Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 January 1889 — GOV. GRAY’S MESSAGE. [ARTICLE]

GOV. GRAY’S MESSAGE.

HE URGES CHANGES IN THE STATE ELECTION LAWS. A Voluminous Document Replete with Statistics of Interest —His Views Upon the White Cap Outrages—Varlcu i S'ate Matters Commented Upon. Gov. Gray’s final message was read to the Legislature, in joint session, on Friday, the 11th lust. In bis review of the financial condition of the State he presented figures showing the foreign debt to be $'2,381,820; the domestic debt, I $4,388,783; and the total annual interest, s4l/,- j 236. He referred at length to the financial needs of the State and recommended that the tax rate be increased from 1-2 to 14 cents on each | SIOO of property, and that the increase of ‘2 ; cants should constitute a sinking fund for the j payment of the public debt. He says that the t State is paying 6 per cent, on this debt, which it really owes to itself, and adds: “I have no hesitancy in recommending that the sebool fund bonds, amounting in the aggregate to $3,904,783.22, be paid and discharged, and the money distributed to the counties in the manner heretofore provided by law for the distribution of school funds, and that the same be loaned in the manner now provided at the ra f o of 6 per cent, i interest per annum. This would not reduce the i revenues to the school fund and would leave a large amount of money to be loaned to the people at a fair rate of interest. The borrower would then pay the interest on the school fund instead of the taxpayers of the State, and the State would save on account of interest sll7,- j 143.50 each year—a sum greater than the entire expenses of a regular session of the General Assembly.’’ Tho Governor rax resents the State educational, eleemosynary, reformatory and penal institutions to be in a satisfactory condition. Under the head of “prison reform" the Gov- j emor made the startling assertion that “our i courts are every day sentencing to the penitentiary young men under 21 years of age, in many instances for their first offense and in many cases the offense a technical one. Hundreds are sent to the penitentiary by courts and i juries merely for the purpose of saving the ! county from the expense of a jail sentence, > which would have been ample punishment for t the crime committed, thereby blasting their j characters forever and increasing tho number of | the criminal class, as well as inflhtlng a punishment in violation of the provisions of our Con- j stitution. Two-thirds of the prisoners in our State prison are under 30 years of age. To expect to reform this class of prisoners by a forced association with hardened and confirmed criminals —murderers, thieves, and counterfeiters—would be to reason that evil associations do not contaminate or corrupt.” The remainder of Gov. Gray’s message is as follows : EDUCATION. The fall and comprehensive report of the Ru- I perintewlent of Public Instruction will exhibit the pTesont condition of the common schools : and their steady progress toward tho noble aims 1 and high expectations of tho founders of ihe system, which has placed Indiana in the fore- j iront in educational matters. STATE UNI VKHHITY. The institution is in a prosperous condition, j and its growth for several years has been rapid and splendid. During the past four years the attendance has more than doubled, and the j quarters, which were supposed to be adequate to meet the wants of the University, have b?on outgrown. The Trustees are coufronted with the necessity of providing additjoual room, which they think can be supplied by the construction of a library building afld the removal thereto of the library. They will ask aid from the State for that purpose, and their report will furnish detailed information in relation to the matter. , . . state NoSsTnl’TSciiooL,. Since the last session of the General Assembly the State has suffered a great los *, in the destruction by fire, on the 9th day of April, 1818, of the State Normal School building, at the city of Terre Haute, together with its library apparatus and furniture —tbe entire loss estimated at about two buudred thousand dollars Since the fire tho school has been quartered in the Terre Haute High School building, the city of Terre Haute having specially fitted up one-half of tho building for that puri>oso, and generhusly given the Normal School the occupancy of the same free of rent. The city has also advance Ito the school the Bum of fifty thousand dollars, in j order that the Trustees might commence at ' once the r .'construction of the building. The Trustees estimate that it will take seventy thousand dollars, in addition to the fifty thousand dollars advanced by Terre Haute, to complete tho building according to the plans adopted, and fifteen thousand dollars for the construction of tbe boiler houße and tbe heating apparatus. It is noedless for me to state the importance to Indiana of maintaining tbe Sta e Normal School. Its necessity as a part of our educational system can only be measured by the importance of having capable and intelligent teachers thoroughly prepared lu the best approved methods of teaching