Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1901 — THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. [ARTICLE]

THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.

Principal Recommendations to the State Assembly, CONDITION OF FINANCES . ***• Subject Touched Upon—Coademn* Election Bribery aed Buggaete - That Both the Seller aad Buyer at ▼•tee Be Puniabed. THE MESSAGE AT A GLANCE. “ Governor Mount's message to the General Assembly is one of the longest ever •ent to an Indiana Legislature. The state's affairs are reviewed and numerous recommendations made. He condemns election bribery and suggests that both the seller and buyer should be punished. He recommends that the judiciary of the state be revised; speaks of the good effect of non-partisan control of state institutions, and recommends that the Indiana state prison be placed under non-partisan management. He would make a law requiring non-residents to take out a license before hunting in Indiana; condemns the professional legislative lobbyist, and suggests that in se far as possible Indiana laws be made uniform. Ho wants the state to take gbod care of Purdue University; approves the oounty and township reform laws, and mxkas some recommendations for the getting of better roads. Lynching is condemned and the legislature is asked to consider the subject carefully. The hope is expressed that the legislature will do something on the trust question and it is recommended that the lawmakers go after the fire insurance combination. The governor would inflict capital punishment in extreme cases of kidnapping The State's Finances. Some of the principal points in tha message are as follows: The cotfflltion of the public finances of the state of Indiana is certainly a matter of congratulations to every citizen of the commonwealth. The debt-paying policy has continued during the past two years until at the present time It can be safely predicted that all of the state's indebtedness that admits of payment will be paid within a time not exceeding four years, should the specific appropriations of the coming legislature not be abnormally large. The amount of the state debt January 10 of the present year was as follows: 3 per cent, refunding school fund bonds, series 1596t2.930.000.00 3*4 P er cent refunders, series 1896 566,000.00 3H per cent State House, series 4896 .. .. .. 500'XO .00 State stock certificates (interest stopped) 5.615 12 5 per cent bond. Purdue University 340.000 00 5 per cent bond.' Indiana University t 144,000.00 Total *.t4.504.615.12

Election Bribery. The corruption of the ballot, through the purchase of votes, is a menace to free government. This dangerous evil is growing, and has already reached alarming conditions. Success in a campaign Is becoming more and more contingent upon boodle Instead of principle and merit.The number of men who put their votes on the market are increasing. What is the fruitage of this deplorable tendency? Men of wealth, instead of ability, have the preference. Syndicates, monopolies, trusts, corporations are solicited for large campaign contributions, thus placing the parties their debtor. Wealth has undue Influence in molding laws. Hence the tendency of legislation is not so much in the interest of the man who holds the plow or wields the hammer, who works in the mine or factory, as in the interest of the men who furnished the “boodle" in the campaign. The present dangerous and disreputable methods must be stopped. Both the seller and the buyer of votes should be punished by disfranchisement. by fine and imprisonment. Labor CommtasiODen. With commendable wisdom and seal, the state labor commissioners have discharged their responsible duties. But little disturbance over scale of wages has occurred. The workingmen of the various industries and Interests of the state are industrious and law-abiding. The commissioners have been a potent factor in securing an amicable adjustment of all labor troubles. The public has an Interest in the peaceable adjustment of Industrial disputes, and where the public is made to suffer loss and inconvenience, where public carriers are stopped, travel and traffic suspended, perishable commodities in transit to market endangered, life and property jeopardized. the power of a court of arbitration should be enlarged. It is against public policy to allow local differences to menacw the general safety and welfare of com-" munltiee at large. Live Stock Sanitary CommlMloo. There ik great need of better protection to the live stock Interests of the state from infectious and contagious diseases. The loss annually sustained in this state amounts to more than three million dollars. A bill prepared with much care was introduced in the last session by Senator Guthrie, which was a great improvement over the present law. In the passage of 4his bill, wool growers were much interested, as it had stringent provisions for stamping out the infectious disease known as scab. From the state statistician I learn that this disease now prevails in fifty-six counties of the state. The present law makes no provision for stamping out this growing menace to the sheep industry of our state. The Lobbyist. The lobbyist is becoming more and more an element of danger in our lawmaking assemblies. They are often thepaid agents of promoters of questionable schemes, the hired tools of syndicates, corporations—working not for public weal, but for the promotion of the ambition or greed of adventurers, whose servants nhey are. The professional lobbyist is a foe to good government, and merits the righteous condemnation of those who have uppermost in their desires the good of the people.

Public School*. It is most gratifying to note that the educational Interests of the state are making substantia) progress. In the common schools the country finds It* anchor of safety. These should always receive th* fostering care of the state. The Indiana University and the State Normal, under the splendid and efficient management of their prerjdenta and faculty are making commendable progress. Instruction for Farmer*. I recommend a liberal appropriation for Improved building and facilities for agricultural instruction, and a strict provision that the amount annually paid to Purdue under’ the act of 1898 bo used along the line of’industrial education, aa contemplated by law. and not in the line of the work carried on in our public schools or higher institutions of learning, but that Purdue be made a great agricultural and mechanical university. The Insane. A long step was taken by the last legislature toward providing for the insane of the state. Still larger provisions must be made. It is the duty of the state to provide for its unfortunate wards. Th* speedy administration of treatment to those bereft of reason always increases the chances for recovery. Delay in such attention is attended with unfavorable results. The aggregate number of inmates in the four insane hospitals is 3.502, divided aa follows: Central .. I.CS Northern ®1 Eastern . 548 Southern 57» Both the condition and management of these institutions are to be commended. They are controlled by able and experienced superintendents.