Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1899 — Page 3

GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE

INDIANA EXECUTIVE ADDRESSES THE LEGISLATURE. Staie Finance*) Lyachlngt) Teaching of Agriculture lu Public Schools, Good Roads and Common School* Are Amongßnbjects Receiving Attention. Geutlemcm of the Senate and House of Representatives: The people of Indiana have chosen you to represent them in the Sixty-first General Assembly. They have reposed in you their confidence, and you now enter upon the responsible duty of enacting laws for the promotion of public welfare. The Constitution makes it incumbent upon the Governor “from time to time to give the General Assembly information of the affairs of the State and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall dfeem expedient.” I deem it unnecessary to review the work of the various institutions of the State. The reports of these will be printed and put upon your desks for your examination. The last General Assembly enacted a law providing for the appointment of a committee to visit, examiue and report the condition and needs of the various State institutions. In obedience to this law, a committee, consisting of Hon, Francis T. Roots (author of the bill), Hon. Fremont Goodwine and Hon. Strathur Herod, was appointed. With this committee’s report, added to the published reports of the State institutions, I think it inopportune to prolong this message with references thereto, but shall give the time to the consideration of other important questions. State Finances. The reduction of the State’s indebtedness has continued during the past two years with the most gratifying results. Funds accumulating in the treasury have been promptly used in taking up outstanding bonds, and a large amount of interest has thus been saved to the taxpayers. Payments ou the State debt have been made as follows: March 29, 1897 $150,000 June 21, 1897 80,000 July 7, 1897 190,000 Oct. 28, 1897 100,000 Jan. 20, 1898 100,000 Feb. 10, 1898 100)000 July 12, 1898 100,000 Aug. 20, 1898.. 100.900 Dec. 30. 1898 200.000 Dec. 31, 1898.... 200,000 Total ....$1,320,000 The three-ccnt levy for the State sinking fund should be continued until the entire indebtedness has been paid off. With the .return of prosperity, this levy

GOVERNOR MOUNT.

can be continued without materially burdening the taxpayers of the State, and it is a self-evident proposition that the speedy extinguishment of all bonded obligations, thereby stopping interest chargee, is in keeping with eorrect business principles and in harmony with the spirit of practical economy. In this connection it is pertinent to mention that in the prosecution of the Spanish-Aiuerican war Indiana advanced to the Federal Government a sum of money approximating $200,000. This was used in the mobilization, equipment and forwardingof this State’s quota of troops, conformably with the call of the Preeident. All claims on this account have been filed with the proper authorities at Washington and are being adjusted os expeditiously as possible. Claim's to the amount of $107,102.55 have already been formally passed upon by the Auditor of the War Department, and a warrant for that amount was deposited with the State Treasurer on Dec. 29, 1808. The remainder of Indiana’s claims against die General Government are in process of adjustment, and it is confidently expected that complete remuneration will be accomplished within a comparatively brief period. It is gratifying to know that all reports agree that Indiana’s pending claims on account of the war are in better shape than those of any other State in the Union. Keform In Government, The need of reform in laws and methods of county and township government is manifest to ail. There are not the proper safeguards around the powers delegated to county coihmissioners. They have power to levy taxes, make contracts, spend money and make allowances and audit the books. Section 7850 of Burns’ Revised Statutes of 1894 gives too much discretionary power to the county board. The prodigality with which county funds are expended in some counties is the ont-. growth of following precedents on the ascending scale. The expenditures and the contracts of the township should be so guarded as to give to thejieopite complete information as to the official acts of ail persons who have them in charge. The expenditures of the township officials last year for “outdoor relief’ amounted to s3 l n. 200.92. Tblß enormous expense is startling, agd reveals the dangerous methods and tack of proper regard for public moneys. The system in vogue in many townships fosters pauperism and pats a premium upon vagrancy. The township trustees appoint the road supervisor, and upon the ability of this official in large degree is contingent road improvement. The forthcoming report of the State Statistician will reveal in township government a great disparity of costs per capita. Townships similarly situated vaiy in the cost to the inhabitants several hundred per cent. The same report will show a difference In the total county expenditures that varies from 79 cent* to $15.16 per capita, or a disparity of nearly two thousand per cent. It shows a county of a little more than 82,000 inhabitants expends for county purposes are times aa much money as another county of more than 70,000 inhabitants. Lynching*. The good same of Indiana has been dishonored by a lawless mob that took from the Jail in Ripley County and lynched five men charged with burglary. Even if these men had been by a court found fuilty, aa charged, the punishment would ave been imprisonment, and not death. Ail sense of justice and sufety revolts against the mob as a tribunal for pronouncing judgments or administering punishment. It cannot be argued that lax enforcement of law justifies a manifestation Of contempt of courts and disregard for the law. Any county that can organise • sentiment to prevent iyncbcra from being punished can also organise