in our common schools. Its propsr maintenance is within the spirit of that provision of the Constitution which declares knowledge and learning generally diffused essential to tne preservation of free government. The Trustees, President and officers are entitled to special ere lit for the energy and faithfulness displayed by them in continuing tho school under try ng difficulties occasioned by the destruction of the building, and I commend to you a careful and favorable consideration of thtir reporo. FUIiDUE UNIVERSITY. Under an net of Congress entitled “An act to establish agricultural experiment stations in connection with the colleges established In the several States under the provisions of an act approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and of the acts supplementjry thereto,” approved March 2, 1887, fifteen thousand dollars is annually appropriated to each ot such stations. Section 9of said act reads as follows : “Sec. 9. 1 That the grants of money authorized by this act are made subject to the legislative aßsent of the several States and Territories to thepurpo6es of said grants : Provided, That payments of such installments of the appropriation herein made as shall be due to any State before the odjournmm; of the regular session of its Legislature meeting next after the passage of this act shall be made upon the assent of the Governor thereof, duly certified to tne Secretary Of the Treasury.” On the JCth day of December, 1837, I accepted the grant for and on behalf of Purdue University, our State Agricultural College, and tho acceptance must be confirmed by the Legislature In order to make It continuously effective on and after tbe adjournment of the present session 1 therefore recommend that the General Assembly assent to such-grant in proper form. All our State educational institutions, except Purdue University, are supported in part by continuous and permanent appropriations, and the failure of the last General Assembly to pass the general appropriation bill deprived Purdue University of a part of its usual and necessary revenues. The University has won its way to . the front rank of technical schools and is deserving of permanent support. STATE BOARD OF. AGRICULTURE. The State Board of Agriculture has done its iull shore in promoting the agriculture Interests by-the splendid exhibition at the State Fair of .-agricultural products of the State, and showing the great improvements in live stock and machinery. The published annual reports, containing practical information from successful farmers, are highly appreciated by the agricultural community, and the demand is largely in excess of the supply. The museum of agricultural products bids fair to be very useful in showing the resources of the State. The addition of twenty acres to the fair grounds required an outlay of $15,000 for improvements, while the wet weather during the fair shortened the receipts about S9,uOJ. The board, being a State institution, and devoted to the most important interest of the State, on which all other interests are dependent—in fact, the foundation of all prosperity—l would recommend liberal aid to assist them in the good work. BTATE LIBRARY. The State Librarian has submitted an excellent report of the condition of the library, in which report many valuable suggestion are made for its improvement and better support. The library contains over twenty-five thousand volumes. It Is not what it ought to be or what it could be made if its advantages were fully appreciated and proper provision made for its support. • THE PUBLIC PRINTING, BINDING, AND STATIONERY. The public printing act of 18-15 is not clear as fp the number of reports * which are authorized to be printed. The law should be amended so as to provide specifically what reports the documentary journal should contain, the number to be bonhd therein, the number to bo printed in addition thereto for the various institutions

! of the State, and requiring many of the reports | 1 now published annually to be published oien- , nially. A specific amount should be appropriated for each officer or department, as tne present law fixes no limit as to the amount of . printing any officer may order. BUBIAU OF STATISTICS. 1 invite your care:ul attention to tbe growing 1 ! importance of the industries of the State, and i the argent need of colleclit g statistical informs- 1 i tion in relation to the interests of the laboring ! classes, and recommend that liberal provision be made for the statistical department to carry ' on the work now in progress and to enlar e tne | field of inquiry so as to include the collection of | ! labor statistics. While the reports of the de- j pertinent are invaluable as showing the ad- | vancement of the State from year to year, their ! value may be increased largely by the enact- I ment of a law requiring returns from officers of j I political, municipal and other corporations to questions submitted by the Bureau. STATE BOARD OF HEALTH. The reports of the St ite Board of Health con- ! \ tinne to furnish interesting and instructive information in relation 1o matters affecting tbe public health, and have proven the wisdom