Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1899 — Page 6

GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE

■mnana executive addresses IF THE LEGISLATURE. Finances, Lynching®, Teaching Agriculture in Public Schools, flpßood Koadsand Common Schools Are BtuiL... Subjects Receiving Attention. fltamtlcnien of the Senate and House of ? KStapresen t a lives: IBKfcr neonlo of Indiana have chosen you ■•-eepresent them in the Sixty-first GenHnt Assembly. They have reposed in you RMr confidentand yon now enter upon Him responsible duty of enacting laws for HKe promotion of public welfare. Constitution makes it incumbent rajqpoai the Governor “from time to time to R<ive the General Assembly information MK the affairs of the State and recomBfiMctd to their consideration such measfefere* as he shall doom expedient. - ' EM deem it unnecessary ■to review the Fwork of the various institutions of the Nnte. The reports of these will be printKt and put upon your desks for your ox■Mrin&tion. The last General Assembly ■jpMkcted a law providing for the appointHjwnt of a committee to visit, examine and Ulirport the condition and needs of the vajSinarr State institutions. In obedience to HMb law, a committee, consisting of Hon. Ethanris T. Roots (author of the bill), Kbu. Fremont Goodwine and Hon. HBtrathur Herod, was appointed. With committee’s report, added to the SpoMished reports of the State instituRSjpns, I think it inopportune to prolong ■fib message with references thereto, but give the time to the consideration |&df ether important questions. State Finance*. L The reduction of the State’s indebtedhas continued during the past two mwn with the most gratifying results. fyFnnds accumulating in the treasury have gWccn promptly used in taking up outKptanding bonds, and a large amount of inyAerest has thus been saved to the taxpay--1 .ate. Paymentson the State debt have been L made as follows: B' March 29, 1897................... 8150,000 (Anne 21, 1897 80,000 fefaly 7. 1897190,000 BOet. 28, 1897 100,000 Mten. 20, 1898 100,000 fcWteb. 10, 1898 100,000 EJhrty 12, 1898 100,000 I Amt. 20, 1898 100,000 ; ®ec. 30, 1898 200,000 ®ec. 31, 1898. 200,000 ■ Total $1,320,000 «' The three-cent levy for the State sink|dng fond should be continued until the Si—tire indebtedness has been paid off. ? "With the return of prosperity, this levy

GOVERNOR MOUNT.

k:«M be continued without materially burR toning the taxpayers of the State, and it i* a self-evident proposition that the ' Weedy extinguishment of all bonded obligations, thereby stopping interest charges, ■i in keeping with correct business prin>ciples and ia harmony with the spirit of economy. k: Im this connection it is pertinent to that in the prosecution of the ; 4 ricnn war Indiana advanced '-to the Federal Government a sum of »Maney approximating $200,000. This was t wed in the mobilization, equipment and £<brw»rdnag'jf‘his State’s quota of troops, fetoaformably with the call of the I’resi«tont. All claims on this account have keen filed with the proper authorities at iwaslungton a::d are being adjusted as ysntixditiously as possible. Claims to the ’jßEOuntof $107,102.55 have already been ttonrrn'llv passed upon by the Auditor of 'toe kSnr Department, and a warrant for ■ toast amount was deposited with the '.State Treasurer on Dec. 29, IS9B. The remainder of Indiana’s, claims against the General Government are in process of j mdjnetment, and it is confidently expect«d that complete remuneration will be meconsplished within a comparatively Sflhricf period. It is gratifying to know that reports agree that Indiana’s pending . <tains on account of the war are in better -.shape than those of any other State in the Union. f* r ~ Hcform in Government. 'The need of reform in laws and methrwd« of county and township government xto manifest to all. There are not the ■ safeguards around the powers del‘Wated to county commissioners. They (have power to levy taxes, make contracts, •pend money and make allowances and •budit the books. Section 7850 of Burns’ •Ute-vised Statutes of 1894 gives too much %H*iFcretionary power to the county board. ,’TBUe prodigality with which county funds are expended in some counties is the out<rowth of following precedents on the jaacending scale. The expenditures and toe contracts of the township should be ■o guarded as to give to the people comWfefe information as to the official acts of ! aB persons who have them in charge. The of the township officials last ■ yar for “outdoor relief” amounted to $375,29<;.92. This enormous expense is •tortiing, and reveals the dangerous . Methods and lack of proper regard for yablic moneys. The system in vogue in •Many townships fosters pauperism and Mat*, a premium upon vagrancy. The ’ township trustees appoint the road supertrisor, and upon the ability of this official :to large degree is contingent road imforthcoming report of the State pHtafistician will reveal in township govgMraanent a great disparity of costs per - wwpitn Townships similarly situated wary tn the cost to the inhabitants severatl hundred per cent. The same report <■3 show a difference in the total county gjtopenditurea that varies from 79 cents to per capita, or a disparity of nearly tor« thousand per cent. It shows a coun<y of a little more than 32.000 inhabitants topqpeßds for county purposes five times KM* much money as another county of ■Kece than 70,000 inhabitants. 5 Lynching*. gWhegood name of Indiana has been distoanored by a lawless mob that took from jail in Ripley County and lynched five Imi charged with burglary. Even if tow men had been by a court found epiilfj. as charged, the punishment would jKhve been imprisonment, and not death. C JIM sense of justice and safety revolts gtoMßinst the mob as a tribunal for prokhMS*ctng judgments or administering Mufeevement of law justifies a manifestaMto of contempt of courts and disregard tor the law. Any county that can ortiMtoriis* a sentiment to prevent lynchers being punished can also organize

