The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-22
THE GOODWINE BILL.
This Writer Attempts to Justify the
Change 1t PrODOses.

SnanSe proposes.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal
- If 1t were true, as the opponents of the
Reformatory reorganization bill allege with
the insistence of authority, that the meas
ure is intended either to avenge the private
grievances of Governor Durbin, or to bat
ter down the foodgates which stand be-
tween the institutions of the State and the
spois system. it would not be necessary to
appeal to the majority in the present Legis-
lature to prevent its passage. Not only
are the Republicans of Indiana committed
to honest, businesslke and nonpartisan
methods in institutional management, but
they have behind them a record on this
proposition which speaks louder even than
the words Of the professional reformer. But
the issue involved in the Reformatory bill
is misstated by those who attribute ii to
the animosity of an individual or the greed
of political party.
Sweeping aside all else. let us consider
the admitted facts When the former war
dent. but was the result of well-calculated
from the Office to accept the superintend-
ency of the company with which he had
before been dealing within the walls of
the prison as the representative of the
a
friendly successor elected, without the
knowledge OF the Governor. The Governors
Ignorance of the situation was not an acct
dent, but was the result of well calculated
concealment on the part of all involved
In the transaction. In conversation which
occurred between members of the board
ana ana the Governor on the eve OF the cleo
tlon or new warden other matters of less
Importance were gone over but the inn
pending change in the management of the
institution, which must have been upper
&c in hn atvN11 nf H. A.
board, was not referred to. This disposes
of the contention of members of the board
that their action was based on the ground
that this was matter in which the Gov
ernor had no legitimate interest a position
never before taken by the board of manage
ment of any Indiana State institution. 1t
friends of the board who state that the
trustees feared. If the facts were made
known, that the Governor would endeavor
to force one of his ''henchmen' upon the
institution. Where, in the history of Gov
ernor Durbin's relations with the institu-
tons of the State, was found the warrant
Tor this boards theory that the States
chief executive was not to be trusted with
information given to many individuals in
private life, because he would seek to
prostitute the Reformatory to personal
ends? And, If the board actually cherished
the fear it now proclaims, was there not
time for the assertion of courageous in
dependence after the Governor had de-
parted from his precedents and attempted
stitution?
Suppose a railroad division superintend-
emit, unfriendly to the general manager of
the road, should place in the hands of the
general superintendent of the system his
resignation, and that by secret arrange
| ment between them a successor should be
| selected and appointed; suppose that while
! the arrangement was pending there should
| be consultations between the general SUI
| perintendent and the general manager, and
| that while other matters of lesser import
~ GIL
| perintendents should be concealed by the
general superintendent. Suppose that If,
| after the appointment were made, the gen.
eral superintendent should offer to the gen.
| eral manager the explanation that he
feared that, if the facts had been known
some incompetent person. a friend of the
| general manager, would be forced upon
him? Suppose that the general superin-
| tendent should refuse to resign, on the de-
mand of the general manager. on the
| ground that under the rules of the road the
authority to appoint the division superin-
tendent was his? Would the board of d.
rectors of such a system as the Pennsyl-
vania, for instance, uphold the general SUI
| perintendent in such a course?
| The people of Indiana are stockholders in
| great corporation. They have chosen a
general manager Of it's interests in the
! Governor They hold him responsible fol
| the maintenance of proper conditions in the
| state institutions. Some of his authority
he delegates. under the laws of the State
| to boards of trustees, which are expected
| to give attention to the details of manage
| ment. These boards appointed, ii is not
true that the Governor has further right
| to exercise a right of supervision; it is moi
| true that the board which gratutously in
| suits and ignores the representative of the
| people who appointed it. which conceals
| from him important facts, is performing il.
| duty in proper manner. If board to-
| day assumes the right to do a thing ii
| claims to be right the theory that it is
| none of the business OF the people of Indi
| ana. as represented in their Governor. Il
| may tomorrow assume the right to do
thing every one admits to be wrong on the
| same ground.
| by this action? If So they were opened
when upon the Governor of Indiana wa!
imposed the duty of appointing boards o.
| management of state institutions. If w,
| had Governor seeking to prostitute tn,
| institutions of the State to personal ends
| there is nothing in the present law to pre-
vent the attainment of his purpose, for IL
| his hands rests the right of appointment O
| boards of trustees and in theirs the right I,
| name the officers of state institutions.
we had such a Governor, would we hav,
such boards of management as now in
control of almost all of our state institu
tons. at least? Would there be three o.
| four superintendent of state institution
| in Indiana who are Democrats? Woult
Governor Durbin have appointed a Demo
cratic member of the Michigan City Prison
board recently when the law does not re
quire that the board be bipartisan? The con
tention is disputed by the facts themselves
| 1t is TO be hoped that the Legislature will
demonstrate the fact that we still have re
sponsible government in Indiana, and tim
will show where the right lies in the pres
ent discussion. SINCERITY.
indianapolis, Jan. %