Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 18, Number 44, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 13 January 1897 — Page 2

LAST MESSAGE Os Gov. Matthews to the Indiana General Assembly. „ -jryyr-W'" wsstßSW • • •> The School* Are In Good Condition—The State Debt Reduced Two Million DoU tAfeodnterniedlate Vrhon and Sonte Reform! Suggested A Plea for the Cuban Patriot!. 1 Indianapolis, IntL. Jaa A— Gov. Matthews Friday delivered his last message to the senators and representatives in joint sessloa He was received with applause, and in tho hour and a halt reading of the message many points were approved with clapping of hands. This evidence of appreciation was especially enthusiastic at his reference to the Cuban war. Gov. Matthews, In the beginning of his message. called attention to the gratifying condition of the publio debt, which, during his administration, has been reduced *2,110,01,0. Os this sum fftO.OOO was paid the first two years and *1.200.000 the lost two In addition there has,been a saving of (81.000 in the annual interest charged. With this reduction cf the principal of the debt ’ there has bsen a reduction of the tax. levy of 3H and/ a atill further ( net reduction of 2'oents. The governor thought a further moderate Increase in the levy could be made. He advised the maintenance of the state debt sinking fund at the present levy of three cents The present assessed valuation of property in the state Is $1,286 050.531. and thero is not much reason to believe that it will materially vary from this sum in the futuro-a The total domestic debt is $481,000, and foreign" debt $6,.’26.615.12. making the total state debt 16,7.0.615,12 The governor attributed much of this good condition to the tax law passed by the democratic legislature of 1891. THE RACING WAR. • Eeferrlng_ to his war with peculiar racing associations, ho congratulated the state upon its now being rid of the demoralizing influences of such institutions He commended the management of the state institutions and recommended the establishment of an intermediate prison, as the two prisons now contain 40) more convicts than can be conveniently or comfortably accommodated in them. The third institution he commended os one for the reformation of young criminals He said its operation should be supplemented by laws which would permit the conditional release of the inmates for a practical test of the genuineness of their reformation when considered wise by the authorities of the reformatory. The governor advised the repeal of the law passed two years ago providing for the release of convicts In the counties from which they were sent to prison. Ho opproved tho bill when it was presented to him, with over one hundred others, just three davs before the adjournment of the general assembly. He bld-not appreciate then as he does now its inhumanity. “This law is wrong and should be repealed.” he said. "It often occurs .that ths prisoners do not desire to return to the county from which convicted, either through shame or that it is not their home In the latter case, to return ¥ prisoner and send him from the jail door homeless. pennilAs and friendless, is not only unjust and inhuman, pat often forces the. prisoner into the RICOMMISSION or CRIME.'' He advised" that the discharged prisoner be provided with a comfortable suit of clothes, paid a small sum In cash, with a railroad ticket, procured by the warden of the prison, Uyanyphint within the limits of the state. "During the last two years.” the message continued, ‘I have pardoned or paroled 115 prisoners and granted 32 remissions of fines and forfeitures. The distresilng depression In business rffairs, lack of employment bjtjp large- number of our oittzens. has rendered the applications for remission of fines most (>ardensome. I have released a number of young convicts, serving for first offense, by taking off from one to three months before rtlie expiration of their sentence . In the majority of eases I h ve exercised the right to parole or a conditional pardon.” i After giving much space to detailed mention -of the reports from the many state institutions, the governor called attention to the excellent publio sohool system of Indiana. He showed that the COMMON SCHOOL FUND Os the state now amounts to *10.218,43219, and that tho school levy is 11 cents on the *IOO valuation. The total enumeration of school children in 189) was 731,640 and the total revenue from all sources for the school year In 159) was *4.201.413.01. There are 193,075 Children not enrolled in public schools, but 30,00) of this, nnmber attend private and parochial schools, leaving 100.0)0 children not in schools of any kina The goveornor then gave a long and exhaustive presentation of compulsory t duectlon, which he favored. On this point he said in conclusion: ••I am convinced that a moderate and judicious law. compelling..the attendmce of children. say, between the ages ot 7 and 12. in the public, private or parochial schools Tdr S certaln number of months, sav. four, each yeap. could be enforced, and would be productive of great good to the state and nation/' He did not commend the complex and expens've system of health regulations proposed by the board of health. He thought the board, as row constituted, could accomplish great good if the power at its command be wisely used. Asa rule, the simpler the methods adopted the moro effective and valuable. It is easy to fasten upon the state ex- . pensive methods, requiring large numbers of •officers, but difficult to get rid of them. The governor praised highly the national guard, and gave i.t length the work of the Chlcknmsuga commission. He snggested Indiana's co-operation in the Tennessee centennial. but did not altogether commend the plan -reported for celebrating Indiana's centennial. On this point his views were: "The plan proposed by the commission, which, offered in the proper patriotic spirit, and commensurate with the occasion, would -entail no light expense upon the citizens of dhe state, and should cause you to seriously consider whether you would be justified In adding to their burdens. "The condition of a people on be such at times that the slightest additional burden could be oppressive and unjust-, I doubt that •a better plan could be presented than tifls of ahe commission, and should you, after careful deliberations, conclude to adopt It. I desire to -direct your attention to one of Its recommendations. and that Is the appropriation ior the site of THE Cl NTI NNIAL BUILDING, O* the two squares of ground, in the city of Indianapolis, belonging to the state, and now occupied by the Indiana Institute for the education of the blind " The message covered building associations, improvements of the rivers of this state, and grave in detail the proceedings relating to Green river island, long in dispute' between Kentucky and Indiana. The governor next referred to the Cuban war on which he said: “While it is true that domestic matters, promoting the welfare of th) people of the state, should Seriously engage your attention, and that questions of n itional policy of \foreigi or international relations may "Slot properly come within your province, yet there if one- subject wholly without the state, but engaging the earnest attention of our people, to vhich I-believe you could fittingly give expression While you are peacefully assembled here under the benign influences of free government and in tho full enjoyment of all that hunmn liberty can bestow. there is a people, ourclo-iest neighbors, at this time engaged la a desperate and bloody struggle for freedom, from a brutal ,pnd degrading despotism These siruggllng*patrtots ere animated with the e:me ambitions and aspirations that burned within the breasts of our fathers over one hundred years ago The patriots of Cuba ere making a brave and earnest FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, \ And appeal to—nay, have the right to hope for and receive our warmest sympathies. Sympathy. even substantial aid. is more due from the American people than from -nay -other on tho face of the globe* Almost within ~•' ' ' „

the sound of the bell .that ruag out 'liberty thravghret all the land tb all the Inhabitants thereof * V ' -‘Almost within the shadow e? ths star* and stripes, the proud emblem of a nation% freedom, almost breathing the liberty-loving nlr wafts; isnsi our shores, we hhW arbffssd ifi 4 their souls a longing for the blessings which we as a people exult In Can we turn n deaf' ear to their pleadings) Should we not st least comfort and encourage them with words of sympathy) Do we not owe ft fn justice te ourselves io bid them Godspeed in their sacred cause, and expressthe hope ibatsoqu the lost vestige of a miserable andeffeti despotism shall be swept from the western hemisphere? “Toe people of Indiana are bravo and generous. and but one generation ago her sons sealed with their blool their sublime faith In free government and human liberty. It seeme to me that their ehosen representatives assembled could well give voice to the generous sentiment that pervades the state, through a resolution, requesting our senators and representatives in congress te use every effort that at least belligerent right-i be accorded by our government to the Cuban patriots.** AT CLEVELAND Jaekson Day Was Celebrated by the Democrats by a Grand Bail. Cleveland, 0., Jan. 9. Jackson day was celebrated by the democrats of Cleveland by a grand ball Friday night, at which all the leading lights of the party throughout the city and county were present The ball wai preceded by a series of speeches. C. P. Salen, president of the W. J. Bryan association of Cuyahoga county, made a stirring address in which he -declared that no gold bug would ever again obtain recognition in the party. H. B. Hackney declared in favor of obtaining control of city governments so as to keep the organization in shape for fighting the federal battle. John B. Cofflnberry, mayor of Lorain, also spoke. A letter was read from W. J. Bryan, expressing regret at his inability to be present and declaring that the only salvation of the country.lay in the triumph of Jacksonian principles. OLD HICKORY. The Watterson .Club, of Louisville, Celebrate the Victory of Gen. Jackaon Over ttfS British. Louisville, Ky., Jan. 9.—The Watterson club, in pursuance of its constitutional custom, made its Jackson day meeting one for all democrats, and a special invitation was extended to the silver wing and freely accepted. Harmony Was the watchword. Many frank but pleasant speeches were made and it was the consensus of all that in local and state affairs the party should be united and national issues left entirely to individual members and national elections. Harmony is especially desired because of present republican control of the state and city. Leading speakers of the silver wing were W. B. Hoke and Hancock Taylor. For the gold standard men the strongest speeches were made by W. B. Haldeman, John H. Leathers and Charles R. Long.

