
meeting and all the commissioners on hand
seemed determined to do everything pos
sible to accomplish needed reforms before
the Legislature adjourns next March.
MR.. FORTUNES EXPLANATION
William Fortune, president of the State
Board of Commerce, called the meeting to
order Mr.. Fortune has worked more than
two years to secure some such movement as
the present. In the course of the opening
address, Mr.. Fortune said
''The task which you have been asked to
undertake is one of the greatest in it's far
reaching beneficial possibilities ever COM
mitted to body of citizens in this State.
The people of Indiana have awakened to
the grave realization that radical reforma-
tion in county and township government is
necessary. Abuses which first appeared as
isolated sores have multiplied and spread
until it is evident that they arise from a
corrupted and decaying system. Just as cor
ruption feeds on decay, so nave those who
have wrongly profted from this system
hastened it's complete exhaustion by resist
ing all attempts to purify it. The evils of
our county and township government are
not, however, wholly chargeable to corrupt
officials. They have simply made the worst
or bad system, instead of making the best
or 1t. The system may fairly be charged
with making bad officials worse instead of
making them better. 1t is crude and ir-
regular, because it confuses legislative ad-
ministrative and judicial powers which
should be exercised separately, and it does
not provide proper methods so balanced and
checked as to assure safety 1t is a system
good enough for a beginning, but not suited
to the development of modern conditions
We progress in the requirements of govern
ment just as in other things growth brings
new requirements-the clothes fit for the boy
are not suited to the man. Indiana long ago
outgrew it's present patchwork of county and
township government. 1t is a new garment
that is now needed not more patching.
The popular demand for better govern
ment was recognized in the last political
campaign by both of the leading parties,
and was met by both with a promise of the
needed reform. The fulhllment of this prom
Use is the most important duty of the Legis-
lature. The task of properly shaping the
needed legislation is of appalling magnitude
1t requires work of preparation that cannot
be done properly during the limited session
of the Legislature. 1t may be impossible
to do 1t with the utmost effort between now
and the meeting of the Legislature but il
measures that can be devised for improy-
ing county and township government that
you have been called together. The duty is
vast; the opportunity is great Let the ef-
fort be equal to the opportunity. If you
proceed with this determination, I have
faith that you will overcome all difficulties
and 1t is for the purpose of overcoming diff
hcultieS that you have been called together
not to plead excuses for failure or DELAY
mo greater appeal to the public spirit
CT citizens of this State has been made than
the simple request to you to devote your
selves to this important task, requiring from
you labor so difficult and engrossing that it
Will necessarily interfere with your own
business and professional duties, and involv-
ing much of personal expense during the
next several weeks. 1t is much that you are
asked to give; the contribution may be
made by you the greatest that can be Of
fered the people of Indiana. There is honor
in such citizenship causes you to be
chosen for this service to your State The
citizen who makes himself, by thought, ef-
fort and manner of life factor in the good
aspiration for higher things better rewards
than the public can bestow.
I'm calling you together to devote your
selves to this task Mr.. Hernly, the repre-
inant party, has made a move which is
cOmmendable for it's courage and high pur-