The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-11

venturers. whose servants they are.
The professional lobbyist Is a foe TO good
government, and merits the righteous con-
demnatlon or those who have uppermos-
In their desires the good OF the people.
5statehouse Repairs
This magnificent capitol should be KEEP
In good repair An appropriation sufficient
10 this end is wise. 1t Is false economy To
the plumbing and repairs OF pubic
buildings. The capitol should be held strict
~ for public business. Any State Official
organizations should be permitted 20 &C.
the Statehouse. but for the benefit OF
blages the taxpayers OF the State should
be at the expense OF providing halls.
grounds should not be used for any
purpose that viii damage the grass, plants
or trees.
Probation Law
/ earnestly recommend the enactment Of
a law authorizing the judge. at his discre-
ton. for first offense. TO suspend sentence
upon Juvenile offenders during good be-
m nanaS'' yo saSn from a law the wo stIsma save os
a prison sentence. keep them away
from the demoralizing influences Of such
environments. and he be the means Of re-
Juvenile offenders from crimina
ways.
Uniform Laws.
II has been well said. Science and In
vention, steam and electricity. know Moth
ing Of State boundaries. Trade and COM
merce, education and enterprise. fuse the
whole country in common interest and
need the kindly guardianship OF uniform
laws The National Conference of Law
yers, looking TO uniformity Of laws, IN
and Indiana's representatives in this
convention recommended the enactment OK
a uniform law concerning negotiable In
struments, the execution OF wills. also de
vorce law. The wisdom of uniform laws
these questions is too manifest TO
need argument in their favor.
New Cellhouse.-
The last Legislature appropriated 500. 600
for the erection of a new dollhouse OF six
hundred cells to be built at the Indiana
Reformatory, this dollhouse to be supplied
with the latest improved system Of heat
ing, ventilation and sanitation. Before the
appropriation was available and the con-
tract advertised, building material had so
rapidly advanced in price that IL was i'm
possible 10 construct such dollhouse with
power plant for heating and ventilation
within the appropriation. The contract
was made for the new house with all ap-
planes, ready for the power plant. Ii
could not be occupied when completed with
occupancy Immediately upon completion
was imperative. The board OF managers
called in conference the State Finance
Board and the State Board of Charities.
boards. after a careful considera-
ton of the situation. advised the board OF
managers to make contract for power
house and provide such means as would
be necessary 10 prepare the new cellhouse
for occupancy upon its completion. To
meet this additional cost OF erecting this
new power house and equipping the same,
ing $4,000. / recommend the passage or
an emergency appropriation.
Mortgage Exemption Law
1t is a grave question whether any ex-
emption other than that provided In the
Constitution should be allowed in our tax
system. The mortgage exemption law en-
acted by the last Legislature is manifestly
more just than any other exemption now
permitted. Where no mortgage exemption
is permitted the owner or a home is often
forced to pay taxes on two or three times
as much property as he possesses free from
mortgage encumbrance, while the investor
in intangible securities often escapes pay
ing any taxes. no matter what his Secur1-
ties or his investment Is worth in the open
market. Such system discourages the pur-
chase of a home by the poor man. The
est in all that is elevating and tends to To-
cal progress. Both wisdom and equity
plead for fair play to the home-getter.
-Epileptics.-
A large number of these unfortunates are
now cared for In different institutions at
public expense. Some in the insane hospi-
tails and somein the School for Feeble-mind-
ed. The attention of the Legislature is
called to this important question.
Insane Criminals
There are I'm our prisons and reforma-
tories a number of insane. There are no
facilities provided for their suitable care.
1t is unW1Se To remove them TO the insane
hospitals. There are in these hospitals in
sane criminals who have been transferred
from the prisons. These are in a degree a
dangerous and disturbing element. i rec
ommend that a suitable place be provided,
having in view their treatment and safe
keeping. This should be adjacent TO one OF
the smaller hospitals, and under the man
agement Of the same.
Purdue University
The university was founded by John Pur-
dua nc an agricultural collpCa The Nor
rill act of 1862 provided, through the
sale of public lands, a fund for
the endowment. support and maintenance
objects should be to teach such branches
Of learning as are related TO agriculture and
the mechanical arts. The Hatch act of 1881
annually appropriated $l5. 900 for the es-
tabliShment and maintenance of an expert
mental station. Senator Morrill,. I'm 1896.
secured the second law relating TO agricul-
tural colleges and appropriating money TO
be applied TO instruction in agriculture, the
mechanical arts, the English language and
the various branches of mathematical.
physical, natural and economic science.
with special reference TO their application
In the Industries Of life and to the facilities
for such instruction.
The manifest purpose OF the founder Of
this university and. the subsequent laws
above referred to was TO supply a need.
1t was TO furnish a training for industrial
pursuits. 1t was TO teach the farmer TO
1ERAJ y ~ as LAA AAAAAo AA1 ~ ~
of economics to his business transactions.
1t was to train architects. mechanics. en-
gineers, electricians-in brief. to fit the
students for the practical pursuits of indus
trial business. President Washington.
whose practical experience as a farmer ON
his Virginia plantation, as well as his
sagacious craftsmanship, enabled him TO
foresee this need. as shown by his annual
message of Dec. Z. 1896. in which he recom-
mended the establishment of a national
university In which, among other things,
the science OF agriculture should be taught.
The lack of a knowledge OF this science is
producing its results. The elements OF plant
food ave been, through prodigal waste,
exhausted, and millions of acres of land
or abandoned farms I'm the Eastern States
sound the note of alarm. These unthrifty
methods are leaving their disastrous trace
In our State. So long as the United States
had millions OF fertile acres TO move 70
from the WORKOUT soil the danger from
unthrifty methods was not SO alarming.
Purdue is unique In it's purpose. IL must
and mechanical industries, upon which rest
the material prosperity Of the State.
Indiana is an agricultural State. What
has IL done and what is il doing to advance
this great industry. as compared with other
States?
In 1899 Illinois appropriated $4,000 for
buildings and equipment exclusively for the
act OF Legis' allure. the School OF AgricrI-
ture Of the University OF Illinois has for
its exclusive use an annual income Of
$4,000.
The Wisconsin Agricultural Department
has buildings and equipment valued at
annual income of 10000. In 1883. the Legis-
lature appropriated $4,000 for an addition