The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-21

zens of the HOOsier state Takin :
steps to Remedy the Matter.
! INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, Jan 21--The
sudden death of Ex-Governor James A.
Mount on Wednesday evening and within
| forty eight hours after retiring from the
executive Office has again called atten-
| tion to the unnecessary burdens which
| have been gradually placed upon the ex-
ecutive of this State, and many citizens
| are registering quiet, but none the less
earnest. protests against practices which
have carried four Governors in succession
to their graves. three of whom at least
might otherwise have lived TO old age.
So fatal have the duties of the office
proved in the last ten years that not an
Ex-Governor OF the State is now alive
In this time four men have been called
TO discharge the duties of the Office and
three Of them were comparatively young.
were in robust health when succeeding to
the Office and gave evidence of failing
health before the close of their terms.
Governor Alvin P. Hovy was sixty
eight years OLD when he entered upon the
office of Governor in 1889, but he was in
robust health and was not unused TO the
sedentary life incident to his new post.
He was the third native born citizen to
be called TO the executive Office, the third
to be nominated by his party while per
forming official duties at Washington and
the third TO die in Office, his death taking
succeeded by Ira J. Chase, a minister of
the Christian Church, who mad been elect
ed Lieutenant Governor on the ticket
with him, and, though he served less than
two years. the continued strain upon him
undermined his constitution, and he died
in less than two years after quitting Of
fee.
.aude Matthews was only thirty-eight
years old when called by his party to the
executive chair He had been used To life
on a farm. 10 regular habits and to fresh
air. and in a short time his confinement
to his desk and the manifold duties Of his
once began to tell upon his cons itutiC1,
and he WAS often under the care Of ply
sician. Governor Mount was also farm
er, and was used 10 a great deal OF physi-
cal exercise and only such mental exercise
as came from reading and study Of his own
choice. and hence was really recreation
His health showed signs CT giving away
within two years after assuming the office
Of Governor. and like his predecessor. he
was frequently away from his desk be
cause of sickness. He was warned that he
might expect fatal results if he did not
take a prolonged rest, but his duties were
urgent and the warning was unheeded
simply because every temporary absence
from his Office made his burden more on
eroUs when he returned 10 his desk The
penalty for application resulted. as pre-
dicted. in MS death.
Those who are familiar with the duties
of the Office do not hesitate TO charge he
"a tally which attends the incumbents to
the manifold duties. many of which are
unnecessarily placed upon the executive,
and all of which might be made much
lighter were it not for the inconsiderate
demands that are made upon him The
Legislature is primarily to blame for
many OF the burdens that attach TO the
ONCE Under the constitution the Gov
ernor IS an executive officer and the
makers of that instrument did not re-
gard him IL any other light. The Legis-
latuTe has not only added TO his duties
as an executive officer, but has made him
n ministerial officer as well and every
session witnesses new duties added TO his
office. For instance, he is a member of
the Finance Board and every question
that comes UP regarding the States
finances must be submitted 10 him. He is
therefore called into consultation on hun
dreds of questions that affect the treas
ury. and the fact that he is Governor and
all responsibility may be placed on him
often leads to throwing all the GIT
upon his shoulders In the last few years
the Treasurer has done nothing without
first consulting the executive, and. IN so
far as payments Of interest, of bonds
and of other State obligations is con
cerned, he is 20 all intents and purposes,
State Treasurer as well as Governor
Another onerous duty which has been
placed on him and which was not con-
templated when the Constitution made
him an executive officer. is service on the
Board OF State Tax Commissioners. The
board must ny the assessment of all cor
porate property. railroad. telegraph teIe-
phone sleeping car, express, and other
companies; must equalize the taxes he
tween the seFeral counties OF the State
and must do many other things thar he
long to an administrative and not 10 an
executive ofIre- He IS made preside ut Of
the board and of course. must assume
the leading part in the work. not hets use
he is better qualified by training o. s udy
for such a dJ W. SiIt because he is Cover
nor The sessions Of the board are held
in July and August and continue about
forty days TINS the executive is kept N
the city in the hottest part of the sea
son. and is closely confined to work at a
time when he most needs recreation and
change from The dull routine of official
life
Besides these duties. every subordinate
official consults him before taking any
important action, and while the law
should be the guide for the officer. the
Governor thus becomes The interpreter Of
the statute. and Investigation and study
Of questions wholly foreign to his Office
must be ma de. It thus happens thai he /
Labor Commissioners consult him about I
all differences between the employer and (
the empioye: the State Gas Inspector /
must see the Governor before investigat- /
ing charges against any OF the numerous /
corporations that occupy the gas belt I
with their pipe tines: the Mine Inspector /
calls to consult hin before any action IS +
taken regarding the enforcement of min /
ing laws; the factory inspectors, rOtvith- (
the Governors construction of a statute {
before acting in any case. and thus every /
moment of his time Is taken up in the (
consideration of subjects that while not
belonging to the Office, have been grad
ually releg3ted 10 II. till the executive
must move in every matter before the
officer appointed for the duty VIII stake /
upon himself the responsibility of action. I!
But it Is not from such cases alone that /
the most worry comes TO the Indiana /
Executive. No sooner Is he elected than /
he becomes everybody's man and every /
one feels that he has a perfect right to
demand his services in any line that suits .
his whims or his convenience. and from /.
this comes a 3a'ge number of duties I