Indianapolis Journal, Volume 49, Number 7, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 January 1899 — Page 4

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THE DAILY JOURNAL SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, I SOT. Washington Office—ls 63 Pennsylvania Avenue Telephone (nIU. Business Office 238 I Kdltorial Rooms *6 TEKMS OF SI BSCHIPTIOM. DAILY BY MAIL. Daily only, one month t .70 Daily oniy, three months 2.00 DtUljr only, one year : S.OO Daily. Including Sunday, one year 16.00 Sunday only, one year 2.0 u WHKX FURNISHED BY AGENTS. Daily. per week, l>y carrier 15 cts Sunday. single copjr 5 cts 'Daily and Sunday, per week, by carrier 20 cts WEEKLY. i’er year SI.OO Keilueed Kit to* to Cliilim. Subscribe with any of our numerous agents or send subscriptions to the JOURNAL NEWSPAPER COMPANY, lnliunupolln, Inti. Persons sending the Journal through the mails In the United States should put on an eight-page paper a ONK-CEN’T postage stamp; on a twelve of sixteen-page pa|>er a TWO-CENT pontage stamp. Foreign postage Is usually double these rates. All communications Intended for publication In this paper must, in order to receive attention, be accompanied by the name and address of the writer. c— =j=.—z=- - zzsz THE INDIANAPOLIS JOIKNAL Gan lx-, found at the following places: NEW YORK —Astor House. CHICAGO—PaImer House, P. O. News Cos,, 217 Dearborn street. Great Northern Hotel and Grand Pacific Hotel. CINCINNATI—J. It. Hawley & Cos., 154 Vine street. LoCISVi I,LE—c T. Deering, northwest comer of Third and Jefferson streets, and Louisville Book Cos., 256 Fourth avenue. FT. LOUlS—Union News Company, Union Depot. WASHINGTON. V. C— Riggs House, Ebbitt House and Willard’s Hotel. Grover Cleveland to William McKinley: “It I and paramount Blount were running things th y would be different.” The. building of 29,000 homes through the instrumentality of building and loan associations during the eight years which ended with 1897 vindicates the worth of such institutions. About every Southern paper that has a light to speak for ex-Confederates has denounced Senator Butler's hill to pension Conledf rate veterans ns the act of a demagogue which must l>e resented. The total losses by fire in the United States and Canada (hiring the year I*9B amounted to 51 If*,6TO.NOO. against $110,319,0V) in IW7 and $115,655,500 in 1896, indicating that the average of carelessness is about the ♦same year after year. By his present course General Gomez lays himself open to the suspicion of wanting to be dictator in Cuba. If he were disinterested he must see that cordial co-operation with tho Americans offers the surest and speediest guaranty of stable government in the island If Colonel Bryan would take time to carefully read the proclamation of President McKinley to the Filipinos he would find that his claim regarding the robbing of these people of their liberties by permanent annexation has no more basis than did his fear of the gold standard in 1896. The Brooklyn Eagle (lnd. Dem.) quotes the presidential ticket of the Louisville CourierJournal and remarks that ‘ delirium tremens cannot be said to be polities,” and, further, that "proof is wanting that Dewey is a Democrat,” and that proof is also wanting that Democracy will Ik- Democratic. The stars and stripes seem to have brought quiet and security to the people of Havana. The presence of the American soldiers has given a quietus to the spirit of lawlessness. That presence will have the same result in the Philippines when this far-away people becomes better acquainted with the power it Represents.

Representative Amos J. Cummings has •written an article for a newspaper in which he shows that representatives who do the least talking in the House are to be counted among the more influential members. Moreover. Mr. Cummings finds that the silent members have the least difficulty in being re-elected. Some steps should be taken to prevent the talked-of strike in tlie coal mines of the country next April, when the present agreement shall end. Even if the employers and employes should not be affected by strikes, the orderly operation of the laws should not be interrupted by such collisions as frequently attend mining strikes. It is d.screditable to the national government that it should be in arrears over $17.HHt for assessments on its property for street improvements in this city, some of them due ten years ago. Government debts of tills kind should be treated as debts of honor, and no technicality or red-tape methods should stand In the way of their prompt payment. The Governor of Connecticut told the legislature that it costs 5T> tier cent, more to educate the children of that State than it did tifteen years ago. and ho expressed doubts if the quality of the education has improved in the same proportion. The same complaint is made in so many other States that it would be well for boards of education to make comparisons. If it is true, as asserted, that the combined protests of the British and United States ministers have resulted in breaking oil the negotiations of the French with the viceroy of Naq-Kin to secure valuable trade, concessions, the co-operation of the two powers wtll be regarded with favor, as It is as much for our interest as that of any other nation to have the doors to China kept open. Mr. Cleveland’s attempted wit on the Philippine question is not only labored and dull, hut in very bad taste. An ex-Pres-ident of the United States should be able to discuss a great national question in such a way as to throw some light on it, or at least show a desire to do so. Mr. Cleveland's talk is that of a soured statesman who thinks that virtue departed from American politics when he retired from office. t Following (he citizens’ meeting in Shelby - ville to protest against the illegal letting of bridge contracts by the county commissioners comes a movement in Decatur county for the organization of a taxpayers' league to discuss ways and means of reducing and equalizing the burdens of local taxation. Meetings will be held to-day in every township of the county to uppoint delegates to a county convention to l>e held two weeks hence. This is government by the people. Judge Carland, of the United States District Court o€ South Dakota, now holding court In Omaha, has warned the newspapers not to publish the testimony which is now being taken in a trial of parties charged with making false entries in the

