The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-02
A Suggester of Laws.

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal
In looking over the columns OF the Journal
find many subjects proposed and discussed
for the use and benefit of the coming Legis-
lature and other things to be the guides and
rules of faith and practice for the legisla-
tors. Among the many changes sought is
change in the divorce laws of this State.
Forming my judgment from much reading
and varied observations, l am led to believe
that no change proposed up to this time is
stringent enough to protect the interests of
either the home the State. Let the
grounds for divorce be reduced to one in
stead of six, and that one be intense in
human treatment shown by absolute and
indsputable evidence by at least three free
holders in the community where the parties
may reside Let the man who is party to
a divorce be disfranchised for life and the
marriage of a man or woman to a divorced
person be punished mot charged) by i'm
prisonment during the life Of the person
to whom he or she may marry.
In the matter Of local government it seems
to be the tendency of the proposed changes
to locate the system of offices in the county
seat, a thing not to be commended AS it
now is, the ring and job" politicians form
themselves around the courthouse offices as
a nucleus, while the man who labors to
bring forth sustenance for himself and his
fellow-man from the earth when in the
county seat public business meets with
the well-trained office holder or office seek
er. and, being unfamiliar with practices of
those who live by the sweat of Others be-
comes party to the sanction of any or all
their acts. He gets back to the country dis
u1ct considering himself a good fellow we'll
met and mus helps perpetuate The salary
I'd ffspfF grr h. Nsrl,
lie business let US have some plan devised
whereby it will be separated into smaller
lots and the compensation cut down in
many cases ana IN others transacted by
public-Spirited men without compensation
except such BENEFITS as may accrue to them
selves and their neighboTs publicly. 1t will
be found that public spirit is still extant in
the American mind and needs but fuel prop
erly added to bring out a glorious flame of
patriotic public beneticence.
All changes proposed for the uplifting of
the public schools seem to run to one thing
and that the making of more salaried
Offices these offices to be placed in the reach
of party and political influences. Why do
not some of those who profess to spend so
much time and energy on this question de-
wise a plan whereby the schools will be less
under political and more under public and
practical supervision Why not suggest
punishment for the teacher or official who
participates in politics only so far as it is
commensurate with the genuine American
spirit?
In the matter Of tenure of Office generally
it would seem that it is time for our law
makers to arrive at a definite understanding
as to how long the term of any Office shall
be. To illustrate, the term of Office of the
township trustee has been Juggled and whip
sawed until nine-tenths of the voters of the
State do not know what 1t is, when it COM
mences or expires. Why not limit the exec
utlve offices to four years and only one
term?
sideration by most all citizens Voting ma
chimes seem to be the ideal of many WHY
not enact a law that will compel each and
every legal voter in the State to go to the
voting stand and in g. public place and man
ner call the names of each man for whom
he wishes to vote orally, so that the clerical
force and the public can hear and UNDER
stand?
In filling all appointive offices let there be
a system Of examinations, and the man who
makes the best grade and has good moral
character and proper business qualifications
the appointee. With an arrangement of this
kind no one will owe his position to party.
In the choosing OF United States senator
it would seem that there could be some way
devised to get more nearly at the feelings
and wishes of the people than under the
present regime. At present one or two men
from this county are in the Hobbies of the
hotels in indianapolis with the impression
going broadcast throughout the State that
they voice the sentiments of all the Re-
publicans of Montgomery county, while in
this vicinity resolution is being circulated
asking our assemblyman to vote for and in
the interests OF man whose name would
be poison to the gentlemen who would rep
resent the county in the prior caucuses and
meetings. Only one man in this community
so far as the writer can learn, has refused
to sign the resolution, giving as his reason
that ne preferred to go as the boys"
wished the county to go. In reality the
"boys" who voted in the same box with him
I'm November were all signing the resou-
ton. In tA4S instance II seems that the
voice of the rank and file with us is not of
so much worth as this man who is whoou-
ing things up in the capital This is unfair
to all candidates, as they do not hear of
those in the rural communities who are IA
yorable to them, it may be for good and
sufficient reasons, and it is likely that our
assembyman may never know the feeling
of these people, because they are not self
any considerable amount of Jaw" With
this state of affairs well known it is but
fair 10 presume that communities all over
the State are being treated thus Why not
devise a means whereby the people can
make known their wishes to their I,egisIa-
so far as it is compatible with public good?
on all the above questions this article
NAV not seem plain to the politician and
wire-pulling log-roller, but investigation and
inquiry among the voters of the State who
are interested in the toll that makes the
State and the people great, and who prefer
"a remain side by side with their fellow
men will reveal many wishes, feelings and
thoughts as stated herein.
Let the whole people unite in asking their
tiller of the soil. the molder and the me-
chanfc when he Is considering proposed
ieorisla tfnfl and to the professional politician
let him turn a deaf ear Then the legisla-
tor AZ home can turn to his constituents
his friends and his neighbors and. receive
deserve instead of severe criticism and de-
nunciation so frequently heard in the i'm
mediate past. - ~ NJ =. SA1A Inns.
Linden, Ind, Dec 81