The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-15
GOVERNOR DunBrN.s INAUGURAL.

That large majority of the people of In
diana who desire intelligent, efficient and
business management Of public affairs will
be gratifed viii the inaugural of Governor
Durbin. It's keynote is that "a public
office is a public trust" To that patriotic
and high spirited conception every para
graph of the inaugural is written. Not only
does every man in the public service owe
the State his best service. but the States
service demands the best men. The States
service is no place for broken-down men
who have failed elsewhere. or for men who
a not the spirit to struggle for mainte-
nance in the common vocations and look
If there are pen who have imagined that
the advent of a new Governor would be a
favorable season to undo the reforming
and progressive work of the Republican
fully, read Governor Durbin's inaugural and
wisely conclude that 1t is no time to fight
to restore the vicious practices of fee
grabbing and loose accounting.
There can be no doubt where Governor
Durbin stands in respect to the manage
ment Of the States correctional and char
liable institutions. In the most emphatic
language he declares for that nonpartisan
management which exists to-day by Re-
publican legislation and administration.
publican legislators have conferred upon
the people of Indiana. Thus far it has
proved a great benefit to the State. 1t has
secured better results, and IL has been an
object lesson in that 1t has given us higher
standards for public service. IL believe in
the wisdom and justice of the merit sys-
tenn" is a declaration that will meet the
approval of all real friends of good gov
eminent Those persons whose time is de-
voted to Micawberism will ~cri;iclse and con-
telligent mass of people will sustain the ex-
ecutive who lives up to the ideals which
Governor Durbin has set up.
Fortunately for the State and the Legis-
lature. Governor Durbin enters upon the
discharge of his duties with full informa-
ton regarding the States institutions, be-
cause he has visited and inspected "a of
them. He can. with the legislative commit
tee. with whom he visited the institutions.
give the Legislature better information as
TO the needs of the institutions or the de-
mands for new ones than can any interest
ed lobby-a fact the Governor does not fail
to intimate. The general recommended
tons of the Governor are not numerous, but
p~ratical. He intimates to the Legislature
that its wisdom and industry can be better
displayed in rejecting a large number Of
bills than in making a large volume of
new laws. The world may be governed too
much; it is certainly llawed TOO much.
Statu~te-tinkering is not a alaudable Indus
try. and the presenting of a large number
of bills is evidence rather of a legislators
weakness than his wisdom. Besides, the
docketing, printing and disposing of a large
number of bills is a waste of time and
money.
Those who read Governor Durbin's in
augural will discover that the active bust
ness man has the ability TO put himself on
paper in excellent language and vigorous
sentences. 1t is not only sound in view, ele-
waited in it's conception Of public duty, but
the inaugural is expressed in the language
that oefts a public utterance.