books of a national bank. Very naturally, this remarkable action has called forth much adverse criticism by jurists, several declaring that the judge has exceeded his powers. If the testimony were commented on it would be a different matter, but upon the theory that newspapers shall not publish the testimony the doors of the court could be closed to spectators. lest they should go out and tell what witnesses said. STATE AND LOC AL EXi'ENDITI RES. The representative of one of the best counties in the State, and a very intelligent man. has expressed the opinion that state expenses must be cut down for the reason that the people are desperate because of the burden of their taxes. ‘‘They feel,” he said, “that the expense of maintaining the state government is largely in excess of what it should be.” In his message Governor Mount exposed the false assumption that the state expenses are so large as to be a burden. To meet the expenses of the State, including the levy for the sinking fund, which is 3 cents on each SIOO, only 17 cents on SIOO is laid upon the taxable property of the State. The actual levy for the maintenance of ail the public institutions find to pay the interest on the public debt is 14 cents per SIOO. All these expenditures call for only 1 1-3 cent per SIOO more than goes to public schools and higher educational institutions. It is not probable that the general expenses of any state government in the Union which affords so many advantages are less per capita than those of Indiana. The assessed property of the county referred to is $16,900,000, of which is railroad property. Deducting the interest on tiie school fund, the county in question paid Into the state treasury $48,775 and received hack as interest on the school fund and the 11-cent school levy $26,000, ieaving about $23,OCO as the net amount paid into the state treasury. This is about 13.6 cents on each SIOO of the county valuation. No reasons! le man w ill become desperate when he considers such facts as the above. In the county in question the lowest levy in any township, which included all taxes, was $1.15 on each SIOO and the highest $2.21. The average of the lowest and highest is $1.57. The state levy for other than school purjioscs was 17 cents, leaving the average rate for county, township and other local taxes $1.36 per SIOO. Moreover, all the taxes assessed in the county in question last year amounted to $224,066. Deducting from this total the net amount which the county turned into the state treasury over what it drew out as school funds —$23,000—and it appears that over $200,000 of taxation was expended by county, township, city and town governments. Furthermore, township government cost from $2.94 to $4.60 per capita, the average being $3.54. It may be added that the representative in question expressed doubts about the wisdom of the proposed township council, as it had been reported that it was not satisfactory in other States. He was also certain that the people would be relieved if the sinking fund levy be suspended, leaving the next generation to pay the state debt. Doubtless in every county there are men interested in methods of county expenditures who do their utmost to turn attention from them to 3tateexpenditures. Taxpayers should not he deceived; 85 per cent, of all their taxes are for local government, which they can make effective and economical. The statement is made, and it is probably true, tnat local expenditures can be reduced 20 per cent, and better results obtained.

THE BRITISH WAV. The Journal recently commented on Great Drltain's methods of colonial government, emphasizing the fact that British officials went as far as possible in recognizing existing customs, usages and traditions, with a view of making them conduce to British sovereignty. An illustration of this is found in a dispatch from Cairo, published in the Journal yesterday. It stated that Viscount Cromer, British diplomatic agent in Egypt, and General Kitchener, the sirdar, had given a reception to the native sheikhs and notables at which Lord Cromer made an address. After informing the sheikhs that hereafter the sirdar would be the sole repr‘sentative of British authority in the Sudan he promised them perfect religious freedom, and in reply to a sheikh’s question assured them that the Moslem sacred law would be applied. Probably some good people. In England will be shocked at this declaration of purpose to extend official toleration and recognition to ,Mohammedanism and will insist that the British government had better be sending missionaries to convert the Moslems than statesmen and generals to placate them. But the good people are mistaken. The British government has learned by experience that tact is often more effective than force, and that it is much better to compromise with national traditions and usages and gradually bring them into line with its policy than it is to invito their hostility by antagonistic methods. This principle is susceptible of many applications, and the present is a good time for American statesmen to be considering it. An official letter from Lord Cromer to Lord Salisbury, recently published, further illustrates the same point. Referring to the numerous applications he receives from young Englishmen seeking employment under the government in Egypt or the Sudan, he says it is his policy to employ only a very small number of Englishmen in high positions and to fill subordinate places with natives. He advises that Englishmen be appointed only to positions which natives are not competent to lilt, and that the persons so appointed should be selected on their merits and not through home influence. Ho argues that by keeping the number of Englishmen in the local government service at a minimum, and those chosen for their tttness, while a large majority of subordinate positions are filled with natives, good administration is assured and the native people are made to feel that it is chiefly their own and not foreign. Again we remark, this is something for American statesmen to consider. CORRUPTION IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. The Journal has repeatedly expressed the belief that a large majority of the township ttustees and county commissioners in Indiana are too honest to take advantage of a bad system or allow themselves to be approached by the promoters of crooked practices. It still adheres to this belief, but thero is reason to fear that the number of dishonest ones is greater than many suppose. There are various grades of official dishonesty. Every act of a public official Is dishonest by which he or any of his friends profits illegitimately at the expense of the public. A bridge builder or other contractor may profit legitimately under a contract fairly and openly awarded to the lowest bidder, but every dollar of profit under a contract obtained by stealth or through favoritism Is robbery, and the public official who connives at it is party to the crime.

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1899.