against crime and punish criminate in a court of justice. Where lynch lawlessness obtains, there justice is dethroned and courts are myths. The constitution and laws of the State would there be trampled under the blood-stained feet of brutal and lawless men. If mob violence is to go unpunished, then hate and malice will sit enthroned, and passion, fired by intoxication and a spirit of revenge, instead of evidence, justice and the law, will render insecure life and property. In my efforts to remove from the State the odium attached to its good name by the lynchings that occurred in Ripley County, every available means were invoked to find out the guilty parties and bring them to account. The report of Hon. W. A. Ketcham, Attorney General of the State, will reveal the difficulty of convicting participants in lynchings in the county where these crimes are committed. Every person charged with crime has the right, under the constitution and laws of the State, to a fair and impartial trial. For a better guarantee of this right and to awaken a more lively interest in the counties against lynchings 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 of lynching the nearest of kin should be authorized to institute the suit, and for the offense of whiteeapping the aggrieved party should have the right to recover damages. Any sheriff who permits a prisoner to be taken from his custody by a mob should be required by law to forfeit his office. Lax enforcement of laws eventually results in the people taking the law into their own hands. All good citizens should feel a keen interest in the enforcement of the law. They should be willing and ready to testify before the grand jury or in court or to sit upon juries. The judge who will allow technicalities and dilatory motions to delay or thwart justice is in some degree responsible for the terrible crime of lynching, and the judge who condones this crime and by word justifies such lawlessness has not the proper regard for the high functions of his office and is, not fit to sit upon the bench. Quite recently the good name of Indiana has again been disgraced by a lawless mob, who took from the Scott County jail a prisoner who was soon to be tried by a court of justice. There are no palliating circumstances connected with this brutal murder. Indications point to a conspiracy against this man’s life, for the purpose of sealing his lips in death, lest damaging disclosures in trial might reveal the wickedness and crime of others. This atrocious murder appeals with new force to the legislators of Indiana for the enactment of a law. that will forever stop this mockery of justice. , Revision of the Judiciary. There is a growing necessity for a revision of the judiciary of the State. With each meeting of the Legislature efforts are renewed for the creation of new court districts. In some instances there seems to be need for relief to the courts, but for many of these demands there is no justification. It is true that there exists great inequality as to the amount of business transacted in these judicial districts—in some, top iquch busmess Jpj one, but not enough for two courts? In other districts the amount of business does not warrant a separate court. If the rule of the present is to be continued and present demands granted, it will not be long until the State will have- as many court districts as counties. Courts are multiplying more rapidly than population or litigation, while court expenses and allowances' increase at an even greater rate than courts. This increase of courts is attended with a growing evil. This growing expense ean be obviated and the present inequalities removed through the reorganizing of the State into court districts comprising several counties, equalizing as nearly as possible the business of these districts, and providing for the number of judges to correspond with the size of the districts. It seems that it would be expedient to extend the jurisdiction of justice courts. Litigation over small amounts should originate in this court, and from which an appeal to the Circuit Court should be final. Suits in which petty sums are involved should end in the Circuit or lower courts, and be barred from the Supreme Court. During the past year repeated violations of the penal laws of the State against the waste of natural gas by the Standard and other oil companies were permitted to go unpunished. Some demands were made for an extra session Of the Legislature, to the end that more drastic legislation might be enacted. The State could not bring suit for a temporary injunction or restraining order without giving bond. The State has been, and is now, seriously hampered in its efforts to suppress Roby gambling, because the general statutes governing injunctions do not permit any restraining order or temporary injunction to be granted to the State, or any private litigant, dHthout 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 lie begun, where the State is interested in the result of the action. Agriculture in the Schools. Article VIII., Section the Constitution of the State of Indiana stipulates that, among other things, “It shall be the duty of the General Assembly to encourage by all suitable means, moral, intellectual, scientific arid agricultural improvement.” President Washington, in his annual message to Congress, Dec. 7, 1796, recommended the of a ’ national university, in which, among other things, the science of agriculture should be taught. “It will not be doubted,” he said, “that with reference to individual or national affairs agriculture is of primary importance. In proportion as nations ail vance in population and other' circumstances of maturity, this truth becomes more apparent, and renders the cultivation of the soil more and more an object of public patronage.” Hon. James Wilson. Secretary of Agriculture, in his annual report for 1898, commends the teaching of this science in the schools. In 1895, in New York City, a committee of distinguished citizens, among wndm were Hon. A. S. Hewitt and Hon. W. E. Dodge, was appointed to inquire into the congested condition of the city, to ascer- , tain the reason why so many were crowding into fly metropolis, causing idleness and warn!” 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 fanners 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 faU to do so at present.” The report suggests that the remedy is to begin “at the foundation and in the public schools.” I have quoted to show the trend of public sentiment. The abandoned farms in the older States sound a note of warning. The hundreds of thousands of acres of worn-out and abandoned land in the South earnestly appeal to intelligent thought. In our own State much land fails to produce paying crops and is being neglected. Many well-meaning and industrious farmers who have to do directly with nature’s great laboratory are ignorant of its forces, and reckless waste of soil fertility is the result. Insect pests and fungus growth threaten serious inroads into the profits of agriculture and

