The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-15
HEROIC REMEDY NEEDED
GOV. MOUNT SPEAKS OF ABUSES IN
COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP AFFAIRS.
Some Things to Be Discussed in
His Message What His
Views Are.

has come for thorough change in methods
pertaining TO county and township affairs.
He does not believe that officials are dis
honest, or that the present system is honey
combed with corruption, but he is of the
opinion that abuses as they exist to-day are
the result of false precedent. Upon them
extravaganza in expenditures has grown
until it has become burdensome to the tax
payers. 1t has encouraged, recklessness and
lack of close scrutiny that every dollar paid
out Of public funds demands. That there
must be submission to the peoples wishes
and ordering in the matter of county and
township expenditures is the keynote of his
position on this question. THE most ex-
acting investigation" he said to reporter,
should be made along this line and the
most heroic remedy applied; but no system
can be made effective without good men to
control it, or without taking the people into
confidence as to the conduct of their af-
fairs. J. mean by that they must have the
initiative to expenditures as well as final
revision of them. That is, we must provide
for the closest scrutiny of every cent of the
peoples money paid in or paid out of the
treasury How this is to be done I am not
ready to say, but 1 intend to say great deal
about the need of reform in my message
without suggesting or approving any plan"
GAS to what lines, Governor, should this
reform be specifically directed?'
''It seems the three interests in this mat
ter that are paramount to everything else
are the counties, courts and townships. In
them alone there should be and can be
saving of from 20 to % per cent. in taxa
ton. Within less than ten years the tax
able valuation of Indiana has almost
doubled, and yet there has been but an in
appreciate reduction in the levy. l am
astonished to hear of how recklessly much
of this vast sum has been used. For instance,
there are the judges allowances, for many
of which there is not a line of law but they
are made solely upon the assumption that
the services in this direction or that direc-
ton are worth what the claimants put upon
them. In this connection L cite what
heard the other day relative to a sheriff
claim for grand jury services. A few years
ago sheriff was allowed $45 for this work.
His successor presented a bill for 81, 500, and
it was allowed. The judges allowances In
many other cases are aggraVat1ng, Wnen
they are brought in contact with the peo-
pies demand for low taxes and economical
expenditures Another example which re-
Gently came under my notice is the buying
of libraries for courts. These are bought by
the county commissioners at the request or
judges, and are paid for out Of the county
fund for which there is not a word of law.
In one county the expenditure in this dt-
action has been $1,000 year; in another
1IIeen nunuFeQ, : 81 lner6 SSeH8S W NC ~
PAYERS expense books which the judges and
the lawyers themselves should supply.
LARGE ATTORNEYS FEES.
F'There is still another source of abuse in
connection with the courts, and that is the
payment Of excessively large fees to at
torneys for advising county commissioners
and conducting the legal business of the
county. Yet there is another item of enor-
nous expenditure which 1 am very DESTROYS
of seeing eliminated from the county and
state expense account. There is tendency
to-day to increase the number of courts
and as you remember at the last meeting of
the Legislature set my face against it. If
this tendency is not checked we will soon
have a court for every county, with idle
judges at high salaries for the greater part
of the year. Notwithstanding the increase
of courts we also have an increase in the
special judges account. A Judge finds ne
cannot sit in this case or that case, and he
calls another to sit for him. That special
judge is paid for his services, not as 1T
should be out of the judges salary, but as
an extra expenditure. Last year In addltlon
to the regular salaries of the judges $40, OS4 60
was paid in this way. 1t is TINS WaSteIul-
ness, recklessness and disregard OF economy
to which the people are obJectlng, ana IL
has started into life a spirit OF lnvest1gatlon
that will bring around the reforms we oe-
sire. will urge in my message mat TINS pc
done. 1t is not necessary TO enumerate the
other outlets of extravagant expenditures
bv county commissioners and township trus-
tees for il seems to me the whole line of ac-
counting and expenditures by these officers
should be radically reformed.
''There is a reckless use of nearly every
fund notably in schools and charities / was
told the other day of a township trustee VINO
has been regularly paying out cash instead
Of orders to paupers In some cases he paid
as high as 50 and $40 a week. No one can
tell how that money was expended, whether
it was for the necessities OF Ire or not
advocate a thorough change in the business
methods of these officers, but no change
should be made that does not comprehend
knowledge on the part OF the people OF no"
every dollar Is eXpended.'