The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-11
Governor Mounts Message
To the General Assembly.

Quoting the primary conventions are any
thing but assuring. A law tnat Wouie
eliminate the evil now attending some OF
these conventions and guarantee a free
and expression from the Nol,
ers, without cumbersome provisions ana
expensive paraphernalia, would meet Win
favor.
Election Bribery
The corruption of the ballot, through the
purchase of votes, is a menace 10 Tree gov
eminent. This dangerous evil is growing,
ano has already reached alarming condl-
tions. Success In a campaign Is Decom-
ing more and more contingent upon poodie
instead of principle and merit. The num-
Der of men who put their votes on the mar
ket are increasing. What is the fruitage or
this deplorable tendency? Men of wealth,
instead of ability, have the preference.
Syndlcates, monopolies, trusts, corpora
tons are solicited for large campaign con-
tributions, thus placing the parties their
debtor. Wealth has undue influence In
molding laws. Hence the tendency or leg
islation is not SO much in the interest or
the man who holds the pillow or Yields the
hammer. who works in the mine or factory.
as in the interest of the men who furnished
the Doodle in the campaign. Tn present
dangerous and diSreputable methods must
be stopped. Both the seller and the buyer
of votes should be punished by disfran-
chisement, by fine and Imprisonment.
Indiana Historical Society,"
In view of the rapid advance of the State
o. Indiana to the front rank of States. and
the fact that ii has a record of which its
citizens may well be proud, 1 deem 1t prop
er to call your attention to the necessity
or taking some steps to collect and pre-
serve the books, documents and papers
wherein the record of the progress Of the
State is contained.
Many of these have been already hope
lessly lost in the last one hundred years.
We should be derelict in our duty TO pos
arff ~ mo .IA.lI -Axrv 80
collect and preserve such as are still OBJ
tainable.
No complete printed set now exists of
even our legislative journals. No complete
copy can now be found in any State Of
flee of the printed laws of the State and
Territory of Indiana. But one original
printed volume is known to exist in the
United States of the laws OF the Governor
and judges of the Indiana Territory. The
manuscript of the Executive Journal Of
the Indiana Territory lay imprinted In the
office of the secretary of state for over one
hundred years and has but recently been
printed under the supervision OF the lndi-
ana Historical Society.
But besides records and of an
official character, there are many others,
such as journals, diaries, letters and other
papers, essential to the preservation of an
authentic history of the progress of the
State. which are usually collected and pub
lished by State historical societies. To such
societies nearly all our sister States, have
given liberal encouragement. The only ap-
preparation ever made to the Indiana His
last Legislature. The work done by the So
ciety speaks for itself, and l am sure that
every. member of the Legislature who has
examined IL Will agree with me that the
money appropriated was well invested.
The Insane
A long step was taken by the last Legis-
lature toward providing for the insane OF
made. 1t is the duty of the State to pro-
vide for its unfortunate wards. The speedy
administration of treatment to those bereft
of reason always increases the chances for
recovery. Delay in such attention is at
tended with ~unfavorable results.
The aggregate number of inmates in the
four insane hospitals is $500, divided as
follows:
Eastern 593
Both the condition and management of
these institutions are to be commended.
They are controlled by able and expert
enced superintendent.
Need of Revising the Judiciary of the
State
Two years ago l called the attention Of
the Legislature to this growing need. In
the vetoeing of court bills l likewise en-
phasized this need. Demand for new court
districts comes with each assembling of
the l~awmaking power. In some instances
there is apparent need for relief TO the
crowded docket, but in many courts there
is not business to occupy one-half of the
time of an industrious court. The present
method of relief intensiies this inequality.
II often makes two courts where one could
do the work, thus increasing expenses I'M
necessarily. IL the present rule Is followed
and increasing demands granted, in the
near future there will be a separate Cir
cult Court for each county, while the larger
counties. with competing cities. will de-
nIand two courts of concurrent jurisdiction,
as was done in the last session of the
Legislature in thus creating two courts in
h nYrntfnc nf II Eo and ~ Uyifh II
needed appliances, thus burdening the peo-
pie unnecessarily with taxation.
Courts are multiplying more rapidly than
litigation, and court expenses at a more
rapid rate than courts. This increase of
courts is attended with a growing evil. A
| leading lawyer of the bar in a county is
chosen judge. He being interested as an
attorney is disqualified from acting as
judge in much of the litigation. Hence
the need of special judge with additional
expense to be paid by the State for per-
forming the duties for which another judge
Is paid by fixed salary. With such un-
methodical and unwise system. is it any
wonder that the taxpayers realize that the
levy increases more rapidly than the as
sessment list?
This growing expense can be obviated and
existing inequalities removed through the
reorganization of the State into court dis
tricts comprising several counties, equal
iZing as nearly as possible the work of the
several districts and providing for the
number of judges to correspond with the
4 SlZt " IL EAU III IuuStS lDUS
chosen, and following in succession, would
remove the need of special judges. Such q
system would secure the best legal talent
In the district, better maintain the dignity
OF the courts, and the methods Of the best
| judge would be likely to become the rule
in transacting business in the circuit. Un-
der such a system fewer judges than we
now have would transact business better.
save the expense of special judges (Which
amounted to over $50, 900 in the past two
years, an amount sufficient to pay the sal
aries of twelve judges for one year,, and in
the aggregate save multiplied thousands of
dollars of expense, while at the same time
securing to the people of what the Con-
stitution ontemplates, that Justice shall
be administered freely and without pur-
chase, complete and without denial. speedy
and without delay"
Dependent Children
The last Legislature wisely enacted a
law to regulate the importation of de.
pendent children An effort is being made
to evade the provisions of this law by or
o. bringing children from without the
State. Indiana should not be burdened
with the care of orphan children brought
here from the great cities surrounding our
borders.
L recommend the amending of this law So
as TO further provide that no organization
for child-savipg shall be incorporated
approval of the Board of State Charities.
The Soldiers
Indiana is justly proud of the splendid
tribute paid TO her soldiers and sailors In
the monument erected to their memory
This silent monitor, voiceless. yet eloquent
tells of the suffering and the sacrifice IN