The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1915-01-07
GOVERNOR PLEADS
ECONOMY MEASURE
IN 1915 ASSEMBLY
Ralston Urges Policy of Ma
ti0nal Economy and Moth
ing More in Message Read
Before General Assembly
Meeting Today.
PLANS LEGISLATION


sixty-ninth general assembly Of the
state Of Indiana, Governor Samuel NJ.
Ralston said:
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House
Of Representatives:
Tho Constitution Of Indiana provides
that the Governor shall. from time to
time. give the General Assembly infor
nation touching the condition Of the
state, and recommend such measures
as he shall judge to be expedient In
recognition Of this duty and In keeping
with custom. I desire to communicate
with you At this time.
1t is the theory Of constitutional
government that an intimate relation
should exist between the executive and
and the legislative departments; and
l shall deem 1t my duty to communi-
cate with you without reserve when
ever I feel that the public interest war
rants such action. While the law does
not excuse ignorance. 1t does presume
innocence. All men are presumed to
mean we'll in their relation with their
fellowmsn and to the public. This
presumption should not be overthrown
BY mere suspicion or unreasonable
oianor. congratulate you. therefore,
that out Of the experience OF ages and
with the approval of wise jurists, you
como to your post OF duty as public
servants supported by this rule and
sustained by this enlightened public
0p4oion.
Lake all public otlcers, you have it
n your power IN the discharge of your
duties as lawmakers to vindicate this
legal presumption and this public opin-
ion by your faithful Off cial conduct
1t II my duty. as it IS my intention.
In my Ofocial relation with you, to as
sumo this to be your purpose; and
nothing short Of convincing proof shall
induce me to abandon this assumption
shall not Judge you by standard
other than the one by which l am will
Ing to be judged by you.
Supplies for Legislature.
The charge is invariably made at
the close Of every session of the Leg
islature that extravaganza has pre-
vailed in the purchase and use of sta
tionery and printed matter by that
body; and the regrettable thing is,
that there have been times when this
charge was true. There is such a
thing as the state, like the individual,
being penny wise and pound foolish
and it il not my desire to see this
body adopt that sort of a policy.
Extremes on any subject or question
are not desirable. Rather it should
be the policy Of those charged with
the performance Of public functions to
endeavor to strike happy medium
in their work, and in this way do for
the public what the honest man of av-
erage prudence, intelligence and civic
conduct would do under similar cir
cumstances. In such a course there
IL safety. and just in the degree public
serva nts depart from this course there
is danger OF injustice being done the
public. | urge upon you therefore the
policy Of rational economy and moth.
Ing more.
Employees.
The General Assembly cannot carry
on its work without assistants, clerks
and employees: but in making up its
working force. 1t should not feel called
upon to create a position for every
one who seeks employment. No fault
should be found with citizen who de-
stres an opportunity to serve his state
in any capacity: but the General AS
sembly has none Of the functions OF
an employment bureau beyond it's duty
to secure the needful. and only the
needful, help to enable its members
to render the service for which they
have been chosen. The number OF
employees. therefore, that will be re
quired should be determined II 1t
can be determined with reasonable
certainty, before you make an appro-
priation to defray the expenses of this
session Of your body; and I recon-
mend that you appropriate not to ex
coed one hundred fifteen thousand dol
lars for this latter purpose.
would further suggest that each
house keep q payroll OF its employees
showing the number Of days Of labor
performed and the amount due each
employe, the same to be furnished the
Auditor OF State at the close of each
week. BY doing this, 1t would avoid
any irregularities that might occur in
the making Of appointments Of those
employees necessary for YOU to have
for the proper discharge OF your Of
fetal duties.
Bills Not Passed.
The proper officials Of the General
Assembly have in the past certified tc
the Governor certain bills as having
been passed by both the house and
senate. when such was not the fac.
and through such certif1cation the
Governors approval and the publica
tion Of said bills as laws were secured
This sort OF thing has occurred wher
Republicans controlled the Legislature
and 1t has occurred when Democrats
controlled It. This shows grea,
probability OF its recurrence and the
necessity for making provision agains,
the possibility OF its repetition
These mistakes. to characterize
them in no severer terms. we're abso
futely inexcusable. the most grievous
wrongs against the public | recog
nize that it is impossible for the Presi
dent OF the Senate and the Speaker o.
the House TO carefully scrutinize all the
bills they have to sign, or to keep ir
their minds the record or history O
every bill OF necessity they have t<