The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-01-12
DURBIN'S
RETIRING MESSAGE.

me Issuing OF marriage licenses should
ticularly the safeguard of publicity. The
wisdom Of requiring due notice by publ
cation of an Intention to assume the obli-
cations OF marriage has been suggested,
and l commend the same to your consid-
Grafton.
Qualification Committee.
The work of the codifcation committee
has not been confined to a compilation and
coordination of the laws enacted since
phases covers the entire period of the
States history since the adoption Of the
constitution of 1850. The work of the COM
mission has been to gather together all
and to construct therefrom, In the Ian
guage of the commission, tout Of the best
material that could be gathered from any
source a general, as well as comprehen-
sive, statute, bringing these important sub
Jects up to what the commission deemed
was the genera policy or the State with
respect thereto The questions raised by
TINS commission are perhaps more impor.
tant than any which have been submitted
TO any legislative body In this State since
the constitutional convention Of a half
century ago.
The States Finances.
In the management of the States fiscal
affairs during the past two years there
has been no departure from the precedent
or exacting from those charged with the
responsibility for disbursing public funds
the same strict accountability required
from those engaged in the discharge Of q
private trust.
The abolition Of the fee system as a
source of personal perquisites for State
officials, and the increases in the amount
or fees collected, the decrease in per capita
cost OF maintenance of the various State
institutions, the establishment of the COM
petitive system In bids for State institu-
tons, the abolition of the "junketing'' sys-
tenn in legislative consideration Of the
wants of these State institutions, the in
PRODUCTION of thorough bookkeeping meth
ods and insistence upon the use Of ap-
proved vouchers in the diversion of funds
from the State treasury, the decrease in
interest on the State debt by reason of its
rapid reduction, the failure to follow the
example or other States in multiplying
State departments and bureaus, the appli-
cation of business principles generally to
the management of State affairs. Is result
ing In a saving to the people of Indiana
OF more than a million dollars a year.
1t is interesting to note that in Indiana
we are collecting less money into the
general fund from which the ordinary ex-
penses of the State government are paid.
and that we have been paying more ont
of this general fund toward the extinction
OF the State debt than we were ten wears
ago; yet the field Of State activity has con-
stantly been widening. during that period.
and the testimony Of disinterested com
mentarians Is that there has been a steady
Improvement In the character of the serv-
ice rendered by the State to the taxpaying
public.
The following payments on the State
debt have been made since the last SEES
sion OF the General Assembly:
July, 1904, 3 per cent school refund
November. 1904. sk per cent re- V''
January, 1901, SM per cent refund. S''oOo
ers 200. 900
July. 1904. 3 per cent school refund
ing bonds 100000
January, 19Oi, 3 per GEM school re-
IunQlng bonds ................ 206. 900
Total 991. 900
A total payment on the State debt since
the beginning of the present administra-
Awaiting itself of an opportunity to pay
of deferred bonds bearing 31a per cent
interest, the State Finance Board applied
the State debt sinking. fund and a small
amount derived from the general fund in
retiring these rather than current 3 per
cent bonds in the belief that the conse-
quent saving In interest Of SLABS annually
was Of advantage to the State.
The amount Of the State debt on Jan.
3 Of this year was $1,6y6, 615.12 OF this
amount $407. 900 have the optional clause
and are redeemable at the pleasure Of
be paid until 1910 and are not due until
1915; the $4,000 D per cent Purdue bonds
and the S144,000 Indiana bonds are perpet-
nal and represent a permanent pledge of
the State toward the support Of these In
situations.
Unwarranted Assumption.
An effort has been made on the eve of
the assembling Of the Legislature to i'm
press the members Of the General Assem-
bly, and the people of the State generally
with the belief that the financial affairs
OF the state are in q precarious eondi-
diverted money from the general fund for
the payment Of the State debt to such
an extent that the treasury is now en-
barrassed by reason of its action. There
is 20 foundation, in fact, for this assump-
ton. During the fiscal years 1903 and 1904
the total amount diverted from the gen.
eral fund and paid on the State debt
amounted to S14O,21S. or an average of
$4,000 a year. In those two years .t may
be added. the interest charges on the State
debt were decreased in the aggregate by
reason OF payment made in 1902 and 1903.
S92, I20, leaving an alienation from the
general fund as compared with former of
less than $4,000.
The present General Assembly should
understand that it is impossible for a State
to increase its expenditures without also
commensurately increasing its revenues and
not create a gap between the two that will
ultimately result in embarrassment. The
present State debt sinking fund lew Of 2
cents on the hundred dollars will Weld.
before it is possible to lift 1t from the dupli.
cate. sufficient revenue to discharge every
payable before 1910, and leave q balance of
| about $4,000 In the fund. The amount of
the remaining obligation will he only $500
600. l therefore recommend the discontinu-
| ance Of this levy, believing that the debt
| paying policy Is so well established that
the small remaining portion of the debt
may be met out Of the general fund through
a wise adjustment OF expenditures and re-
ceipts by the present and succeeding gen
It is the duty Of the General Assembly.
which fixes the tax levy, to provide 6y
,%me sbiisati saaati eeeat asf 5 sSs itRs payment owen 90. Of
propriatiOns. 1t is certain that eyerv
reasonable demand upon the State treas
ury during the next two years may be
sinking fund levy, a Scent special insti.
| tutional levy, which win bring into the
| treasury during the fiscal year ending Oct.
81, 1907, approximately S450oOo. With all
| to 1910 provided for by the revenues from
the State debt sinking fund accruing be-
| fore 1t Is possible to lift 1t from the dupli-
| cate, It will be possible with the income
mented by the proposed special 3-cent levy
to carry out plans Of new construction
which will anticipate institutional needs
sible thereafter, even with the special levy
abolished, to accumulate In the treasury
sufficient to meet the remainder Of the
State debt when 1t becomes payable. By
such an arrangement there will be NO In
crease Of the total tax levy, which would,
In my opinion, be unnecessary.
The annual increase In the States reve-
should provide for the legitimate growth
In the States expenditure. The fiscal az
fairs Of the State present no problems that
|, may not easily be solved by wise and eco
nomical legislation.
Our Institutional System.
The most serious problem presented, and
one which presses for immediate solution.
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