against crime and punish criminals in a court of justice. Where lynch lawlessness obtains, there justice is dethroned and courts are myths. The constitution and laws of the State would there be ttainpled under the blood-stained feet of brutal and lawless men. If mob violence is to go unpunished, then hate and malice will sit enthroned, and passion, fired by intoxication and a spirit of revenge, instead of evidence, justice and the law, will render insecure life and property. In my efforts to remove from the State the odium attached to its good name by the lyuchiings that occurred in Ripley County, every available means were invoked to find out the guilty parties and bring them to account. The report of Hon. W. A. Ketcham, Attorney General of the State, will reveal the difficulty of convicting participants in lynchings in the county where those crimes are committed. Every person charged with crime has the right, under the constitution and laws of the State, to a fair and impartial trial. For a better guarantee of this right and to awaken, a more lively interest in the counties against lynchiugs and whkecappings, I recommend the enactment of a law making the county responsible for such conditions and liable in a civil suit for damages. In the case of lynching the nearest: of kin should be authorised to institute the suit, and for the offense of whitecapping the aggrieved party should have the right to recover damages. Any sheriff who permits a prisoner to be taken from his custody by a mob should be required by ktw to forfeit his office. Lax enforcement of laws eventually results in the people taking the law into their own hands. All good citizens should feel -a keen interest in the enforcement of the law. They should be willing and ready to testify before the grand jury or in court or to sit upon juries. The judge who will allow technicalities and dilatory motions to delay or thwart justice is in some degree responsible for the terrible crime of lynching, and the judge who. condones this crime and by word justifies such lawlessness has not the proper regard for the high functions of his office and is not fit to sit upon the bench. Quite recently the good name of Indiana has again been disgraced by a lawless mob, who took from the Scott County jail a prisoner who was soon to be tried by a court of justice. There are no palliating circumstances connected with this brutal murder. Indications point to a conspiracy against this man’s life, for the purpose of sealing his lijKS in death, lest damaging disclosures in trial might reveal the wickedness and crime of others. This atrocious murder appeals with new force to the legislators of Indiana for the enactment of a law that will forever stop this mockery of justice. Revision of the Judiciary. There is a growing necessity for a revision of the judiciary of the State. With each meeting of the Legislature efforts are renewed for the creation of new court districts. In some instarses there seems to be need for relief to the courts, but for many of these demands there is no justification. It is true that thenrexists great inequality as to the amount of business transacted in these judicial Cistricts—in some, too much business for orse, but not enough for two courts. In otb»r districts the amouqt of business does not warrant a separate court. If the rule xf the present is to be continued and present demands granted, it will not be long until the State will have as many court districts as counties. Courts are multiplying more rapidly than population or litigation, while court expenses and allowances increase at an even greater rate than courts. This increase of courts is attended with a growing evil. This growing expense can be obviated and the present inequalities removed through the reorganizing of the State irfto court districts comprising several counties, equalizing as nearly as possible the business of these districts, and providing for the number of judges to correspond with the size of the districts. It seems that it would be expedient to extend the jurisdiction of justice courts. Litigation over small amounts should originate in this court, and from which an appeal to the Circuit Court should be final. Suits in which petty sums are involved should end in the Circuit or lower courts, and be barred from the Supreme Court.