Governor Mount In his message cited the case of some counties where the commissioners have purchased court libraries and paid for them with county funds. This is r.ot stealing, but it is a form of dishonesty because it is an unauthorized and illegal use of public money for private purposes. County commissioners have no more right to purchase law libraries for the judges and lawyers than they have to buy them overcoats or gold watches. But there are other forms of official dishonesty worse than this. The Journal has received from a well-informed and reliable source some surprising information in regard to township affairs in one of the populous counties of Indiana. For example, one trustee paid sls each for water tanks which could have been bought for $26 a dozen. Another paid $5 a gallon for floor oil which could have been bought for 28 cents a gallon, and the bill was approved by the county commissioners. “I know of another trustee.” says the Journal’s informant, ‘‘who was approached some weeks ago by a supply agent who had encyclopedias for sale. He priced them to the trustee at sl6 per set, whereupon the latter wanted to know how- much there was in it for him. He was told by the agent again that the price was sl6. The trustee suggested with an arch look that S2O would he about right, and the hooks were sold at S2O per set.” In this case the trustee’s “rake-off” was $4 —not a big steal, hut no doubt he repeated it in other transactions. “1 myself,” says the Journal’s informant, “have protested checks issued by supply agents to township trustees in this county. Just under what circumstances a supply agent might owe a township trustee is not clear.” The writer says that “out of all the township trustees in this county 1 am told there are two who are absolutely incorruptible. but as to this I do not know.” It is to he hoped this is an exceptionally had county, for at that rate a large majority of the trustees in the State would he dishonest. The Journal does not believe this, but it does believe that many trustees who go into office perfectly honest become, first, loose through the defects of a bad system and then dishonest through the temptations of professional corruptionists. Instead of a system that tempts honest men to become corrupt we should have one that would compel even corrupt men to be honest. The Governor recommends additional provision for the insane and for insane convicts, for whom there is now- no provision whatever. Both recommendations are well founded, yet they emphasize the steady increase in the number of insane persons. Twenty years ago the Central Hospital for the Insane, the only one in the State, had 614 patients; now the State has four hospitals and the number of patients is several times its great as in 1878. That the present provision for the insane is inadequate is shown by the fact that there are many in poorhouses and homes who ought to be under treatment, yet the rapid increase in their number *s calculated to attract the attention of taxpayers as well as sociologists.

There is obvious propriety in the resolution adopted by the Senate directing the placing of a suitable inscription on the soldiers’ monument to commemorate the services of Indiana soldiers and sailors in the recent war. As the resolution leaves the manner and form of the inscription to the regents, it will doubtless be done in such a way as to harmonize with the work as a whole and with the features yet to be added. Anything that would detract from the artistic unity of the design as now approaching completion would he a public disaster. The clearings of the New York banks reached the enormous aggregate of $315,000,000 on Wednesday—an amount far in excess of any previous day’s clearing. It took but $17,000,000 to pay off the balances between the banks. For these balances the debtor banks gave checks, which, in turn, may be canceled by another day’s transactions, so that these vast money transactions are carried on without the use of a large amount of actual coin or legal-tender paper. The member of the legislature who wishes to undertake a piece of practical economy should go into the basement of the Statehouse and view the pile of useless and worthless public documents as big as a cottage, and see that several thousand dollars are saved by cutting down the number of volumes to the actual needs of the Legislature. 11l BBLEB IN THE AIR. The East. “What is this here Eastern question?” asked the lowa man. “How to git the pore man's little home,” said the Kansas man who still wore a 16-to-l badge. The t'ornfrd Philosopher. ‘‘There are three expressions,” said the Cornfed Philosopher, “too delicate for tho artist to seize; the look of a mother watching over the sleep of her first bom, a young man's expression as he meets the one woman of all the world, and an old man's gloat over a good dinner.” As She Expressed It. “Yes,” said tho lady from Boston, speaking of her favotita lecturer, “he is one whom the laity would uesignate as a biscuit john.” “Beg pardon?” said the member of the laity. “Or, to be explicit, a crackerjack.” Social Distinctions. “But what is the reason you cannot recognize her?” asked the woefully obtuse person. “The idea!” said the haughty lady. “Can 1, who expend seven dollars on Rice's Remarkable Remedy, be expected to recognize one whose picture got in the papers merely by taking a 25-eent box of Green Pills for Gangrt nous People—and like as not bought at a cut rate store?” Paid *125 fo** “Model Primer.” Washington Special. There was a remarkable case of barter on the floor of the House to-day. Mr. Frank L. Hanvey, a Washington, bibliophile, in the presence of Congressmen Cochran and Benton. of Missouri, handed Congressman Champ Clark $125 and in return received from Mr. Clark a much-worn little book witli a blue cover. The hook was one of the seven existing copies of the original edition of Eugene Field’s “Model Primer,” and was tlte property of Mrs. Bob White, of Mexico, Mo. When subscriptions were being raised in Missouri tor the Field monument J. Wist Goodwin, tho well-known Missouri editor, conceived the idea of reprinting the Field “Model Primer” and selling facsimiles. In writing an account of the manner in which he proposed to raise a Meld monument fund he related how he had secured a copy of the first edition from Mrs. White. Mr. Goodwin’s story foil into the hands of Mr. Hanvey. of this city, and he at once opened a correspondence with Mrs. White. She did not care to part with her treasure, but when Mr. Hanvey told her he was willing to have her name her own price she referred him to Congressman Clark. An interview took place during the holidays, at which Mr. Hanvey offered $125. The book arrived yesterday and this morning Mr. Hanvey met Mr. Clark on the floor of the House by appointment just before the opening of the session, handed him the check for sl2f> and received the book. Mr. Hanvey told Mr. Clark he would not feel perfectly satisfied the hook was genuine until after he had shown it to Francis Wilson, the comedian, i who Is now playing In this city and who ia

