Pike County Democrat, Volume 29, Number 36, Petersburg, Pike County, 13 January 1899 — Page 6

BUm MESSAGE. Indiana’s Governor Calls the Attention of the Legislators to Mach-Needed Legislation. f REDUCTION HI STATE’S DEBTS. 'Beforms Needed in the Laws and Methods of the Government of (bounties and Townships. tbe Total State Indebtedness, fort i—n and UoaettK, is S5.4OO.610 IS—A Chut* la the Sehooi Management >'<-ed•d—Many Other Sa;cntions Arc Made

'Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives: The people of Indiana have chosen you to tepresent 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. I deem it unnecessary to review the work of tte various institutions of the state. The reports of these will be printed and put upon pour desks for examination. The last general nnftmbly enacted a law providing for the appointment of a committee to visit, examine -•ad 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. Stratbur Herod, was ap-. pointed. With this committee’s report, added' I to the published reporta of the state institutions. I think It inopportune to prolong this message with references?thereto, but shall Ctve the time to the consideration of other important questions- > The reduction of the stale's indebtedness has continued during the pist two years w iih the most gratifying results- Funds accumulating in the treasury have been promptly used b taking up outstanding bonds, aud a large •mount of interest has thus been saved to the taxpayers. Payments oq:the state debt have txeen made, aggregating Ji.&lUOiJO.OU Tue three-cenu levy for the state sinking thud should be continued until the entire Indebtedness has been paid oft. With tine return •f prosperity, this levy can ue continued without materially burdening the taxpayers of the

state, and it is a self-eviuent proposition that the speedy extinguishment of all bonded obli- „ .cations, thereby stopping interest charges, is in keeping with correct business principles and in harm ony with the spirit of Qpraetical economy. The saving of interest alone, as shown by -the above statement, amounts to J25.1 0 per annum. There is a widespread feeling that the taxes levied for state purposes form the larger portion of the burden imposed upon taxpayers, but this popular fallacy is entirely dispelled by a single statement of facts, by way • of comparison. The amount levied for state purposes (aside from the school fund, which is II cents on the hundred, and l*s cents for educational purposes) is only 17 cents, out of which all expenses of state government, including the judiciary, are paid-including also payment on state debt—while the average county levy is H. 47. These comparisons are cited in the hope that they may awaken the people to a more compieie realization of the fact that complaint of oppression on account of taxation is due in large measure to local causes rather.than to incompetency, mismanagement or extrava•®aace on the part of those into whose charge is given the administration of the fiscal affairs ► >of the commonwealth. It is pertinent to mention that in the prosecution of the Spanish-American war Indiana advanced to the federal government a sum of: monetr approx ima ting i30). WjO. This was used ■ Jin the mobilization, equipment and forwarding!' the state's quota of troops, comtormably with; ithe call of the president. AU claims on this: account have been filed with the proper au- ! thori.ies at Washington and are beingj | -adjusted as expeditiously as “possible, j - Claims to the amount of £107.102.55 have al4 j oeady been formally passed upon by the au4 | ditor of the war department, and a warrant for that amount was deposited with the state ! treasurer on December 29, im The remain- j vfer of Indiana's claims against the %ener .11 agovernmenrare in process of adjustment, and j It is expected that complete remuneration will ■4be accomplished within a comparatively brief •period. It is gratifying to know that all re■ports agree that Indiana's pending claims on -accountof the war are in better shape thah. 1 those of any other state in the union. The governor shows that, the total.state debt Is as follows: Psreigq debt, W.yio.O-Xt: state stock certificates. SC.6la.fi; domestic debt, ! •*84.ted Total debt, #>.400.(515,1:1. Total intei--CSt, $176,925. f. The need of the inform in laws and methods of county and township goverumeats is mani- ! test to alt There are not the proper safe- ! (guards around the povAers delegated to countjy | ■commissioners. They \have power to levy (taxes, make contracts, sphmi money and make i ■allowances and audit the bboJ^s. Section 7S50 i ■of Btams’ Revised Statutes of 1894 give too | ■inch discretionary power to the county board. The state statistician, in answer to questions. Jfinds that some counties have purchased court - libraries. The auditor answers that the judge .requested it and the county commissioners - made the purchase and paid for the same from county funds. There is no law for such exrj>enditifre. The taxpayers of the county would ■ condemn the purchase of court libraries at the *■ county’s expense. This only illustrates what may become the results when too large powers Are granted. The prodigality with which county funds are expended in some counties is the ■ outgrowth of following precedents on the as- » cending scale. Attorneys employed by com

