The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1912-03-28

VI OnOiuib puOuiu UC Pdiu ooioiiOo
with their ability and
service. 1t deplored the patchwork
system by which the fee bill was
from time to time being changed,
knowing that justice was not being
done thereby to many ill-paid officials.
I'm addition to all this, the Legis-
lature presented to the people of In
diana for their adoption or rejection,
a new Constitution.
The Governor expressed his hearty
disapproval of the recall of jude IS
and judicial decisions, as advocated
by Theodore Roosevelt.
Economy in Finances.
Speaking of the states finances, the
Governor said in part:
Much has been said, and falsely
said, about the condition of state
finances. 1t is true that nothing will
lie worse than figures save figurers.
The tax levy, however, will disclose
that one and one-half cents less upon
each one hundred dollars has been
taken from the pockets of the people
by this administration. IN the aggre-
gate it amounts to $290,OOO year.
Notwithstanding this decreased
levy, the Democratic party has been
able to meet the increased cost OF
living and the increased population
al state institutions, to open up the
new hospital for insane at Madison
and the tuberculosis hospital at Rock.
vile, to increase the capacity of the
School for Feeble Minded Youth and
the Epileptic Village, and to pay of
the Coliseum bonds of 100000 plus
interest, and it will be able to pay
$4,000 of the state debt in July OF
this year and $4,000 more in Jan
uary of next year"
The Governor recommended better
primary election laws He recon-
mended the establishment of a penal
colony for prisoners sentenced fol
one year or less. He favored the es
tablishment of state orphans home
The Governor and the pardon board
he said, have been criticised for the
way they have exercised the elem
ency power. He said he had no apollo
gies to make on this score.
He pleaded for a higher degree OF
practical religion in state craft.
NO longer may man with safety
to either his soul or his reputation
pray on the Sabbath day as the Cos
pei commands, and pray the rest Of
r., he 10 -
He said that the ballot should be
given only to those who would use Il
for, the greatest good of all the people
An ignorant. corrupt, besotted ant
purchasable electorate, he said, viii
destroy the fabric of any Democracy
The new Constitution, which was pro
POSED at the last session of the Legis
lature, he said, would eliminate from
the ballot box all who were Ignorant
of our institutions and who could be
purchased He said an effort would
be made to have the Legislature ge
rid of the lawyers amendment. nov
before the people, in order that need
ed amendments to the Constitution
may be proposed.
The Governor said he did not SCI
any need of the initiative, the refer
endum and the recall at this time, bu
that he believed wisdom demanded
that the Constitution be made to pro
vide for them, so as to be ready II
meet any emergency. He said he be
lieved there are times when the recall
should be used on public officials.
Best Liquor Laws.
I'm accordance with our last stat,
platform" said the Governor, land II
conform to our belief in the doctrine
of local self-government we have en-
acted the township and city unit Law
to-. govern, option elections as t,
whether saloons shall or shall not b,
permitted. We have, likewise. passed
stringent regulators law known al
the Proctor law, which fearlessly en-
forced, must inevitably result in les
SEEMING the wellknown evils of tn,
liquor traffic. 1t will be well to fear
lessly and strictly enforce these laws
They are, in their language, the bes
Regulatory laws We have ever had
Whether they prove to be so in actiy,
operation will depend upon their en-
forcement. These should not be re
garded as prohibitory legislation TO
the question of prohibition has neve
yet been presented to the people o
this state. We have had no opportu
nifty to pass upon prohibition S,
long as regulation is to be the objec
OF the law. the present enactments
when honestly enforced, will be foun'
satisfactory"
The Governor recommended the en-
largement of the powers of the Stat
I, Railroad Commission and that it b
converted into a public service com
mission, to deal vita public servic
corporations, laws and regulations.
Tariff for Revenue Only.
The speaker devoted Some time t
discussion of. the tariff question
taking the position that the protee
tive tariff principle was indefensibis
and said that the Democratic part
believes in real tariff reform and
tariff for revenue only. He also ia
vored an income tax. so that thos
who have large incomes would pa
their proportionate share of the taxes
Corporations are all right, he SAID
SO long as they keep within the la'
and the scope Of their rights, but the
ehould NOT he allowed to 90 beyon