Decatur Democrat, Volume 42, Number 44, Decatur, Adams County, 12 January 1899 — Page 7

~ THE MESSAGE Governor Mount Reviews the Needs of the State and Makes Recommendations. REDUCTION OF STATE DEBT The Three-Cent Tax Levy Should Be Continued — County and Township Hefbrm la Urged and Lynching Strongly Condemned — Science of Agriculture In the Schools- Labor Commission Good Hoads. ■ The following is Governor Mount's message to the general assembly of Indiana: | THE MESSAGE. Covernor Mount's Biennial Communication to the Legislature. Gentlemen of the Senate anti House of Representatives. “The people of Indiana have chosen you to represent them in the Sixty-first general assembly. They have reposed in you their confidence, and you now enter upon the responsible duty of enacting laws for the promotion of public welfare. “The constitution makes it incumbent upon the governor ‘from time to time to give the general assembly information of the affairs of the state and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall deem expedient.’ “I deem it unnecessary to review the work of the various institutions of the state. The reports of these will be printed and put upon your desks for your examination. The last general assembly enacted a law providing for the appointment of a committee to visit, examine and report the condition and needs of the various state institutions. In obedience to this law a committee, consisting of Hon. Francis T. Root (au♦I, ■/ill iW 11®®jEft ('w ■ thor of the bill), Hon. Fremont Goodwine and Hon. Strathur Herod, was appointed. With this committee’s report, added to the published reports of the state institutions, I think it inopportune to prolong this message with references thereto, but shall give the time to the consideration of other important questions. State Finances-— Three Cent Levy. “The reduction of the state’s indebtedness has continued during the past two years with the most gratifying results. Funds accumulating in the treasury have been promptly used in taking up outstanding bonds, and a large amount of interest has thus been saved to the taxpayers. Payments on the state debt have been made as follows: March 20, 1897 $150,000 June 21, 1897 80.000 i July 7, 1897 190,000 i Oct. 88. 1897 100,000 I Jan. 20, 1898 100,000 I Feb. 10,1898 100,000 July 12, 1898 100.000 ! Aug. 20. 1898 100,000 i Dec. 30,1898 200 000 ! Dec. 31, 1898 200,000 Total... $1,320,000 “The 3-cent levy for the state sinking fund should be continued until the entire indebtedness has been paid off. * * * There is a widespread feeling that the taxes levied for state purposes form the larger portion of the burden imposed upon taxpayers, but this popular fallacy is entirely dispelled by a single statement of facts, byway of comparison. The amount levied for state purposes (aside from the school fund, which is 11 cents on the 100, and 14., cents for educational purposes) is only 17 cents, out of which all expenses of state government, including the judiciary, are paid—including also payments on state debt— while the average county levy is ♦1.47. “These comparisons are cited in the hope that they may awaken the people to a more complete realization of the fact that complaint of oppression on account of taxation is due in large measure to local causes rather than to incompetency, mismanagement or extravagance on the part of those into whose charge is giveu the administration of the fiscal affairs of the commonwealth.” The governor then pays a high compliment to the retiring auditor, A. C. Daily, Treasurer F. J. Scholz and Audi-tor-elect Hart for the gratifying condition of the state’s finances. “In this connection it is pertinent to mention that in the prosecution of the Spanish - American war, Indiana ad vanced to the federal government a sum of money approximating $200,000. This was used in the mobilization, equipment and forwarding of this state's quota of troops, conformably with the call of the president. All claims on this account have been filed with the proper authorities at Washington and are being adjusted as expeditiously as possible. Claims to the amount of $107,102.55 have already been formally ]>assed upon

by the auditor of the war department, and a warrant for that amount was de-' posited with the state treasurer on Dec. | 29, 1898. The remainder of Indiana’s' claims against the general government are in process of adjustment, and it is confidently expected that complete remuneration will be accomplished within a comparatively brief period. It is gratifying to know that all reports agree that Indiana’s pending claims on account of the war are in better shape than those of any other state in the Union.” A tabulated statement of the foreign and domestic debt shows: Foreign debt, $4,910,000; state stock certificates, $6,615.12; domestic debt, $184,000; total state debt, $5,400,615.12; the interest on which is $179,935. County and Tox.mliip Reform . “The need of reform in laws and methods of county and township government is manifest to all. There are not the proper safeguards around the powers delegated to county commissioners. They have power to levy taxes, make contracts, spend money and make allowances and audit the books. Section 7J850 of Burns’ Revised Statutesof 1894 gives too much discretionary power to the county board. The state statistician, in answer to questions, finds that some counties have purchased court libraries. There is no law for such expenditure. The prodigality with which county funds are expended in some counties is the outgrowth of following precedents on the ascending