nussioners is county litigation are sot '.infrequently paid fees five times as large ~«s would be paid for like services rendered to an individual client. Judges, of the court are often extravagant in their allowance*; My attention has been called to the disparity in such allowances by different judges fn- like service. The people should be kept informed as to the expenditures of their public .-servants. The expenditures of the township -officials Inst year for “out-door relief?’ amounted to i875.2Ge.9a. This enormous expense is .startling and reveals the dangerous methods and lack of proper regard for public moneys. •The system in vogue in many townships fos- ; hers pauperism and puts a premium upon vacancy. The township trustees appoint the ifcowl .supervisor and upon the ability of this off SOcini in large degree is contingent road improvement. The forthcoming report of the state statistician will jeveal in township government a great disparity of costs per capita It shows a eoun- ; *S cf a little more tnan 32.000 inhabitants exi pends for county purposes five times as much " money as another county of more than to,000 Inhabitants. — ■ ‘ -V ■ Pi- I believe it safe to conclude, if proper safeguards are placed about these offices, wise Ebusiness and economic methods adopted by •counties, courts and townships, there could be r* saving of 20 per cent.-of present taxes for • county and township purposes. The people demand a reform that will lessen the burden of taxation, and not a misnomer ; 'that will augment expenses. The good name of Indiana has been dishon■iess mob that took from the jail nty and lynched five men charged y- Even if these men had been und guilty, as charged, the punid have been imprisonment, and ill seise of justice and safety rethe mob as a 'tribunal for progmeats or administering pnnishAtkiiison. of Georgia, in his ffiesjgisiature, presents at length the mdency of mob violence. In the ,s argument he says: “The mob hint a full and com

pletn Larins tnm bath Bides, its members are not the most ca pable of Judging. Xt decides le passion aid too often In whisky. Gov cnn It fail to make and sacrifice the Krai of the innocent? 1 ant informed that one man whdfci the mob by* licrcd to be guilty was shot down. A question then arose as to his Identity, ami ha was sal red down like a hog and shipped to ihe location of the crime, and found to ha the wrong man in innocent man.* in the governor's severe arraignment of mob violence, he found some palliation for these reprehensible nets that has disgraced his own state in the fact that "Indiana had lynched five men for burglary.” It can not be argued that lax enforcement cf law justifies a manifestation of contempt of courts and disregard for the law. Any county that can organize a sentiment to prevent lynchers from being punished can also organ* tze against crime and punish criminals in a court of justiee. Where lynch lawlessness obtains. there justice is detnroaed and courts are myths. The constitution and laws of the state would there be trampled under the blood-stained feet of brutal and lawless men. -If mob violence is to go unpuhishedTtben bate and malice will sit enthroned, and pdssion. fired by intoxication and governed by ajspirit of revenge, instead of evident*, justice and the la.w. will reader insecure tife-oectproperty. The anarchist would welcome sitch conditions and would then feel licensed; to proceed to even up things according to bis dwarfed sense of equity. In my effort* to remove from the state the odium attached to its good name by the lyncbings that occurred in Ripley eounty. every available means were invoked to find out the guilty parties and bring them to account. 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 lynching* and whitecappings. 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 t#f lynching the nearest of kin should be authorized 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 tak«eni from his custody by a mob should be required by law to forfeit his office, Lax en-forcement-of laws eventually results in the people taking the law into their own bands. 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. Quite recently the good name of Indiana has again been disgraced by a lawless mob. who took f^om 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 muruen judications point to a conspiracy against this man's life, for the purpose of sealing his lips in death, lest damaging disclosures in trial might reveal the w|ckedness and crime of others, f This atrocious murder appeals with, new force- to the legisl .tops of Indiana for the enactment of a law that will forever stop this mockery of justice. ! ^ j There is a growing necessity for a revision of the judiciary of the state With each meeting of the legislature efforts are renewed f r the creation of new court districts. In some instances there seems to be need for the relief t>f the courts, but for many of these demands there is no justificatibn. It is true that there exists great inequality as to the amount of business transacted in these; judicial districts. If- the rule of the present is to be continued and present demands granted, it will not be long until the state wilt i have as many court districts as counties. Courts are multiplying imore rapidly than pppulation or litigation, while court expenses and allowances increase at an even greater rate than courts. During the last three years the state has paid to special judges the great sum of fhl.0Sl.6J.