horticulture. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. The time is opportune. Let Indiana take advanced steps in the introduction of this important science into her public school curriculum. I therefore recommend the enactment of a law looking to the introduction of nature study, or the primary principles of the science of agriculture into our school curriculum. Labor Commissioner*. This commission, through its acts, has demonstrated the wisdom of the law that created it. The commissioners have, in a little more than eighteen months, investigated thirty-nine strikes and lockouts. They failed in but seven instances to adjust differences, and in two of these one party to the contests was non-resi-dent, over whom the commissioners had no jurisdiction. In four of the cases the commission investigated and reported the conditions of settlement. In twentyeight contests satisfactory agreements were secured through the mediation of the commission, and in nineteen of these settlements the workingmen secured either an advance in wages or other improved conditions. The commission was also instrumental in having two boycotts declared off, and in five instances prevented strikes through timely mediation. So favorable has been the impression of this peaceable adjustment u]K>n both employers and employes that frequent expression has been made to the effect that the services of the commission be invoked before allowing a strike to be inaugurated. Through the efforts of the commission 13,815 strikers have been put to work. Thus it is manifest that hundreds of thousands of dollars have been saved to capital and labor within our borders, the peace and dignity of the State preserved, serious conflicts between employers and employes averted, and safety to life and property secured. I believe the time has come when such differences should be adjudicated in a lawful court of arbitration. I believe the finding of such court should be mandatory. Provision should be made wherebj' 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 itien 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 these conflicting interests to come into court and settle their' differences according to law and equity, thereby avoiding not, bloodshed and the destruction of property. The long-standing convention with reference to the boundary line dividing the States of Indiana and Kentucky at a point on the Ohio River, near Evansville, popularly known as Green River Island, has been effectually set at rest by an official survey and the placing of appropriate posts and markers, under the supervision of a board *of comihissioners acting under the directions of an order of the Supreme Court of the United States. The act of 1885, providing for public printing, binding and stationery, should be amended so as to more explicitly state what departments should receive theii printing and stationery out of the printing fund, and also the number of copies of each report that should be printed, exclusive of the Documentary Journal. In amending this law it would be well to reduce the number of Senate and House Journals to the demand for the same. There should be a law'requiring better business methods in supplying the legislature with stationery and supplies of different kinds. An examination of the requisitions made by the committee of former legislatures will emphasize the need’ for-the law herein suggested. Live Stock s- anitary Commission. It is estimated that the loss of live stock from infectious and-contagious diseases in this State amounts to from three to five millions of dollars, annually. It is of great importance that heroic remedies be applied, and that the highest veterinary skill shall be employed to stop or minimize this great loss. Our. present law is crude, expensive, and does not meet the demands of the live stock interests. Local health boards should co-op-erate with the State Veterinarian to prevent the spread of diseases, and that officer should have power to quarantine and condemn. The Governor should still have power,, by proclamation, to quarantine the State against the importation of diseased animals. The ihi role law and indeterminate sentence law, enacted two years ago, embody that jvhieh the Constitution of the State, since its organization, contemplated, that “The penal code shall be founded on the principle of reformation, and not vindictive justice.” The wisdom of these laws finds ample justification in practical results, as shown by the. reports of the penal institutions. It will be your duty to provide additional accommodations for the unfortunate insane wards of the State. I would recommend additions to the present hospitals, instead of a new hospital located on a new site. Good Roads. Good roads are indispensable to progress and development. The highest attainments in rural life, socially, mentally or financially, cannot be attained when bad roads abound. Discontent with country life is the fruitage of the thralldom of mud roads. Two years ago 1 said to the General Assembly that, “while the road laws needed improving, their execution needed revolution.” Trie same need exists to-day in an aggravated fonn. The law requiring the Road Supervisor to work all able-bodied men on the highways during the months of April. May and June, in many instances, is not faithfully enforced, and in some cases absolutely ignored. The average road levy by the Township Trustee is about twenty cents on the one hundred dollars. This raises a vast revenue, which is not expended with judgment and fidelity. The railroads of the State are assessed, in round numbers, at $154,000,000. This would create a. revenue of nearly $300,000. This is “farmed out” between the railroads and the SuI>ervisor. A discount is made to the railroad, the “go-between” makes his thousands, some of the supervisors profit by trie method, and the cause of good roads suffers. The farmer is allowed to work out iiis road tax often by a slipshod method, wriich, if pursued by a road contractor, would end in bankruptcy. The Supervisor should be held under bond to faithfully execute the duties of his office. He should be given power to compel every man owing service to the highways under the law to perforin the same. All road tax should be paid in cash, reserving to the payer the right to Work out the same, for which he should be paid in cash, provided he responds to the call of the Supervisor when given the opportunity to perform such work, and accepting the lawful price for such services. The State has shown great liberality in the vast amount of money it has expended in the erection of a monument to her brave sons. An appropriation should bq made for the completion of this work, with a specific provision that it shall be done within a stipulated time. Primary Election Law. The safety and perpetuity of a free government is in the keeping of the people. If corrupt men are selected to make laws, and if incompetent men are chosen to fill official positions, then evil results are certain to follow. The nomination of candiates for office should be as far removed as possible from the dominance'of political leaders and ring politicians, giving to all voters an equal, free and untrammeled