Duriug the past year repeated violations of the penal laws of the State against the Waste of natural gas by the Standard and other oil companies were permitted to go unpunished. Some demands were made for an extra session of the Legislature, to the end that more drastic legislation might be enacted. The State could not bring suit for a temporary injunction or restraining order without giving bond. The State has been, and is now, seriously hampered in its efforts to suppress Roby gambling, because the general statutes governing injunctions do not permit any restraining order or temporary injunction to be granted to the State, or any private litigant, without bond. I therefore earnestly urge that immediate action be taken by the Legislature on this subject. I recommend that the Attorney General be given authority, in the name of the State of Indiana, without bond, to prosecute or defend any action that has been or shall hereafter be begun, where the State is interested in the’result of the action. Agriculture in the Schools. Article VIII., Section 1, of the Constitution of the State of Indiana stipulates that, among other things, “It shall be the duty of the General Assembly to encourage by all suitable means, moral, intellectual, scientific and agricultural improvement.” President Washington, in his annual message to Congress, Dec. 7, 1796, recommended the establishment of a national university, in which, among other things, the science of agriculture should be taught. “It will not be doubtad,” he said, “that with reference to individual or national affairs agriculture is of primary importance. In proportion as nations advance in population and other circumstances of maturity, this truth becomes more apparent, and renders the cultivation of the soil more and more an object oi public patronage." Hon. James Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture, in hi# annual report for 1898, commends the teaching of this science in the schools. In 1895, in New York City, a committee of distinguished citizens, among whom were Hon. A. S. Hewitt and Hon. W. E. Dodge, was appointed to inquire into the congested condition of the city, to ascertain the reason why so many were crowding into the metropolis, causing idleness and want. They reported that at the foundation of this deplorable condition was the discontent with farming, which led to the migration of country people to the city. In their printed report they say: “One of the great underlying causes for the discontent that exists among the farmers is the fact that, as a class, they have no special training or education for their business. The methods that gave success in the past fail to do so at present.” The report suggests that the remedy is to begin “at th£ foundation and in the public schools.” I have quoted to show the trend of public sentiment. The abandoned farms in the older States sound a note of warning. The hundreds of thousands of acres of worn-out and abandoned land in the South earnestly appeal to intelligent thought. In our own State much land fails to produce paying crops and is being neglected. Many well-meaning and industrious farmers who have to do directly with nature’s great laboratory are ignorant of its forces, and reckless waste of soil fertility is the result. Insect pests and fungus growth threaten serious inroads into profits of agriculture mad

fioEt I culture. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. The time is opportune. Let Indiana take advanced steps in the introduction of this important science into her public school curriculum. I therefore recommend the enactment of a law looking to the introduction of nature study, ’or the primary principles of the science of agriculture into our school curriculum. Labor Commissioner*. This commission, through its acta, has demonstrated the wisdom of the law that created it The commissioners have, in a little more than eighteen mouths, investigated thirty-nine strikee and lockouts. They failed in but seven instances to adjust differences, and in two of these one party to the contests was non-resi-dent, over whom the commissioners had no jurisdiction. In four of the eases the commission investigated and reported the conditions of settlement. In twentyeight contests satisfactory agreements were secured through the mediation of the commission, and in nineteen of these settlements the workingmen secured either an advance in wages or other improved conditions. The commission was also instrumental in having two boycotts declared off, and in five instances prevented strikes through timely mediation. So favorable has been the impression of this peaceable adjustment upon both employers and employes that frequent expression has been made to the effect that the services of the commission be invoked before allowing a strike to be inaugurated. Through the efforts of the commission 13,815 strikers have been put to work. Thus it is manifest that hundreds of thousands of dollars have been saved to capital and labor within our borders, the peace and dignity of the State preserved, serious conflicts between employers and femployes averted, and safety to life and property secured. I believe the time has come when such differences should be adjudicated in a lawful court of arbitration. I believe the finding of such court should be mandatory- Provision should be made whereby the aggrieved party could immediately appeal to the Circuit Court, the decision of this court to be binding and duly enforced. It is a menace to the pence of the State and to life and property for corporations to be arming men to defend their plants, and for discarded labor to be arming for revenge upon the newly employed labor or the business that gives them work. To prevent this hostile attitude, the State should exercise its sovereign i>ower and command these conflicting .interests to come into court and their differences according to law and equity, thereby avoiding riot, bloodshed and the destruction of property. The long-standing convention with reference to the boundary line dividing the States of Indiana and Kentucky at a point on the Ohio River, near Evansville, popularly known as Green River Island, has been effectually set at rest by an official survey and the placing of ai>propriate posts and markers, under the supervision of a board of commissioners acting under the directions of an order of the Supreme Court of the United States.