J CSTICKS' COCBT. It seems that it would be expedieht to ex* tend the jurisdiction of this court. Litigation over small amounts should originate in tits' court, and from whichan appeal to the circuit court should tie final Suits in which petty sums are involved should end in the circuit or lower courts, and be barred from the supreme court. Without elaborating upon the necessity, or dwelling in detail upon the plan. I would recommend the creation of a committee, to hare charge of the revision of the judiciary or the state, to formulate a bill for the same, to be presented to the next general assembly. During the past year repeated violations of the penal laws of the state against the waste of natural gas by the Standard and ether 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 fora temporary injunction or restraining order without giving bond The state has been, and is now. seriously hampered in its efforts to suppress Koby gambling, bdcausiFthe 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. . . V* The governor recommends the introduction of the science of agriculture in our public school curriculum, and refers to Article VI1L Section L, of the constitution of the state of Indiana - ’ _. v ' - In 18*"x in New York city, a committee of distinguished citizens, Eimong whom was Hon. A. Sv Hewitt and Hon. W. j£. 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. Tats soil has been depleted over a wide ranee of territory. The active, energetic young men needed on the farm to .develop better possibilities are leaving it. because they have but little - education or train

mg .fitting them for toe business. The report suggests that the remedy is to begin "at the foundation and in the public schools.” The elaborate system of state education in France is only the creation of recent years. There are now more than six millions of children taught in public schools of France, all of whom are instructed in the science of agriculture. M. lisserand adds: “Our schools are now far better attended than they used to be; everywhere people are working with zenL and j the scientific spirit has invaded the? farm. ! Young men of intelligence are becoming more attached to rural life, and the children brought up in the country districts, when they receive an appropriate agricultural education, will he less tempted to go to the towns to increase the already too great number of those chronic unemployed who constitute to-day a perpetual danger to society.” | The abandoned farms in the older states sound a note of warning. The hundreds of thousands cf acres of worn out and abandoned land in the south [earnestly appeal to intelligent though^ Ih 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 the profits of agriculture and horticu ture. To be for warned is to be ferearmed. The time is opportune. Let Indiana t: ke advanced steps in the introduction of this important science into her public school curriculum. t 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. The labor commission, through its acts, has demons trail td the wisdom at the law that

— emted It The commissioners n«rsr. in alittle man th e 18 months. investigated » strikes and lock-oats. They foiled m bat seven instances to adjust differences, nnd in «wo oj these one party to the contest was nonresident, over whom the commits iohers bad no jurisdietfcgL In lour of the e-uses the commission investigated sad reported the conditions of settlement In 28 contests sati-fuctory sgreetnentg were secured througfi1 the mediation of the commission, and in » of these settlements the working men secured cither an aevance in wages or other improved conditions. The commission w^s also instrumental in having two boycotts declared off. and in live instances prevented strikes through timely mediation. So favorable has been the impression of this peaceable adjustment upon both employers and employes tbit frequent expression has been made to tbe 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 manliest that hundreds of thousands of dolars have been saved to capital and labor within our border*, the peace find dignity of the state preserved, serious con Acts between employers and employee 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, where unbiased reason rules and where the evidence of both parties is heard, ratfeei than between the contesting parties after spirited differences have been fanned into better and acrimonious contest. I believe the Hading 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 peace 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 power and command tfiese conflicting interests to come into court and settle their differences according to law and equity, thereby avoiding riot, bloodshed and the destruction of property. The labor% commissioners of .Indiana took the initiative looking to the settlement of striking coal miners., covering the eoal fields of sevesal states, in 1887. Desiring to acquaint myself with the true situation in Indiana,.I appointed Judge T. J. Terhune and Hon. John' B. Conner to visit the coal fields and thoroughly Investigate the situation. After a careful investigation they submitted their report, which included statements from operators and miners. I was thoroughly convinced that the workmen had not been paid 'decent, living