of ' tbe establishment of such a department. The Board submits many recommendations, for which I ask your careful consideration. STATE GEOLOGIST. The report of the State Geologist for the two fiscal years ending October 31, 1818, has been submitted, and contains valuable information relating to the mineral resources of the State, and especially in relation to the recent discovery of natural gas. You will find the same worthy of a careful examination. MINES AND MINERS. Your attention is invited to the excellent report of the Mine Inspector. It contains the estimated coal production for the year ending Dec. 31; the number, location, and description of the mines ; the names and address of the owners ; the capital invested and the nnmber of persons employed. Tbe Inspector makes many valuable suggestions in relation to needed legislation, to which I hope you wiil not fail to give careful consideration,> and enact Buch legislation as may be necessiry to protect the health and safety of those employed in the mines. INSPECTION OF OILS. The report of the Inspector shows that during the year ending Dec. 31, 1888, there were inspected 179,873 barrels of illuminating oils, an increaso of 6,800 over last year, and that there was no loss of life or property caused by the exlilosion of coal oil. 1 urge special attention to that portion of the report which recommends additional legislation regulating the quality of illuminating oils and mode of inspection. BOILER INSPECTOR At a convention of official boiler inspectors and engineer oxamiuors, held at Pittsburgh, Pa., Nov. 2j and 21, 18h8, some highly interesting statistics were presented. It was shown thereby that during the last fifteen years over 4,000 lives were lost and 4,70) ptrsons seriously iu? jured through boiler explosions, while the property destroyed amounted to many millions. I renew the recommendation made in my message to tbe last General Assemb y, to enact a law creating the office of boiler inepactor and defining his duties. the state militi t. Tie military force of the Htate consists of three regiments of infantry and one regiment of artillery. The first regiment of infantry is composed of twelve comx>anies, commanded by Colonel W. D. Ewing; ihe second regiment of eleven companies, commando 1 by Colonel N. it. Ruckle, and the ih rd regiment of twelve cornpanies commanded by Colonel I. E. Kirk. Tha first rog mant of artillery is composed of seven companies, commanded by Colonel C. G. Conn. The entire force is well armed and in effective condition, and for the first time in thehißtory of the State uniformed in tbe undress United States regulation. Adjutant General George W. Koontz bus been vory faithful in the discharge of the duties of his position. Since the removal of the Adjutant General’s office into the State House he ha< classifioi the inustsr-in and musttr-out rolls, company histories, and other miscellaneous matters, which made necessary the ernploymem of some additional cie« cal help. The numerous applications by the War Department and pension cl lirnants for certified copies of tiie records have greatly increased tbe work of th e office. There were issued during the presont incumbency of the Adjutant General 6,814 certificates, and 10,029 official letters written. WHITE CAPS. During the past year a number of outrages upon the pers mu.l rights of citizens wtrt committed in one or two counties of the State by persons banded together under the name of "White Caps.” They edited such terror by their unlawful practices efiat for a time no evidence could be procorad implicating any person engaged iu such outrages. Evidence was, however, finally procured against tho principal participants, who were indicted and their trial set lor Dec. 21, 1838. The defendants have taken a change of venue, and the time of trial is now fixed for March 26. Additional evidence has been obtained which will lead to the indictment of several others, and some who would have been arrested have fled from the State. The lawlessness has been completely suppressed. Intimations have been given by persons implicated that they desired lo arrange with the State, agreeing that no further outrages would be committed if prosecutions on the part of tbe State would cea?e. I felt that the Htate could not afford to compromise with persons guilty of such offenses, and have instructed the authorities and the counsel employed by the. State to prosecute all against whom evidence can be obtained, to tho fu'l extent of the law. LIVE STOCK. In my inaugural address and in my message to the lust Geueral Assembly 1 called attention to tho importance of protecting the live stock of the State from contagions or infectious diseases. The legislatures of nearly all the Western States have enac ed laws creating a Board of Live Stock Commissioners, clothed with authority to regulate the importation of live stock infected with contagious disease, and to establish quarantine regulations, making it the duty of all persons owning or having iu charge animals infected with contagious disease to report the same to the Board of Live Stock Commissioners. I earnestly recommend legislation upon the subject.