The act of 1885, providing for public printing, binding and stationery, should be amended so as to more explicitly state what departments should receive their printing and stationery out of the printing fund, and also the number of copies of each report that should be printed, exclusive of the Documentary Journal. In amending this law it would be well to reduce the number of Senate and House Journals to the demand for the same. There sbould be a law requiring better business methods in supplying the Legislature with stationery and supplies of different kinds. An examination of the requisitions made by the committee of former legislatures will emphasize the need for the law herein suggested. Live Stock v anitnry Commission. It is estimated that the loss of live stock from infectious and contagious diseases in this State amount* to from three to five millions of dollars annually. It is of great importance that heroie remedies be applied, and that the highest veterinary skill shall be employwl to stop or minimize this great loss. Onr present law is crude, exitensive, ami does not meet the demauds of the live stock interests. I*>cal health boards should co-op-erate with the State Veterinarian to prevent the spread of diseases, and that officer should have power to quarantine and condemn. The Governor should still have power, by proclamation, to quarantine the State against the importation of diseased animals. The parole law and indeterminate sentence law, enacted two years ago, embody that which the Constitution of the State, since its organization, contemplated, that “The penal code shall be founded on the principle of reformation, and not vindictive justice.” The wisdom of these laws finds ample justification in practical results, as Shown by the reports of the penal institutions. It will be your duty to provide additional accommodations for the unfortunate insane wards of the State. I would recommend additions to the present hospitals, instead of a new hospital located on a new site. Good Foads. Good roads are indispensable to progress and development. The highest attainments in rural life, socially, mentally or financially, cannot be attained when bad roads abound. Discontent with country life is the fruitage of the tbralldom of mini roads. Two years ago I said to the General Assembly that, “while the road laws needed improving, their execution needed revolution.” The same need exists to-day in an aggravated form. The law requiring the Road Supervisor to work all able-bodied men on the highways during the months of April. May and June, in many instances, is not faithfully enforced, and in some cases absolutely ignored. The average road levy by the Township Trustee is about twenty cents on the one hundred dollars. This raises a vast revenue, which is not expended with judgment and fidelity. The railroads of the State are assessed, in round numbers, at $154,000,060. This would create a revenue of nearly $300,000. This is “farmed but” between the raHroads and the Supervisor. A discount is made to the railroad, the “go-between" makes his thousands, some of the supervisors profit by the method, and the cause of good roads suffers. The farmer is allowed to work out his road tax often by a slipshod method, which, if pursued by a road contractor, would end in bankruptcy. The Supervisor sbould be held under bond to faithfully execute the duties of his office. He sbould be given power to compel every man owing service to the highways under the law to perform the samtf. All road tax sbould be paid in cosh, reserving to the payer the right to work out the same, for which be should be paid in cash, provided he responds to the call of the Supervisor when, given the opportunity to perform such work, and accepting the lawful price for such services. The State has shown great liberality in the vast amount of money it has expended in the erection of a monument to her brave sons. An appropriation should be made for the completion of this work, with a specific provision that it shall be done within a stipulated time. Primary Election Law. The safety and a free government is in the keeping people. If corrupt men are selected to make laws, aud if incompetent men are chosen to fill official positionsjthen evil resuits are certain to follow. The nomination of candiates for office should be aa far removed aa possible from the dominance of political leaders and ring politicians, giving to all voters aa equal, free and untnunmded

