Indiana State Sentinel, Indianapolis, Marion County, 11 February 1891 — Page 4

THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL. WEDNESDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 11; 1891-TWELTE PAGES.

INDIANA STATE SENTINEL

BY THE INDIANAPOLIS SENTINEL CO. S. E. MORSS, President. Ibtered at the Postoace at Indianapolis M second class matter. TERMS TEK YEAR CIiigTe eepv (TnTarlably la Advance.)-... SI OO We ask democrat to bear in mind and select their trwn state paper when they corns to take subscription and icake cp clubs. ArfLts rrat'.ng up rltibs srnd for anv Information ftwed. A2uias THE 1NI1A AVOUS SENTINEL Indianapolis. Intl. 1 1 v WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 11. TWELVE PAGfsT The Fee And Salary DHL The fee and salary till, which has been reported by the committee intrusted with its preparation, ha8 some very excellent feature, eome that will and should be carefully scrutinized befora adoption, and pome that are on tbeir face radically bad. It is the common misfortune of all attempted reforms that they fall under the influence of extremists, and, unless resolutely held from such control, aro carried to lengths that make them either odious or utterly impracticable. Very frequently they are shunted off on side tracks that their originators never dreamed of, and this not infrequently by ccslpning persons whose real object is the practical defeat of the movement From the first TnE Sentinel has been the earnest advocate of the fee and salary reform, and it Still occupies that position with all the earnestness that it can feel on any question. It demands that tho pledges !f tho democratic platform bo carried out fully and fairly. But 5t baa not advocated any bastard jreform. It will not lend any support to 4he introduction of features into this bill jjhat can only have the effect of producing Jts repeal by the next general assembly. -It 'will not champion any bill that will cripple the state oflicea and prevent the proper performance of the duties of thoso offices. It will not advocate any measure ithat can serve no other end than to bring jdierepute on the democratic party. The movement for fee and salary reform was designed to relieve tho people of the evils of the syetem of fees and perqnisite3 by which a few lucky aspirants ipr (Office were enabled to secure fortunes, and the public suffered both in taxation end in the corruption of voters. It aimed At the abandonment of the fee ej'stem, and the democratic party pledged itaelf to that purpose. It was not a movement to strike offices in which the fee system had no place, and cut the remuneration of the officers to such an extent as to bar competent men from accepting employment ia them. There has been no complaint cf the salaries paid to employes in the etate offices, and there should be none. Their compensation as now fixed ia reasonable and proper for the isr vices required. The reform was aimed at the officers who receive the fees and perquisites not at the men and women who aro working for wages under those officers. And yet the bill reported cuts their wages to an extent that every business man wi!t concede to be improper. Take for example the office of statistician, lie now receives $1,800 per year with no fees or perqui?ite8 whatever. This ia a very moderate salary for competent statistical service the game amount that is paid to clerks under chiefs of divisions in the census bureau. His ealary is cut to $1,5C0 for co perceivable reason, and his assistant is cut from $1,000 to $000. The latter action is simply preposterous. 2to person who would be of any material service to the statistician in his work can be employed at that rate. This etatigtician and hia assistant are expected to collect, analyze and tabulate information on all subjects pertaining to the business and welfare of the state. Their work furnishes practica'ly the only precise information from which the prosperity of the etate can bo judged. We are already far behind our sister states in this work, and the effect of this provision will be to make us more so. The same system of cutting the salaries of subordinates has been followed throughout It is defended on the ground that other men can be obtained to do the work for the amounts fixed. "We doubt the statement; but even if it were true this Is the very theory that every friend of labor has been fighting for years. Every corporation and every employer that has cut wages has answered to the protests of his men: "If you don't like it, quit; we can fill your place at the figures we offer." There is no more unjust or vicious basis for establishing wages, and every workinman in tho state knows it to bis sorrow. It will be an unfortunate day for labor in Indiana when the etate adopts this principle and sets the example of cutting wages in accordance with it A word further: It is asserted by members of the legislature that they are deltiged with resolutions an I petitions from the farmers' ailianca demanding extreme measures. What is the farmers' alliance? It has asserted itself as a political organization. It nominated state and local tickets in the laat campaign and will do so in tho next. The present legislature was elected by tho democratic party and owes its allegiance to that party not to tho farmers' alliance. In some matters the two organizations agree, and in others they differ. The democratic party is tho best friend the farmer ever had, but it cannot concede that the farmers' alliance and the farmer are one and the same. It as rank presumption for the farmers' alliance to att:r.pt to dictate the policy of a democratic 1c gislature as it would be for the republican party to do so. It is not responsible for tho legislation adopted here. It will not have to bear the odium of the mistakes that may be made. When it elects a legislature it may do as it likes, but no democratic member can afford to forget that he was elected as a democrat and not as a representative of any other political party. The State Ilereune from Railroads. The bill introduced Wednesday by Mr. Ofpixheim is probably the best that can be made on the subject under our constitution, and should be parsed promptly. It provides, as will be seen from the full text of the bill printed in another column, for the tax on railroads to go into a general fund loi state purposes. This is wise. As

