The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-01
THE REFORM LAWS AND THE CIR
CUT JUDGES.

The township and county reform bills hav-
ing been passed by both branches of the
General Assembly, and being certain of APP
prevail by the Governor. will soon be law.
As they do not contain an emergency clause
they will not take effect until the distribu-
tion of the printed acts, which will probably
be from sixty to ninety days. The bills
provide for the election by the people of
members Of the township advisory boards
and members OF the county councils. who
are charged with certain duties in connec-
ton with the trustees and county commits
sioners. The first election of township adj
visory boards will be at the next election
of township trustees, and the first election
of county councilmen will take place at
the general November election in 1900. In
order. however. that the new system may
go into operation before these elections the
laws make it the duty of the judge of the
Circuit Court in each circuit Of the State
to appoint members of the county councils
for each county in his circuit within thirty
days after the taking effect of the act. and
members of the advisory boards for each
township at the first term of the Circuit
Court after the taking effect of the act.
There are ffty-seven judicial circuits in the
State, and the judge of each circuit Will
have this duty to perform. 1t is an i'm
portant duty, and its right performance
will have much TO DO with insuring the new
laws a fair trial from the start. The fact
that they involve some new machinery and
methods should not raise any doubt of the
ability Of the people TO put them in sue
cessful operation. y people who pride
themselves On their capacity for self-gov-
eminent. their skill in organization and
their general aptitude for affairs should not
for a moment entertain the idea that they
cannot easily and successfully put In opera
ton a new feature of local government de-
signed for their own benefit. Indiana has
been the leader in a number of valuable
reforms in recent years. The new laws for
reform in local government are believed 10
be among the most valuable yet enacted,
and It should be a point Of pride with ali
classes TO see that they. have a fair trial
and are made TO Yields results that will
cause other States 10 adopt them. as they
have other measures OF reform inaugurated
In Indiana. For this reason the first ap-
pointments by circuit judges of members Of
the advisory boards and county councils will
be important. Both laws provide that the
boards thus appointed shall be divided in
politics. No such provision is made in re-
gard 10 the boards 10 be subsequently
elected by the people. as they are pretty
sure to be divided according to local politics.
But as to the boards TO be appointed by the
judges II is provided hat a majority OF the
~appointees OF each board. and not more,
may be adherents OF the same party. Thus
it is likely that Republican Judges will ap-
point a majority Of Republicans on each
board i'm their circuits. while Democratic
judges will appoint q majority of Demo-
| Gratis. Every member of each board must
be a resident voter and property taxpayer.
Circuit judges should feel honored by be-
ing intrusted with the first appointment of