' right to be beard in the selection of cuffdates. I therefore recommend the cnct- , meat of a strict primary election law. Naa-hrthM Manage rat at. ! Never In the history of the benevolent Institutions of the State has the snenagement been more efficient or so free from scandal. The per rapt la cost of maintenance Is lens than ever before. The highest efficiency can only be maintained through the host com ' petent and experienced management. l*srtlsan control cannot assure either. Competency grjws with experience. Portias n management of State institution* means a change la the government of the mine with each transfer of political power la the Slate. | If the management of these institution* b to be given as reward to politicians, the*, as a logical sequence, the larger the salary the better the reward; the swr? places provided, the more workers rewarded. Extravagance and Incompeteaey result, scandal follows, and the people at :he polls rebuke the debasing system by defeating the party responsible for It. Lobbyist*. The lobbyist who seeks to dominate legislation adversely to public weal is an eneuay to public good. Hired lobbyists are * menace to free government. The time in rapidly approachotg when the hired tools of corporate greed will be excluded from the halls of legislation. Tbe just law that com mends itself needs no schemer, with doubtful methods, to secure its enactment Labor Is the creative power of wealth. Workingmen from the farm, the mines and the ship* cannot become lobbyists. They have not the means to this end. Business men and the common people have not the time. It becomes, therefore, the sacred duty of lawmakers to*look after the Interests of the people and to see to it that no inroads are made upon their rights. Trstot*. The report of the Labor Cornelias' oners of this State reveals that "no propositions involving settlements of labor eontroverde* present as great obstacles as those in which trusts are parties to agreement*. In every encounter with labor, the workingmen, however Just their cause, emerge from the conflict the greater sufferers. The opportunities of trusts In regard to wage reductions are exceptional, and their desires are always equal to their opportunities. They are not trammeled by State laws, and they defy Federal authority.” Not only is the trust potent in controlling wages, bnt In lobbying its interests in law-making bodies and in controlling the price of its products. I would urge upon this Legislature the need of a law drastic enough to prevent these conspiracies against fair competition and just wages. For many years Indiana bus been the dumping-ground for the dependent children of other States. Within a few years several thousands of these have been placed within onr borders. Indiana children are certainly as desirable as those from elsewhere. We should provide for them, t talc r'oldters* Home. The report of the Board of Trustees of the Indiana State Soldiers' Home has been printed and put upon your desks. I would recommend that the Legislature authorise the selling of fifty acres of ground belonging to, but not adjacent, to the home. Tbe disconnection with the Home makes tbe land of but little value to the same, except the small Income from rent. The proceeds from such sale may be properly *sed I* needed improvements of the grounds. The board deems this method of securing funds for needed improvements wiser than asking for an appropriation. tom men Schools If Intelligence is a safeguard to liberty, then the State should seek to prevent Illiteracy. I'pon this logical reasoning is predicated the theory of compulsory education. I fear the weakness of our present law is the multiplicity of truaut officers. Through the co-operation of the township trustees and the teachers, the provisions of the compulsory law can be enforced in the township and district schools. It seems to me that a broad and liberal spirit demands some change In the school management of the State. The United States Commissioner of Education does not confine educational statistics to State schools, bat to private institutions as well. In many of the States the Superintendent of l*abl!c Instruction is required by law to gather all information, from whatever source. State or private schools. Fuch a report would reffect the true educational progress of the State. There are some serious objections to the present composition of the State Board of Education. One of these objections, founded upon justice, is that the counties have no representation on this board. It is In the township and district schools that the poorest school advantages are offered, and these have no ebamplon or representative on the board. The three State Institutions, numbering perhaps 3.000 students, have three representstives. The school enumeration of the State shows ~4.N1 Of this number, approximately 40 per cent belong to city schools and hare three representatives, while 90 per cent., or 435.165, belong to township and district schools, and have no representation on the State board. Insurance Laws. The fee and salary law of ISSS repealed the law allowing the Auditor of State 10 per cent, of all fee* collected from Insurance companies. Daring Mr. Daily’s four years' Incumbency of the office there has been collected, In the Insurance department. MM.249.98. Under existing laws, prior to 19K, 10 per cent, of this amount, or ff 68.422.981 would have been a part of the Auditor's emolument*. Under laws now in farce, it has only cost the State the salary of one Insurance clerk, nt ffLSOO per year. Upon Inquiry of the issuance department of Ohio, I have received a statement showing the cost to the State of the Insurance commission to be $17,900 annually, and that the amount collected during the last fiscal year was $190,000. A statement. In answer to a similar inquiry directed to the Insurance Commissioner of Illinois, reveals that the cost la salaries of the Insurance commission Is $21,000 per year, the amount collected being 'ff17ff.323.99. In Indiana the amount collected last year, throngh the Insurance department of tbe Auditor of State’s office, was in execs* of $206,000, nt a cost to the State of only SI,BOO. It la dearly manifest, therefore, that Indiana doc* not need an Insurance commission, with Us multiplied expenses. I would, however, recommend that one additional clerk be famished the Insurance department of the State Auditor’s office. There was paid In premiums to foreign life Insurance companies for the fiscal year ending July L 1836. $4,200,000.47. and there was received back to the State on policies 1UM.M5.57, or a loss to the State of $2.£14.453.1 0. Fire Insurance companies should Tie held responsible for the actions of their agents. When an agent accepts and agrees upon a cash value of property and writes a policy based upon this value, and the Insured pays premium* la good faith, then. In the event of total loss, the company should be compelled to abide by their agent’s appraisement and pay the loos 1* frUL There waa paid last fiscal year la premiums to foreign fire Insurance companies $3,006842.40, and received back on looses $1336309.61, a net loss to the Btate of $3,016535,76, A Pie* for E«aity hi Atmmtih **d Taxatisn. , "Following n constitutional mandate;, the General Assembly provided by See. S4M, R. 6 1804. that 'All property within the Jurisdiction of thin State, not expressly exempted. shall be subject to taxation.’ And by Sec. 8412, B. 8. ISN. the General Assembly exempted the classes of property designated la Sec. L Ait. X.. of the Osnstltntlon above. In pursue nee to the eonatttntlonal and statutory authorities cited, and 1* the discharge of the daty Imposed To nee that all assessments of property 1* this State are made according to law,’ 'and to see that all taxes due the State are collected,’ this board la 18*7 tattooed the assessors of the State to list and a mean at their true cash value for the purposes of taxation, all 'paid-up* life Insurance poMciea. "At the salt of certain holders of such Insurance policies, this board, and the taxing officials of the State, were enjoined from listing and assessing sack polite* by the Marion Circuit Court, the action of which court was afterward* affirmed by the Supreme Court. 199 lad. 216, “Notwithstanding ouch action of the Supreme Court, as oresaid, in holding that nek policies are not rabject to taxation., that coart CMUtlaaously held that aneh policies were property, that they were not expressly exempted by law from taxation, but thet they were not subject to taxation fa* tbe raaaoa that the General AwaMy hag main

