The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-01-15

opportunities Tor the INTRODUCTION or tecn-
nicai objections which are frequently used
unfairly for the disqualification Of electors.
rms condition should not be permitted FUR
Their TO exist. 1t IS fundamental principle
of our government that the rights of men
are equal. but the theory cannot be accept
ed as effective as long as we permit any
considerable number Of voters to be sub
jected to dlsfranchisement by election
boards nvalidating ballots through the in
strumentality Of trivialities. The stability
or republican institutions depends upon the
power of the people. as expressed at the
polls. and every man privileged to cast
ballot should be protected in the fullest
measure in the exercise of right which
is likewise his patriotic duty.
Tie siyty-second general assembly Gre
ated what is known Voting Machine
Commission the report of which will be
submitted for your formal consideration,
and | trust ii VIII receive your earnest at
tention. We are confronted with abund-
ant proof that the Australian SYSTEM"
while it Is in many respects superior to
former methods. is lamentably deficient in
the respect that it permits of the practical
Acknowledgement of an astonishingly large
number of electors whose ballots should be
counted as they were intended to be by
voting machine has been tested, and ii Is
the consensus OF opinion among those who
have given the subject thorough considera-
ton that Ii guarantees more satisfactory
results than may he hoped to be obtained
/
by any other method
AN AGGRESSIVE EVIL.
| | consider Il the duty of this general as
semb.y to consider carefully the lottery
evil, as 1t exists'in many forms. especially
with reference TO so-called guessing con-
tests conducted by certain newspapers of
metropolitan pretensions published outside
| the confines of Indiana. These guessing
! contests" as rule do not differ materially
! from lotteries. and they have become such
menace that they cannot be regarded
otherwise than demoralizing, especially so
on account of the fact that they are patron
| lied largely by persons who can i'll afford
! to spare. money thrown away in taking
chances against manifestly unfair odds.
1t is the duty of the state to provide prop
er safeguards for its citizens. and in my
| judgment provision should be made by stat
ute If possible to prohibit the sale or cir
| culation in Indiana of newspapers or other
publications engaged directly indirectly
In promoting lottery schemes under what
ever guise or pretense.
THE PRIZE-FIGHT EVIL.
/ respectfully submit to your honorable
bodies the necessity for the enactment of
more clearly defined laws and more drastic
measures for the suppression OF prize-fghts
i and the regulation of so-called boxing con-
tests. The existing law. interpreted by
| the supreme court. defines prize-hght ac-
| cording to the definition given in the die
/ tionaries: but the spirit of the law is being
| constantly violated by promoters Of alleged
athletic sports when. in fact, exhibitions
conducted under The pretense of manly
! art" are nothing less than contests of
brute force. Legitimate athletics are wor-
| thy of commentator. but it is a lamentahls
fact that many persons persistently take
| advantage of the existing law for the pur-
pose of promoting lawlessness. Pugllism
| iOurishes under the pretext Of scientific
| boxing, and peace officers well courts
appear to be helpless in the matter of es-
! tablishing legal distinction. PriZe-fighting.
! whether conducted frankly or covertly. is
debasing and demOralzng. 1t is prompted
by brutal instincts and. on the whole. is
| SO utterly diSreputahle that every possible
means should be adopted for the suppress
sion Of the ran;fold evils that attend the
dishonored profession of pugilism. practiced
under various hyIocritical pretexts. but all
| alike designed 10 prostitute manhood. breed
criminals and cast the law IN contempt. ]
believe it to he the duty of this legislature
to take action in the premises which will
graceful exhibitions of brutality. under
whatever guise it is proposed that they be
| given.
Notwithstanding the vigorous efforts of
the auditor of state and the attorney gen
eral. who have succeeded within the last
four years in driving out scores Of fraudu-
| lent companies organized extensively to sell
debentures. bonds. stocks and memberships
in all Kinds OF cooperative schemes. it has
| beer impossible, under the existing law. to
eradicate the entire evil Of the sale Of such
stocks. bonds. memberships and certificates
this state is as free. or more so. than most
states, from fraudulent concerns, still the
law should be strengthened so as to enable
these the Concerns from doing sas.ness within
our borders. The corporation laws OF In
diana should be codifed that each cor
poration may be organized under a law 81
section OF law by itself. and the right
powers and duties should be clearly defined
No corporation should be permitted to IN
corporate In Indiana with a capital STOCK
publ shed to the public unless sucn capital
stock has been paid in cash or its equiva-
lent, such payment to Ike made within a
reasonable time after such articles are
filed. Adventures should not be permitted
to carry on business in this state. AIDE
quate capital, fully paid up, should be the
rule. In this period Of great bushes aetiv-
ity and speculation. irresponsible compa-
mics are likely to increase and are increas-
ing greatly In number, and connding pub
lie Is the ready but unwilling victim
suggest for your consideration the appoint
ment OF a commission to codify all the cor
poration laws OF Indiana. to be submitted
at the next session of the general assembly.
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
From time to time requests are made to
the custodian for the use of the Legislative
chambers by various bodies desiring to hold
conventions therein Some of these re-
quests come from organizations having
more or less connection with the state gov
eminent. but many more requests are from
organizations having official connection
. with the state. The halls of the senate and
house have been newly furnished. and u
termine definitely for what purpose, II any
] other thar legislative. these halls shall be
used. Another matter now pressing fol
action is the right of railroads and inter
! urban lines passing through state grounds
These companies are asserting the right un
der existing laws to condemn a right OF
way through the grounds OF the state .ae
! voted to state purposes. This question
! should at once be finally determined by
? law. In some cases the use of prison
+ tgrounds for railroad or interurban lines
would practically destroy the value of sucl
grounds for prison purposes I advise that
action be taken repeating or amending ex
listing laws so as TO prevent any railroad
: street railway or nterurban railway com
pany from condemnng a right of way int,
! or through any grounds owned by the state
without authority therefor properly givel
/, by duly designated state officers or boards
i as may be determined.
: SALE OF CONCEALED WEAPONS.
: Crime in Indiana am sure, has never
e been more vigorously prosecuted than it Il
now and yet there are a great many crimes
D committed that are not premeditated bu
e result from the combined use OF whiske!
!, weapons by other than travellers Is made
: a crime in this state, and yet thousands o.
+ lawless characters carry these weapons
( Burglary Is a crime for which there Is NJ
: excuse. In some states burglary Is made
I | a capital crime. i suggest Tor your con
s sideration, whether it ought not be so de
n | fined in Indiana. Certain 1t Is that NOR
j restrictive legislation is needed to proven
O unauthorized persons from carrying fire
!. arms.
; FEES AND SALARIES.
e The fee and salary act of 1895 was a ste]
in the right direction, in that 1t placed tn
e officers OF the state upon basis OF annua
: salaries and provided for the conversion o
: all fees into the public treasury. 1t ha
G been demonstrated that there are inequali
o ties in the compensation pa.,l state officers