The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-28
TRUSTEES IN SESSION
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE GUAR
DIANs OF TOWNSHIP FUNDS.
They Are Stirred by a speech ON the
Proposed Reform
Bill.

The fifth annual convention of the Town
ship Trustees Association met yesterday in
Masonic Hail. The morning meeting was
delayed for half hour by the lateness of
Mayor Taggart, who was to deliver the adj
dress of welcome, and, in the groups formed
by the waiting trustees, the statement was
made that during the convention State
Statistician Conner would come in for some
serious scoring. The mayors welcome was
a short but cordial one to which B. f. john
ston, president of the association, made re-
sponse Mr.. Johnston declared that the
township trustees are more abused than any
other body of officials, and recited their
trials and sufferings through legislative ae-
ton and county litigation. Mrs. Emma Mont.
McRae. of Purdue University, followed with
a summary of THE Ideal Teacher which
was discussed by the assembly.
Following the adjournment for dinner the
reassembling of the association witnessed
the addition of nearly a hundred trustees
who had not arrived to take part in the de-
liberations of the 300 trustees who attended
the morning session. The meeting was called
to order by Chairman Johnston, Secretary
James d. Ball, of Colburn, preserving the
minutes The chair appointed Trustees Sher-
rick of Huntington county, Hines of Warrck
county, Asbaugher of Wells county, Lambon
Of Jasper county, and Chappell Of Gibson
county. committee on resolutions. which
will report at this mornings session. The
committee on claims named was Trustees
Robbins Of Carroll county, Tillinger of Yer
million county and Valera of Benton county
Prof. c. II. Hall, of Franklin College, made
the address of the afternoon his subject be-
ing Our Common Schools; their Relation to
the College and University" His attitude
was not what would be expected of a college
president. He lauded the work of the public
schools at the expense of the colleges and
university. If all the colleges in this State
were abolished, he said, land the public
school system remained there would still be
no fear for the welfare OF the common
wealth. He spoke first of the colleges
work in forming character and in disciplin-
ing the student mentally as of far more i'm
portance than any amount of learning that
could be instilled But the public school, he
said, took the first hold upon the child in
all these respects, and the college could sell
dom change the character of the public
between the widespread influence of the pub
lie school and the limited influence of the
universities, and urged that every step be
The public school is the benefactor, not
the boss of the public school, he declared.
HARRIS AND THE TRUSTEES.
1t had been announced that the proposed
reform bill, providing for township govern
ment would be brought before the meeting
for its approval, and there was trouble in
the air when A. c. Harris, of this city, as
chairman of the subcommittee having the
matter in charge, was called to the platform.
The attitude of the trustees was known to
be in opposition to the proposed bill, which
soon manifested itself in disposition to
question almost every assertion made by the
speaker. The bill provides for the appoint
ment of five men in each township to confer
with the trustee on matters of consequence
the latter to be governed by the advice Of
fered. The trustees interrupted spiritedly,
and Mr.. Harris answered them as fast as he
could, but when several talked at once 1t
was out of the question to reply to them
and Chairman Johnston had difficulty in
keeping order until Mr.. Harris had con-
brought to an abrupt close by a motion to
adjourn while three or four trustees were
on the floor eXcitedly talking.
The chairman reminded the members who
were making for the door that they had pre-
Vously decided to remain and select from
their number. by caucus, one representative
from each congressional district, who will be
recommended to the chair and by him ap-
pointed members of the trustees legislative
resolutions meets before the regular opening
of the session this morning and will have
lor us Hrsl CONSIDERATION, a resolution, READ
yesterday afternoon, but upon which the con-
ventton gave no expression of opinion in re-
gard to township institutes. The resolution
contends that many. of them are unneces-
sary and recommends that a large proper
ton of the 100000 said to be now expended
for them be diverted to the public school
funds. The discussion of this part of the
resolution, as was evidenced by the tendency
to discuss the matter after it had been re-
ferred to the committee, will mark the morn
ing session to-day.
Governor Mount has promised to select
some one who will represent him in the fore
noon session on the subject of Good Roads
and High Land Tax VS.. Poor Roads and
Low Land Tax, and Their Relation to the
Concentration of Schools" G. S. Grout, of
the State Charity Society, will discuss the
Township System of Caring for the Poor"