ns psnriHton *r regulation for assessing *r raining aueh policies. ”1* addition to this finding of the court, that they were property and not especially exempted, plaintiffs’ counsel admitted the some facts, which, being true, clearly bring them within the Intent and meaning iff said See. 9116 H. 8. 1894, above, and make them subject to taxation, bnt for the decision of the Supreme Court, aforesaid, which found nil the facts necessary to warrant action of thin hoard in seeking to Ust and «•«*» each Insurance policies, and avoided their liability to assessment, solely because the General Assembly had made no provision or regulation for assessing or raining then*. "The same can be truly said with reference to many other articles of property found on the tax lias. It ha matter of general knowledge that vast sums of money •re invested In saeh life Insurance policies In this State, and in a large number of Instance*. as an Investment pure and simple, and by this means large sums of money are annually diverted from other sources of Investment. where they are taxed, and boar their Just proportion of tbe burdens of government. In view of the decision of the Supreme Coart that the power to tax such policies lies with the General Assembly, and that It is solely by reason of the nonartion of former General Assemblies In regard to providing regulations for valuing *u«b policies, tb s board respectfully calls attention to this matter and the questions involved, and recommends that such legislation be enacted as will provide methods for arriving at valuations of such insurance poiieien. as required by the decision of the Supreme Court aforesaid." 1 desire to call the attention of the Legislature to the foregoing statement from the report of tbe State Tax Commissioners and to urge Its careful consideration. State Farmers’ Institute*. The farm institutes of the State, nnder tbe supervision of tbe faculty of Purdue University, and under the direct control of Prof. W. C. I.atta, superintendent of the experimental farm at Pnrdne. bare accomplished much good for agriculture and hortirnltare. The amount appropriated for this work is $5,1*4). I recommend that this amount be increased to at least $7,500. County Institutions.