images. i ae operators, aumittmg by reason of the stress of ‘times . and difficulty to make sales, they undersold each other, forcing them to reduce wages, until the wages of miners were too low. I issued a proelama tion appealing to the people for relief for the destitute families of the idle miners. The people made liberal response, and much suffering was thus prevented The scale'of wages was increased, and the idle men were given employment. Letters of thankfulness from these miners, with positive assurance that a high regard for the law would characterize their act ions, since the state had been so considerate mi their wants, forces the conclusion that conciliation and arbitration will letter preserve'the dignity of the state and ipsere obedience to law, than .bitter strife and forceful me .sures. The act of 18&>. providing for public printing, binding and stationery, should be amendend so as to more explic.tlb state what departments should receive their printing antf stationery out of the printing fund, and also the sum ter of copies of each report that should be printed, exclusive of the Document ry Journal- In amending this law it would be well to reduce the number of senate and house journals to the demand for the same. I beg to call especial attention to the valuable report of the state fish commissioner. Through a judicious appropriation, coupled with some wise laws for the protection and propagation of fish, and for the stocking of Indiana lakes and streams with game fish, this interest can be made a source of revenue to the people of the state, as well as affording healthful recreation and wholesome sport. It is estimated that the loss of live stock Iron infectiousund contagious diseases in this state amounts to from to io.COO.UOii annually. It is of great importance tost heroic remedies^e applied and. that the highest veterinary skill shall be employed to stop or minimue this great loss. I believe the time is opportune for the placing of all the penal and correctional institu- ; tions for males under one board of manage•tnent. Transfers can then be made from one j to another without,any friction and with less j complication and expen-e. As fag as possible, consumptives should be kept apart. In erecting new buildings, pro- | visions, should be made to this end. A little more than a year ago I paroled II consumpi tives from the Indiana st tie prison. I am inI formed that all of these have since died. I, i shall feel impelled, by a sense of hum -nity. to parole, under a medical certificate, all serious cases .of tuberculosis, unless some arrangement can . be made for keeping .such cases | separate, so that the germs of the disease can wait infest the cell? and spread the dread I malady. It-will be your dnty to provide adaitional accommodations for the unfortunate. insane wards of the state. My attention has been called to the lax provision of law for admission : to the insane hospitals. N6 insane person should be admitted "as a ward of the state who is not a legal resident of the same. I would recommend additions to the present hospitals, instead of a now hospital located .on a new site, as this would necessitate augmented expenses mi account of the purchase of new location and a : new board of officers and managers. [< 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 state has shown great liberality in the vast amount cf money it has expended in the erection of a monument ^o her brave sons. In the years to come this monument will do more than commemorate the valor and sacrifice of our patriotic soldiers; it will also attest the appreciation of such service by all the people of the state. This monument has been so long in construction that the managerial expenses amount to a vast sum An appropriation should be made for the completion of this work, with a specific provision that! it shall be done within a stipulated time, in order that the expense of supervision of construction may

The legislature has the right and power to determine for what purposes the state capitoi shall be used. It would relieve the custodian cf much embarrassment it the legislature would direct him a i to his duties in granting orrelusing the legislative halls to organizations requesting their use. The nomination of candidates for office should he as far removed as possible from the dominance of political lenders and ring politicians, giving to all votersJht equal, free aad untrammeled right to tmJt 'ard in the selection of candidates. I therefore recommend the enj actment of a strict primary election llw. ^ Never in the history of the benevolent institutions of the state has the management been more efficient or so free from scandal. The per capita cost of maintenance ts less than ever before. The highest efficiency can only be maintained through tne most competent aad experienced management. Partisan control caq not assure either. Competency grows with experience. Partisan management of state institutions means a change in the government of the same with each transfer of political power in the state If the management of these institutions is to bo given as reward to politicians, then, as a lexical sequence, the larger the salary the better ste reward; the more places provided, the mere workers rewa rded. Extravagance and incompetency result. scandal follows, and the people at the polls rebuke the debasing system by defeating the party responsible foe it Tnere are tow 1'cur insage eenTfcts in the Indiana reformatory and fifteen in the state prison. The law now makes provision for an insanity inquest and the removal of the insane w • -

