The Indianapolis journal., 1898-11-30
BILL UNDER DISCUSSION
PROPOSED LEGISLATION AFFECTING
TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT.
Meeting of Executive Committee OF
County and Township Govern
ment Commission.

At the meeting of the executive commit
tee of the county and township government
commission last night Chairman Fortune
announced the appointment of Admiral
George Brown and John M. Spann, of this
city, and c. ]. Murphy, of Evansville, as a
committee on finance. The committee is
authorized to receive subscriptions to carry
on the work.
There was long discussion over proposed
legislation affecting township government,
following the presentation of a skeleton bill
by A. G. Harris and Judge L. j. Hackney.
number of suggestions were made by the
members of the committee that will guide
the subcommittee in further work on the
bill. Yesterday the subcommittee on
schools, consisting of d. X. Goss, d. M.
Geeting and S. A. Artman, drafted a bill,
which was presented last night. One of the
principal features embodied in the bill is
the separation of the school corporation
from the civil. In the drafting of the bill
the committee made provision which was
considered unconstitutional and it was re-
ferred back for further consideration.
Another question discussed last night was
how the representatives in the proposed
county legislature shall be chosen. Secre-
tary Huff raised the point that under the
Constitution no man can hold an office in
township and county corporation. and
therefore he argued it would be invalid to
make the chairman of the proposed township
board a member OF the county legislature
or council ex officio. Some of the members
Of the committee seemed to think the point
was well taken, and the prevailing opinion
seemed to be that the township representa-
tives would have to be elected directly by
the people.
A. r. Beardsey of Elkhart, sent the
board a communication in which he sug-
gested on the advice OF his township
trustee. that the laws governing outdoor
relief should be so amended as to correct
an abuse. The trustee reported to him that
frequently he found old people who owned
little homes of their own, but who had no
means of subsistence. Such persons are
given aid at home rather than sent to the
poorhouse. He suggested that in such cases
the auditor should file a lien upon the prop
erty equal to the amount of aid given, so
that at the death of the beneficiary upon
the sale of the property the county might be
reimbursed. Frequently. Mr.. Beardsley
wrote, poor people have relatives who will
session Of their property when they die. His
suggestion was referred to the subcommt-
tee on relief of the poor.
O. A BlankenShip, of Morgan county, a
member-elect of the Legislature, attended
the meeting last night and made number
OF good suggestions to the committee
Among other things he suggested that in
the new county government law there
should be provision whereby special al
lowances by the Circuit Court should go
into the auditors annual budget of esti-
mated expenditures, the same as other
county expenses. This idea was regarded
as a good one.
]. c. Murphy, of Evansville. treasurer of
the commission, was present last night
The committee adjourned to meet on the
nF 10 Nh q f6OV~ ffVlrpN mill
probably be held the latter part of this
week.