The Indianapolis journal., 1899-01-18


The action of the House yesterday was not
encouraging to the advocates of reform in
county and township government. The Jour
nal had hoped that a Republican Legisla-
ture, elected as much on this issue as on
any other, would approach and consider it
in a spirit of sincere devotion to public in
terests and with full recognition of their
duty to the party and the people, 1t regrets
to have to say that this spirit did not domi-
nate yesterdays action Of the House. Some
Republicans members seem to have forgot
ten that the people demand this reform and
that the party is pledged to it. Political
conventions generally seek to comply with
the popular will in their declarations re-
garding public affairs. The last Republican
state convention declared as follows:
Relieving that there is need of reform in
vast saving of the public money can be
made by better methods we favor early and
Ject to the end that the people of Indiana.
may nave the best and most economical
management Of local affairs.
There was strong public feeling on the
subject before this resolution was adopted,
and there has been an almost unanimous
Endorsement of it by the Republican press
of the State since. The Commercial Clubs
Of Evansville and indianapolis have in
dorsed it, as has the State Board of Com
merce, comprising twenty-three business or
ganizations, and so far as the people can
express themselves on any subject they have
declared in favor of the movement The
Democratic state convention adopted
declaration favcring revision and re-
form in these matters. Governor Mount
has urged it very strongly, the state
statistician has furnished proofs of its neces-
sity, and representative citizens in all parts
of the State have declared themselves in full
sympathy with it. No longer ago than yes
terday Governor Mount said in the Journal:
1 shall consider it very unfortunate if the
present Legislature does not enact some wise
legislation 10 remedy the abuses that exist
IN county and township offices. | regard this
as one of the most important matters that
can possibly come before the Legislature. /
90 not know how / could make any eX-
preston stronger than the expression in my
message on the subject, but | wish that that
expression may be emphasized. L feel
very positively and earnestly on the sub
lect. The evils of the present system are, 1
think, apparent in most counties of the
State, and they are crying evils / wish
to emphasize especially the statement in my
message that it is in the administration Of
local offices that the great prof1igacy in the
expenditure of public funds exists. 1 wish
TO again call attention to the fact that a
levy of II cents administers the entire State
government and enables rapid payments to
be made on the state debt while the aver
age county tax rate is $1.47.
This is simply a reiteration of what the
Governor has said at other times In the
light of these facts it is surprising that any
should be found willing to lead in an at
tack on this reform under the pretext of
assailing personal motives There is no
worse phase of peanut politics" or partisan
warfare than that which seeks to subordi-
nate public interests to personal preiudices
and private animosities. If reform in local
government is not needed, as the Repub-
lican state convention, the Republican Gov
ernor and the Republican press of the State
have declared it is, let members of the
Legislature attack the measure on it's
merits. Let them come out and fight in the
open. repudiating the state platform and
ignoring the wishes of the people, but do
not. let them adopt a policy of false pre-
lenses. The speech of Mr.. Reser yesterday
"elo dAAhOAt lily VI tic llIllG, the SUBJECT or
the place. 1t did not touch the merits of
the question nor attempt to dc So His per-
sonalities might all be true without affect
ing the merits of the measure. He took the
low view that it had originated among cor
rupt men for selfish purposes, whereas it
is notorious that the trainers of the meas
ure have been actuated solely by a desire
to serve the public by giving expression to
the popular demand for reform If they
have not given this demand the best ex-
preston let Mr.. Reser and other members
improve upon it. If he and those who voted
with him yesterday are prepared to rise in
their places and repudiate the state plat
form and press let them do So but let them
cease their attacks from the rear on those
who are trying to give effect to these ex-
pressions. The people expect this subject
to be discussed on its merits, and they ex-
pect their will to be complied with unless
good reasons are shown why it should not
be. Such reasons are not found in the line
of action adopted by some of the House yes
terday, and if the Legislature continues to
follow that line it will inflict grave if not
fatal, injury on the Republican party in In
diana.