an authority upon the works of Eugene Field. Mr. Clark assured Mr. Hanvey that if Mr. Wilson did not pronounce the book a copy of the original edition he would, of course, return him the money. Mr. Hanvev is a contractor at 213 Twelfth street, Washington. “FIRST CHINESE REGIMENT.” An EngliMh I’recedent Which May Be Followed in the Philippine*. London News. While the detailed arrangements in connection with the formation of a Chinese regiment have not been finally decided upon, the following are the conditions which will probably he approved by the authorities. The regiment will he known as the “First Chinese Regiment." It will be about a thousand strong, and will be divided into eight or ten companies. The men will be collected from the Shantung province, within the ten-mile British limit. It had been proposed that recruiting should also be made in Hong-Kong, but this did not meet with general favor, in view of the admitted superiority of the northern Chinese. The terms of enlistment will he left in the hands of Colonel Hamilton Bower. Indian staff corps, -commanding the regiment, who is now on his way to China, and it is understood that the rate of pay offered will be somewhat higher than that of ordinary Chinese troops. The regiment will be for general service, and will be available wherever required, and not for Wei-Hai-Wei alone. Mauritius has been mentioned as one of the first destinations of the regiment outside China. The eventual full staff will number some twenty officers. The term of service will he among the matters settled by Colonel Bowpr on the spot. A distinctive uniform, probably a modified form of that worn by Chinese troops, will be eventually adopted for both officers and men. For winter wear the officers' will have a fur kit similar to that worn by Canadian troops. Colonel Bower will have as his second in command Major Bruce. West Riding Regiment. The company commanders, already appointed, each for a term of two years, renewable. are Capt. W. M. Watson. Second West Riding Regiment; Captain A. A. R. Barnes, Second Wiltshire Regiment: Lieut. W. H. Dent. Secohd Yorkshire Regiment, and Lieut. Molyneux-Monfgomerie, Third Grenadier Guards. / These officers, with the exception of Captain Barnes, who has already gone via America, leave England for Hong-Kong by the P. & O. steamship Oriental. At Hong-Kong they will either meet Colonel Bower or receive their final instructions from him. Six noncommissioned officers, who will net as drill instructors, are now en route for China on board the Avoca. A Man NVIio NVns. Collier’s Weekly. John Orth, forgotten to-day and long since officially recognized as dead, is becoming alive. Some time ago an archduke disappeared, not into a tradesman, as the Duke of Portland is alleged to have done, but into a sailor. What his reasons were have been surmised but never known. Disappearances are deceptive. Here was a mortal occupying a position quite as ideal as that of a young god of old Greece, a being to whom wishes were spaniels, who had but to motion and they crouched at his feet, and who suddenly, without any motive more apparent than that of an anxiety for contrast, put rank-behind and vanished. Subsequently from remote seas his death was reported, officially accepted and generally disbelieved. Stories were concocted by the yard, by the acre even. He was said to be raising hexameters in Terra del Fuego. He was said to have developed into the Japanese general Yamugata. There were people who had an uncle whose nephew was intimately acquainted with a man who had heard that the archduke was fomenting revolutions in Bolivia unless he happened to be running a lift in New York. As these stories could not all be true, it is possible that all were false. In any event, there died the other day at Gmunden a princess of the imperial family who by a recent codicil to her will left the archduke a third of her fortune. Tiie lady must have known what she was about; she must have known, too, that the dead can’t give to the dead, and she must have added that codicil in preparation of the reappearance of tiie living. Meanwhile, should this meet the eye of John Orth he may learn of her executors something to his advantage.

Few Rich Senufora. Washington Special. Since the retirement of Senator Brice Washington has had no royal entertainer among its list of senators or representatives. Senator Brice spent $150.(W0 a year in maintaining a princely establishment. There are men in Congress now as rich as Brice was, hut they do riot run to lavish display. Senator Perkins, of California; Senator Jones, of Nevada; Senator Proctor, of Vermont; Senator Wetmore, of Rhode Island; Senator Hanna, of Ohio, and Vice President Hobart rank high up in the millionaire class, but none of them, with the exception of Mr. Hobart, is a great entertainer. Senator Elkins, of West Virginia; Senator Fairbank, of Indiana, and Senator Foraker, of Ohio, probably do more in that line this winter than any other members of Congress. The majority of senators are poor men. This is especially true of those representing Southern States. The South has not had a rich senator since Governor Brown, of Georgia, died. There has not been a time in many years when the average wealth of senators was as low as now. A great majority of them have practically nothing to live on beyond their salaries, backed up by moderate property holdings in their native States l . Insanity's Debt to Medical Science. Dr. John Girdner, in North American Review. Insanity is now recognized as a disease which is the result of some functional or organic disturbance of the brain or of some injury or malformation of that organ. Be it said to the everlasting credit of medical science that it has rescued the whole subject of the diseases of the brain and nervous system from the region of myth and superstition and placed it on a scientific plane along with the other diseases and injuries to which human flesh is heir. The old lunatic asylums and the filthy cells of the county jails, with all their horrors, where the victims of dethroned reason used to he confined and tortured, have been abolished, and in their place we now have tiie modern hospital for the insane. And it stands on the same footing in every respect as a hospital for diseases of the eye and ear or any other medical specialty. Tt was not the churches, hut medical science, inspired by a desire to benefit mankind, which taught the world that the insane are our brothers still, and that to them is due the same Christian charity and care as to any others in distress. Lazy C Jerks Checkmate Vandcrllp. Washington Special. Assistant Secretary Vanderlip’s time clock system, which is in effect in the Treasury Department, received its death blow to-day. The House appropriations committee inserted a clause in the legislative, executive and judicial hill forbidding The use of recording clocks in any of the executive departments here. Owing to the difficulty in getting the department clerks to their desks on time Mr. Vandelip introduced the scheme of recording the time of their arrival and departure througn the, instrumentality of these clocks. The scheme worked successfully, but was, of course, exceedingly unpopular with the employes, of the treasury, whose disinclination to work is up to the usual government-clerk average, and they threatened to have them abolished if it were possible. They appealed to Congress, with the result that tiie committee inserted the clause forbidding tiie use of the clocks, in all probability it will remain in the measure when it becomes a law. The Perfidious Hobson. Kansas City Journal. , Words are inadequate to express the baseness of this whilom hero Hobson. After running amuck among the feminine lips of the ntidcontinent he waits until he is safely on board ship for Manila and then gives forth an interview, doubtless under the goad of some sharp rebuke from the Navy Department, to the effect that “in his progress across the continent he accepted without sufficient protest the kisses of half a dozen feminine fool’s ” ' Half 'Ti dozen, indeed! Without sufficient protest, indeed! The perfidious wretch! We would gladly have withheld this slanderous language from the knowledge of our local readers, but it was sure to reach them at last, and it is best that the news should come through a friend. If he is discreet Mr. Hobson will not come by way of Kansas City again. America at the Bari* Exposition. Commissioner Peck, In North American Review. While the prime motive of America’s display will he the extension and expansion of Her trade with foreign countries—and to accomplish that a creditable exhibit is necessary—it must he borne in mind that other nations are working to the same end, and will likewise use every effort to increase their individual trade, even at the expense of other countries, including the** United States. They, too, will make magnificent displays, and to counteract their influence it is necessary that the United States should get together an exhibit that will truly represent the progress of this country and the excellence of its products, as compared with the exhibits of other countries which will he placed side by side with them. Wouldn't Ilf Kansas City Journal. Colonel watteraon wants the Democratic party to “send the fools to the rear.” But wouldn't the Democratic party look a trifle unnatural and awkward after the performance?