scale. Attorneys employed by commissioners in county litigation are not infrequently paid fees five times as large as would be paid for like service rendered to an individual client. Judges of the court are often extravagant in their allowances. My attention has been called to the disparity in such allowances by different judges for like service. The expenditures of the township officials last year for ‘outdoor relief’ amounted to $375,206.92. This enormous expense is startling, and reveals the dangerous methods and lack of proper regard for public moneys. “The forthcoming report of the state statistician will reveal in township government a great disparity of costs per capita. The report will show a difference in the total county expenditures that varies from 79 cents to $15.16 per capita, or a disparity of nearly 2,000 per cent. It shows a county of a little more than 32,000 inhabitants expends for county purposes five times as much money as another county of more than 70,000 inhabitants. “The cost of enforcement of criminal laws varies from 3 cents per capita to 2.4 cents. “The expense of elections, etc., repairs, and all other expenditures, varies from 31 cents up to $8.32 per capita. “I believe it safe to conclude, if proper safeguards are placed about these offices, wise business and economic methods adopted by counties, courts and townships, there could be a saving of 20 per cent of present taxes for county and township purposes. The people demand a reform that will lessen the burden of taxation and not a misnomer that will augment expenses. Indiana's Good Name Dishonored. “The good name of Indiana has been dishonored by a lawless mob that took from the jail in Ripley county and lynched five men charged with burglary. Even if these men had been by a court found guilty, as charged, the punishment would have been imprisonment, and not death. All sense of justice and safety revolts against the mob as a tribunal for pronouncing judgments or administering punishment. * * * • Every jierson charged with crime has the right, under the constitution and laws of the state, to a fair and impartial For a better guarantee of this right and to awaken a more lively interest in the counties against lynchings and whitecappings, I recommend the enactment of a law making the county responsible for such conditions and liable in a civil suit for damages. In the case of lynching the nearest of kin should be authorized to institute the suit, and for the offense of whitecapping, the aggrieved party should have the right to recover damages. Any sherifl who permits a prisoner to be taken from his custody by a mob should be required by law to forfeit his office. Lax enforcement of laws eventually results in the people taking the law into their own hands. “Quite recently the good name of In diana has again been disgraced by' a lawless mob, who took from the Scott county jail a prisoner who was soon tc be tried by a court of justice. There are no palliating circumstances connecter with this brutal murder. Indications point to a conspiracy against this man’s life, for the purpose of sealing his lips in death, lest damaging disclosures in trial might reveal the wickedness and crime of others. This atrocious murder appeals with new force to the legislators of Indiana for the enactment of a law that will forever stop this mockery of justice.' Judiciary. The governor recommends the appointment of a committee, to report at the next session of the legislature, to have in charge a thorough revision of the judiciary of the state. It is suggested by the executive that court districts could be established with the number of judges to correspond With the size of the district, and the judges thus chosen could alternate and thus do away with the special judjtes, who have cost the state $49,084.60 Muring the last three years. The governor says that under such a system fewer fudges would be necessary to transact the business than now and better salaries could be paid as an inducement to securing the best men. “During the past year repeated violations of the penal laws of the state against the waste of natural gas by the Standard and other oil companies were permitted to go unpunished. * * * The state could not bring suit for a temI porary injunction or restraining cider because the general statutes governing injunctions do not permit any restraining order or temporary injunction to be

granted to the state, or any private litigant, without bond (R. S. 1894, Sec. 1,167). I therefore earnestly urge that immediate action be taken by the legislature on this subject. I recommend that the attorney general be given authority, in the name of the state of Indiana, without bond, to prosecute or defend any action that has been or shall hereafter be begun, where the state is interested in the result of the action.” Science of Agriculture In Schools—Labor Commission. The governor quotes copiously from numerous public men, scientists, teachers and agriculturists in favor of teaching the primary principles of agriculture in the public schools and commends “the enactment of a law looking to the introduction of nature study, or the primary principles of the science of agriculture into our school curriculum. ••This commission, through its acts, has demonstrated the wisdom of the law that created it. The commissioners have, in a little more than 18 months, investigated 39 strikes and lockouts. They failed in but seven instances to adjust differences, and in two of these one party to the contests was nonresident, over whom the commissioners had no