right to be heard in the selection of candidates. I therefore recommend the enactment of a strict primary election law. Non-Partisan Management. 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 is less than ever before. The highest efficiency can only be maintained through the most competent and experienced management. Partisan control eannot 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 is to be given as reward to politicians, then, as a logical sequence, the larger the salary the better the reward; the more places provided, the more workers rewarded. Extravagance and Incompetency result, scandal follows, and the people at the polls rebuke the debasing system by defeating the party responsible for It. Lobbyists. The lobbyist who seeks to dominate legislation adversely to public weal is an enemy to public good. Hired lobbyists are a menace to free government. The time is rapidly approaching when the hired tools of corporate greed will be excluded from the halls of legislation. The just law that commends Itself needs no schemer, with doubtful methods, to secure Its enactment. Labor Is the creative power of wealth. Workingmen from the farm, the mines and the shops cannot become lobbyists. They have not the means to this end. Business men and the common people have not the time. It becomes, therefore, the sacred duty of lawmakers to look after the interests of the people and to see to It that no Inroads are made upon their rights. Trust*. The report of the Labor Commissioners of this State reveals that ,- no propositions involving settlements of labor controversies present as great obstacles as those In which trusts are parties to agreements. In every encounter with labor, the workingmen, however just their cause, emerge from the conflict the greater sufferers. The opportunities of trusts In regard to wage reductions are exceptional, and their desires are always equal to their opportunities. They are not trammeled by State laws, and they defy Federal authority.” Not only Is the trust potent in controlling wages, but In lobbying Its interests In law-making bodies and in controlling the price of Its products. I would urge upon this Legislature the need of a law drastic enough to prevent these consplrhcles against fair competition and just wages. For many years Indiana has been the dumplug-ground for the dependent crilldren of other States. Within a few years several thousands of these have been placed within our borders. Indiana children are certainly as desirable as those from elsewhere. We should provide for them. State Soldiers’ Home. The report of the Board of Trustees of the Indiana State Soldiers' Home has been printed and put upon your desks. I would recommend that the Legislature authorize the selling of fifty acres of ground belonging to, but not adjacent, to the home. The disconnection 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. Trie board deems this method of securing funds for needed Improvements wiser trian asking for an appropriation. Common Schools If intelligence is a safeguard to liberty, then the State should seek to prevent Illiteracy. Upon this logical reasoning is predicated the theory of compulsory education. I fear the weakness of our present law Is the multiplicity of truant officers. Through the co-operation of the township trustees and the teachers, the provisions of the compulsory law can be enforced in the township and district, schools. It seems to me" that a broad and liberal spirit demands some change in the school management of the'State. The United States Commissioner of Education does not confine educational statistics to State schools, but to private institutions as 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. Such a report would reflect the true educational progress of the State. There are some serious objections to the present composition of the State Board of Education. One of these objections, founded upon Justice, Is that the counties have no on this board. It is In the township and district schools that the poorest school advantages are offered, and these have no champiofi or representative on the board. The three State Institutions, numbering perhaps 3,000 students, have three representatives. The school enumeration of the State shows 754,945. Of this number, approximately 40 per cent, belong to city schools and have three representatives. while 60 per cent., or 435,165, belong to township and district schools, and have no representation on the State board.