The Sentinix said yesterday, we cannot hope for fair assessments that will make the railroads pay their fair proportion of the taxes until this is done. In many respects, to be sure, a tax on gross receipts paid directly into the state treasury would be preferable ; but such a tax would be of doubtful constitutionality, and no risks of that kind must be taken. If the assessments are inado by experts, as they doubtless will be, the state will be in condition to begin to pay its debts. Under present assessments and present rates of taxation the state treasury would receive from this source more than 31, G00,000; if the a-saessnients are raised to a fair amount $2,2)0,000 will surely come from this source. This amount would put our fimnces into good condition at once. iSome opposition to Mr. Oppkxheim's bill may come from counties that fear their local income will be unduly reduced. There is no reason for such feeling. Ample resources are left tho counties that will be surer and can be much more easily controlled. The counties, by the release of other property from etate taxation that must accompany this bill, will gain more than they lose. The Necessity for Good Jlljrhwaya. It is gratifying to note the revival of interest in what has become the almost forgotten art of road-making. A number of colleges have established chairs for the teaching of this long-neglected science, which, in the rapid development of railroads anil waterways in this country, has

been almost forgotten. Rut as soon as the people realize tho importance of highways which shall be at all seasons and in all kin is of weather In fit condition for the passage of vehicles and perceive the advantages that accrue, both to city and country, from such highways they will not be slow in demanding that the state take some action in regard to this matter. All our people need is to have brought to their notice the necessity and utility of any public improvement,and they immediately take steps to secure it When we stop to think that freight can in many instances be transferred a considerable number of miles from one place to another by rail at nearly the same cost that it requires to haul it from its originating point to the railroad depot by wagon, the necessity of better roadways is strongly impressed upon Us. The success of agricultural pursuits depends largely upon facilities for getting products to a market, and one of the most important of these is a good roadway, if not to the market itself, at least to the shipping station. Accessibility is a factor that enters largely into the value of property of all kinds and into that of none more than of agricultural land. The city, dependent on the surrounding country for a large proportion of its supplies, can well afford to bear with it the tax necessary for the construction and maintenance of good roadways. It is a common mistake of our people, we fear, to look for immediate and direct results irom every investment, and to overlook the general increase in valuation resulting from the judicious expenditure of money for public improvements. The save-at-the-spigot-and-let-run-at-the-bunghole policy of economy which has unfortunately entered so largely into our public expenditures, is unworthy of the intelligent people of the state and the progressive spirit of the age. For instance, whde tho construction, improvement and maintenance of a good system of public highways may necessitate the expenditure of largo amounts of public money, we must not forget that every dollar so invested increases the value of every bit of land touched by the road or in its immediate vicinity, resulting altogether in a large return on tho investment. No state can use good roads to a better advantage than Indiana; no state needs them more, and no state, in view of the beneficent results that will accrue, can better afford to have them. Such roadways can only be built under the supervision of a competent engineer, and if we would have them, which we must and will, we must give up this idea of letting the roads take care of themselves and make them the care of the state, with a sufficient appropriation set apart by the legislature for this purpose. The idea of improving roadways is being brought to the attention of the people in various parts of the country, and in every instance has met with approval. Let not Indiana be behind in this important progressive movement Fair Assessments. Though other qurstions may have equal significance politically, especially that of fees and salaries, the real welfare of our state is more dependent upon the way in which the legislature settles the question of taxation than upon its action in any other case. It will be to our discredit if the pay of county officers is not fixed by a just law ; if our supreme court is not relieved ; if some general system of roads and efficient plan of working them are not devised; but unless our treasury is relieved a severe blow at the credit of the state will be given. Indiana is wealthy far wealthier than many of her sister states that have no difficulty in keeping free from debt It will be a disgrace, and a real injury to the good name of the state, if our lawmakers do not find some means of increasing the state's income to such an extent that not merely tho current expenses may be paid, but also a way provided for paying off the present debt The great difficulty in all systems of taxation is to secure fair assessments. No etate in the world has succeeded in securing a perfect assessment of all the property, but many have done better than Indiana. So long as the temptation exists people will make false returns, and assessors, rather than make enemies, will yield their assent The bill introduced by Mr. Beaslev of the house a few days ago will do much to remove the temptation, if it is properly supplemented by other bills. A county assessor with assistants who know exactly the value of the kinds of property they assess will surely be a great improvement upon the present system; but until the state taxes are raised from entirely different sources than the local taxes, the competition between the counties for low assesbmenta' will prevent any fair estimates of the value of property. Let the state get it revenue from the corporations, from bequests and inherit