jurisdiction. * * * Through the efforts of the commission 13,815 strikers have been put to work. Thus it is manifest that hundreds of thousands of dollars have been saved to capital and labor within our borders, the peace and dignity of the state preserved. I believe the time has come when such differences should be adjudicated in a lawful court of arbitration, where unbiased reason rules and where the evidence of both parties is heard. I believe the finding of such court should be mandatory. Provision should be made whereby the aggriei _d partj' could immediately appeal to the | circuit court, the decision of this court to be binding and duly enforced. lieform Institutions. “These laws, enacted two years ago, embody that which the constitution of the state, since its organization, contemplated, that ‘The penal code shall be founded on the principle of reformation, and not vindictive justice.’ The wisdom of these laws finds ample justification in practical results, as shown by the reports of the penal institutions. In order that all prisoners convicted of like crimes may share equally in the administration of punishment, I recommend that the boards of control bo empowered to apply the grade system and the pan law to all prisoners convicted of crimes that admit them to the provisions of the indeterminate sentence law. I recommend the enactment of a law that will give to the trustees of the Boys’ Reform School the power to transfer incorrigibles to the Indiana Reformatory, where they shall in all things be subject to the law governing that institution. “I believe the time is opportune for the placing of all the penal and correctional institutions for males under one board of management. Transfers can then be made from one to another without any friction and with less complication and expense. Benevolent Institutions. “Never in the history of the benevolent institutions of the state has the management been more efficient or so free from scandal. The per capita cost of maintenance is less than ever before. The highest efficiency can only be maintained through the most competent and experienced management. Partisan control cannot assure either. Competency grows with experience. Partisan man. agement of state institutions means a change in the government of the same with each transfer of political power in the state. If the management of these institutions is to be given as reward to politicians, then, as a logical sequence, the larger the salary the better the re ward; the more places provided, the more workers rewarded. Extravagance and incompetency result, scandal follows, and the people at the polls rebuke the debasing system by defeating the party responsible for it. The Trusts. “The report of the labor commissioners of this state reveals that ‘no proposition involving settlements of labor controversies present as great obstacles as those in which trusts are parties to agreements. In every encounter with labor the workingman, however just their cause, emerge from the conflict the greater sufferers. The opportunities of trusts in regard to wage reductions are exceptional, and their desires are always equal to their opportunities. They are not trammeled by state laws and they defy federal authority. ’ “Not only is the trust potent in controlling wages, but in lobbying their interests in law-making bodies and in controlling the price of their products. Any combination or trust formed for the purpose of arbitrarily controlling the price of any product or article of manufacture or commerce, or any insurance combination, by which a compact or organization, or conspiracy or confederation, is entered into for the purpose of controlling and determining the rate of insurance, should be prohibited and severely punished as a conspiracy against the law of supply and demand and as an J tagonistic to fair competition. “The law enacted two years ago is not sufficient, and the attorney general of i the state did not feel justified in attempting to prosecute trusts under its provisions. , “I would urge upon this legislature the need of a law drastic enough to prevent these conspiracies against fair competition and just wages. State Board of Education. “There are some serious objections to I the present composition of the state , board of education. One of these objections, founded upon justice, is that the counties have no representation on this board. It is in the township and , district schools that the poorest school advantages are offered, and these have no champion or representative on the board. The three state institutions, numbering perhaps 3,000 students, have three representatives. The school

enumeration of the state shows 754,94.5 Os this number, approximately 40 per cent belong to city schools and have three representatives, while 60 per cent, or 435,165, belong to township and district schools, and have no representation on the state board. Indiana's Insurance Laws. “The fee and salary law of 1895 repealed the law allowing the auditor of state 10 per cent of all fees collected from insurance companies. During Mr. Daily’s four years’ incumbency of the office there has been collected, in the insurance department, $684,249.98. Under existing laws, prior to 1895, 10 per cent of this amount, or $68,424.98, .would have been a part of the auditor’s emoluments. Under laws now in force, it has only cost the state the salary of one insurance clerk, at SI,BOO per year. “There was paid in premiums to foreign life insurance companies for the fiscal year ending July 1, 1898, $4,209,009,47, and there was received back to the