The Indianapolis journal., 1899-02-13
STATE PRESS OPINION.


The present Legislature must not lose
sight Of the fact that the people, regardless
of politics, are asking for the passage of
county and township reform laWs.-Greens-
burg Review.
1t is a credit to Montgomery county pol
itics that cur county and township officials
are not lobbying against the reform bills.
at least so far as known and that our two
representatives and one senator are Loyalty
supporting them.-CraWfordsville Journal.
In view Of the annoying complications de-
veloped since the close of hostilities in our
war with Spain, and the cultivation of a
disposition to throw obstacles in the way of
an honorable peace, one is justified in won
dering whether it wouldn't have been bet
ter, when the peace protocol was proposed,
to have promptly answered: There are no
terms but unconditional surrender. Angola
Magnet.
The people are in earnest in the matter
Of county and township reform The matter
has sprung spontaneously from those who
realize that our present system is defective.
1t is not that the men now in office are
criminals, but that the system used permits
unscrupuOus men who sometimes get into
office to administer their Office against the
interests of the people. 1t is to correct the
possibility of such abuse that the people
are demanding the reform.-Seymour Re-
publican.
The people of the State are awfully tired
of seeing David Goss, superintendent Of the
indianapolis schools, put in all his time dur
ing the sessions Of the Indiana Legislature
lobbying around the halls of the Statehouse
and in the corridors of the hotels. The pres
ident of the State University and Of the
State Normal are not guiltless along that
line. These gentlemen and the Indiana
Schoolbook Company seem too anxious to
retain the State Board Of Education as it
is now onstituted.-Greenf1eld Republican.
Senate bill No. 81, concerning the trans
~,
Legislature and is likely to become a law.
It is of great importance to all the people
in the State who pay taxes One Of
the leading taxpayers and best f1nanciers
of the county said to us yesterday, after
having carefully examined this township
bill as we'll as that concerning county busi-
ness, that Laporte county would save $5Q-
600 IL they are adopted.-Laporte Repub-
lican.
Several township trustees who are excel
lent and faithful officers seem not to have
read the township trustee bill pending in
the Legislature. judging from their objec-
tions to it. One of them says he cannot do
his business because he would be compelled
to consult the board of advisers in every
little matter. There is no such provision in
the bill. The township trustee is limited no
more in the discharge of his duties by the
township council than is the mayor by the
city council.-Rushville Graphic.
AS a rule, taxpayers are too much abb
sorbed in their private affairs to pay the
often-needed attention to them Having
elected men to attend to them, and
having confidence in the integrity and
ability of those men, they prefer to give
all their time to private business. Were
there more care taken in selecting officers,
this would be the proper course practically
as it Is theoretically, but this is not always
done. This being so, taxpayers would do
well occasionally to meet and talk over mat
terS, If only to warn officials that they
must account to a higher power.-Muncie
News.
The township trustees over the State are
being heard from In opposition to the bills
now before the Legislature for the reform
of township business. Let it be distinctly
understood that these bills are aimed at the
loose methods Of doing the public business
and not against the trustees; let 1t further
be known that no provision or the blllS
affects an honest trdstee, and that the
added expense of the township and county
councils is but trifle. The main object OF
the bills is to separate the legislative and
administrative functions or county ana
township governments and have them 90
business just like a state or national gov
ernment.-Noblesville Ledger.
The opposition to the county and town
ship reform bills is confined principally to
county and township officers Many of these
gentlemen, we doubt not, oppose them hon
estly, because they believe them impractic-
able and unWise We know honest and hon
orable office holders in Montgomery county
who are opposing them on these grounds.
But they are not contributing money or
valuable time TO bring about their dereat.
An officer who does that has something at
stake concerning his private interests How
ever, the bills are backed by the best senti-
nent Of the State as reform measures, the
people demand reform and the Republican
party has promised reform. Unless the Re-
publican party wishes to stuItlfy itself, the
bills must go through in substantially the
form in which they were Introduced.-Craw-
fordsville Journal.
The Courier is IN hearty sympathy with
the Legislatures disposition to provide
proper means for the care Of the States
insane, and recognizes that present asylum
accommodations are insufficient TO meet the
demands. But is it necessary TO establish
new institution at Columbus to secure the
end desired? The Senate vote yesterday In
dicated that this is the plan. The Courier
has no objection to Columbus, but IS in
clined to the opinion that better decision
would be to enlarge the existing institu-
tions so that they might care for these un-
fortunate wards. The basis for this opinion
lies in the fact that this would not create
the necessity for new administration
force-trustees, superintendent, employees,
etc-for IL constructed on the site of the
present asyfums there need be but little adj
ditional expense to the State in conducting
the House will carefully consider this point
when the bill comes up in that branch
Lafayette Courier.
AguinaIdo Has Not Lost All.
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