ances, even from incomes if necessary; and let the land and ordinary personal property be subject to local taxation only. Then we may how for f Air assessments that will not throw the great burden of taxation upon the poorer classes, as is now the case. We have no desire to burden the corporations unduly. They have been of the greatest benefit to the state. But the people of the state make only a just demand when they ask that railroads and other corporations pay at the mine rate as the farmers and the merchants. Heretofore their assessments have been in many cases ridiculously low. Tim Proposed Railroad Tax. The bill introduced by Mr. OrrENnsiM appropriating railroad taxes to the state government, which will be coupled with the abandonment of the state tax on other property, is one that should receive the cordial support of the general assembly. All experts in the science of taxation are agreed that there should be an absolute separation of the eources of stato and municipal revenues, and this bill offers a convenient and safe method for accomplishing that end. Thero ia scarcely room for doubt that the chief cause of our present financial condition is the fact that the sources of revenue for both are the same. In many counties the authorities, knowing that the state levy was fixed at 12 cent for general purposes and lo" cents

for schools, have deliberately cut down their appraisements to escape the state tax, and at the eame time maintained their county revenues by increasing the local levy. There has been such a rivalrv iu this business that no two counties are now paying taxes in the same proportion for the support of the state, and in consequence of the reduction the state revenues for ten years past have been from one-third to one-half less than they 6hould be. If this measure is adopted this un just inequality will be entirely diepoaed of. There is no doubt that if tho railroads are assessed at tho same rate as other property the taxes paid by them will be sufficient for the current expenses of the state. The average appraisement of property in Indiana is about one-half of its market value, but railroad property is not asseesed cn the average at over one-fourth of its market value. There is of course no justice in this. It is a condition that ought not to exist, and the present legislature can do no greater service to themselves and to the people than to make it impossible that it can exist any longer. Legislation for this purposs is being prepared, and one of the most important provisions in it is that railroads shall not be appraised at less than one-hrJf of their true value as shown by tho actual value of their etock and bonds on the market Such a provision may sound a little strange under existing laws that require all property to be assessed at its true value, but it is a notorious fact that property is not assessed at. iu true value, and it can be easily demonstrated that the railroads of this state arc not assessed at over one-fourth of the amount which they crc commanding in the market. No injustice to railroads is contemplated. There is no desire to be unfair with them in any respect. All that is asked is that they shall pay the same taxes on their property that the people, of the state pay. Wc apprehend that no reasonable man will make any objection to this demand. Certainly no representative who expects to be able to givo an account of himself to his constituents can afford to oppose it. Tho representatives of railroads concede that their property is appraised too low, and wc think they will offer no material objection to a fair measure which will merely put tbem on a footing with other property owners in the etate. If they do opposo it there is but one thing to do, and that is to make the laws just without regard to their objection. No state can afford to maintain a byetem of laws that exempts railroads or any other class of property owners from their equitable proportion of taxes, and the question now presented to the general assembly is whether Indiana shall continue a system which does that very injustice or shall adopt a system under which it can be avoided. Pass the Appellate Court Hill. The senate bill for an intermediate court of appeals has been favorably reported for passage by the committee in charge, and the printed bill, as modified in some of its de'ails, has been laid on the desks of the senators. Tho changes made are for the better, and the measure should now be adopted without delay. It has had careful attention from trusted judges and Uwyers, as well as the committee, and we trust may be adopted without material change. Inasmuch as it is meritorious from every aspect, and thus far has developed no opposition. The Sestinll earnestly hopes that it maybe promptly passed by the senate and sent to the house at once for its action. It is a measure of the greatest importance and one directly in the interest of the farmers, workingmen and other classes of cur citizens who have bo long experienced the oppressive use made by their full-pursed and long-winded antagonists through appeals to tho far behind supreme court. Let it be understood all over the etate that the day of the bullying "adjusting agents'' of the railroad and insurance companies and other great concerns has passed, and that the citizen holding a claim worth 100 cents on the dollar has only himself to blame if he accepts less. Give our people the speedy justice the constitution so solemnly insures. The trial courts iu all the counties are rendering satisfactory service. Cases are promptly heard and promptly decided. The supreme court, also, is teadily and industriously grinding away on the mass of appeals before it, but it is wholly unequal to the task of deciding them as th&y are presented. When the "commission" ceased its work, about four years ago, there were, wo( are advised, 700 cases, in round numbers, on the docket. Since then the increase has swelled to the neighborhood of 1,200. The result is the court is away behind, and. a long period of delay is thus assured to the party desiring to take advantage of it This advantage, secured by the mere filing of a bond, is one of tremendous power when exerted against a citizen contending unaided with a strong and unscrupulous adversary, and it is an in due nee that is being used in every quarter of the state, and continually, to extort compromises on terms so rankly unjust as practically to amount to open robbery. The universal effect of this evil, operating as it does on our citizens of all ranks