ELECTION REFORM. I earnestly invite your attention to the imperative necessity for a revision of the election laws, so as to guard more effectually the exercise of the elective franchise anl secure to the people fair and honest elections. It is manifest that the public faith in the purity of our elections has become shaken, and the feeling is widespread that the decision at the ballot box no longer reflects the honest judgment of a majority of the voters. It i? needless to say that the ballot box is the snperstruo;ure upon which is built our representative form of government, and iu our ability to'maintain its purity lies the only hope of the perpetuity of our free institutions. You can render the State no more exalted service than to frame and enact laws that will, So far as legislation can accomplish, prevent the corrupt use of money, preserve the secrecy of the ballot, secure pure elections, and punish by the severest penalties all who may be guilty of committing fraud upon the ballot-box. of bribing or attempting to brine any elector, or of corrupting in any manner the suffrages of the people. The ballot should be printed by the State and prooured by the voter only at the polliug place under such restrictions as will give every voter the opportunity to select an i vote the tioket of his choice without interference by others, and congregating and electioneering about the polling place should be strictly prohibited. The law should be so framed as to exclude ail surveillance over the voter wnile casting his ballot. Any voter who actually moves out of his precinct, and desires to continue his residence and right to vote therein, should be required at the time of moving to file with some officer designated by law his sworn statement that it is his intention to continue his residence in such precinct. And the voter now residing out of the precinct in which he claims the right to vote should be required, within a given time, to file a similar statement. The sworn statement should be annually renewed, and every renewal should be filed at least six months prior to the occurrence of any general election, and contain the statement that he has not, since moving out of the precinot, exercised the right of suffrage elsewhere. I would recommend that the election precincts contain not over two hundred voters, and when after any election it shall appear that more than that nnmber of votes have been polled in anv precinct, it be made tha duty of the County Commissioners, at their next regular session, to reorganize the precincts so as to reduce the number of voters within the limit nrescribed by law. I feel that I cannot too stronglv urge upon you the.importance of giving this matter earnest and early consideration, in order that legislation upon the subject may not be defeated by the constitutional expiration of the session. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. At this session it will be appropriate for you to propose and agree to such amendments to the

Constitution as your wisdom may sugges; or exponent* has shown to bs necesary The preient instrument, which was adopted nearly for.y years ago, ha* not been changed except on two occasions. While it is advisable, and in some cates necessary, that some of iti provisions should be amended, it is not believed that a necessity exists tor a constitutional convention. Every proper amendment can be effected in the manner provided by the Conttitution at a small expense to the people and without presenting tbe opportunity of unsettling a system of government well understood and tested by long service. 1 would recommend that the Constitution be so amended that ail Stats and county officers shall hold their offices for a term of font yea s, to commence on a fixed day, and with, peraaps. a few except ons, bo ineligible to hold the same more than four years in anv pe nod of e ght years. No good reason seems to etist why th> term of certain officers should bo limited to two years, wnile others whose duties and respons.bilities are no gr eater should have a term of four yoari. It is my opinion that two years is too short a period lor any offl:er lo acquire that knowledge of the duti-s of his office necessary to enable him to discharge the same with the degree of efficiency expected by the public. There has always been manifests 1 a willingness to continue a faithful official four years in office; but at the same time a strong pnblio sentiment seems to prevail against electing an administrative officer for a longer period. All temptation should be, as far as possible, removed from every officer to use his office or neglect bis duties to secure a re-election, and thereby allow such officer to devote strictly his time to the duties thereof and render the most efficient public service. The designation of a fixed day on which terms should begin would secure uniformity. In the case of State officers it has frequently occurred, and may occur again, that new State officers have come into possession of their respective offices during tue first days of the legislative session, and having had no opportunity to become acquainted with their duties, are not competent and qualified by experience to speak in relation to matters which concern their offices and the public welfare. The terms of county officia's should commence on the first day of January succeeding their election. Our State elestions should be determined upon State issues and be as far removed as possible from national questions, and I would recommend that ail State and county elective officers be chosen a; the general election occurring between the Presidential elections. In order that amendments to the Constitution may be properly framed, receive the consideration they deserve and have their passage facilitated, I would suggest that you appoint a joint committee on constitutional amendmets. SWAMP LANDS. The acts of Congress passed September 23, 185 J, and March 3, 1857, grouting to the several States swamp and overflowed lands gave to the States all the legal subdivisions of the lists and plats of said lands, the greater part of which was wet and unfit for cultivation. It has been thought for many years that Indiana did not receive all the lands to which she was entitled under tho provisions of said acts. Tne State at one time, through its agents, attampted to show, by examination and oral testimony, that a large quantity of land sold by the General Government should have gone to the Htate by virtue of said acts. The procedure was abandoned on account of the great expense that it would incur and of the almost impossibility of obtaining such evidouce. On Sept. 29, 1885, I appointed Williarp A. Meloy, of Washington, D. C., counsel and agent ior the State to assert, prosecute and adjust before the land department of the General Government the rights and claims of the State to any and all lands and indemnity land claims arising under and by virtue of said acts, and authorized him to adjust the claims of the State on the basis of the evidence contained m the field notes and plats of survey remaining of record and on file in the Land Department, and suoh other evidence a 3 he might be able to present; he to receive from tbe Htate, as compensation, ten per cent, of all indemnity recovered, but to have no ant lority to receive or receipt for anv indemnity allowed. His appointment and contract tor compensation were made subject to ratification by the Legislature. Mr. Meloy has been diligent and successful, and succeeded in bavin • allowed the State, in May, 1835. $lO,4)5.71; iu March, 1383, $0,930.1.', which amounts have been paid into the State Treasury and credited. to the Swamp Land Fund. Mr. Meloy reports that further indemnity of upwards or twenty thouaund dollars can be recovered, but on account of the clerical expense that must be incurred in securing the nrcossary evidence for the presentation of the claims he has been prevented from prosecuting the work, and'that 1 1 per cant, of the amount recovered ia'not a sufficient compensation for his services. Mr. Meloy has not received any compensation for the amounts recovered for the Htate, and I now concur in his opinion tnat 10 per cent, is not a sufficient compensation.