LEXINGTON PASTIMES. H Pat His Eye Out With * Poker, and Then Dodged th* Enraged Farmer's Bullets. Lexington. Ky,, Jan, 9.—John Dayton, a farmer, bought two shirts from Len Lambert in Rosenbaum’s store Friday, and tendered a five-dollar bill in payment. Lambert didn’t have tha change, and started out to get it. Dayton objected, drew his revolver, demanded the $5, and started out with the shirts. Lambert knocked out one of Dayton’s* qyes with a poker, and did a hop, skip and jump to go out of the way of Dayton’s bullets. James Harvey Firm. WiLSiiNGxoN, 0., Jan. 9.—Seth Harvey, brother of the alleged Wife murderer, spent Friday morning in the jail endeavoring to secure a confession, but to no avail. The grand jury has finished the investigation. Late Friday afternoon the grand jury returned an indictment against James Harvey for the wilful murder of his wife. The jury was unable to determine whether the death resulted from drowning, clubbing, kicking, sandbagging or being thrown down stairs. Charged With Forgery. Columbus, 0., Jan. 9. —A young man giving the name of F. J. Spronell was arrested here on a charge of forgery. On his person was found one check for 822 and two for 810 each. Spronell is a paroled prisoner, who was recoivad at the penitentiary from tlamilton county November 15. 1893, to serve six years for receiving stolen goods. Hewas paroled in April, 1895, and his sentence would expire in September, 1897. He says he is hard np and would like to serve out his sentence. Gov. Bnahuell Worse. Columbus, 0., Jan. 9.—The governor’s office attaches were advised * Friday that Gov. Bushnell was too ill at home in Springfield to sit up, and can not be hero this week, even under favorable circumstances. The physicians think it is the grip, but there is some apprehension that it may be typhoid fever that has attacked the chief executive. His son, John Bushnell, is just recoving from typhoid fever. Th* Missing F Will Not Save Him. Frankfort, Ky., Jan. 9.—ln the case of Commonwealth vs. Si Shelby, from McCracken county, court of appeals Friday decided that.in an indictment charging a man with “biting off an ear,” tho leaving off of one “I” in the word “off” does not invalidate the indictment. They also decided in the case of Commonwealth vs. Enkiaad, from Monroe county, that it is lawful to-shoot gray squirrels at any season of the year. ____ I'ollce Ju tgft Robbed. ' LaweencebUrg, Ky., Jan. ft —The most remarkable theft reported in this section for years is one wherein Police Judge Porter Clay Walker is the victim. He lives on Woodford street, and a hundred yards beyond his residence is hie large tobacco barn. This structure was entered at night and 1,500 pounds of his finest tobacco taken by some nervy bnrglgr. '/ John Bice Goes to Prison. aged 50, was sentenced to two years in the penitentiary for breaking into F. B. Branham’s residence and stealing some clothing and orovisiona.

■r new executive. James A. Mount Inaugurated- as GovIndiana. •* Th* Ceremonies Wv Very Brlsf and Simple—ln His Inaugural Address Gov. Mount Sounds a Wnralnw Mot Against Pernicious L glslattou. Indianapolis, Ind., ‘ Jan. 12.—William H. Haggard, of Tippecanoe county, was Inaugurated lieutenant governor and James A. Mount, of -Montgomery county, was inaugurated governor of Indiana Monday, 'ihis is the order in which they were inducted into office, there being a departure from the old custom. Uusually the governor and lieutenant governor are inaugurated at the same time and on the same platform. Monday the lieutenant governor took the oath of office in the senate chamber, where he is to preside. After brief ceremonies there he ac-' eompanied the governor-elect and his company to the sooth corridor of the capitol, where Chief Justice Jordan, of the supreme court, administered the oath of office. i In one respect' Monday’s custom was followed. The retiring governor drove to the hotel and met the incoming governor and lieutenant governor, and esoortefrAhein by carriage to the capitol. After the oath of office bad been ad,mini6tered Gov. Mount delivered a brief address to tlje members of the legislature, who stood about hitm Gentl men of the Senate and House ts Representat ves: In taking the onth of office prescribed by the consiit nlon of thb state ard entering upon the iis.-targe of 1 s obligations, I am not unmindful of the grave responi-fbl.lUes and arduous dutiis thereby entailed.

