Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1898 — COUNTY GOVERNMENT. REFORM. [ARTICLE]

COUNTY GOVERNMENT. REFORM.

Address Issued to the People by the Reform Commission. The commission that has undertaken The-reform of county and township government has adopted the following address, which was submitted by the executive committee, and directed that it be sent to all of the newspapers of the state for publication: ‘•‘‘To the Citizens of Indiana: “The numerous evils attending the transaction of county and township business under the present laws—the improvident contracts for the construction of court houses, jails, bridges and other public works, the excessive and demoralizing distribution of the poor fund in many localities,; the arbitrary power of township trustees in levying taxes, the wasteful expenditures of public moneys upon the highways and in the purchasing of unnecessary and worthless supplies for school and other purposes, tin* secrecy and irresponsibility which so often attend the management of public business —

all these things call for a radical change in the laws for the administration of county and township affairs. Such a change has been advocated in the platforms of both the leading political parties of the state, and this commission, composed of delegatee chosen by the state board of commerce, the state bar association, the state federation of labor, as well as of certain senators and representatives, and others designated by Chairman Hernlv of the republican state central committee, are now engaged in considering measures for the reform of these laws, and earnestly nsk for written suggestions in reference to the Bubject from all persons interested therein. All members of the legislature are invited to participate in the deliberations of the commission. Communications should be addressed to ‘The County and Township Government Commission, State House, Indianapolis.’ “By order of the commission. W. D. Foulke, President. Adolph Rogers, Secretary.”

Get your job printing done at The Democrat office. Satisfaction guaranteed both in stock, prices and workmanship. An exchange chants the followjimg: Wilt thou take her for thy .paid, for better or for worse, to have, to hold, to fondly guard till | hauled off in a hearse? Wilt thou I let her have her own way, consult j her many wishes, make the fire up oyery day and help her wash the dishes? Wilt thou give her all the stuff her little purse will .m k; buy a monkey boa, muff, and little sealskin sacque? Wilt thou comfort her father and mother, Aunt Jemima, Uncle John, thirteen sisters and a brother? And his face turned pale and blank; it was too late for him to jilt; as through the chapel floor he sank he sadly said, “I wilt.”