convicts to t)w Insane hospitals. This ran cot be carried oat for lack of room. It Is unwise, eves if there should beroom. 1 recommend that a (dace be pros l ied for these insane criminals in connection with one of the In one hospitals. where they can be cared for and kept separate from other prisoners and away firms the Inmates of the u^ane hospitals. Hired lobbyists are amenaee to free government. The time is rapidly approaching when, the aired tools of'corpora e greed will be excluded from the halls of legislation. The just law that commends itself needs no schemer, ^ith doubtful methods, to secure its enactment. It becomes, therefore, the sacred duty of taw makers to look after the Interests cf the people and to see to It that' no inroads are made upon their rights. The report of the labor commission of this state reveals that “no proposition involvingsettleraents of labor controversies present as great obstacles as those in which trtpsts are parties to agr etneuss. In every encounter with labor, the workingmen, however just their cause; ; emerge from the conflict the greater sufferers. , The opportunities of trusts ’n regard to wage | reductions are exceptional, uni their desires i are always equal to tLetr opportunities They re not trammeled by state laws, and they defy federal authority.'’ Not only is the trust potent in controlling wages, but in lobbying their interests in lawmaking bodies and in controlling the price of their jroduets. Any comtimatioo or trust formed for the purpose of arbitrarily controlling the price of any product or article of manufacture or commerce, or any insurance combination by which a compact or organixalon. I or conspiracy or confederation, is entered into ! for the purpose of conirolling and determining the rate of insurance, should be prohibited and severely punished as a conspiracy against the law of supply and demand and as antagonistic to fair competition. The law enacted two years ago is not sufficient, and the attorney general of the state 'did not feel justified in attempting to prosecute trusts under Its provisions. I would urge upon this legislature the need i of a law drastic enough to prevent these con- > ^piracies against fair competition and just | wages. : * f The appearance in the orchards of this state ! of the San Jose scale and other dangerous in- | sects, and also of fungus growths, thus endangering the horticultural interests, made it uec- * essarv. in obedience to the demands of many | men. to appoint, in the absence of law. a state entomologist. Nurserymen eould not. in some instances, ship theif stock without the state, unless accompanied by a eertiticate from a state entomologist that their stock was free from- the ban Jose scale. Necessity having thus become a law. I appointed Prof. James Trcop. of Purdue university, to this office for the time. I therefore recommend the presage of a law creating such an office and delining the duties and powers'of such official jj Only persons or organizations duly authorized by the loard of state charities should be permitted to place .children from without the state in famil.es within our borders, and a sufficient bond should be required to indemnify the state against any expen.se by reason of any -ueh child becoming tie pec. dent. The work of the board of state charities, through the state agency, in accordance with the provisions of the so-called dependent children's law, in relieving the T.uolic t-f expense and placing -children in family homes, is commended; * 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 authorize the selling of 50 acres of ground belonging to, but not adjacent, o the home. The disconnectioa with the home makes the land of but little value to the same, except the small income from rent. The proceeds from such sale may be properly used in needed improvements of the grounds. The

ocaru ueems ibis mstnoa or s.curic? tanas ror needed improvements wiser than asking for an appropriation. It seems to me thajt a broad and liberal spirit dem ands some change in the school management ct the state. The United States commissioner of> education does not confine educational statistics tq state schools, but to private institutions las well. In many of the states the superintendent of public instruction .is required by law to gather all information, from whatever source, state or private schools, he eh a report would reflect -the true educational p regress of the state. In former years the report of the superintendent of publie instruetfen cf the state contained such statistical information. Without counting the parochial schools. normals and not taking into account other higher educational institutions, male ; nd female, the statistics of which are not at hand, bnt computing some facts from eight private colleges, shows that they have more than Sd.OOO.W0 invested in plants and securities. These colleges have in their libraries more than 10 ».OGO volumes. They have an enrollment of over 2.’0) students, with an alumni of upwards of 5.0JO. besides from 12.0' 0 to 15.0.;t) more who h-. ve . ttended but did not graduate from these colleges. These institutions. with their magnifleieut work, should not be excluded from the educational heperts of the state, although they arc carrying forward their great work unaided by the state. There is a growing sentiment of commendation for these institutions that ask no aid frem the state. 1 There are some serious objections to the present composition of the state board of education. One of the.^e objections, founded upon justice, is that the bounties have no representation on this board. It is in the township and district schools that the poorest school advantages are offered, and these ha tv no champion or representative on the board. The three state institutions,, numbering perhaps3,(UO students. have three representatives. The school enumeration of the state shows 7.,4.945. Of this number approximately 40 per cent* belong to city schools and .have three representatives* while 60 per ceat-Tbr I3546 >, belong to township and district schools, and havie no representation on the state board. The fee and salary law of 1S96 repealed the law allowing the auditor of state tea per cent, of ail lees collected from insurance companies. During Mr. Daily's four years* incumbency of the office there has been collected, in the insurance department. J6Si.2iS.S8. Under existing laws." prior to 18)5, ten percent of this amount, or StSS,424.98, would have been part bf the auditor’s emoluments. Under the laws now in force, it has only cost the state the salary of one insurance clerk at il.&Xi ter year. It is clearly manifest, therefore, that Indiana docs not need an insurance commission, with its multiplied expenses. I would, however, recommend that one additional clerk be furnished the insurance department of the state auditor’s office. This will enable the office to make a thorough investigation of the securities filed and of the financial stand

