The Indianapolis journal., 1898-11-24
PLAN OF WORK OUTLINED
COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP GOVERN
MENT COMMISSION ADJoURNs.
Committee Named by Chairman For
tune-What 1t Is Hoped tn
Accomplish.

fore adjourning the commission yesterday
authorized the executive committee to do
such things in the interim between its
meetings as may be necessary. A plan of
work has been agreed on. The commission
adopted the executive committees recon-
mendations favoring a complete revision
of the laws governing county and township
business. and the executive committee was
authorized to determine the lines on which
new laws shall be drafted. Details of this
work will be left to subcommittee, which
are to be informed to the general plan
or theory adopted by the executive commit
tee, after which they are to work out the
details. Bills will be drafted by the execu-
tive committee and referred to the entire
commission for final approval, before be-
ing submitted to the Legislature. Satur-
day night there will be another meeting of
the executive committee, which will hold
sessions at frequent intervals until the
work laid down has been accomplished.
Before going home yesterday, William Dud-
ley Foulke, president of the commission,
expressed qualification at what had been
accomplished in such a short time, and ex-
pressed confidence in apDreciable results
being accomplished in the way of salutary
legislation at the coming session of the
General Assembly. Other members of the
commission also express confidence of Sc
curing enactments at this time. They have
been assured that the ideas so far suggested
are of a character to commend themselves
to every one, save, perhaps, those who have
profted by the opportunities for corruption
in the past and who see those opportuni-
ties slipping away. The proposition to leave
the matter of appropriations and taxation
to an independent board, to serve without
pay, commends itself to many who have
studied problems of local government as
long step toward preventing extravagant
expenditures and as a death blow to cor
ruption and malfeasance.
At the opening of the session yesterday,
William Fortune chairman of the execu-
tive committee, submitted a verbal report
of what the committee had done in it's al
most continual sessions after the adjourn
ment of the commission Tuesday This en-
bI0ced the resolutions. published yesterday,
outlining a plan of township and county
government and recommending for favor
able consideration the idea of State ad-
ministrative board of appeal and revision.
AS TO TOWNSHIP JUDICIARY.
All three ideas were adopted after pro-
longed debate, A. C. Harris supplementing
the chairman's report with a review of the
topics that had been discussed concerning
township government at the meeting the
night before. Senator Gilbert inquired
whether the executive committee had given
any attention to the matter of the townsip
judiciary-the justices of the peace He
regarded this as a most important subject
pointing out how vitality and intimately
1T affects the people of the townships. 1t
was decided that the executive committee
should deliberate upon the problem while
on township affairs. Augustus l.. Mason,
Judge Leonard j. Hackney and r. o.
Hawkins dweit upon county government,
Mr.. hawkins referring to some very weak
points, particularly the making of con-
tracts and the selling of bonds without COM
petition by the commissioners. Perhaps
the most protracted debate was over the
subject of the State board of revision and
appeal, arguments in favor of which were
made by President Foulke and Superintend-
ent d. K. Goss. A. c. Harris was inclined
to be conservative in the discussion of
this subject, dwelling upon the fact that
ing less care and trouble in making big
contracts, on the theory that 1t was the
duty Of the State Board to see that they
were all right. While adopting the resolu-
ton favoring this idea the commission de-
eided to weigh the subject carefully before
coming to any final decision with regard
to it,
A resolution was adopted whereby all
members of the Legislature to ne con-
sidered members of the commission and are
to be invited to attend future meetings and
to give all the suggestions they may have
to offer to the executive committee. Men
tion was made of an address to the people
setting forth the objects of the commission,
printed in the Journal yesterday, which had
been prepared by the executive committee.
This address was formally approved. 1t is
10 be printed and mailed to the papers of
the State. as we'll as to the members of the
Legislature. Following is the address:
ITO the Citizens of Indiana:
'Fhe numerous evils attending the trans
action of county and township business un-
der the present laws-the improvident con-
tracts for the construction of courthouses,
jails, bridges and other public works the
excessive and demoralizing distribution of
the poor fund in many localities, the arbi-
trary power of township trustees in levying
taxes, the wasteful expenditures of public
moneys upon the highways and In the pur-
chasing of unnecessary and worthless sup
plies for school and other purposes the Sc
crecy and responsibility which so often at
tend the management of public business
all these things call for radical change in
the laws for the administration of county
and township affairs Such a change has
been advocated in the platforms of both the
leading political parties of the State. and
chosen by the State Board of Commerce
the State Bar Association. the State Fed
Grafton of Labor. as we'll as OF certain SEN
ators and representatives, and others desig-
rated by Chairman Hernly, of the Repub-
lican state central committee, are now en-
gagged in considering measures for the re-
form of these laws, and earnestly ask for
written suggestions in reference to this sub
ject from all persons interested therein. All
participate in the deliberations of the COM
mission. Communications should be adj
dressed 10 'Ine county ana 1OWnSnlp Gov
ernment Commission, Statehouse, Indian
apolis.'
by order of the commission.
wv. d. FOULKE President,
'ADOLPH ROGERS, Secretary
subcommittee were authorized for the
purpose of framing bills on three subjects,
county and township business and State
Board of Revision and Appeal. Chairman
Fortune, of the executive committee. ap-
pointed two members of each committee
and the third is to be appointed by the
chairman. Care will be taken to select for
the third member men who have peculiar
knowledge of the subjects the committee
has in hand. Following are the members
of the committees appointed by Mr.. For
tune:
on Township-A. C. Harris and Judge L.
]. Hackney.
gustus L. Mason.
On State Administrative Board of Re-
vision and Appeal-W. d. Foulke and
Adolph Rogers.
There will be another meeting of the ex-
eeutive committee Saturday night. when
further details of the plan that is to be pur-
sued will be determined on and the subcom-
mittees put to work in earnest. At the
meeting Saturday night the question of per-
manent headquarters of the committee and
the matter of employing a permanent Sec
retary a salary will be determined.
Approved by the People.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal: