Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1909 — MARSHALL SETS GOOD EXAMPLE [ARTICLE]

MARSHALL SETS GOOD EXAMPLE

Governor Gives Slats an Object lesson In Economy. TO REDUCE OFFICE EXPENSES Recognizing the Extravagance of the Late Administration, Governor Mai* shall Begins the Pruning Process Recommended In His Message by Seeking a Readjustment of His Own Office Force— Recent Act of Bad Politics on the Part of the Legislature No Reflection Upon Mr. Shively. Indianapolis, Jan. 19. —In his message to (he legislature Governor Marshall urged the need of economy in public expenditures and recommended the abolishment of every unnecessary office, whether state or local. Some bills along this line have already been Introduced. Among them Is the bill of Representative Faulßnor to readjust the official force in the governor’s of flee. It is understood that this measure has the approval of Governor Mar shall. By its terms the executive office force will consist of a private secretary at |2,500 a year an executive clerk at S9OO. a stenographer, who 6hall be ex-officio clerk of the board of pardons, at S9OO, and a governor's counsel at $3,600. If this bill becomes a law it will result In b net saving of a considerable sum each year, notwithstanding the provision for a governor's counsel. It does away with a separate clerk for the board of pardons, abolishes the office of executive accountant, reduces the salary ol the executive clerk, and otherwise cuts down expenses. In his message Governor Marshall asked the legislature to give him a special conn sel "to prosecute and defend all suits which the governor may ask him to take charge <>f. and to advise generally with the governor." The attornef general to former times was supposed to he capable oi attending to the legal affairs of tite state government, but for several years it tins been the practice to employ outside lawyers. During his administration Governor llanlv used his emergency fund for that purpose to a large degree and without any restrictions except his own will Mr Faulknor's bill will not only give Governor Marshal! relief from the neglect or incompetency of the attorney general’s office but it will definitely fix til e amount of money that the special counsel shall receive. At the same time, by a reduction of other expenses, it will s.iv. the state a targe sum each year

There has been a good deal of talk abou* th<» proposal to build a governors residence. A Republican senator has a I read offered i bill for that pur pose, fixing *li« amount of the appropriation a* vl' 000 For several years the governors nave been allowed $1.80!) -a year tar house rent, hut this will no' be accepted by Governor Marshall on the ground that it violates the constitutional provision against increasing or diminishing 'he governor's compensation during his term Governor Mar shall proposes to pay his own bouse rent. Many persons believe that the state should, in time provide a house for its chief executive, but it is riot likely that the present session will appropriate $150,000. or anything like that amount for such a purpose At any rate it will not t»<- done with Gov ernor Marshall s approval He is quoted as saying that the state should not spend more than $15,000 or $20,000 for a governor's residence, and that a $150,000 mansion, , with Us increased cost of maintenance, would make it impossible for a jmor man to aspire to the governorship •• * • It is dawning on the members of the legislature that they are going to have to do a hit of close figuring when It eomes to making the appropriations Governor Hanly estimated in his last message that there would be about $2,000,000 available for specific appropriations for the next two fiscal years The state's public Institutions alone are asking specific appropriations to the amount of $3,237,000. which is sl,837.000 more than the estimated amount available for all specific purposes. and they are asking regular ap proprfations In the sum of 41.786.000. This Is 81l In Addition to thp an^ial

tax which is levied for the state corteges Of course there will have to be a great paring down of special appropriations unless the stste Is prepared to again Increase its debt. Governor Marshall and the Democratic members of the legislature see the seriousness of the stag’s financial situation—a situation which their party had no hand in producing but which they must face and do the best they can. What help they will get from the Republican senate Is wholly problematical The leaders of the majority in that body have shown a disposition to "play politics.” If this takes the form of mere obstruction, or of an effort toward extravagance—for which they hope the people will hold the Democrats responsible—the difficulties of the situation willxbe Increased. • * * Indiana Is again to have a Democrat in the United States senate, the first in ten years. This honor has gone to Benjamin F Shively, who was formally elected today, after having been made the choice of the Democratic caucus last Wednesday night. It seems to be conceded that there was a popular sentiment in favor of John W. Kern and that if the matter had been left to the people at large he would have been chosen for the senatorshlp. A majority of the Democratic members of the legislature, however, after twenty ballots, selected Mr. Shively, who was. It is believed, the second popular choice. There has been a great deal St criticism of the secret ballot adopted by the caucus. It is declared that it was contrary to party declarations and was, therefore, bad politics, to say the least. And It was bad politics. Considering the attitude of the Democratic party in recent campaigns, its insistence upon the importance of keeping in close touch with the people, the objection to the selection of a candidate for United States senator by secret methods is well founded. It Is not likely that anything of the. sort will occur again—at least not with the consent of the electors.

But In all this there Is nothing that reflects upon Mr. Shively. He Is an exceedingly able and well equipped man. There Is not a particle of doubt that he will fake a high place in the senate. He has long been a close student of public questions, and no man has a better understanding of his party’s principles. His speeches are models of clearness and force, and he ; has been a power on the stump in Indiana, If congress shall be called In special session March 4. as Is probable. Mr. Shively will begin his work In the senate at that time, and he will have the undivided support and good wishes of his party. • • • Up to the present time fewer bills have been introduced than is usual at j this stage of legislative proceedings. It Is not a bad sign and spems to indicate that Governor Marshall’s suggestion that quality counted more than quantity has not failed of effect But there will be enough and to spare, anyway. There will be many measures of real importance, and these will claim the bulk of attention. The Democratic state and national platforms both declared 111 favor,of a law tq guarantee deposits and an attempt will be made to carry out the declaration Senator McCullough of Anderson has renewed his effort to amend the metropolitan police law so as to take the appointment of police commissioners from the. governor and place the power to appoint. in the hands of the mayors of the cities affected If the bill passes it will be approved by Governor Mar shall, who favors the change. The cities and towns law as tt now stands contains burdensome and therefore non-popular features What Is known as the “three-mile gravel road law” ts going to lie attacked all along the line. Several representatives have prepared bills to repeal this law The mtich-ta!ked-of bill to establish a uniform system of public accounts In the star* has been introduced in noth house and senate It is also proposed to readjust the railroad commission so as to extend its pow’ers to other public utilities. indeed, there will he, before this week sees its close, all sort: of t- ••- on all sorts of subjects, important, unimportant and mixed It is understood that Mr Sicks of Boone county will offer a bill which, if ft passes and becomes a law will make it hard on thirsty persons who reside in counties that are voted dry. It is said to be Mr Sicks's idea that a person residing in a dry county should not be allowed to go into wet terfttory and bring liquor back with him. except of course on the inside, and event that he doesn’t approve but can hardly restrain What pains and penalties are to he imposed for a violation of this law has not yet been revealed Representative Furnas of Randolph county also has It in mind to deal a body blow to another inalienable right. He proposes to make It unlawful for dealers to exhibit dangerous and deadly weapon* in either their show windows or show cases. His theory is that such displays encourage crime and that for that reason they should be prevented by a fine reaching as high as SIOO. But Representative McGinnis of Morgan county comes forward with a different sort of a notion. It is his intention to introduce a hill to repeal the law making it necessary for a man to have a license to hunt In his own county. He believes that where a man has permission from the land owner his liberty to hunt in his bailiwick should not he limited by onerous taxation In the shape of a license fee. Representative Hill of Hartholqmew county has already introduced hja bill to abolish the fish and game commissioner and to empower the land owner to do his own law enforcing. Before going out olf. office Governor