Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1889 — INDIANA’S GOVERNOR. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA’S GOVERNOR.

GEN. HOVEY’S INAUGURAL AT INDIANAPOLIS. A Brilliant Reception Tendered and Attended by Gen. Harrison— Rome Excellent Suggestions to the Legislature. An Indianapolis special dated the 14th inst., says: The inauguration of Gov. Hovey took place at English's Operahouse at 2 o’clock this afternoon. After the members of the Legislature had been seated, the band played “Hail to the Chief,” and incoming Gov. Hovey, escorted by retiring Gov. Gray, followed by the committee on arrangements, consisting of Senators Sears, Mullinix, and Kennedy and Representatives George A. Adams, Curtis, and Robbins, entered the House, and after receiving tremendous applause and listening to an appropriate prayer by the Rev. Dr. McLeod, Speaker Niblack introduced him to the General Assembly. Chief Justice Elliott administered the oath of office and Gov. Hovey read his inaugural address. In his inaugural he dwelt upon the impurity of the ballot and said: “In the late election, charges of fraud and corruption have been made by the contending parties. There is reason to believe the ballot has been polluted, not only in this State but in many other States and in both political parties. This cannot continue if we hope to perpetuate our free institutions. If it does a moneyed aristocracy will soon control the destinies of our nation and the liberty we now so highly prize will be lost forever. Your attention is particularly called to the necessity of legislation in regard to several matters not in our election laws. First, it is the duty of the General Assembly under the ninety-fifth section of the constitution to provide for the registration of all persons entitled to vote. This amendment has been in force since March 4, 1881, but the law has not been enacted and the constitution has been disregarded. I recommend that provision be made for a full and fair registration of all the legal voters, where the rights of each elector can be investigated before the day of election. Second—Limit the number of electors in each election precinct, so as not to exceed 300 voters. Third—Provide that every precinct shall be surro uded and protected by barriers or guardrails which will prevent all persons except the person voting from approaching nearer than forty or fifty feet from the inspectors, judges, and clerks of the election, and make the infraction of this rule a misdemeanor and punishable by a fine. Fourth—Provide that the buying or offering to buy the vote of an elector directly or indirectly, hiring any person to work for the election of any candidate at the polls shall bo a crime, with a penalty of disfranchisement of the briber and bribed, and for a second offense, after conviction, let the penalty be not less than two years in the State prison. I suggest that it -night be policy to exempt witnesses from punishment in bribery cases where they may be implicated. It will be almost impossible to convict a guilty briber without such exception. Fifth—Make it unlawful and criminal for any political convention or committee to demand or exact any assessment or contribution from any candidate for office and provide a penalty of disfranchisement for life to the member or mem- , hers of such convention or committee who may demand or attempt to enforce such assessment or contribution. No office should be placed beyond the reach of the poorest man in the State. Sixth—Make it unlawful, with a heavy fine and imprisonment, for any person to challenge a legal voter at the polls." LIQUOR LAWS. Obsolete laws and statutes which are so far in advance of the age, or so far behind it, as to be wholly disobeyed and disregarded, should without the least hesitation be repealed. Laws which are never enforced are like dead wcod upon a living tree; they ore not only useless, but tend to weaken and bring our statutes into disrepute and contempt. Our people should realize that every act of the General Assembly has been made to be enforced, and not paraded on our statutes as a threat which will never be executed. There are now laws on our statutes which come within the purview of these observations. Our present laws in regard to the sale of intoxicating liquors are disregarded in many parts of the State. In some localities large numbers of the people are decidedly opposed to the licensing of the sale of intoxicating liquors, while in others no prohibitory law could be enforced. It seems to me it would be wise to so frame our laws as to meet both conditions. I believe a local-option law for the sale or prohibition of ardent spirits would be constitutional, and that it would be wisdom to permit the people to choose which system they would prefer in each county, city, or incorporated town in the State. Our institutions are founded upon the democratic theory that a majority should rule, and I submit that the question of localoption should be left to the voice of the people, and that all laws passed for the purpose of regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors should be rigidly enforced. I recommend that the license to be granted for the sale of such liquors should not be less that S2OO, nor more than $1,009, in the discretion of the Board of County Commissioners. MONOPOLIES, TRUSTS, AND COMBINES. All monopolies, combines, and trusts formed for the purpose of increasing the price or cost of the necessaries of life should be declared unlawful. The adulteration of articles of food in common use should be forbidden under penalties, and the sales made unlawful, so that the courts would refuse to enforce them. The mixture of coffee with chicory, sugar with glucose, butter with oleomargarine, lard, tallow, and oils, and the admixture of coal oil, benzine, paraffine, and.adulterating articles should be prohibited and the sale forbidden, unless the relative quantity of each article composing the compound is clearly stated by the vender. Such sales have been condemned, and in many instances punished, by the civilized nations of the world for centuries past. The currents of commerce are now running deeply in the channels of deception and fraud, and should be checked by every means in our power. ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. The necessity of improved roads is strongly urged and some legislation suggested looking to the accomplishment of that end. A good system of gravel roads throughout the State would add greatly to the value of property and the comfort of the people. The Governor’s suggestions on this head should receive careful attention. COMMON SCHOOLS, The enormous amount annually paid for school books has created great dissatisfaction throughout the State. Some plan, if possible, should be adopted by which the price of such books could be brought within a reasonable limit. On an average, the cost to each pupil could be safely stated to reach $3 per annum. Our average daily attendance of pupils in 1888 was 408,775. This would show on outlay by parents and guardians for that year amounting to $1,226,325. Two plans have been adopted by the different States to curb vast expenditure for text-books: First, the publication of school books by the State. Second, free text-books bought by the State or school districts and loaned to the pupils. The first method has been condemned as impracticable and costly, while the second, where it has been tried, has received the highest commendation of State Superintendents and professional teachers. By this free text-book system, the cost of books for each pupil in Michigan is estimated at 50 cents per annum; in Maine, 26% cents per annum; in Vermont, about 33 cents ; in Wisconsin, not one-third of former cost. The arguments made in favor of free text-books may be stated us follows: The coat is greatly below that of any other method yet adopted; more prompt attendance and regularity of pupils; ft makes the schools free indeed, and equalizes the children of the rich and poor, as both are supplied alike; it teaches pupils the responsibility and care for the property, and enables them to obtain a better education. The amount overpaid by parents and guardians, under our present svstem, would greatly exceed the taxes which would have to be levied to purchase all the books required in our schools under the free text-book system. The people would be the gainers over the taxation by more than twice the sum required to purchase all the books under the proposed system,

and could well afford to pay the additional tax that would be required for that purpose. The cities of New York and Philadelphia, and the States of Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Michigan, lowa, Maine, and Vermont have adopted or tried this system, du New York City it has been practically tried for forty years and in Philadelphia for seventy years. Taking a high average under this system, say 40 cents per pupil, the entire cost in Indiana for the year ‘IBBB would only have amounted to $163,510, as against the probable cost, $1,226,325, which would give an actual annual gain to the people of this State of $1,062,815, or $2.60 to every pupil. If the system should cost on the average $1 to the pupil, it would still leave a gain to the parents and guardians, for that year, of $817,550. With free text-books a great burden would be taken from the poor, who are often unable to spare the amount required to purchase their books, at the very exorbitant prices they are now compelled tq'pay or leave their children uneducated. Experts and booksellers inform me that the prices paid for school-books in this State yield from 300 to 600 per cent, above the actual cost of production. Something should be done to reduce the cost to a reasonable price, and lift from parents and guardians these very heavy burdens. The expenses of our common-school system should be greatly curtailed in the future, as nearly every county in the State is provided with excellent school-houses, now numbering 9,882, Our school property, independent of all funds, may be estimated' at nearly $15,000,000. This condition, <ith the ever-increasing fund derived from fines and forfeitures, will, it is believed, admit of the income from the license on the sale of ardent spirits, and from the dog tax, being transferred and profitably used by the State for the construction of gravel and macadamized roads. I commend the subject to your deliberate and mature consideration, and I will heartily co-operate in any measures that will lessen the present exorbitant prices. Some confusion and inequality has arisen in reporting the number of pupils in each county as having attended the common schools. As the distribution of the funds depends ujxm the number thus reported, I would suggest that each superintendent and teacher in reporting the numbers bo required to give the name of each pupil who has attended during that period, and in no case count the name more than once. SUPREME COURT. Our Constitution provides that “justice shall be administered freely, and without purchase ; completely, aud without denial; speedily, and without delay.” Under existing laws, this highsounding provision is an empty boast. Many cases are now {lending in the Supreme Court which were filed more than five years