and conditions, and reaching into every home, justifies us in making so earnest an appeal to our lawmakers to suppress it The appellate court will bring the needed relief as promptly as possible, aud in the rational way. It will permanently insure speedy justice in the future and lead the people to duly consider that fact in making their dealings. We trust our legislators will not suffer the appellate court moaaure to drag becausa not backed up by the usual lobbying or special interest It is a measure for the people, and every senator and member bhouldbe its friend. Tass the appellate court bill. A Separate State Tnx for General Pnrposes. ' "No state taxes for general purposes or for defraying the expenses of the etate government have been levied since the year 188.," Kays the secretary of state of Wisconsin in his last rejort. "Keceipts from railway licenses, insurance companies' licenses and various ether sources have been ample to meet the expenses of the government" The 'Various other Fources" include telegraph and telephone companies', hawkers' and peddlers' license?, railway car companies, etc. Thefo companies are the proper sources of Etate revenues. 1'a.lroad, telegraph and telephone properties have not been fairly assessed by the different counties in Indiana. Assessors have not had the expert knowledge required, and the result is that these great corporations have paid in reality far less than their just share of the taxes. Let them pay directly to the state on their gross receipts or net receipts, or on their property, as seems wise and conttitutional to the legislature; but let them pay their fair proportion. This revenue will support the state, and the land and property taxes, if not applied to state uses, will givo sufficient revenues to the counties and towns at lower rates of taxation than the present ones. Unless th etate taxes are separated from the local taxes we cannot get fair appraisements; with this separation, however, if expert assessors aro appointed as provided in the Beasley bill, we may hope ior juster taxation. ' People do not complain of heavy taxation; they complain of unfair taxation. The landowner, the man working on a small salary, the widow living on the proceeds of a life insurance fund, are willing to pay taxes ; but they are unwilling that railroads shall be assessed at one-fourth their real value,.while the, men who hold large blocks of stock escape entirely by concealment of their property, as is so frequently the case. Put the great corporations into a class by themselves; put a special burden upon them to carry not of course an unfairly heavy one, but a just one and one step will have been taken toward a better system of taxation as well as toward the strengthening of our credit.

The question of reorganizing tho state board of agriculture is before the senate. There is no doubt that the present system is opposed to public policy and ought to bo abandoned, and that .whatever plan may be adopted in its stead should create a state board ent irely reprcsentat ve in its character and with no power in its members to perpetuato themselves in office. The present board is a thoroughly fossilized institution, at least fifty years behind the times, and of little credit and less service to the agricultural interests of the etate. The annual fairs are cheapJohn exhibition?, and tho people of Indianapolis and of the state at large are heartily ashamed of them. There should be a new deal all around. No only the agricultural, but the mechanical and industrial interests of tho state, should be fairly represented in their management The system should be such as to insure the infusion of fresh blood into the state board from time to time. We trust that a good law will be passed upon tho subject, and one that will secure a successful and adequate annual exhibition of our agricultural and industrial resources. In an article in the Xorth American T!( view Speaker Reed, to show that his arbitrary rulings in the bouse had no tendency to curtail the debate, points out the fact that it only required ten volumes to record the proceedings of the Fiftieth congress, first session, while eleven were necessary for those of the first session of the Fifty-first congress. There are two facts, however, that are rather inclined to jar the speaker's argument and account for this extra volume. One is that the discussion on the tariff bill by the senate was protracted because of the avowed reason that it had not been sufficiently con sidered in the house, and another is that 7SS pages of the Coiiyrcmonal Record are covered with speeches that were never de li vered, but appear there "by laave to print" That part of Mr. Reed's defense wherein he says that the proceedings of the house alone exceeded the first session of the preceding congress about three hundred pages is rather weakened by the above figures. The New Castle Courier, the organ of the rotten old republican ring of Henry county, rises to remark: The Sentinel and other democratic newspapers are making a great pretense of favoring the reduction of fees and salaries, well knowing that the legislature does not intend to disturb the present law. v The Courier would be very happy, no doubt tf it believed'lhis to be true. But it knows better. The legislature will redeem the pledges made to the people oa the question of fee and salary reform. ' The Topeka Democrat published a strong letter from the Hon. A. J. Arnold of Kansas and formerly of this state, advocating the election of Congressman Byncm to the speakership. Indications multiply that Mr. Byncm is the coming man. He baa everything in his favor youth, ability, experience, knowledge of parliamentary law, courage, location, a clean record, and democrats, both North and South, are fast coming to see that he ia the man to preside over the next house of representatives. , The paramount duty of the legislature is to pass a fee and salary bill, and the matter ought to rsceive the serious attention of both houses immediately. . The party is pledged to this reform, and the great mass of the people of all conditions demand it. ' There has been too much time wasted over trivial and unimportant

details. Time is slipping away. There ought to bo a speedy agreement on a fair and reasonable bill.