state on policies $1,294,555.57, or a loss to the state of $2,914,453.90. “Upon inquiry of the insurance department of Ohio, I have received a statement showing the cost to the state of the insurance commission to be $17,500 annually, and that the amount collected during the last fiscal year was $130,000. A statement, in answer to a similar inquiry directed to the insurance commissioner of Illinois, reveals that the cost in salaries of the insurance commission is $21,000 per year, the amount collected being $175,323.99. In Indiana the amount collected last year, through the insurance department of the auditor of state’s office, was in excess of $208,000, at a cost to the state of only SI,BOO. “It is clearly manifest, therefore, that Indiana does not need an insurance commission, with its multiplied ex--1 penses. I would, however, recommend that one additional clerk be furnished the insurance department of the state auditor’s office. This will enable the office to make a more thorough investigation of the securities filed and of the financial standing of all companies doing business in the state, thus guaranteeing to the people safety, as far as possible, against irresiHjnsible companies. “Fire insurance companies should be held responsible for the actions of their agents. When an agent accepts and agrees upon a cash value of property and writes a policy based upon this value, and the insured pays premiums in good faith, then, in the event of total loss, the company should be compelled to abide by their agent’s appraisement and pay the loss in full. “There was paid last fiscal year in premiums to foreign fire insurance com panies $3,606,842.40, and received back on losses $1,536,306.64, a net loss to the state of $2,070,535.76. Insane Hospitals. “It will be your duty to provide additional accommodations for the unfortunate insane wards of the state. My attention has been called to the lax provision of law for admission to the insane hospitals. No insane person should be admitted as a ward of the state who is not a legal resident of the same. I would recommend additions to the present hospitals, instead of a new hospital located on a new site, as this would necessitate augmented expenses on account of the purchase of new location and a new board of officers and managers. Appeals For Appropriations. “It is manifest that the appeals for appropriations for the erection of new buildings, etc., in connection with state penal, benevolent and educational institutions will be au unusually large amount. It is the duty of the general assembly to give earnest attention to these requests and to scrupulously guard against anything in the nature of extravagance. It should be borne in mind that a large proportion of the taxpayers of this state, who will be called upon t< bear a part of the burden of increasad expenditures, are compelled to practice that rigid economy in their homes that deprives them not. only of conveniences and luxuries, but many of the common necessities of life. This large class of worthy citizens will have no one but their chosen representatives to look after their interests in the legislature, and I have confidence in the ability and integrity of this body to deal conservatively and wisely with these grave problems. Indiana In the Recent War. “In the course of this message proper I will not undertake to enter into a detailed recital of Indiana’s part in the Spanish-American war. * * * I direct attention especially to the reports of the paymaster general and the surgeon general, respectively, detailing the operations of those departments. It will be observed that the paymaster general corrects a popular misapprehension in stating that no deductions on clothing account were made, except in the case of officers, all of which is in strict compliance with law. Most of the uniforms furnished the Indiana national guardsmen, when they enlisted in the federal service, were comparatively new. Some of the soldiers were furnished uniforms badly worn. The government receipted to the quartermaster for these uniforms. Subsequently a board of survey was appointed to fix the value of these uniforms furnished by the quartermaster general of the state. Some of the volunteers desired the quartermaster to furnish this equipment without charge. This he could not do and render a proper accounting to the state. “I therefore call the attention of the legislature to this matter, and, if it shall be shown that an injustice has been done, prompt and ample reparation should be made. “The Indiana volunteers for the war with Spain have made an honorable record and the patriotism and devotion to duty they have manifested on all occasions are deserving of the highest comNecessity >f Good Hoads. “Good roads are indispensable to progress and development. The highest j attainments in rural life, socially, mentally or financially, cannot be attained