JAMES A. MOUNT. Wl'h a profound seine of cr uitnde te Ike people of cur great commrnwenith who. by their suffrages, have called me to this high i at ion of honor rnd trust, it shrll be my eon<tant ende iror to so administer tho sffsirs ot itate as to promote the best interests ot all jur people. It i* m ide my duty, in obedience to the oonnitution. to enforce the lavs. Gentlemen of the legislature, into your hands is committed the high responsibility of making laws. The •esuits of your labors will be far-reaching. He who prevents the passage of unwise laws is entitled to equal credit with the author ot food laws. Conflicting interests will nrlso. urgent claims will be presented, the disposition of which will require mature thought, careful conslderition and unbiased action. Some of these interests will be represented oy men who are skilled in all the details of egislation: men who are persuasive of speech ind trained in diplomacy: men whose InfluMice will be a potent factor in the passage or iefeat of measures receiving their support or ihelr opposition. Those influences are powerful factors for good so long as they are enlstpd In a worthy cause, but become pernicious when used for defeating wise measjres or securing class, legislation igalnst .the public weal. Such lnluences are becoming more and more powerful in controlling state and natlonalleg-.-lation.and are coming to he a menace to free government. trusts and combinations, through lobbyists, are able to look ifter their interests, while the mechanic, the farmer, the miner, the business man and the lay laborer have no one outside the members )f the legislative body to exert influence in iheir behalf. To your wisdom and to your sense of justice la cotnmltteff the right and power to enact taws that shall advance the best interests of all the people. The time allotted for this important work is short The prevailing disposition among representatives is to multiply, rather than digest, bills. The multiplicity of bills frequently results in the defeat of meritorious measures Laws should be founded upon principles of interdependence of all our industries, business interests, pursuits, callings and relations bf capita) and labor—of employer and employe. It is of the utmost, finportance tnnt sn understanding of this interdependence be inculcated. ho comprehended and be acted upon. He who engenders strife, arouses hatred or creates discord is plunting the seeds of revolution. Laws that tend to. conciliate, that seek linkable adjustment of differences, that facilitate haimonv and concord, will strengthen the bonds of union. T3UILDISG AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS. These organizations should be held to such ttnet accountability bv law as will insure a better gu irant ;e of sifety to the money entrusted to their care. At the same time you must not be unmindful of the 'act that these associations have, in many instances, been be pful to the common people in enabling them to ipurchase and build homes. Therefore.' in cqr,reeling defects, rour acts should not provq, destructive to what, under proper safeguards, may be a beneficent institution. EDUCATION. Article 8, Sect.on 1, of the constitution, says: “Knowledge and learning, generally diffused throughout a communit y being essential to free government, it snail be the duty of the gpneral assembly to encourage by all suitable means, moral, intellectual, scientific and agricultural improvement, and to provide, by law. for a general and uniform Aystem of common schools, wherein tuition shall be without charge and equally open tq afl.” The)ucution.-of the masses is declared essentia to free government In compliance with the wisdom of this provitibn. we should ko:< to the enactment of a mild compulsory "Moral restraints are urged as needful tvur good. In this age of research and investigation the ability to understand and aptly science becomes a necessity to progress. The Indlaiia Academy of Science is robe com-’ mended fur andeicouraged in its good work.. The farm institutes, now being held in the different states, are the most direct and’practic.il meats of Imparting to the faimer tnis needed information. The amount appropriated for this work in Indiana is less than half the aVef.bge allowed in the states carrying forward this work. Under the economical and wise management of institutes it is generally conceded .lout Indiana, for the amount expended. is conducting the best institutes and holding more of them than any other state in the union. highway improvement. 'Good roads are essential to our highest development socially, intellectually and financially. Many counties in our state, actuated by a commendable spirit of progress, are rap*raiy Improving the highways. In the near future some of our counties Will have a complete system of free gravel roads. The main