The affairs of the Richmond insane hospital still continue in a very unsatisfactory conditon. The testimony of Superintendent Wells at Wood's trial, as well as his published statement of se veral months ago, shows that he is not a proper person to be in charge of the institution. He has not seen fit to resign and the board Las not seen fit to ask his resignation. Of their own choice they are involving themselves in the mismanagement of ths institution if they were not already involved. One of their number is a candidate for re-election at present. Whatever representations may be made in regard to the matter, we aro credibly advised that the better class of democrats of Wayne county would prefer a change. There should be placed on the board some reputable citizen of Wayne county in w hom the people of that countv have confidence. Indiana wants no whipping-post set up within her territory. It may do in Delaware, but Indiana, we think, has advanced beyond the whipping-post stage of civilization. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. A. S., Feniel, O.: Hugh O. Pentecost's sermons are printed regularly in his paper, tie Twentirfh Century, published ia New York. ' Old rBOKi.iEu," Ileltocville .See Indi tra revised statutes of 1SS1, page 12S7, paragraphs 0000 and 0007. Faemkr, Marion county: We are unable to state when the new fee and?alary law will go into effect. There is considerable diversity of opinion on the subject. "b.Nor.AMrs," City Write your congressman to Eenl you a congressional directory. It would take more space than we can spare to publish the lict of congressmen. J. M. Wright, Coal Bluff The mining laws of Indiana have not been codified. They can only be found in the nvised statutes of 1KS1 and tho acts ot succeeding legislatures. R. J. F., Fortville, Ind. We are unablo to spare tne space for a list of governors and for the other information you ask for. The names of the governors c.tn be found in the Chicago Xeics almanac for 1801, just issued. The other information cau be obtained from a work entitled "American Politics," published by C. R. Erodix, Chicago, in 1S84. W. R. B., Morristown (1) Yes, our market for silver bullion is open to the world. (2 and 3) The law provides that the government shall purchase 4,o00,000 ounces of silver bullion, or any part thereof that may be offered, each month, at a rate not exceeding 81 for 371.25 grains of pure silver. (4) On Jan. 22 the government purchased silver bullion at prices ranging from $1.05232 to $1.0537-3 per ounce. No purchases have been made since. (51 A dollar contains 371.25 grains of pure silver and 41.25 grains of alloy. ET CETERA. The rr.nlden blushed and hung her head; bt do you take roe for?'' she taiA. Th yountr man poko up eagerly: For butter or (or worse." said he. jTittsburg Pipateb. New York stands well financially, her act ual surplus being $.),73!i,502.77. Mk. Henky Gfor;e and Mrs. George sailed from New York Thursday for Bermuda to be absent a month. It's a bad idea to lock the stable door after the horse is stolen. What if tho thief should repent and bring back the horse? Binnha niton leader. Moxctre D. Coxw.w is engaged on a life of Thomas Paine, and desires the use of letters and other mr.tetial which may not be already at his disposal. Mr. John W. Massey, of Plymouth, Eng., formerly of Philadelphia, writes to the Record to suggest the word "televoice" as a substitute for telephone message. Stanlfy, who has returned toNew York, has not yet perfected any arrangements for returning to Africa, but expect to decide as to his future plans before the conclusion of his course of lectures. Mrs. William Mokkis, wife of the London artist, poet and socialist is Paid to be the most beautiful woman in the world. She goes out but litt e, and is rarely seen by the multitude who visit her husband. A London printer put a penny in the slot of a machine intended to prove a man's striking power, and then punched the pad offered to receive the blow. The spring didn't work, his wriat was broken and the jury gave him $50. Miss K. T. M cm ford of Detroit, at one time George liancrolt's amanuensis, says that the historian, though deluged with letters and telegrams of congratulations on every birthday, scrupulously replied to every solitary one by letter. The senators' barber shop contains seventy shaving-mugs and seventy-two shaving-brushes and one pair of clippers sufficient for the many senators who shave and the few who are not bald, while the employes' barber shop has no mugs at all and only two shaving-brushes. "The Hoosier Kid" committed a bold robbery in Cincinnati Tuesday night. He stole a lot of bonds which had been concealed behind a picture that huug from the wall. Surprised at his luck he broke away from the plucky woman who grappled with him and made