ago, and it is to be feared that some have been appealed to that court for the sole purpose of delay. This delay arises from no fault of the judges of the court, but from their inability to fully investigate the numerous cases which ore brought before them. Ido not believe that the multiplication of judges in the Supreme Court would tend to the furtherance of justice. No case should be passed upon without the full consideration of every judge upon the bench. This would be impossible if the number of judges should bo greatly increased, and I can conceive of only two methods by which the present evil can be avoided. First—The creation of intermediate appellate courts, with exclusive jurisdiction within certain limits. Second—By assistance being liberally given to each judge. If each judge could have as his assistant a man learned in the law, who could read the records, examine the authorities, make notes, and report to the judge, the labor would bo greatly lessened, and at every term more than t wice the number of cases could be easily disposed of. Many cases which are taken to the court merely for delay, could lie quickly acted upon, and others could be rapidly brought forward. The services of such men could not be had without liberal salaries, and care should be observed in making the selection. While either mode would be a decided improvement on our present inefficient system, I incline to the opinion that intermediate appellate courts would prove the most satisfactory. No reasonable expense should be considered if the evil can be overcome by legislation. BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS. For the sake of humanity, I most earnestly recommend that such laws be passed at this session as will command the best talent of our State to control our benevolent institutions, and that they be placed beyond the reach of oil partisan control. It is a shame that such institutions should be the source of gain or political power to any party. PROGRESS OF NATION AND STATE. Since 1865 the United States has arisen from the wreck and ruin of the most terrible war to be found in the pages of history, and has rushed with the strides of a giant to the front rank of the proud nations of the earth. To-day, in all that constitutes true power, wealth, and greatness, our Nation is without a peer. It has been estimated by Mr. M. Mulhall, F. 8. 8., author of “The Progress of the World,” in his address before tne British Association, at Bath, England, that in every one of tho three sources of power—man, horse, and steam—the United States exceeds the leading nations of Europe. These working {towers of the United States, the great sources of invention, production and wealth, in round numbers, are three times as great as those of France, two and onehalf times as great as those of Germany and one and two-thirds as great as those of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Our growth is only begun, and the increase of industry, energy,and wealth goes on unabated and with accumulating force. Our census in 1890 will probably ■ show a population of 66,000,000, and an aggregated wealth in value unknown to any nation of ancient or modern days. In the great sisterhood, the State of Indiana is not surpassed, if equaled, in natural advantages by any other State in the Union. Within its area it contains a very large average of rich agricultural lands, with a most congenial climate. With its rivers and railroads, it has an easy and rapid access to the principle markets, and its broad fields of coal, natural-gas, and mineral will soon develop manufactories with which few other localities will be able to compete. God, in His mercy, has showered His blessings on the State, and with humility and gratitude we should labor to develop our great resources. Much can be done by legislation, and the voice of the people of Indiana has called upon you to perform that noble and important duty.

The public reception at the capitol tonight by Gov. Hovey and Lieutenant Gov. Chase, the newly installed State officers and their wives, was brilliant. No less than 5,000 people were present. When the doors or the Governors rooms were thrown open, Gov. Hoveyappeared in full dress with his daughter, Mrs. Menzies, leaning on his arm. For two hours the line passed rapidly before the. Governor and his associates. About 8 o’clock President-elect and Mrs. Harrison arrived at the Governor’s room, paying.their respects to the new executive. They were accompanied by Professor David Swing, of Chicago, and Mr. Halford. Among others present were exGov. Porter, Gen. Lew Wallace and wife, Gen. James M. Shackelford, Gen. Thomas H. Nelson. Judge W. A. Woods and wife, Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Martindale, Col. and Mrs. John C. New, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore P. Haughey, Col. W. L. Taylor, Hon. Noble C. Butler, and Col. W illiam Holloway. The reception closed at 9 with 1,009 people in line unable to congratulate the new Governor. The Inaugural Committee announced the opening ball at that hour. General and Mrs. Harrison accompanied the gubernatorial party to Tomlinson’s Hall. The Governor and his daughter led the procession around the hall and the first inaugural ball ever given in Indiana was formally opened. General and Mrs. Harrison did not participate in the grand march, but were interested spectators. They remained long enough to watch hundreds dance the lancers. About half past ten they withdrew and returned home. The venerable ex-GovernorPor-ter, however, entered into the occasion with zest.

He was “Claud” before he married her and clawfd afterward. — Merchant Traveler.