when bad roads abound. Discontent ■with country life is the fruitage of the thralldom of mud roads. Two years ago I said to the general assembly that, ‘while the road laws needed improving, their execution needed revolution. ’ The same need exists today in an aggravated form. The law requiring the road i supervisor to work all able-bodied men ’ on the highways during the months of . April, May and June, in many instances, is not faithfully enforced, and in some cases absolutely ignored. “The average road levy by the township trustee is about 20 cents on the SIOO. This raises a vast revenue, which is not expended with judgment and fidelity. The railroads of the state are assessed, in round numbers, at $154,000,000. This would create a revenue of nearly $300,000. This is ‘farmed out’ between the railroads and the supervisor. A discount is made to the railroad, the ‘go-between’ makes his thousands, some of the supervisors profit by the method, and the cause of good roads suffers. The farmer is allowed to work out his road tax often by a slipshod method, which, if pursued by a road contractor, would end in bankruptcy. The supervisor should be held tinder bond to faithfully execute the duties of his office. He should be given power to compel every man owing service to the highways under the law to perform the same. All road tax should be paid in cash, reserving to the payer the right to work out the same, for which he should be paid in cash, provided he responds to the call of the supervisor when given the opportunity to perform such work, and accepting the lawful price for such services. Soldiers' Monument. “The state has shown great liberality in the vast amount of money it has expended in the erection of a monument to her brave sous. In the years to come this monument will do more than commemorate the valor and sacrifice of our patriotic soldiers; it will also attest the appreciation of such service by all the people of the state. This monument has been so long in construction that the managerial expenses amount to a vast sum. An appropriation should be made for the completion of this work, with a specific provision that it shall be done within a stipulated time, in order that the expense of supervision of construction may cease. Wants a Primary Election Law. “The safety and perpetuity of a free government is in the keeping of the people. If corrupt men are selected to make laws, and if incompetent men are chosen to fill official positions, then evil results are certain to follow. The nomination of candidates for office should be as far removed as possible from the dominance of political leaders and ring politicians, giving to all voters an equal, free and untrammeled right to be heard in the selection of candidates. I therefore recommend the enactment of a strict primary election law. Indiana State Soldiers' Home. “The report of the board of trustees of the Indiana State Soldiers’ Home has been printed and put upon your desks. I would recommend that the legislature authorize the selling of 50 acres of ground belonging, but not adjacent, to the home. The disconnection with the home makes the land of but little value to the same, except the small income from rent. The proceeds from such sale may be properly used in needed improvements of the grounds. The board deems this method of securing funds for needed improvements wiser than asking for an appropriation. State Printing. “The act of 1885, providing for public printing, binding and stationary, should be amended so as to more explicitly state what departments should receive their printing and stationary out of the printing fund, and also the number of copies of each report that should be printed, exclusive of the documentary journal. In amending this law it would be well to reduce the number of senate and house journals to the demand for the same. The number of senate and house journals and documentary journals that have accumulated in the basement of the statehouse augment the danger from fire, as well as revealing unnecessary expense in public printing. The printing board should have discretionary power where the legislature creates new departments and fails to provide the necessary printing and stationary required in the discharge of their duties. “There should be a law requiring better business methods in supplying the legislature with stationary and supplies of different kinds. An examination of the requisitions made by the committees of former legislatures will emphasize the need for the law herein suggested. Farmers’ Institutes* “The farm institutes of the state, under the supervision of the faculty of Purdue University, and under the direct control of Professor W. C. Latta, superintendent of the experimental farm at Purdue, have accomplished much good for agriculture and horticulture. In these institutes practical questions are discussed, thus preparing the farmer to meet in an intelligent way the new conditions and to solve the problems confronting the husbandman today. The amount appropriated for this work is $5,000. I recommend that this amount be increased to at least $7,500. The appropriation, thus increased, will be but half the amount appropriated by a majority of the surrounding states for car tying forward this work. The good being thus accomplished is deserving of the highest commendation. Criminal Insane. “There are now four insane convicts in the Indiana Reformatory and 15 in the state prison. The law now makes provision for au insanity inquest and the removal of the insane convicts to the insane hospitals. This cannot be carried out for lack of room. It is unwise, even if there should be room. I recommend that a place be provided for | these insane criminals in connection | with one of the insane hospitals, where they can.be cared for and kept separate