his escape into the Etreet The new Idaho senator, Sheup, is getting himself talked about because of his wild and woolly expressions. He approached Morton during the night session last week in one of the cloak-rooms, and slapping the vice-president on the back paid: Mr. Vice-President, 6hake; your ruling awhile ago was dead game." Atlanta Journal, Governor Jones of Alabama while in the national capitol building the other day was requested by some northern visit ors, who did not (enow him, to show them about the place. He performed the task acceptably, and one of the Btrangers handed him 50 cents. The governor then revealed himself, to the confusion of the visitors. The late George Bancroft was a good man of business, in which respect he was unlike nine H;erary men out of ten. Though he was never economical in his living expenses, he left a very snug fort une. As an illustration of the enthuei asm of his old age, it is related that he took up the study of cbekspeare when eighty-seven, and prosecuted his new pur suit with all the ardor of youth. EntltWd to tho I)at. All aro entitled to tho best that their money will buy, so every family should have at once, a bottle of the best family reraedv, bvrup oi rigs, to cleanse the sys tem when costive or bilious. For sale in 50c and 1.00 bottled by all leading drug gists. lo the Paclfle Coaat. Go to California via the through lines ot the Burlington Route, from Chicago or Kt LonU to Denrer, and thenee over the new broad pail go, through car lines of the Denver and Rio (Jrande or Colorado Midland Railways via Leadrille, Glenwood Springs and Salt Lakethrough interesting cities and unsurpassed scenery, uuuag cart au las way.

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Used in Millions cf Homes Mil. MUDOCK VINDICATED HOVEY'S CHARGES NOT SUSTAINED. Rpnllleaia Join In m Report to Clear the Warden cf the Northern Frlson From the Value Acrnention of th Man W ith the "Napoleonic Soul" In the house Thursday, Mr. Nolan, chairman of the committee on I'rion North, submitted the report of tne committee -which lately investigated the charges preferred against Warden Murdock by Governor llovey, in a mes sage to tho legislature. Tho report is signed by every member of the committee. Mr. Krwin was the sole democrat on the committee that examined the accounts of the warden. The report was unanimously adopted by thrt hoc.se and it exonerates Mr. Murdock completely. It i as follows: Mr. .VrKAKEU In pursuance to the instruotioua of the hoaec, your committee on the affairs of the stale prison north proceeded on Wednesday, Jan. 2S, to the location of the prison north at Michigan City for the purpose of inYesligaliog the charges made lj the gorer: or r jainst the management ot that institution. - - Previous to our rUit to the prison, and in accordance with oar instructions, we called upon the governor and the fcecretryof the board of state charities ior such iaforruaaon aa they miht htre concerning the masagemeut of the institution. We submit herewith copiee of tLe conesponde'ice bad with the governor, from which it will be seen that he referred your committee to the char ares mude iu lus special message of Jan. 17, and also transmitted the names of numerous ex-directors of the prison, as well es these of several ex-er uvicte, uggeating that tbeir testimony ehould be UKen. It will be further observed that when called upon for the specific charges soug'at to ba sustained by the testimony ot the witnesses indicated, the governor failed to submit such information as in the opinion of your committee would justify the considerable expeuditure of money which the summoning of witnesses ponld involve and the great lore of time to your oommittce that the examination would entail. For these reasons and believing that we could thoroughly ac- omphsh our work witnont calling these witnehse?. your committee unanimously determined to proceed without them. On Thursday morning, Jan. 2?, your committee convened in conjunction with the senate committee on prison aiiairs in th director's room of the prison north at Michigan City. We at onee rroceeJed upon the invjetigation of the books and acrounts of the prison. The Hon. Bruce Carr, late auditor of state, and Walter Vail, president of the First national bank of Michigan City, were appointed a experts to examine the books aud accounts of the prison and were, after being duly sworn to conduct a fair exaraiuition, directed to render an exhibit of the financial status of the prison, including the receipts and expenditures involved iu iu management since the last investigation oi its atiairs by a legislative eomxhtee Ugether with n statement of the amount now due the state from the warden. Senator Harland of (be seoate committee and Representative Erwin of the house committee were