ins oi in ccBtpuw» uiung easiness m ute state, thus guaranteeing to the r.eople safety, as far as possible, against irresponsible companies. . . . - ■ Conditions conducive to good health are always of great importance, pure food and good sanitation laws should always receive careful consideration Judicious laws for the stamping out of infectious and contagious diseases are deserving-of attention Apathy and neglect of sanitary conditions are superinduced by the temporary absence of infectious or contagious diseases. The state board of health should be given such powers as will enable them to afford immunity as fair as possible from epidemics and to stamp out contagions diseases. The constitution (Sec. 1, Art. X) stipulates that the general assembly shad provide, by law. for a uniform ana equal rate of assessment and taxation and shall prescribe sues! regulations as shall secure a just valuation for taxation of all property, both real and personal, excepting such only for municipal, educational. literary, scientific, religious or charitable purposes as may be especially exempted bylaw. I desire to call the attention of the legislature to the statement from the report of the state tax commissioners and to ur^e its cart - ful consideration. The farm institutes of the state, under the supervision of the faculty e£ Purdue uaiveirsity. : nd under the direct control of Prof. W. C. I*attaa-uperintendeiit of the experiment;*! farm at Purdue, have accomplished much good for agriculture and horticulture. In these institu es practical ques; ions are discussed, thus Vre paring the farmer to taeet in an intelligent wjny the new condition* and »o solve the ;.rol>con fronting the husbandman to-day. appropriated itr this work is perns confi

I r commend tjHt this rncctn*. be «■> -reused to it least *7, WO. The appropriation, thus ineret >ed. w|U be bat half the amount? appropriated by a majority of the sorroaacJsf s»te» for carrying forward this work. The tool being thus accomplished in deserving at the highest cotrune niiation. The seeaials growing oat of the deplorable conditions existing in many of the jails sad poor farms of the couatie* of the state, call for kgi iatloo upon this qucsti-m. I therefore recommend the enactment of a law authorizing the circuit judge to appoint for each county a non-partisan jommUtee. to be comnosed oif men tad women, who -shall visit at least oaee every three months, all the charitable and penal institutions of the county aad report to the state board of charities their co&uidbQMf> said committee to serve without .compensation. The law requiring the state board of education. or the *uoard of commissioners.” to advertise for-21 coa-ecatlr* days in one daily paper of general circulation in the cities of New York. Philadelphia. Chicago. Cincinnati and SL Louis, at each letting of a contract of • school books, should be amended. AdVer- ! ti* ment in the great metropolitan ,jour- i Kn:s bedside' the state is a useless 1 expense.' The superintendent of pub

approaching letting of a contract, is already I dsuged with letters from publishing houses ! desiring to make bid*. and'ihU too. before any ■ advertising Isdoue. The .fl.MM appropriated ! to meet this expease is held no* to be continu- j oos. while the statute makes the advertising j mandatory. Where the statutes command i work requiring the outlay of money in its performance. they should aUso m ike provision iat the money to meet the nefcq^sary expense 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! duty of, tba general assembly togive earnest attention to these requests and to scrupulously guard against anything in the nature of extrava trance. It should be borne i* m od that a largo proportion of the *iaxpayerss of this j state, who will be called upon to i | bear a part of the burden of increased expenditures. are compelled to practice that rigid economy in their homes that deprives them not only, of conveniences and luxuries, but many of the common necessities of life. Tiiia [ large class of worthy citizens will have no one I but their chosen representatives to look after I their interests in the legislature: and I hays ! confidence in the ability and Integrity of tais body to. deal conservatively and wisely with these grave problems. The board of state charities is deserving of I much credit. It has rendered efficient serried to the sta$e. The high standard of excellence attained in our charitable and penal institutions is due in no small degree to the wise suggestions of thiS’Soard. In the course bf^this message proper I wfU not undertake to enter into a detailed recital of Indiana’s part in the . Sp uuahAmeriean war. but for the in’oretatioa of members of ibis assembly, and ail others concerned, a revliw of this stag's creditable “particlp aion in the stirring events of the period is submitted as an appendix to the prir ted edition of this communication to your * honorabih body. I direct attention especially to the repbm of the^pa.yma»tcr-gtm-eral and the 'surgeon-general, respectively, detailing the operations of those departments. It will be observed that the paymastergeneral corrects a popular misapprehension in stating that no deductions on clothing account were made, except in the ccse of cfficers. all of which i- in strict compliance with law. Most of the unit arms furnished the Indiana national guardsmen, when they enlisted in the federal service, were, comparatively , new. Some of the soldiers weiw furrush' d uniforms badly worn. The gove^ameat receipted to the quartermaster for these uniforms. Subsequently a board of survey was appointed to fix the value of these tmiforms - furnished by the quartermaster genenkmf 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. Tee "Indiana volunteers for the war with S-pain have made an honorable record, and the patriotism and devotion to duty they have manifested on ail occasions are deserving o .the highest commendation. A bill has been prepared, and will be pre sented for yojur consideration; looking to thi furnishing off work for the convicts in the state l prison From humanitarian consideration. the bill should become a law. It will afford tempora-y relief until some better plan can by enacted into law.