FIRST OF THE BILLS A GRIST PRESENTED TO THE STATE SENATE YESTERDAY. Both Brandies of the Leai*lntiire Adjourn Over Till Monday Afternoon. # SPANISH WAR INSCRIPTION RESOLUTION FOR ONE ON THE SOLDIERS’ AND SAILORS* MONUMENT. A House Session Devoted to I'niiuportan t Matter*—Appropriation for Session Eviieu.se*.

Yesterday’s session of the Legislature was a brief one. The Senate lost no time in starting business and a large number of bills were presented. The House wrangled over minor matters, and the only bill presented was passed. It provided for the expense of the session. Both branches adjourned until Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The senators reported promptly on time yesterday morning, and, judging from the speed with which business was conducted, every one came prepared to dispose of everything as soon as possible and start for home. The session lasted only about an hour, but in that time bills and resolutions were handed out with such rapidity that the pages were ou* of breath from running up and down the aisles carrying the documents from the senators to the clerk. In almost less time that it requires to tell it sixteen bills were handed out, read and assigned to commitees. The judiciary committee, not yet appointed, received all of them but one, .and that went to the committee on prisons. In order to facilitate the proves sos putting matters to a conclusion, all formalities which could be dispensed with were ignored, in accordance with a motion, and obstruction was offered to getting business before the Senate and having it disposed of according to the rules. The tirst business came up in the shape of a resolution offered by Senator Ilubbell providing for the placing of a suitable inscription on the soldiers’ and sailors’ monument in this city, in commemoration of the part taken by Indiana, soldiers in the Spanish war. It was adopted. Senator Gochenour moved that when the Senate adjourn that the time Jf or reassembling be fixed at 10 o’clock Monday morning, but Senator Hubbell offered as an amendment that the hour be changed to 2 o’clock, in order to allow members living in remote localities to spend Sunday at home and return in time for the opening of the session. This was agreed to, and then the bills began to rain into the reading clerk's hands. Senator Hawkins handed up three in succession. The first provided that whenever the office of a justice of the peace becomes vacant all his dockets, papers and books must be turned over to the nearest active justice in the same township, and in case there is no other justice in the same township they must be given to the next nearest justice in the county,, the justice receiving the property to hold it until the successor of the justice has been elected and qualified, and in case none such official has been elected during three years from the time of the rendition of the last judgment, the records of the office, together with all property, shall be turned over to the clerk of the Circuit Court. This bill is evidently intended to obviate such situations as arose recently in this city, when Justice Habich refused to give up his office after his term expired, for the expressed reason that his successor had not qualified. Senator Hawkins’s next bill was one requiring that the number of justices of the peace in each township be regulated by the county commissioners, and that the number shall not exceed two in each township. One additional justice will be allowed for each incorporated town in townships and two for cities in addition to those regularly elected for the township, with the provision that in no case shall the number in each township exceed five, w r hen a city of 100.000 or over is located in such township. The last section of the hill requires that all justices must keep their offices open every day in the year except Sundays and legal holidays. ONE OF TOWNSHIP BILLS. Tiie third bill has to do with township trustees, and provides that trustees shall examine and settle all accounts against the township; shall keep an accurate account with the township, which shall be arranged so as to show all amounts received and paid out on account of the different separate funds and to whom paid. All accounts must be filed as vouchers and reported to the county board, along with the regular annual settlement. An affidavit shall be required with each statement. In addition to this, trustees shall receive from justices in the township all docket fees collected' during each quarter, the trustee paying the justices their annual salary from the funds in his possession. Senator Horner presented a bill authorizing county commissioners to appoint boards of childrens’ guardians, making them bodies corporate, able to sue and be sued, in all counties where hemes for dependent children have been built or acquired. The board is to consist of twelve people, and women will be eligible to membership. All members of such boaros to serve witnout compensation. Senator Lambert offered a bill authgrizing the Governor to appoint a commissioner of fisheries and game, to hold office for four yeaiv, and whose duties will be to examine ai! livers and lakes, with a view to ascertaining what may be needed to protect and propagate the fishes in them, and do whatever n.av be required to foster the breeding ct game birds and animals. The hill provides that the commissioner shall be endowed with ail t ic powers of township trustees and road supervisors and is virtually an expansion of the present act under which the fish commissioner acts, giving him more power to act in emergencies. CITY AND 10WN IMPROVEMENTS. Senator Brooks introduced two bills. One provides fir the improvement of streets in cities and towns. It provides that the councils and town trustees are to establish all grades and specify the kind of sidewalks to be laid ia front oi property and may arrange for tne mam er of the payment for tne walks. In case tl e property owners refuse to have tre v ork done when the council decides it is necessary to improve the walks of a slice! the Council is to have the power to order the work done and have the bill for it entered or tne tax duplicate as a lier. against th* propelty. The other bill provides that n cities o; towns where there are daily papers printed it may be lawful to give the munieija. or county advertising or printing to a weekly paper instead of necesEutiiy to the daily papers. The only question to be cv-nsione • in awarding the work is that the paper must nave a general circulation m the uist.net Senator Burns submitted a bill providing that ci; nb public buildings, street improvements or repairs to public buildings, the cont actors must famish to the city, county tr state having the work done, a satisfactory b< nd for the payment of all wages or other bills contracted in the performance of tne work. This measure applies to subcontractors as well as to those to whom the contra, ts are originally awarded. Senator Pur cell, ir: his bill, provides that whoever injures or destroys any property of any description belonging to an electric company; who tampers with meters or diverts the current from a wire owned by a company without consent to do so, may be imprisoned for not more than one year and be fined SUO. Senator Lambert asked to have a bill adopted providing for the erection of an asylum for the incurable insane to cost $120,ibi, and to be located within three miles of Columbus. It is to be governed by a board of three trustees, to be appointed by the Governor, and that to defray the cost of erection, an appropriation of SSO,OA> be made for and an equal amount for 1000. Senator Oulbert introduced the hill drafted some time ago by joint action of the prison board, the State Board of Charities and representatives of the Federation of Labor, it provide* a method for employing the convicts in the Michigan City prison on State