delegated by their respective committees to assist in this examination. The exhibit rendered by the tip rt examiners accompanies and is made a part of this report, and is marked "Exhibit A." The receipts of the prison result chietly from thejhiring out of convicts to contractors, from the sale of hides, etc., by the warden for the account of the state, and from the sale of prison slops under contract to the warden. The expenditures were shown to Lave been for the maintenance of the convicts, and for necessary improvements. These expenditures, in the opinion of yonr committee, were honebtly and judiciously made. The exhibit develops the fact that npon the dato of our visit to the prison there was due the state from the warden the sum of S.'M This sum was found to be deposited in two bnnks at Michigan City, viz.: the Citizens' state back and the First national bank, whose j officers stated to your committee, under oath, that the banks held sums aggregating the amount shown to be due the state, and that said sums on deposit were subject to the check of James Murdock, warden. The warden has not complied with the strict letter of the law in faiiiog at the time he made quarterly settlements with the treasurer of atate to turn over the balance on baud, quarterly, to tlie treasurer, as is provided that he should do in res. 0,111, revised statutes. The fact is that the policy of conducting the business of the prisou, aud which policy was established before the present warden assumed it management, aud atrictly followed by him up to the present time, has been in direct violation of this section (6,141). Snch transgressions of the law, continuing under various administrations of the offices of governor, auditor tod treasurer of state almost, it not, indeed, sinee the establishment of the prison, and while it is claimed by the warden and directors that the ignoring of the statute is necessary to the success ot the management and ha inured to the benefit of the state, we recommend that the statute should either be strictly complied with or that it should be repealed. The prison north has since the inception into office of the present warden, not only sustained itself and added many valuable improvements without drawing upon the state treasury, but has actually paid into the treasury $8,000 in cash and now holds over $18,000 to the credit of the slate. This condition of afi&irs reflects great credit upon the business sagacity of Warden Murdock. Concerning the charge that the warden is appropriating the slops and ot.'al of the prison to hia own use, your committee begs leave to report that they have examined into the charge aud find that a contract exists between the dirt ctors of the prison aad the warden by which the latter, iu consideration of the payment by him annually of $200 to the state, receives all the slope, irrease and other offrl of the prison. This disposition of the slops and orial bas always been the oustom at the prison and aate dates the advent into office of the present warden. The records of the prisou show that periodically from March 11, lbod, to j June So, 1 s5i', mese contracts ior mops, urease and otlal have been made between directors and warden. On page 116, record No. 2, Feb. 16", 1SS2, we find suppiemeiited to the minutes of the meeting of the board of directors the following note: "Daring the present meeting of the board his excellency, Governor Albert G. Porter, was present and made a complete and exhaustive examination of the accounts of the warden, his receipts and disbursements, and of bis perquisites as such officer, and expressed himself as satisfied with hii integrity and of the LoLest management of the officers of the prison. (Signed.) A. C. Hf.eson, Li:oroLn Levy, W.T. HoRiNE." Yet, daring the meeting referred to in the above, tbe usual slop coutract was made with the warden. Such contracts while, in our opinion, they have always beta made in good faith and honestly complied with are certainly against the spirit if not the letter of sec 6,110, 11. 8., and are hxpolitie and unwise for tbe reason that their execution calls for tbe criticisms aud suspicion of wrong doing. And although your committee is not prepared to say that the state coald reap any financial advantage from the discontinuance of this method of disposing of the slop, we recommend a strict construction on tbe part of the directors and warden of sec. 6,140 and obedience thereto, "Ws agree with the governor in the recommendation that the salary or the warden be sufficiently increased a to justify tbe discontinuance of all perquisites and that the latter be turned into the prison fund for the benefit of the state. Yonr committee finds that the sanitary condition of the prison is extremely good, aud for further Information we refer tbe house to the

