The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-09

WEAPONS by other than travellers Is made
crime in this State. and yet. thousands
Burglary f. a crime for which there Is no
excuse. In some states burglary Is mace
capital crime. suggest for your consldera-
ton. whether il ought not be so denned III
Indiana. Certain IL is that more restrictive
legislation is needed to prevent unautnor-
lied persons from carrying firearms rIe-
quently persons CraZed with drink use the
ready revolver with deadly effect. ana yet
the same person when sooer woulo De
harmless. / am\cOnvinced that there IL
ed for legislation looking to the licensing
prohibiting the sale thereof 10 olneI pei
sons. Hizhwaymen footpads ana burglars
can freely purchase revoixeIs, ana Se., by o.
the same We must strike at the root or
the evil and regulate the sale as well as
the carrying of such weapons. Honest men
are conDelIed 10 be prepared for defense
when at every turn OF the road they may
be held UP and robbed by those who go
about armed for attack
Fees and Salaries.
The fee and salary act OF 1895 was step
in the right direction. in that it placed the
officers of the State upon a basis OF annual
salaries and provided for the conversion of
all fees into the public treasury. Ii has
been demonstrated that there are inequali-
ties in the compensation paid state officers,
also in the different counties of the State,
and in the case of the States judiciary the
salaries named are Inadequate for the du-
tIeS performed. i am nrm believer That
the salaries of public officers should be
upon liberal basis and that in return the
very best service is due TO the people from
the incumbents of positions charged with
the responsibilities of "A public trust. | be-
leve this Legislature would be recognizing
just demand that comes up from many
counties looking to the readjustment OF the
scale OF salaries now allowed by law, ana
should enact a new statute covering the
salaries to be paid for the filling OF the
offices in the State. The present law fully
pays officers in some counties and under
pays those in others where the labors are
practically equal There should be an
equalization of salaries. not necessarily an
increase in all cases. The report OF the fee
and salary commission to the Legislature
of 1901 is replete with information Of value.
Uniformity i'm Time OF Expirations Of
the Terms of officers.
There is throughout the State a wide di-
verslty In time or expiration or terms or
judges and county officers Under the law
as IL now exists the calendar year has been
determined upon as the fiscal year for coun-
~ and township business. 1t is manifeStly
10 the best interests of the State that the
terms OF officers as nearly possible
should expire at the end of the year.
II Is likewise for the public good that
officers should go into office on the LIST of
January succeeding their election. | recon-
mend. therefore, that the terms Of all cir
cult. superior and criminal court judges, as
well as county officers, begin on the LIST day
OF January succeeding their election. This
be accomplished by one law, compre-
hensive in character, providing that the
terms OF such officers hereafter elected
shall begin on the 1st of January next after
their election. AS it now is, there a
number of judges In Indiana who are
elected nearly two years before they take
office, and there are many county officers
who do not take office for more than year
and some of them nearly two years after
their election This result is not. in my
opinion. for the best interest OF the public
or OF public business. To eliminate this
objectionable feature OF the law provision
should be made whereby all such officers
shall not be elected until the general cleo
ton immediately preceding the time for
Pardon Board.
BY the Constitution the pardoning power
is vested In the Governor. 1t is impossible
Tor him to know all of the conditions that
surround the cases wherein applica ton is
Inade for executive clemency. The work
of requiring the rules of executive practice
TO be complied with, examining the cases,
hearing evidence, if necessary and listening
TO appeals I'm behalf of those who apply
for clemency, is of necessity very burden
some upon the Governor, and the results
are unsatisfactory There is neither time
nor opportunity TO fully investigate the
cases. But one side of the case is. as a
rule. presented to the Governor. l recon-
mend that board. TO be known as parole
or pardon board. should be created by law
with power TO examine each case wherein
application is made for clemency and to re-
port to the Governor the results of such
examination, together with any recon-
mendations they may have. The large
the executive office prevents the proper
study OF these cases. Fully one-third OF
the time of the executive is taken up In
the details OF application for paroles and
pardons.
Government Surveys.
The Department of the Interior. at Wash
ington, has called my attention 10 the EN-.
barrassment employees of the Geological
their work, and has proposed a bill to be
introduced In Indiana and other States
obviating this difficulty. and such a meas
ure will be presented for your considera-
ton.
State Architect
In connection with the report OF the legis-
lative committee it will be observed that
very large sums of money annually ex-
pended by the State in erecting new build
1ngs. remodeling old ones and installing
heating, lighting and water plants therein
IT viii be further observed that a great
deal OF money is annually required to pur-
chase fuel for these institutions l am sure
1t would result in the saving of many thou
sands of dollars annually if the State had
some skilled architect who could supervise
the construction and repair of buildings
and the installation of proper heating
lighting and water systems therein. Under
the present plan these plants are as varied
as the number and character of institu-
tons. | would urge upon you immediate
consideration OF the proposition of provi6.
ING oy law Tor the appointment of an ar
chitect who would have general supervision
OF the construction of buildings and the
planning of heat. light and water plants
In the various state institutions.
The vandaIia Claim.
The General Assembly of 1897 by special
statute, authorized a suit against the In.
oianapolis Terre Haute Railroad to re.
cover from that corporation money due the
state covering a long series of years The
case mas been fought to a conclusion in the
supreme Court, resulting in judgment in
favor OF the State for 1913 905 OF To pron.
erly protect the interests of the State il will
be necessary TO have additional Legislation
of preliminary character A bill has beer
prepared by the attorneys REPRESENTING ths
State, 10 be presented TO the LegisIature
and recommend IL to your early and IA.
vorable consideration.
County Jails.
In some OF the county jafIs I'm Indiana
there Is little or no sex separation MOI
Is there an attempt at classification ot
prisoners according to their respective
crimes. Many of the jails are uncleanly
1oul smelling and poorly situated Som,
OF them are schools in which the more ex
who lack criminal knowledge Ii is not IN,
fault OF the officers. but rather the faul
of the law. All prisoners are confined to
eetner-tne worst with the best Thos,
who are accused of capital crimes are kep
with those who are arrested for petty of
1enSeS ana are awaiting trial, as we'll a:
with those who are detained as witnesses
This is not as IL should be- Those who ar,
confined IN tails should be separated int