account instead of by contracts- or being housed in idleness, and is substantially as printed in the Journal several weeks ago. It provides for a special appropriation of $25,000. Other minor bills were handed up as follows: Senator Early—To legalize the acts of notaries public whose commissions had expired. The rules were suspended and the bill was passed. Senator Corr—To permit the parents or guardians of insane people to bring action for divorce in certain cases. Senator Nusbaum—To provide for the inspection of nursery stock for the purpose of preventing the spread of the San Jose scale. After leading the bills the Senate adjourned.

\YR\NGLED OVER SMALL THINGS. The House Waste* Time—Mnel Ado About ii Piiae, At the session of the House yesterday the proceedings ranged from sense to nonsense. It was five minutes after the hour set when Speaker Littleton mounted the steps and called the members to order. No minister was present and the prayer was offered by Representative Cutty, of Brazil, a Democratic member and a miner. The last name on the roll had scarcely been called when Mr. Roots was on his feet to offer a biii. The Speaker declared him out of order and ordered the reading of the journal. This, of course, was dispensed with on motion of Mr. Blankenship, and as soon as the vote was announced Mr. Roots was oji his feet with the first bill of the session to appropriate $105,000 for the expenses of the session. Mr. Roots began to read the bill himself, when the speaker told him to send it to the clerk to be read by him. After the reading it was moved that the constitutional provision be waived, the bill be read the second time and then put upon its passage. After the second reading the occasion was seized upon by the Democratic members to make a political point. Mr. Hedgecock sent up an amendment making the amount sl*s, v oo instead of $105,000, but on motion of Air. Canada the amendment was laid on the table by a party vote, and the bill, as presented, was put upon its passage. When the name of Mr. Powers, of Jay, was reached that gentleman arose and said he could not hear what the. bill and explained in detail that he did not desire to vote on any question without a thorough understanding of it. The speuker explained the measure to Mr. Powers and the bill was passed by a vote of 68 yeas to 21 nays, party lines being lost sight of. Speaker Littleton announced the appointment of pages as was given in yesterday's papers, and then Mr. House began to think of going home and moved that when the House adjourn it be until ft o’clock Monday morning. This was then amended to fix the time at 10:30 Monday morning, and then Mr. Willoughby brought in anotner amendment to make it 2 o’clock Monday afternoon, and the last hour was agreed upon. Mr. Littleton seemed to have ten the enects of his recent campaign, for he announced that the question was that the House would adjourn until 2 o'clock Monday morning. Mr. Neel, in the meantime, had been considering the advisability of having ministers to pray for the House, and at this juncture he presented a resolution providing tor tho appointment of a committee of five to secure the services of ministers to open the sessions. The committee appointed consists of Noel. Whitcomb of Marion. Barlow, Cutty and Herod. Mr. Huff feared that he would forget to bring his cigars with him and presented a resolution giving the paper and cigar privileges to E. D. Appleton, and this was done. Air. Eichhorn presented a resolution providing that a bill favorably reported shall be printed and placed on the desks of the members a day before it is put on its final passage, except in the last w-eek of the session. Mr. Eichhorn explained that in former sessions the bill was not submitted to the members until a short time before the vote would be taken and many of the membeis desired to take the bills to their rooms with them. Mr. Noel opposed the resolution as tending to delay legislation. Mr. Canada saved the situation by moving to refer the matter to a committee of three, so the question will be determined by Canada, Noel and Eichhorn. RULES AND COMMITTEES. Air. Shideler reported from the committee on rules for the House. The committee slightly amended the rules of the last House, in most cases unimportant changes. The change in the character of the former state prisons made it necessary to change the names of the standing committees on those subjects to Indiana Reformatory, Indiana State Prison, and the name of the former committee on canals was changed to rivers and waters. New committees were created on soldiers’ monument, telegraphs and telephones. and State Soldiers' Home and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphans’ Home. The former rule that a two-thirds