thoroughfares la these counties, having been graveled and received by the eounty commissioners. are kept la ' repair at the county's expense. The supervisor, being thus relieved from oare ot the main thoroughfares, Is enabled te eoneentrata t&etAbUf at his dispotslupoa the lateral roads: hence all will soon be Improved. Tae economy in road Improvement will soon bi demonstrafed by the fact that the eoacttes having the best roads will maintain them at less cost than the mud to dS with all-thelr Inoonvenienoes, are maintained is -their wretched condition. The work required by law or able-bodied men. together with the road-tax, gives to the road supervisors of our state the expenditure, in money and l.bor, of a vast rum. Much of this ! waited by reason of incompetent management. The railroad tax for h'ghway improvement, In some road districts of our ,st ite. is so manipulated by the rend 'supervisor that the money Insures more to hU tnnefl*. thin the Improvement cf the thorough'area In some instanoes In our Btate. a brokerage business Is carried on and money Is made out of trafficking in this road tax. While some or our road laws need reforming, the manner of their execution needs revolution. When competence's mode the test in selecting supervisors, and tax-pavers see that they discharge their duties, wo will find some improvement In our highways without additional tsx COUNIT COMMISSIONERS AND TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES. These olfi.’l ils have large discretionary powers under the law. They sht>u>d be held to rigid account through printed reports of allowances and expenditures of -publle money, and the publication of these reports, as prescribed by law, should be made mandatory. STATE TAX The constitution provides that "taxation shall be equal an 1 uniform throughout the state.” Tnls clear.y imp tes that all property shall bear its just proportion of the burden. It 1b no uncommon talng’in the settlement of decedents' estates to find ihous n Is ot dollars in deposits, notes, shares of stock and policies that were not listed for taxation Real estate can not be secreted, and. with no (XMnption on acecunt ot mortgage or other debt, he who owns real estate is subjected to the pa meat of an uniue proportion of the taxes. The lax law snould be as searching as possible. and the township and oounty assessors and the state tax commissioners should see that the law is enforced. APPORTIONMENT LAWTho spirit oi the constitution recognizes the rqunllty of all men before the law: thit they are entitled to equal representation and an equal voice in selecting their representatives. It is to be hoped and confidently expected of this general assembly that it. will enact a law apportioning the congressional, senatorial nni representative districts th .t will reflect honor and credit upon those! enacting it. and in a manner that will give the c lee tors their constitutional rights. CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION. The conpjnlttee provided so- by ths lost general asn)blv, with instructions to report to thl|t honorable bod v, are to muck credit foF thei- fathful service. They have manifested a laudable state pride which is reciprocated by the progressive, people ot our state. If this centennial is to be observed, their plans possess much. 'merit. The prevailing opinion, however, is that any exposition that would be creditable to our state will necessitate a vast expenditure of money. A oelebration conducted with a limited expenditure, following so soon after the World's Columbian exposition. would be attended witi failure and would reflect discredit state. The advisability of the observance, then, hinges upon the wiidom of expending a sufficient sum of money to insure success, and the cbility of the state to bear such expenditure Any great outlay c.t money at this time must augment our already heavy state debt and add to the burden of taxation Tho best service that can be rendered our state, both as to its credit and honor and the welfare of our people. Is the adoption of a system of economy that will reduce our debt and lower the rate of taxation INSURANCE LAWS. ■>.

The present rate of insurance is burdensome. Teogre't a sum of money is leaving our state in (premiums for the amount r - turnea in loss on policies. R?oent examination of the state auditor's books show th't since 187! there has been paid out over 853.000 000. while there has been p ild b ic'k to policy holders but a little over i-’S.OCO.OOO. These reports indicate a loss to poliov holders of 8 *,- 000,000 it matters but little whether this immense sum of twenty-five millions of dollars was In profits or in extravagant salaries, the loss to our people and state Is too excessive All unnecessary barriers to heme companies 'shouldbe removed. especL.i y the 10 percent, penalty assessed against heme companies for tbeSTapse of each 60 days from loss until payment. The organization Os heme companies should be encouraged The present excessive rates of insurance are driving the farmers .into the organization of home mutual companies, as provided by the . acta of 1881. Millions es dcllar3 t>f farm property is thus being insured at low cost, with the money kept at home. Trusts or combinations of capital formed for the purpose of counteracting the law of supply and demand an jjttth a view to arbitrarily controlling, manipulating or increasing the Qprices of any product, commodity or article of merchandise. should be declared a barrier to trade, and should be prohibited by law. The purity of the ballot win determine’ the existence of any free government To every voter should be granted his untrame!c£ rights, both in convention and at the polls. The choice of nominating conventions should not he subjected to traffla. barter and change at the behest pf a committee of party tricksters. ,t. SOLDIERS' HOMES. These still appeal to our syampathy and patriotism. Indiana i* justly proud of her soldiers and sailors, Th: most imppstiaa monument ever erected to the memory and pHriotism of brave men stands in Monument Place. In our beautiful capital city. It is a lasting