The scandals growing ont of the deplorable conditions existing in many of the Jails and poor farms of the eounties of tbe State, call for legislation upon this question. . I therefore recommend the enactment of a law authorising tbe Clrenit Judge to appoint for each eoanty a non-partisan committees to be composed of men and women, who shall visit nr least once every three months all the charitable nnd penal Institutions of the county and report to the State Board of Charities their conditions mid committee to serve without compensation. Appeals for Appropriations. It Is manifest that the appeals for appropriations for the erection of new buildings, etc., in connection with State penal, benevolent and educational institutions, will be for an unusually large amount. It is the daty of the General Assembly to give earnest attention to these requests and to Serupnloosly guard against anything In the nature of extravagance. Indiana in the War. In the ccnrse of this message proper I will not undertake to enter into a detailed recital of Indiana’s part in the SpanishAmerican war. bat. for the Information of members of this assembly, and all others concerned, a review of ifc's State’s creditable participation in the stirring events of the period is submitted as an appendix. I direct attention especially to the reports of the paymaster general and the surgeon generaL respectively, detailing the operations of those departments. The paymaster general corrects a popular misapprehension in stating that no deductions on eiothlng account were made, except in the case of officers. alt of which is in strict compliance with law. Most of the uniforms furnished the Indiana national guardsmen, when they enlisted in the Federal service, were comparatively new. Some of the soldiers were furnished uniforms badly worn. The Government receipted to the quartermaster for these uniforms. Subsequently a board of survey was appointed to fix the value of these uniforms furnished by the quartermaster general of the State. Some of the volunteers desired the quartermaster to furnish this equipment without charge. This he could not do and render a proper accounting to the State. - I therefore call the attention of the Legislature to this matter, and,, if it shall be shown that an injustice has been done, prompt and ample reparation should be made. The Indiana volunteers for the war with Spain have made an honorable record. and the patriotism and devotion to duty they have manifested on all occasions are deserving of the highest commendation.

JAMES A. MOUNT.

NO DISORDERS IN HAVANA.

Qaietaeaecf Anaerlc** Occupation Ha* No Parallel In History. Since the ocnpntion of Havana by the Americana there have been no political disorders of any kind. Under the proclamation issued by Gen. Brooke the civil authorities are retaining their offices. Tbe Cubans seem as well pleased with the change as the Americans. Some of the Spaniards are sullen, bat they and other grnmbiers are in the minority. The foreign consols in Havana are in a state of perplexity as to which Government they ought to recognize. The United States is in control, hot they are still accredited to the Spanish Government. Russia and Sweden have expressly instructed their representatives not to officially recognise the American occupation. The consuls held a meeting the other night to discuss their position, and it was finally agreed to compromise by making an official call on Gen. Ludlow and presenting their compliments, but not make any formal recognition of the change of governmenL Civil Governor De Castro, by order of the military authorities, has abolished the use of passports and of stamped paper in the Government office. Tfoese were annoyances. Prompt steps have also been taken for improving the section of hygiene. The opening of tbe first American postoffice saw a mob besieging the windows for the luxury of buying stamps. The office sold SI,OOO worth of stamps the first day. The United States postal commission will make a tour of the island oa the steamer Mancho and inspect the general conditions. The postoffice in Havana is in bad shape. The rooms are piled with barrels and boxes of mail. People receiving do mail at the windows are ia the habit of walking around the office and hunting through the mail poaches for themselves. The office will soon be removed to a better building. The health of the troops is good.

To Form New Party.

At Indianapolis, a meeting of the Populists and other reformers was held to discuss the formation of a new national party. Tbe “fusion” wing of the Populist party believes the time has come when there should be co-operation between all the reform force* the Populists, free silver Republicans. Prohibitionists and Socialists. Feb. 22 a State meeting will be held for the purpose of launching the new party under the name of the “union reform party.” Ia March next there will be a meeting at Cincinnati to hca a national naioo reform party.

Humor in This Verdict.

An inqnnt kas been held at Cricdeth, Wale*, on the body of William Williams, who killed his wife and two children and then committed suicide..ThO coroner atated that Williams’ crime was largely doe to the punas! of American pollen rewo-

STATE LAW MAKERS.