from other prisoners and away from tha inmates of the insane hospitals. Imported Orphan Children. “For many years Indiana has been the dumping-ground for dependent chil dren of other states. Within a few years several thousand of these have been placed within our borders. They occupy the places that should be filled by the children we are supporting in or* plians’ homes. In addition, a certain part of them become dependent, and some in prisons, insane hospitals and other institutions, remain a lifetime burden on the state. Indiana children are certainly as desirable as those from elsewhere. We should provide for them. Only’ persons or organizations duly authorized by the board of Ptate charities should be permitted to place children from without the state in families within our borders, and a sufficient bond should be required to indemnify the state against any expense by reason of any such child becoming dependent. The work of the board of state charities, through the state agency, in accordance with the provisions of the so-called dependant children’s law, in relieving the public of expense and placing children in family homes, is commended. Amendment to School Law. “The law requiring the state board of education, or the ‘board of commissioners,’ to advertise for 21 consecutive days in one daily paper of general circulation infthe cities of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cincinnati and St. Louis, at each letting of a contract of schoolbooks, should be amended. Advertisement in the great metropolitan journals outside the state is a useless expense. The superintendent of public instruction, in view of the approaching letting of a contract, is already deluged with letters from publishing houses, desiring to make bids, and this, too, before any advertising has been done. The $1 ,OQO appropriated to meet this expense is held not to be continuous, while the statute makes the advertising mandatory. Where the statutes command work requiring the outlay of money in its performance, they should also make provision for the money to meet the necessary expense. State Entomologist. “The appearance in the orchards of this state of the San Jose scale and other dangerous insects, and also of fungus growths, thus endangering the horticultural interests, made it necessary, in obedience to the demands of many men, to appoint, in the absence of law, a state entomologist. Nurserymen could not, in some instances, ship their stock without the state, unless accompanied by a certificate from a.state entomologist that their stock was free from the San Jose scale. Necessity having thus become a law, I appointed Professor James Troop of Purdue University to this office for the time. I therefore recommend the passage of a law creating such an office and defining the duties and powers of such official. Visiting Committee. “The scandals growing out of the deplorable conditions existing in many of the jails and poorfarms of the counties of the state call for legislation upon this question. I therefore recommend the enactment of a law authorizing the circuit judge to appoint for each county a non-partisan committee, to be composed of men and women, who shall visit at least once every three months all the charitable and penal institutions of the county and report to the state board of charities their condition, said committee to serve without compensation. Convict Labor. “A bill has been prepared and will be presented for your consideration looking to the furnishing of work for tha convicts in the state prison. From humanitarian considerations the bill should become a law. It will afford temporary relief until some better plan can be enacted into law. Livestock Sanitary Commission. “It is estimated that the loss of livestock from infectious and contagious diseases in this state amounts to from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 annually. It is of great importance that heroic remedies be applied and that the highest veterinary skill shall be employed to stop or minimize this great loss. “Our present law is crude, expensive, and does not meet the demands of the livestock interests. My distinguished predecessor, the lamented Governor Matthews, in his message of 1897, after speaking of the crudity and expense of the present commission, said: ‘I would recommend that the commission be discontinued, and in lieu thereof a competent veterinary surgeon be appointed by the governor, to be known as the state veterinarian, and to discharge the duties now devolving upon the sanitary commission.’ I desire to commend the above recommendation as needful to best protect the livestock interests of the state. The veterinarian should make such scientific study, investigation and experiments as he shall deem necessary in relation to the prevention and cure of diseases among animals and disseminate information concerning the same. “Local health boards should co-oper-ate with the state veterinarian to prevent the spread of diseases, and that officer should have power to quarantine and condemn. The governor should still have power, by proclamation, to quarantine the state against the importation of diseased animals. Sweeney's Report. “I beg to call especial attention to tha valuable report of the state fish commissioner. Through a judicious appropriation, coupled with some wise laws for the protection and propagation of fish, and for the stocking of Indiana lakes and streams -with game fish, this interest can be made a source of revenue to the people of the state, as well as affording healthful recreation and wholesome sport. “In conclusion, gentlemen, I trust that a spirit of concord and good will may characterize your deliberations Important matters have been suggested for your consideration. The time allotted for your important work is brief, thus rendering it of the utmost importance that earnest attention be given to legislative matters from the beginning of the session, thus obviating the rushing haste that usually attends the closing of the session.” James A. Mount. '