testimonial of the veneration pf the people ot our great commonwealth for her soldiers, living or dead. "To care for him who has borne the battle, ard toyrovido for bis widow an! of pin’ns. is a part of the unfinished work commi *3) to e patoiotic people by the immortal Lincoln. PENAL INSTITUTIONS. The constitution provides lhat the “penal code shall be founded orv-the principles of reform and not vindictive justice.” For the carrying out of this provision a merit system should be established in our prisons and the inmates put upon their honor and manhood and graded accordingly. But few of thore inmates are so hardened bV crime that there does not remain some spark or manhood, and un appeal to this, accompanied by hope of reward. may prove to be an inducement to him to seek to regain his lost estate These appeal earnestly to our sympathies. At the earliest convenient period the girls' reformatory should be separated from the'woman’s prison. The close proximit /of the two brings the ref rmatory in touch with environments that tend to undermine reform influences. 4 These great institutions stand ns monuments to the principle ■> of love and beneficence The unfortunate w..rds of stats within their walls are etuitled to our fostering care. STATE BOARD CF CHARITIES. I must.not refrain from some words of commendation 4>l the board for its noble servi es. The estimable da dies and gentlemen nmpi sing this hoard have given their tixe uni their energler to promoting the best Interests of our charitable, reformatory an 1 psnal institutions. The suggestions ot this hoard cr# worthy of consider ition. While the state expects such laws, rules and regulations as tend to strict economy, yet our people.desire such liberality ai will provide for the comf .rp and care of her unfortunate wards. The spirit of our peop e demands that those in control of 'char tahip. reformatory and penal institutions. Irom highest to the lowest, be selected with refe ence to Competency and fitness of character rati er than party offl ialion. to thi end that thestate shall b) honored in the m. uagement of hex institutions.

INDIANA STATE NEWS. begMMlve DnmiM<ls|E ASSIST day without incident except in the senate, a hare the flret political bru h of the session occurred. Lieut-Gov. Nye. l amedtately aiier the republican caucus .nominees were put la place, was met by Senator Hubbell'i proposition that a president pro tem. be elected The iieutecant-governor dcobtred him out of order, and the effort wun not renewed until Senntor Newby placed senator Shively In nomination for that honor. The democratic lieutenant governor mi 1 the constitution provided for no suth officer as president pro tom : that only in jhe atsmoe- of the lieutenant governor could anv ono bo elected to preside Senator Newby apps iled froni the decision, and 83 republican senators sustained the appeal Senator Shlvelv was therefore elocted Senator La Folletts has a leaning toward MoK son's oindidaoy. and sought the honor of being president pro tem The Fairbanks in nacers picked out Senator Shively to op yose him Lieut Gov. Haggard made U P committees without appointing L Follette to a chairmanship other thsn that on Insurance This litt o plar on the Fairbanks tide may force the incoming lieutenant governor to recast all his commlttoes. Senatof McCord was replaced in the chairmanship of the new committee on corporations by senator- Hubbell. a building nssoclSsion attorney. In the hcU'fl Spenker Pettit gave a neat recognition of tha honor conferred on him and the clerks and doorkeepers were elected. Nothing w s done pending the governor's message, whloh will he delivered Friday morning. Indianapolis. Jott 9—Senate— Among the bills Introduced Friday was that of Senator Newby regulating building and loan associations. Its essential fe lures are that all foes must bo credited to earnings, and that all expanses must be piid out of them Paid up stock Is subjected to taxation. Reports to auditor of state and county auditors are provide) for The former officer will have power to examine each association and to ppl.v for receiver for tnose he declares Insolvent. Withdrawals must be p Id In fnll. except us to fines and withdrawal fees, but interest only afterone year is to be paid on wlthdrawajii Forfeiture of stock ior nonpayment of dues is provided for. and all bonds, mortgages and other securities held by associations are made non-negotiabie. except on order of tho circuit or superior court, and there is a pro’ vision prohibiting the diversion of funds of one department to another of the association, or from one association ao another. In addition to the fine for violation of the act, a Jail imprlsotment of six months can be added. Another bill of significance is that of Senator Letch allowim,-oounty auditors one per cent for caring for the school fund. House— But little business of importance trail- acted outside ot listening to the reading of the governor's message Thebe was a pan cake eating match in the extreme southernmost quarter of Indianapolis for the championship of the South Side, between W. H. Lederman and Harry Weber, 'lhe affair came off in a restaurant, the contestants being allowed strong hot coffee to help out. Lederman devoured 43 cakes in 20 minutes, and then rested while Weber caught up. The latter swallowed 36 and gave up the contest. v fHK five-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. Parker, of Cedarville, was burned to death While the parents were milking.

