The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-27
ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
STATE BOARD OF COMMERCE CONsID-
ERING NEW METHODS.
Careful Report on the Subject Made to
the Evansville Business Mems
Association.

President Fortune, of the State Board of
Commerce. has received copies of the rec,
concentrations and resolutions adopted by
the Business Mems Association Of Evans
vile, and he will submit them for approval
TO the other commercial bodies of the State
composing the State Board Of Commerce.
"A month ago at the meeting of the State
Board w. II. Craig, of Noblesville, read a
paper on the Defects of County and Town
ship Government. The paper brought out
lively discussion, which resulted in the
appointment of a special committee to in
vestlgate the subject and report at a sub
scquent meeting of the board. This COM
mittce Is still working. but in the meantime
the subject has been one of considerable
thought throughout the State. The Business
Mems Association of Evansville is one of
the organizations which took it UP and
gave it careful study through it's commit
tee, composed of c. L. Wedding, Sebastian
Henrick, H. J. Schlaepfer, James l.. Orr
and A. c. Rosencranz. The following is
the report of that committee as it was ac-
cepted by the Evansville organization and
as 1t will be sent to all the commercial
bodies forming the State Board of Com
merce:
Your committee on county affairs re-
spectfuly submits the following: We be-
news lttaL county government III INDIANA
should be reformed and brought into line
with modern methods of doing business.
The exercise of legislative and adminstra-
tive powers by the same body is not pru-
dent when the public affairs of commun-
ity become Important enough to Justify
their separation In sparseiy settled and
poorly improved communities this separa-
tlon is not always practicable, but in In
diana counties of great wealth and large
pei ulations should be reformed on these
I'm some counties where the cities are
more than four-fifths of the population and
Nealln, TIE city representation IN the
is inequitable for the city.
1.-THE business methods in county govern
n,ent, and likewise in township government,
are not hedgel with proper safeguards. The
most important public affairs may be pri-
vately conducted, which has tendency to
beget indifference in the consideration of
public expenditures.
THE counties in Indiana which may de-
sire it should be permitted by statute to
free themselves from such cruditieS and inn
projections. Marion county's annual ex
penditures are about two and a half mill
lion dollars, vanderburg nearly a million,
million mark. The public funds are large
enough In such counties to require the best
methods for handling them. An improved
plan of county government could be adopt
ed by the Indiana Legislature without
changing the Constitution and with little
change In present officers
This framework should consist of
county legislature or council, to consist of
representatives elected by the people in the
various townships, in proportion to popu-
lation empowered to meet at stated times
to exercise the legislative powers of the
county. make the tax levy and appropriate
funds for the fiscal year, thus bringing
these matters before the public to be dis
cussed In open season.
The auditor of the county should be des-
ignated controller to inspect and revise all
accounts of the county receive acquisitions
and estimates from the various county of
fees, make out the annual budget and sub
NIT 1t to this council for reduction or APP
prevail.
"The County Commissioners should not
be permitted to levy taxes. Their duties
should be exclusively administrative They
should be authorized to expend only moneys
already specifically appropriated for the
purpose stated by the council.
Without attempting to submit matured
plans with finished details we would rather
be understood as suggesting upon what
lines reform in county government should
come.
I'VE are positive that cities are entitled
to fairer representation in county affairs,
that elaboration should be more general
and more public before making a county
tax levy. and that the branch that levies
the tax should not be the one to expend it.
The organs of government when in nor
whc 5bc theyy r any sne for
These branches of county government
arranged in some such manner would act
as wholesome aids. and checks, and. with
the other suggested changes, would neces-
sariy give more satisfaction in the man.
agement of local affairs.
There are two distinct points Indiana
should endeavor to gain in the proposed re-
forms, first, just representation in county
affairs; second separation of the legisla-
tive from the executive functions.
Resolved That these recommendations
be laid before the various business, COM
mercial and industrial bodies of Indiana
and the State Board of Commerce for
united action to secure proper legislation
to accomplish reforms in the transaction of
county business.