a Unique wages, Woa by As.or Oyer a California Redwood Dinner Table. Incretiaious EssIIshiuiQ Convince 1 of the Immi Dse SUe uf Sonic American T fees After . Cosine $£1,000 In a Bet. WiUIam Waldorf A&tor has won a wager of $2.' ,000 by giving a long expected dinntr to 27 persons, seated around a table made from a s^ig e cross section of a great California redwood tree. Nearly two years ago Mr. Astor h;.«l • discussion with Gen. Owen William* about the size of California trees, the Englishman not believing that they grew to such enormous size as Mr. Astor asserted. The result was a wager by the-American millionaire that te would give a dinner to 27 person^w to would dine comfortably arodsd tha trunk of a California tree, f

Ax great expense Mr. Asjfbr tac. a secticn*of a gigantic tree'l^nt to tim from California. It measured 81.feet in. circumference. When the tree lrrived in 'England it was taken to Cliveden, the beautiful country pl ica of Mr. Astor on the Thames, near Henley. There it was partially burie< in a part of the park known as the F alf Moon. What the object was in bi tying it is not known, but it was left for months partially under ground. Four weeks ago the section of the tree was turned over to a firm at Ax lesbury, who smoothed off the sur ace and polished it highly. As it was impossible to get the table into the house, a large marquee tent was ejected over it in a little glade of the 3alf Moon wood. The ground was strewn with fresh fems^to make a natural carpet and there the dinner was given. No cloth was spread over the .polished surface, but it was prettily decorated with wild flowers by y rung Miss Astor, while beautiful candelafcras cast a soft light over the costly silver plate and china. Chines* lanterns. %ere hung from the great ioorwhy cf Cliveden to the marquee ani the glade was gayly illuminated Emperor William, who is confix cd to his bed by an attaek of influenza , was represented at the New Yearns reception at the palace by Prince Fre; erieh Leopold and the imperial crown p rincet Frederick Wi lliam. ■ -.'y

Pains and Aches ■ ■ W Rheumatism Hake Countless Thousands Suffer., Buttittodtotaae to eared tr Hood’s S»v s ipardln, wbuflroeutruiiaes t&e *eS4 fa the I ocd. If you' have any symptom* of t lenmatfem take Hoofs Sarsapurtfin tp;: care and do not waste time and money ci* t titcown . ptwparatioos. The - mefto'gp^ I ood's Sarsaparilla to i nquestioned and its t vord of cares unequalled. C Hood’s Sarsaparilla I. America’s Greatest MedtctarforrheuciaiW^! Kood'S PIUS cure ad liver Uls. She Was Taking 9h» Chaaees The fast-fiyiag elevator in a huge do’ t »wn olhce building hovered lor an inst a. the third floor, tike an impatient | a oust rous .bird, then, with aclang of i on gates,-Hew .upward and out oi sight The citizen from Sassafras Cross lio. t trned fiercely to his wife. “Whai made you hold me back, mot he !\V hv, Eben Ddly, who are you talk t> ? Don’t you stand there and jaw me! “Well, you make me feel so foolish.” “hoolish, eh? Foolish! That's all? t1 tanks a woman git* for bein’ earefa*. 1 c ime down here to git your life msai cidutye?^ “Course I did.” ‘ “kesain’t done it yet, hev ye?” "Coin’ to do it jest as soon as I kin £t t iat^ Seventh floor.” Is “Yes! Weil, when yeSre done it ye ride, on alt the elevators in creation is '■'ant to, but not till then.” And the prudent wife began the l « nd weary assent of the marble stairs, awed by her humble spouse. —N. •^Sl