vote would be necessary to overrule a ruling by the speaker was changed so as to read that a majority of ail members would be required for tnat purpose, and this caused a tempest in a teapot. As soon as the reading of ihe report was completed Air. Glossbrenner moved that the report be concurred in and demanded the previous question. Tnis biought Air. Eichhorn to his teet with the request that tne demand lie withdrawn, as he had one amendment to offer. No second was given to the demand. Air. Eichhorn desired the rule so changed as to require a majority of those present to overrule the speaker. He contended that only those present would be interested in the ruling of the speaker, but Air. Roose stopped the discussion by moving to lay the amendment on the table, which was done by a vote of 54 to 40, Mr. Artman voting with the Democrats. The rules were adopted and the committee was instructed to represent the House on the committee to draw up joint rules. Then came much ado about a small matpage. The trouble was started by Air. Barlow, of Hendricks, offering a resolution to appoint another page. He said that the number appointed was not sufficient to do the work required and ttie aisle on which he sat had no page to do the work. Mr. Eichhorn was up at once with a copy of the statutes in his hand and reading a section which limits the number of pages to be appointed. He charged that ine resolution was not offered out of the necessity of the case, hut to provide more patronage. Mr. Noel contended that the services of another page were necessary and that his side ot the room did not have any at all. Mr. Blankenship at some length dilated on the necesssity for another page, and said that the House could appoint another if his services were deemed necessary. Mr. Roots consumed much time in an argument for another page based on “the principle of the thing.’’ Mr. Batterson, a Democratic member from Brookville, said he was willing to vote for another page if he was necessary, but he urged that the House wait for a while and see if such a thing ts necessary. Mr. Brown, of De Kalb, another Democratic member, opposed the resolution at some length on the grounds that the House had no right to go contrary to the statutes. Air. Barlow replied to this bv saying that the Legislature is the lawmaking power of the State and that if the House desires one hundred pages it has the right to appoint them. Air. Roose brought out the- state Constitution and read that section which confers on each branch of the General Assembly the right to organize itself, and he contended that the law on the statutes is ineffective, as it is contrary to this provision ot the Constitution. Air. Eichhorn held that the previous sessions had not found it necessary to have another page and the probabilities were that this one would not. Mr. Hedgecock then closed the incident by moving to lay the resolution on the table, but the motion was lost by the close vote of 46 yeas to 47 nays, the Democrats voting solidly in favor of laying it on the table. The backbone of the opposition was thus broken and the resolution was adopted Air. Barlow said his page, who will profit by this, is named Ralston, but he does not know his first name. A MEGAPHONE SUGGESTED. Another row was precipitated by an innocent resolution presented by Air. Ross, of Delaware, which placed the reading clerk at times in a most embarrassing position. The seat of Air. Powers, of Jay county, is far to the rear and off to one side, completely surrounded by Democrats. Mr. Powers is an elderly gentleman and rather hard of hearing. Great difficulty was experienced by all the members in the rear of the room in hearing the reading clerk, as he has not yet learned to adjust his voice to tiie size of the chamber and to the confusion in the hall and lobby. The resolution presented by Air. Ross provided that as Mr. lowers is elderly and rather deaf that he should be permitted to change his sent and occupy one nearer the front of the hall. It was requested that Mr. Aiken also be permitted to change his seat nearer the front of the room, as he is similarly afflicted. The intentions of the resolution were of the best, but many of tiie members took advantage of the opportunity to criticise the reading clerk. Mr. Cravens suggested leaving the seating arrangement as It Is and to get a clerk all could hear. Mr. Huff said that he was strongly in favor of the change. He said that Air. Aiken will be the first man of the Republicans to vote on all roll calls, and that many of the members who sat further back would be guided by his vote where they would not be able to hear what was going on, and they wanted Mr. Aiken seated far enough to the front to vote intelligently. Mr. Blankenship sug-