4.0 Years the Standard.

report cf the state beard of charities, the eecretnry of which stated to your committee that he had no charge e to take against the management of tbe prison, lie stated also that he found the food rea-ifudbly good and eumcient. Fcr a detailed statement of the receipts and disbursements of the priou daring the period covered by the examination, we refer yoa to the exhibit rendered aaJr oath by the experts and netnbers of tbe sab-cotamitters of the senate and houee. all of which is respectfully submitted to the boase. John J. NoL.vy, Chairman. IL K. Ebwix. n. v.. Ko ix. v. k. Offices. V.. J. CAr.r.oLU Jons C. Smith. It. HlVFMAS. J. M. Farlow. While tV.a facts stated as to Governor Porter appear on the records I object to its incorooritiou in this report, because tho same is surplusage aud irrelevent. Joe F. Sleeper. KEPORT OF THE KXTEKTS. The committee appointed by you to examine the books of the war Jen of the prison north to ascertain the earning nd expecditnres of said prisou bariut; examined the books and voucbers of snid warden from the fiscal year beginning Nov. 1, 1?, beg leave to submit the following report: The amount on hand as shown by the leeisistive committees in their teport, Jan. 31. 1 $ 9,042 64 Iceipts and cs-rnins November, Inv? . 8,So2 14 December. lsS 9.20.' 2January, 1SS3 9.347 13 Totrl -.. oi27 23 Expenditures For November. l.eS $ II.S74 ot I'eceraber. 1NS .... 10,io'. M January. lSS'J - P.njO 03 Total t 31,413 97 I'.eceipts and earningsFebruary, U5i 8,4) 4J March, 19 -. 9.473 27 ApriLlra? 9, IPS 27 TotAi- ,1 CI 07 Expenditures Febr il & 1 V, a 4 9 ? 5 4 March. 1n9 7,33.5 8 prU . 8,451 Prf Total $ 25.664 03 Receipts ard earningsMay, lb& t 43 J U 0 fi, . ? aO 0 July, ls-M'... 9.P10 73 Total 2?,2 co Expenditures May, IsM. $7,754 Of June, 1S9 52.37 July, - 02 Totd - ? 24.H60 33 receipts aud earnings An gust, 1'.' $ 10,334 tl 8?piemDer, 1! 9,20. October, 1N'J 10,2 04 Total -. $ 2V65 ?3 Expenditures August, 10 f p.oai September, 5.3U H October, IV:!1 5,r45 7 Total $ lS.OlyJ Receipts and earniegs November, - i Go liecember. t,7 Pi January, 15'A f,034 ?l Total $ 20,071 55 Expenditu n-s November. 1WJ $ 12.334 ft Jlecember, h,r7 50 January, 1SW K613 12 Total - $ S0.SC5 44 Receipts an1 earnices February. lsM $ ?,162 15 March, 1'M) 10,457 M April. IS? J &.731 7 Total $ 2y,351 60 ExpendituresFebruary, 1SC0 t Ml" 13 March, 8,419 M April, lbi'0 J'.3d S Total $ 2',923 56 Receipts and earnices May, 1J0 $ 9,760 0 June, 1X 9,m 61 July.lSW 10,509 51 Total $ 20,570 23 ExpendituresMay, 18i0 $ 8.209 P.t June, lH&o - 7,372 July, 1 WO 6,247 42 Total 23.S90 24 Receipts and earningsAugust, WJ) $ 9,13 15 September, lK) 1,923 83 October, 1KJ0. 11.214 57 Total - $ 30,321 54 Expenditures August, IciK). 67$6 8.1 September, 1?1K. 6,39118 October, lclX $,154 ?l Total - $ 21,332 34 Receipts and earningsNovember, 190 8,935 8) December, 1SAU- . 10,809 35 Total t 19,711 5 F.xpenditures November, IS'A) - 13,053 81 December. 1SLU 9,434 24 Total J 22,404 07 SCMMJLKY. Total receipts and earnings $260,704 45 Total expenditures $224,422 64 Deduct earnings turned into state treasury as per auditor state's quietus on file - $201,925 57 Balance $53,775 89 rid vouchers for November and December, PS90 $ 22,494 07 Electric lieht and oil plant, dining room, and new gate - 13,932 56 Vouchera paid for January, 1 Syl, and not audited , 3,208 42 Due from United States. 830 55 Total 4 4(,4So' l0 $4Q.4S5 90 Leaving net balanceof earnings due state $ 18,289 99 This includes the expenditures for the month of January, ip9l, to the amount of $3,20M2 to date, but does not include &ny earnings for January, 1891, as they are not due and payable until the end of the monrh. The committee also examined the ledger balances for the entire term of the prerct warden and found them correct. Respectfully submitted. Waiter Vjui, BarcE Carr, A. F. Harlan, E. K. Erwin. "Tried and true" 13 the verdict of people who take Hood's Sarsaparilia. The pood etrects of this medicine aro Boon felt in nerve strength restored, that tired feeling, driven off, a pood appetite created, headache and dyepepsia relieved, scrofula cured. UNITARIAN PUBLICATIONS RENT rKKE. SENT FREE. AddreaiK K. C, W Cheitnut street, Bof ten. Mass DITrVTC Thomas P. Simpson. Washington, I. C lAiuuoNo atiomy s foe until patsnt obta'nL WrlU for luvantors Guid.