William Pixley. a pioneer farmer in Lake county, trimmed a corn with a razor and blood-poisoning set in. Three toes have been amputated and the doctors hare given him up. A woman burglar was discovered at English with two male robbers in Joel MidkirVs house. The woman pushed Midkirk down a stairway and he lay unconscious in the hall below for some time. His arm was broken. 'J here is no clew to the three thieves. W. A. Howard* of Anderson, made an assignment The transfer includes 200 acres of land in llartholomew county* 20 shares of stock in the Summitville Brick Cos., and the entire stock of merchandise in the store of W. A- Howard & Cos., at Hope, Ind:, together wltEUibusehold goods, farming implements, and notes and accounts. Gf.o. Mcßride, a young attorney of .Clark county, while traveling through middle Tennessee recently, entered a small town, and, being taken' for a Pinkerton detective, a mob formed to lynch him. It was with difficulty that he proved his identity and escaped. Wm. H. Ripple, a stock raiser, of Warsaw, was perhaps fatally injured in a runaway accident in Wabash county. Gov.-elect Mount is overwhelmed by applications for office. Mrs. Mary E. Rea, formerly of Jeffersonville, is bow conducting a hotel just outside the gates of Jerusalem. She wrote home to a number of her friends At Jeffersonville, inclosing olive leaves plucked from a tree in the Holy City. Rev. Daniel G. Dunkin, a graduate of Franklin college, has just received a-call to th& pastorate of a church at Newark, N. J., one of tl\e leading Baptlsh churches of that state. The .governor has received through the state department the passport and naturalization papers of Boris Adler, a resident of Indianapolis, who is in a hospital at Vienna, the Austrian government reporting that he is violently insane, and that the authorities are under no obligations to care for him. Gov. Matthews has notified the state department that nothing can be done in relief by his relatives Gov. Matthews the other morning declined two. offers to go upon the lecture stage. Grace Episcopal church, Muncie, was damaged to the extent of 8500 by fire from a heater in the basement the other afternoon. Five bachelors. of Shelbyville have taken oath that they will be married by Christmas day of 1897 or pay an awful penalty. They are all well to do, good looking and healthy. They have formed themselves into a club called “The Coming Benedicts” and have registered their oaths to be husbands before a magistrate. While washing disheß at her home at Sharpsville the other evening Mrs. Cora Fortner upset a kettle of boiling water on her person, scalding her frightfully from the waist down. Her condition is serious Clarence Cook, city editor of the. Ft Wayne Sentinel, while running across Calhoun street, was caught by an electric car*, the wheels passing ovei his right arm, cutting.it off below the elbow. V ' “Tiny” Bbtailt, who caught for last season’s Washington (Ind.) ball Warn, has signed with Burlington, la., and Will Otto has signed to pitch for the •sac team. .

• clears™ way. -Th# year !T begins with on# clear *d-vantage-ths pact y*ar has swept out of th# way a yrwrt many uutmitt Cdwterns which la any tlm# of activity would hav# been dang* rods to business. Os the 16.2 M commercial and banking failures in ism. - with liabilities of *276.816.749, a large share represented crippling losses In previous years, or ths Violence of speculative storm* In 1896 or the flret half of 1896, while thousands more resulted from ths fury of ths political tornado last fall. Banking failures amounting to *50,718.916 during the year averaged *2ss. 166 each, and were 116 per cent, larger than In 1896. , “Commercial failures amounted to }22t. 696.834, a little over *1.000.690 having been added by the lest day of ths year, but th# average of liabilities, 114,992, waa smaller than in some years of great prosperity. The failures of brokerage and other commercial concerns averaged *69,418 each, increasing 18* percent, over 1895. while manufacturing failures averaged *28.808 each and Increased 14 per cent., and trading fallures Increased not 18 per cent, and averaged only *9.606 each. “While banking failures have not ceased at the west, apprehension about them has almost wholly subsided and no serious Influence upon general trade la now expected. Many sound concerns were doubtless caught by the epidemic, but praotlcally all the Important failures are traced to disregard of law and of banking sense at Periods somewhat distant. “ft is felt at the west that all business will be sounder after the purging, and the return of money to New York has exceeded shipments to the Interior by *2,000,000 for the week. Heavy disbursements by the treasury and by great corporations make money abundant, and banks and savings hanks are seeking good paper, taking some formerly sold ad Chicago. Foreign exchange has risen a trifle, as large bills are about to mature. Merchandise exports were 11 per cent, ovei last year, while imports were 27 