Wanted a Cyclorawa. Mrs. Fatpurse—You paint pictures taof* :.er, don’t you? • • SvvCGreat Artist—Yes, madam. . . “Well, I want a landscape vrtfck lets of deer and bucks, and quaiU and partridi nd pheasants, and cattle, and sheep, ; >ig*» and so on, you koowi and put *,}, , .nd an ocean in—fresh and salt waieryyoa inow; and be sure to kavc plenty swimming around, because it's for Jig room."—Bouton Globe. v . From Bsibjr in the Hisrfc :o grandma in the rocker Graia-O is good Tor •he whole family. It is the long desired substitute for coffee. Never upsets theRervej* or injures the digestion. Made from, pure grains it is a food in; itself. Has tbetaste and appearance.of the best coffeeikj^the price. It is a genuine and sclent;Sr«fieIt and is come to stay. It makes foilfiftdtb and strength. Ask your grocer for Gtkin-O. Never be at your place of bus* ness "whett a person wants to borrow money of you, because, if yoju are in you wilfbe Gppsbttt if you are out you will be in.—Town, and Country Journal, ^ ■■ >' »■ II - i ■ n >m liiil....

P«n's This? We offer One Hundred Dollars for any case of Catarrh that'cannot i by Half’s Catarih Cure. ■ - . F. J. Cheney & Co., Props.* Toledo^®. We* the undersigned, have knOwjjCti -J. Cheuey for the last 15 years, and believe him perfectly, honorable in al l business tr$nsactions and financially able to carry' out any obligations made by their firm. % West & Truax, Wholesale Druggists, Toledo. 0. Waldiag, Kinnan & llama* Druggists. Toledo, O. . . . ^ Half* Catarrh Care if taken internally, acting directly Upon the blood andB^teoa* surfaces of the system. Price j®svj»!i£Jbettle. Soidby all Druggists, free. Hall's Family Pills are the! For What Cuba It \c “Cuba,” said an urchin at fhei,v class, “is that place what useu to__ rounded by water, and now is surr^fcnded by warships. It is noted for its tobaepij and wax bulletins.”—Adams (Mass.)! A Dataty Gift. Dr. P. Harold Hayes, the Specialist ia Asthma and Hay Fc success in curing these diseases ‘ remarkable us to attract .tine l physicians all ever the world, has. dainty Calendar for- lSOft .which ‘ lug to his many patients. Any* cither of these diseases cau oi fr*e by writing o Br. -Ihuoesvided this paper is m-entioue s “Mr. Johnsiu. does yo% know sailors got dot name 'tats’ applied “Sure; in some pitched'•tfetle; mh.'*—Princeton Tiger. THEY~ WANT TO' - : These Grateful Woman Been Helpod by Mrs. Pia Women who have suffered severely and been relieved of their illsby Mrs. pinhham's advice and mediefiie aro constantly urging publieatioxrof their statements far the benefit of other w<r men; Here are two such, letterk: Mrs. Lizzie Beveklv, 25S Mem-mac St., Lowell, Mass., writes: “It affords me great pleasure to tell all suffering women of the bene fit I have received from taking Lydia ® Pinkham's Vegetable Compound. lean hard" ly find words to express my gratitude for what she has done for me. My trouble was ulceration of the womb. I was under the doctor's care. Upon _ tion he found fifteen very large ulcers,, but he failed to do me good*, fllook several bottles of Lydia E- Pin sham's Yegetable Compound, also used t he Sanative Wash, and am enred. Mrs. Pinkham'a medicine saved my life, and Jp; would recommend It to all suffering women-** Mrs. A hob Tkombleat, Ehenhurgh Ctr., N. Y.. writes: “I took cold at the time my baby was born, causing me to hfave milk legs, and was sick in bed fear eight weeks. Doctors did me no good. I surely thought I would die. I; was also troubled with falling of the womb. 1 could not eat, had faint spells as often as ten times a day^tkne day a lad; :ame to see me and told me of the benefit she had derived from taking Lydia E. Pinkham'a medicine, and advised me to try it. I did so, and had talren only hall a bottle before I was able to sit in a chair. After taking three bottles I could do my own work. I am ZKnr in perfeet health.”

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