The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-15
STATE PRESS OPINION.

There is reason to fear that members of
the Legislature who have been posing as
friends of the proposed county and township
reform legislation are finding excuses in
some features of the bills presented to OPP
pose the reforms and defeat the DIS. III
they had reasons instead OF excuses they
would be proposing something instead of
the features to which they obJect-Martlns-
vile Reporter.
A bill has been introduced i'll the State
Senate which provides for an increase in the
salaries of prosecutors to $1,O00 a year
Under the present law the prosecutor gets
$500 and fees. 1t is not proposed to cut off
the perquisiteS by the proposed statute. me
effort is to increase the expense of this office
$500 in each judicial district. Is there any
warrant for such a movement? Is ii urged
by those who must pay the bills or by those
who expect to be beneficiaries? The Courier
is of opinion that the Legislature could make
no more grievous mistake than 10 pass such
an act.-1afayette Courier.
Republicans in the Legislature must GER
tanly realize that the party will be held
responsible for their acts, or failures to act
and a campaign can't be made on failures
to act. The best kind of a campaign to make
and the easiest to win is a campaign Of
pledges fulfilled and faithfully kept. The
most important plank in the Republican
state platform is that promising reform IN
local government and it is the one the peo-
pie emphasize the most 1t is the one which,
carried out will be the strongest argument
for another Republican Legislature or
which. ignored. will be the strongest argu-
ment against. 1t makes little difference what
else the Legislature may or may not do, on
the tate OF these reform pllls 9epehqS 70
large extent the fate Of the Indiana Repub-
ican party. The bills are having no trouble
in the Senate. The Republicans are almost
unanimous for them ana the democrats are
not opposing them with any VlSor But in
the House the Democrats present solid
front against them and are aided IN TINS at
To 4I1a Penn n q
by Mr.. Reser and others. what IS needed is
a caucus to bring these gentlemen INTO line
They should be made to understand that
they are not bigger than their party.-CraW-
fOrdsville Journal.
Now is the time when the actual test of
the efficiency of the present Legislature will
come. They have earned commentator and
have received it for their industry and wis
dom in clearing the calendar Of bills that do
not deserve to become laws, but which hang
in the way Of legislation that is worthy.
The committees have worked promptly and
have made wise reports, In the majority of
instances, and both houses have treated
those reports with due consideration
usually. But the time has now come for pos
tive action-for the decided action TO be
taken that will show 10 the State that they
intend TO follow up the good work they nave
done by enacting into laws the meritOrl0uS
measures for which the way mas peeh
cleared. The indications are that the House
will not keep the faith. because they have
defeated the first of these measures that
came before them-the act approved by the
Senate and providing for uniform system
of keeping accounts This measure has been
hopelosSly lost in the House and ii is a re-
pudiation of both political platforms by the
members who opposed The legislators
should not mistake the clamor Of organiZa-
ticns for the clamor Of the people. The peo-
pie expressed their desires in the party plat
forms and they have not changed their no.
tiOns since that expression was given out.
THESE members of the Legislature accepted
nominations on those platforms, and II they
were earnest actions III the i.egisat ure they
would either support the pending bills or
would offer reasonable substitutes for them.
-Martinsville Reporter.