GREEN RIVER ISLAND. There has existed for many years a controversy between Kentucky and Indiana in relation to the bounlary line between the States at what is known as Green River Island on the Ohio River. Collisions between the citizens residing on and adjacent to the island have been frequently imminent, growing out of disputes as to the jocation of the boundary line. The cour-s cf both States have at times taken jurisdiction over tho territory in controversy, thereby creating confusion and bad feeling tetweon the lani owners. Several of my predecessors attempted to effect a so .tiemeat of the controversy, but without success. Upon examination of the question I became convinoed that the only proper and legal mode of settling the controversy was by suit in cnanfery in tne United States Supreme Court, and in accordance witu the statute passed Feb. 25, 1087, authorising and directing the Governor “to institute and prosecute in the Supreme Court of the United States or other proper tribunal, in the name and on behalf of the State of Indiana, a suit in chancerv or other appropriate proceeding, against the State of Kentuoky, for the purpose of determining and settling the boundary of the State of Indiana, with relation to Green River Island, and to determine and put at rest the questions which now exißt as to whether said island * is within the boundary and jurisdiction of the State of Indiana or of the State of Kentucky,” and appropriating $5,030 “to be expended under the direction of the Governor to defray the expeases, including reasonable attorney’s fees, of such litigation,” I employed as counsel the firm of McDonald & Butler (now McDonald, Butler & Snow), and caused a suit in chancery to be brought in the United States Supreme Court in the name of t ;e State of Indiana against the State of Kentucky, on the Bth day of August, 1887, to determine the boundary between the States at and near Green River Island. To the bill of the State of Indiana the State of Kentucky has filed a cross-hill, claiming the boundary between the States to be such as to include within the boundary of Kentucky both the so-called Green River Island and a tract of land north of it—the latter being claimed as an accretion to the island. In this Buit the testimony has been taken, and the case will he ready for submission to the court within the next three months. The testimony in behalf of the State of Indiana has been largely directed to prove that the Green River Island, so-called, has never, since 1784, when the deed of cession of the Northwestern Territory was executed, been a true island, since it has not been surrounded with water, except for a small portion of the year, when the water in the Ohio River was near its highest point. There has also been considerable testimony presented in behalf of this State tending to show the existence of a dispute regarding this socalled island ever since the cession of the Northwestern Territory. The facts regarding the line run by the Commissioners in 18/5 have also been fully presented in the evidenoe. The evidence taken in behalf of this State, It is believed, covers every material fact in its favor, and the facts proved tend stirongly to sustain its claims. It is now confidently expected that the Supreme Court will settle this troublesome question in favor of the Stats of Indiana. It may be that the present appropriation is not sufficient to pay the expenses of the suit and adequately compensate counsel, if, upon a proper showing, you find the same to be insufficient, it should be increased. CONCLUSION. My term as Chief Executive of the State will soon expire. In surrendering the important trust confided to my care by agenerous people, I can say that it has been my constant endeavor to administer it with strict impartiality toward all, and in such manner as I believed would best subserve the interest of the State and promote the welfare of tbe people, Trusting that your relations may be agreeable and pleasant, I invoke the assistance and direction of the Divine Ruler in yoar deliberations, and ask His blessings upon ns as a people and a, State.