gested that an be made to purchase • ir trumpets for the member*, and then he entered tnto a defense of thereading clerk, calling attention to the fact that ihis was his first day’s service and no reasonable man could expect him to at once adjust himself to the hail and the confusion. From the Democratic side came a suggestion of the purchase of a megaphone. Air. James then said he would vote for the resolution. but he would suggest that a box or something of the kind be provided for the clerk to stand on. Mr. Herrold, of Laporte county, said that he could not hour the clerk, although h.s hearing ts so acute that he can “hear the mosquitoes sharpening their bills on Kankakee creek when ho is at Owl river.” Mr. Carroway tried to put an end to this display of statesmanship by offering a substitute that the whole matter should be referred to a committee of three. Capt. A. AI. Scott, of Ladoga, at this point took a hand in the matter and straightened it out by a series of motions. Through his efforts the substitute was laid on the table and the original motion and tho amendment went through. The statesmen were recovering their respective breaths and preparing to take hold of the next problem, for the settlement of which the people of Indiana are breathlessly waiting, when Mr. Artman cruelly put a stop to further proceedings by a motion to adjourn, in which all members concurred. THE AUDITOR AS A CHECK. Hl* Function in County and Town—*lii| Reform I’luii. “One of the chief reasons for the extravagance now prevailing in the management of county and township business,” said William Dudley Foulke, “is the absence of any correct and uniform system of keeping accounts by which errors and illegalities may be detected, and also the absence of any competent authority whose duty it is to call the attention of the proper officers and of the public to illegalities mid extravagant expenditures where they exist. Extravagant sums are often appropriated by the County Commissioners for county attorneys and other employes hired to transact county business. There is groat waste in the expenditure for county supplies; there is extravagance in the matter of extra allowances to officers who are regularly paid by law, as well as to contractors. Money is paid on contracts which are not performed and in excess of the amount actually due, and there is no means of detecting these frauds and irregularities because there is no system of bookkeeping bs which they may be exposed. It is safe to say that there are no two counties in this State inwhieh accounts are kept in precisely the same way, and it ia therefore impossible to compare the expenditures of the different counties for specific purposes. Ihe only way to correct this evil is to give to some competent one the right to prescribe a uniform system of bookkeeping anil to sec that it is enforced. The Revised statutes already do this in respect to state institutions, and the proposed bill ’to secure a uniform system of Keeping the accounts of county and township officers' aims to make the same provisions tor county and township accounts. The auditor of state attends to this business for the state institutions. Why should he not attend to it in the case of county and township officers? The auditor believes that with the aid of an additional deputy he can properly perform this work, and we therefore saw no need of creating any special board or special officer to do it, since an officer was already provided by the Constitution of the State upon whom, this duty could be properly imposed. The act therefore provides that the auditor of state shall order and enforce a uniform system of keeping accounts by county and township officers so as o form a check on their mutual actions and lead to the detection of illegal and improper expeditures and other extravagances in the management of public funds. ’’lt is also believed tiiat additional security will be furnished and much evil prevented if the state auditor is authorized to make an inspection of the accounts of county officers without notice. This is the plan provided for by the national banking act in respect to bank examinations. A satute authorizing such inspection was passed some four years ago in Wyoming, and in that small State, with its sparse population, more than s(>o,uoo has been saved since the appointment of a state inspector in addition to a large amount of fraud and illegality prevented by ihe consciousness on the part of the county officers that all their acts are subject to inspection at any moment. By the proposed bill the auditor of state is authorized to make this inspection and examination and may summon witnesses touching the accounts of county and township officers and regarding the management of public funds. “Tiie county officers are also required to render statements to the auditor of state at least once a year as to the accounts kept by them in the management of their offices, setting forth the items with particularity. And whenever ho learns of any erroneous system of bookkeeping, or of any errors in the accounts of county or township officers, or of any illegal expenditures, or of other illegalities in the management of the county, or township funds, it is his duty to report the same to the county council at its next meeting, or, in the case of the township, to the Township Advisory Board, as well as to the prosecuting attorney and the attorney general. It is not intended by this act to give the auditor of state any final power over county business. It is to be his duty to examine and call attention to illegalities and to report them to the proper county ami township officers, who are to have the right to piosecute the offenders, recover the money lost and prevent the recurrence of waste ou extravagance in the future. It is believed, that all this can lie dime at very little expense to the taxpayers. The payment of a. salary of $2,000 to one additional deputy, together with necessary stationery and trav-* eling expenses, are thought to be al! that, is required. And there can be little doubts that such supervision of county and township accounts will r ‘suit in the saving of hundreds of thousands of dollars to the taxpayers of this State.”

PTOAfCR-CRKGOR COSTEST. Intrrmling Tetlnun> from Miidinon (Oiinty I’romiteil. The Senate elections committee yesterday afternoon again took up the Stoner-Cregor contest. Capt. J. H. Curtis, representing Mr. Gregor, moved to strike out certain sections on the grounds that the service made on Mr. Cregor was improper and that the statutes had not been followed. He claimed that the service in the proceedings in Hancock county was correct in the proceedings before the magistrate, but that the service in Madison county was imperfect. The entire afternoon session was consumed in arguing this point by Captain Curtis and by A. C. Harris, who represents Mr. Stoner. Tim question was taken under advisement and the committee will meet again at 10 o’clock this morning in Room 112 and hand down its decision. To-day the taking of oral testimony will begin. The story that voters were taken from the polls in Madison county and driven out into the country on a bribe of $2 and a day’s drunk, to be kept from voting for Mr. Stoner, will be taken up, and it is understood that the man who hired thorn, the man who drove them out and lome of tire men who went out will appear and testify. Tuesday Night Acceptable. The House Republicans caucused yesterday morning ufler the session to receive the report of the House members of the joint caucus committee. The time tixed, Tuesday night, at :30, was accepted, and the caucus will begin at that time. .Justice* Want Salaries. “uncial to the Indianapolis Journal. TERRE HAUTE, lud.. Jan. •(.—The Terre. Haute justices of the peace are going io Indianapolis in a body to ask for a law' by which their ollice will be made a salaried one. They think that $1,500 or s2,f>oo would just about fit. Justice Bennett, who has just retired, announced that he would no longer consent to serve when it was constantly evident that the only way to make a living out of the ollice for himself and the officers of the court was to give judgments against the side which could pay the c< .rt costs. An Improbable Hope. J. H. Adams. In North American Review. In looking into the future we tind ourselvo* staring at a blank wall: for. with the exception of the phonograph and the typewriter, no recent advance has been made in leasing literary work. The ideal method of composition would be the use of Hume machine tnto which the operator could talk and have his spoken word reproduced at once on paper as the written word: hut. unfortunately. like printing photographs in oqlors. each succeeding advance and discovery In the world of invention seems to make this hope more and more improbable. Tito insurmountable difficulty lies in the suet that there is no connection between the sound or a word and its appearance on paper. We will never reach this ideal state. Moral M>oa" in kanui. Atchison Globe. The claim is made that many of the old men who go to the theater in Atchison go to sleep during the performance, the samo a if thev were in church. This speaks higher than any other indorsement of the moral quality of the shows appearing in Atchison.