The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-09
Message Of the Governor the General Assembly

ton OF the donors munificence. likewise a
vote of thanks to the commissioners and
citizens of Spencer county for land donated
surrounding the last resting place OF the
mother of the great emancipation.
| further recommend that suitable pro-
vision be made by appropriation TO put the
grounds in proper order and maintain same
State Labor Commission.
The State labor commission. operating
under the wise and benefcent law created
by the Sixty-first General Assembly. has
accomplished great good. and the work
so industriously and conscientiously per-
formed by the commissioners, Messrs. l.. +.
Mccormack and Il. F. Schmid has been OF
such character as to attract favorable at
tention throughout the country. During the
past two years this commission has made
satisfactory adjustment of forty-two labor
controversies. involving POP firms and 10000
employees, not including nearly score of
boycotts lifted during that period. For
various reasons. a large part of the work or
this commission, such as advising with
employees, drawing up wage agreements and
doing other acts for the promotion of in
dustrfal harmony, does not become a mat
ter of public record, but there is ample
proof that the good results accomplished
far exceed the expectations of the trainers
OF the law. In pursuing Investigations and
acting in the capacity of arbiters, the COM
misSiOnerS have proceeded with admirable
conservatism, basing their rule of conduct
on the broad principle that the rights of all
persons concerned in a controversy are en-
titled to unbiased consideration. / am con-
WINGED that no other State in the Union is
so fortunately situated as Indiana with ref
erence to the amicable relations between
Is there to be found anywhere better laws
for the protection of these respective inter-
ests. The contract system especially, as
1T relates to the coal industry, has proved
satisfactory, and experience has shown
that IL Is one of the most effective means
yet devised for maintaining harmonious re-
lations between employers and employees.
Recently a request was made to me by the
president of the United Mine Workers of
America for statement concerning the OPP
erations of the Indiana law bearing upon
the arbitration of labor troubles by the in
terventiOn of commissioners duly author
lied TO take the initiative, and ii was my
pleasure to submit statement for the con-
sideration of the commission appointed by
the President to investigate the lamentable
anthracite coal strike, which, l dare say,
will have the good effect of creating even
more favor in behalf of the advanced stand
taken by the lawmaking power of Indiana
with reference to one of the gravest prob
lens that has ever confronted the Ameri-
can people. 1t should be the constant aim
of all right-thinking men to encourage.
by every possible means, the growth OF
tolerance between man and man, regardless
of class or station, especially In the re-
lations of employers and employees. Their
interests being mutual. there is no valid
reason why any feeling of enmity or re-
sentiment should exist. The Indiana plan,
which provides that men disposed to strike
shall continue at work. pending arbitration
through the medium of accredited repre-
sentatives, is most highly commendable
because it insures to the families of work.
ingmen maintenance that would be denied
them under a condition of general suspen-
sion of labor during the period of efforts at
settlement, as recently witnessed In Penn
sylvania.
Mine Inspection.
The report of the y,,ine inspector exhibits
the work most intelligently done in that
department The mines of Indiana are in
creasing In number and there are employed
therein In this State about 1900 miners.
i am glad to report that never i'm the min
ing industry of Indiana have many
mines been in operation or so many miners
at work 1t is further matter of congrat-
ulation that none of our miners are out on
a strike, but that their wages have been
gradually increased and the material pros
perity of these miners was never so gen.
| OF the great industries of the State and Il
| constantly growing. The working condi-
tons have been greatly improved and
mission and the mine inspector and his
| deputies i'm their efforts to assist in the
| Improvement of working conditions and the
material prosperity of this great body OF
workmen in our State.
Forestry.
! The subject of forestry is now engaging
| the earnest attention and consideration OF
| practical men, it is realized that unles:
| immediate and active steps are taken tC
| preserve the timber now growing and Il
| provide for future needs by forest propa
cation 1T Is but matter OF a few years
until the timber supply of the State will b.
| entirely exhausted.
The attention of the members of thi.
General Assembly is directed to this i'm
portant matter. and it is recommended tina
| forestry be given careful thought and de
| liberation. to the end that ample mean:
| may be provided to enable the forestr,
| commission to intelligently prosecute prac
| teal forestry work as intended by the Law
| creating the department.
| The future value of forestry, as a prac
termined largely by experiment in order t.
| demonstrate to the people the financial
| worth of the institution.
Board of state Charities.
The work of the Board of State Charitie
| is of inestimable value. Its supervision
| over the benevolent, charitable and correc
| tional institutions is of special value am
| adds materially TO the efficient. humane AM
| economical management of these institu
| tions. oil especially commend the service
of Mr.. Amos w. Butler. secretary of tn
| Board of State Charities, who, in a sigma
| manner. has been faithful to the responsi
| BILE duties of his position.
State Board of Tax Commissioners.
| Experience has demonstrated that TIL
| amendments TO the tax law made by tn
| Legislature of 1901. in that the assessmen
| of street and electric railroads, intercount.
| gas and pipe lines, ETC., is delegate,
| TO the State Board of Tax Commissioners
| have given more uniformity to values, be
| cause of the merging of this class of prop
| erty within the province of single taxing
| authority. 1t has been the aim of the Stat
| Board of Tax Commissioners to equaliz
the value of corporate property in con
| formity with the revenue law of the Stat
| so that the physical elements of the prop
| erty and earning capacity, as demonstrate
| by receipts and operating expenses, wOul
| place each corporation upon such basi
that it would pay to the State in proportion
| TO its real value. The assessment and equal
ization of nearly 5000, 900 600 of values is on
of the greatest responsibilities devolvin
upon the public duty of any of the bureau
of this Commonwealth. and ii requires
fidelity and judgment that from the diff
ferent standpoints of basis, can deduc
an assessment that will be alike fair an
equitable both to- the parties in interest a
investors and the State from whom tn
parent franchise was obtained.
The statute of 1901 specifically taxin
transportation companies should be S
amended that it would be treated as a
excise tax or license payable directly I
the treasurer of state. These companie
do not traverse, generally the differen
counties of Indiana. but operate from cas-
to west on trunk lines, that the value
are distributed upon the records of quit
a number of counties, but in such mino
amounts as TO render the revenue TO an
one county insignificant
The statute authorizing the annual meet
ing of the county assessors has been c
much benefit i'm that 1T has helped to equal
ize values in the assessment of persona
property, and by the interchange of infOl