Wlion the Legislature convened oaa Monday among the bills iutrodtleetl woff~j one relating to street car corporations, J which seeks to give cities greater control of such corporations. The hill, like the j 3-cent fare hill of two years ago, was in- , trodueed by Senator Ilugg of Fndiaitape* : lis. It provides for regulating and fixing ! the fares ou street railroad companies,! for the issue and use of transfer tickets $ or passes on such railways, for the pav-rS-ing between the tracks and for inches on the outside of the of tracks, under the supervision of Hoard of Public Works of such cities, and ; for the payment for such work by the j street railway companies. The bill pro-| vides for the purchase of eight tickets, each good for one trip, for 25 cents. Another bill introduced on Monday prohibits ; prize lighting. It provides that any principal in any prize fight or any. person who 1 attends any such fight ns backer, trainer, second, referee or assistant shall be guilty I of n felony and fined not less than SSO nor more than SI,OOO and imprisoned not less than two years nor more than ten years. Albert .1. Reveridgc was nominated for United Stales Senator by the Republican caucus Tuesday night on the eleventh ballot. The "field” combined ou him, and he received J 8 of tin- 80 votes. J. Frank Hanly received 35 and Frank B. Posey 0. : Roberts, Taylor and George W. Steele , threw all their support to Beveridge. In order to expedite business the House, nnd Senate on Tuesday determined to hold only half-duy sessions for the next fourteen days. The members are thus enabled to dispose of bills in committee ■ more rapidly, and it is believed that all work will Ik? advanced. The controversy between the State and non-Stato schools was brought to the fore in a bill introduced on Tuesday for the reorganization of the State Board of Education. It provides that there shall be nine members, no more than four of whom Jjhall he of one political- party, the Gov- j ernor and the superintendent of public instruction being ex-officio members. Representative Kirkpatrick offered a bill which is designed still further to limit the liquor traffic. Section 1 makes it unlawful for county commissioners to graut licenses to sell liquor in the resi- . dence districts of any city or town. To make this binding it is provided that any license so granted shall be void. It is also provided that county commissioners who violate the provisions of the act Hhall each 4 be fined in any sum not exceeding SIOO, ! to which may he added imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding thirty days. | The hill went to the Committee ou Tom- ; po ranee. At Wednesday’s session of the Legislature many bills were introduced. Rep- 1 resentative Iverwood offered a bill making - an appropriation of SIOO a month as a ismsion to Lucinda M. Morton, widow of Oliver P. Morton. The bill prepared by Gov. Mount, the State superintendent of public instruction and the State statistician providing for the study of agriculture jn the common schools was introduc- ■ ed by Representative Burlow. In'the Senate Mr. Xausbaum introduced a bill; making it the duty of the Attorney General to visit every county in. the State either personally or l*y deputy once each j quurter and make an examination of the county books. It has been decided by the Republican majority that the State shall not l)e redistricted for congressional or legislative purposes at this session.

What He Lived For.

The lowliest of lives, in the plainest of surroundings, may sometimes show that the highest wisdom Is the absorption of the greatest truths In the simplest way. A writer lu the Church Union gives this instance: The writer’s grandfather had an old colored workman, who had been a slave, and was used to the severest kind of labor. No need of a slave-driver for him, however, as his tasks were always conscientiously performed. Corporal, as the old slave was called, was of a religious turn, nnd believed with an unalterable firmness in the truths bronght to him. In his own simple way he was a good deal of a philosopher, and did not a little good by the every-day showing of his quiet faith. Finally the time came for Corporal to leave this world. The doctor said to him: 1 “Corporal, it is only right to tell you that you must die. “Bless you, doctor; don’t let that bother you. That’s what I’ve beeu living for," said Corporal, with the happiest of smiles.

The Hour-Glass Clock.

A novelty in a clock is announced which has no special merit except as a curiosity. The object of new invention in the clock line is to avoid frequent winding, while at the same time maintaining the regularity that constitutes tiie chief value of a clock. This device is somewhat on the hour-glass order. It registers the time accurately by the! running of the mercury from one end of the glass to the other. The clock hs| built In two sections, and an Indicator marks the precise time consumed by tiny; mercury in passing from the upper to the lower. This clock must be turned when the upper section Is emptied,: which is really about as much work ui winding the clock.—The New Yorkj Ledger. j

Curiosities of Lakes.

ls lakes have no overflow to the sea l the water always becomes salty, partle* ■ ularly If there Is small rainfall andil much evaporation. The Caspian SeA ; a is properly a salt lake. So Is the Dead I Sea. There are several lakes of coh*9 slderable site In Cunada which hare no I visible inlets, being fed entirely f subterranean sources. a

Women Galore in India.

'l'liere arc more women in British lohS din (124,000,000) Ihau there are meflill women and children in Great BriUkinH France and Germany put togethoJH with the p«>pulat)ons of several mlnogfi Furopcan states cast In as well. ■

An Island Disappearing.

A once inhabited Island in the NoriflH Atlantic is fast disappearing. Botnlfl years ago is was 40 miles long by 2<d» wide, but it lias shrunk to U)& mlleaß lu length and less than one In width.