per cenL less than for the same week. “The speculative market has been dull. After rising about 60 cents per share and *2 for trusts, stocks were checked by revival of talk about Cuba at .Washington and by reduction of the dividend on the Delaware & Hudson. Earnings reported for December amount to *31,121,905 In the United States alone, 24 per cent, less than in 1895. The railway receiverships noted by the Railway Age cover *2,821,609,090 stocks and bonds in the years 1593-96. and $2,094,535,000 in the previous nine years; foreclosure sales of the past three years cover *2,231,157,000, against >1,673.044.000 in the previous ten years. "Wheat rose to 92c on Monday, but has declined again to 59.25 c. with western receipts 1,060,000 bushels smaller than last year, while Atlantic exports, flour included, were 2,037,900 bushels, against- 2.337.936 last year. T.he trade oocoupts indicate a great qttantiiy in farmer’s hands, enough to permit more than K0.0C0.000 bushels to be exported in the remaining six months “Cotton started up a shade, but receipts from plantations are still too larg- for low estimates, and the condition of the cottonmills foreshadows curtailment rather than large consumption. The market for goods is extremely slow, as many Infer that (lie unprecedented stocks of print cloths Indicate a similar surplus of other goods. The logic is bad, but in many brandies the mills have doubtless manufactured goods anticipating a demand which has not come. It is now proposed to relieve the market by soiling quantities of print cloths abroad, or by locking up 2.000.0 W pieces until the market Improves. The only change In quotations is kid; reduction in some bleached goods. .‘Trices of wool are a shade lower, and quotations by Coates Bros, are compared, showing a decline in six years of 16 cents in prices of northern states’ wool, with relatively as great decline Iri western and territory wool, which goes far to explain the large reported stocks, and quantities held by manufacturers are probably larger tfian is commonly supposed. In woolen goods tho only change is a reduction of orders are not more frequent. , "Orders for boots and shoes have almost ceased, except for a few qualities, phlch have been advaned only 2H to sc. in price, but Jobbers are buying a little more as stocks run low. Leather is suit' and hides a shade stronger. “Enormous purchases of billets come with a rush, most of the large concerns contracting for all they required for months, and even a jear to come. and some of the largest contracts are said.to have been at *ls or even less, but there Is as yet no better demand for structural work; burs are weak, nails have declined to *1.40 for wire and $1.20 for cut, and little is doing In rairs, as possible buyers think *25 is too high with billets at *ls per ton. Nevertheless a great trade is expected when relative prices become settled."

Six Drowned In Missouri. St. Louis, Juu. U. A special from i’lato. Mo,, says that one man and five children were drowned in Texas eoun ly last Saturday, as u result of the floods in that section of Missouri. Thomas Wilson, mwnnipamnd by his (■augiiter, Mi-3. Kinnery, and her five children, to ford Prairie creek, w&icli was very high as a remit of recent ruins. The team became unmanageable ibid soon lost tbFir footbold. The wagon, weighted with its loud of huuiuc freight, sank, and the s.deboard* floating uway the whole party were thrown Into the water. Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Kinnery succeeded m getting to toe shore, but the children were drowned. Three of the bodies were recovered Thursday. ■- Daniel Mctilotheran was drowned the tame day while trying to cross Mill cteek. Tbs National Democracy. Chicago, Jan. 11.—Following the Jackson banquet of Friday uight, the national democracy held an important conference- on Saturday, at which Ucu. Simon B. Buckner presided. Nine states were represented. Missouri, Nebraska, Kentucky, Wisconsin, lowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and California. A resolution was adopted declaring that the conference recommends and requests that tty: national democrats in every state perlwt at once their local organizations in every county and prepare ® put tickets in the field in the coming state election*. National Hank at Alas, NeU, Cloved. Omaha, Neb., Jan. 11.—1 he First national bank of Alma, Neb,, has closed its doors. It baa a capital of SSb.OUO. The liabilities are $1U4,000, includings4o,soo belonging to the state and $1.(100 belonging to Harlem county. The assert are reported equal to liabilities. fatten Lll tees the Falls. “Niagara ruils, N. Y„ Jun.< II. — ExQueen Lilonknlanl and party spent Saturday afternoon driving about the bity and seeing the sights. This is the first ex-queen’s visit lo the falls and she was very much impressed with what she saw. • • (treat Political Economist Dead. Boston, Jan. 0. Ueu. Francis A. Walker, president of the Massachusetts institute of techuoiogy, uud widely kuowu, is dead. 'jz v