The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-06

me message or Governor MOUTH DSSlHS
with a financial statement that is most graf
ifying-a reduction Of the State debt of
| $1320,000 and a reduction Of the annual inter-
| est of So. 10 year. In connection with the
financial statement the Governor remarks
that it is not the tax imposed by the State
which makes taxes a burden. but the county
and other local taxes, the State calling for
II cents on each 800, while county, township
and city call for an average Of $1.47. From
this comparison the Governor proceeds to
urge the necessity of the Importance of leg
islation to reform the methods of the admin
istratien of county and township govern
| mcnt. His presentation of the evils of the
present system is Endorsed by all friends Of
| good government in the State. The remedies
which the executive suggests to put an end
to lynchngs and other assaults by dis
guised bands are worthy of consideration.
| If the people of a county are taxed for the
damages inflicted by bands of men in def
ance Of law they will have ample cause to
oppose them. The knowledge that the sher-
| if will not seriously resist the mob that de-
mands prisoner is an incentive to lynching.
| If the lawless knew that a resolute sheriff
would fire into mob seeking the life of
| prisoner in his custody few men would take
| the risk. The Governor presents good cause
for a revision of the judiciary system of the
State, and his suggestion as to the method
has received the Endorsement of judges and
lawyers of experience. There is no reason
why the officer acting for the State in the
| enforcement of the laws should give bonds
when an injunction is the remedy against
| lawbreakers.
Governor Mount devotes considerable space
! to advocacy of the making of the science Of
! agriculture part of the public school cir
| riculum. He sees great danger TO the agri-
culture OF Indiana-by far its most impor-
tant industry-in the impoverishment of the
soil by practice which takes everything
from the soil and returns nothing to main
| tain its fertility In regard to the arbitra-
ton of differences between employer and
| employee the Governor thinks that the time
has come when arbitration should be all
| that the word implies by having courts of
| arbitration whose decisions shall be manda
| tory The Governors suggestion may be re-
| garded by many as an advanced view on
| this important subject, but the logic seems
| to sustain his position. Governor Mount lays
bare the weakness of the present road sys-
| tenn. and sees in it an obstacle to the good
roads which are necessary to promote tie
| interests of the State. He believes that the
Legislature has the wisdom to devise a
measure which will put a check upon the
! operation of trusts. 1t will be a difficult
! task-one which no State seems to have been
able to accomplish The worst feature Of
the trust in this State is that it has at
| tempted to cut wages. The Governor favors
a reconstruction of the State Board of Edu-
cation to the end that its membership may
embrace more educational interests than it
does. About everybody who has not special
and personal aims to promote will agree with
! the Governor that an insurance department
! is one of the annexes the state government
does not need. States which have such an
nexes are paying a large amount to secure
! less satisfactory results There is a differ
| cnce of opinion regarding the taxation of life
! insurance policies, which Governor Mount
advocates The Journal doubts its wisdom,
particularly when the purpose of the insur-
ance is saving rather than investment.
/ what Governor MOUNT mas 10 say III IeSdlu
to the results of nonpartisan management Of
| public institutions is just what any one can
ascertain for himself if he makes inquiry.
! The public institutions were never so well
managed as at the present time.
The greater part of the suggestions which
| Governor Mount has made represent the
wishes of the people of both parties who de-
sira moro effective and more economical
| government, which is essential to the ma
terial prosperity and the moral well-being of
! the people