Insurance Laws. The fee sad salary law of 1895 repealed the law allowing the Auditor of State 10 per cent, of all fees collected from Insurance companies. During Mr. Daily’s four years’ Incumbency of the office there Iras been collected, in the insurance department, $684,249.98. Under existing laws, prior to 1895, 10 per cent, of this amount, or $68,422.98, would have been a part of the Auditor’s emoluments. Under laws now In force. It has only cost the State the salary of one Insurance clerk, at SI,BOO per year. Upon inquiry of the Insurance department of Ohio, I have received a statement showing the cost to the State of the Insurance commission to be $17,500 annually, and that the amount collected during the last fiscal year was $130,000. A statement. In answer to a similar Inquiry directed to the Insurance Commissioner of Illinois, reveals that the cost in salaries of the insurance commission Is $21,000 per year, the amount collected being $175,323.99. In Indiana the amount collected last year, through the Insurance department of the Auditor of State’s office, was in excess of $208,000, at a cost to the State of only SI,BOO. It is clearly manifest, therefore, that Indiana does 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. There was paid In premiums to foreign life Insurance companies for the fiscal year endlug July 1, 1898, $4,209,009.47, and there was received back to the State on policies $1,294,555.57, or a loss to the State of $2,914,453.90. Fire insurance companies should be held responsible for the actions of their agents. When an agent accepts and agrees upon a cash value of property and writes a policy based upon this value, and the insured pays premiums in good faith, then, in the event of total loss, the company should be compelled to abide by their agent's appraisement and pay the loss in full. There was paid last fiscal year in premiums to foreign fire insurance companies $3,606,842.40, and received back on losses $1,536,306.64, a net loss to the State of $2,070,535.76. A Plea for Equity in Assessments and Taxation. “Following a constitutional mandate, the General Assembly provided by Sec. 8410, K. S. 1894, that ‘All property within the Jurisdiction of this State, not expressly exempted. shall be subject to taxation.’ And by Sec. 8412, R. S. 1804. the General Assembly exempted the classes of property designated in Sec. 1, Art. X., of the Constitution above. In pursuance to the constitutional and statutory authorities cited, and in the discharge of the duty imposed ‘to see that all assessments of property in this State are made according to law,’ ’and to see that all taxes due the State are collected,’ this board in 1597 instructed the assessors of the State to list and assess at their true cash value for the purposes of taxation, all ‘paid-up’ life insurance policies. “At the suit of certain holders of such insurance policies, this board, and the taxing officials of the State, were enjoined from listing and assessing such policies by the Marion Circuit Court, the action of which court was afterwards affirmed by the Supreme Court. 150 Ind. 216. “Notwithstanding such action of the Supreme Court, aforesaid, in holding that such policies are not subject to taxation, that court unanimously held that such policies were property, that they were not expressly exempted by law from taxation, but that they were not subject to taxation for the reason that the General Assembly had made

no provision or regulation nt assessing of valuing such policies. ’ “In addition to this finding of the court, that they were property and not especially exempted, plaintiffs’ counsel admitted the same facts, which, being true, clearly bring them within the Intent and meaning of said Sec. 8410, R. S. 1894, above, and make them subject to taxation, but for the decision of the Supreme Court, aforesaid, which found all the facts necessary to warrant action of this board In seeking to list and assess such Insurance policies, and avoided their liability to assessment, solely because the General Assembly had made no provision or regulation for assessing or valuing them. "The same can be truly said with reference to many other articles of property found on the tax lists. It Is a matter of general knowledge that vast sums of money are Invested In such life Insurance policies In this State, and In a large number of Instances, as an Investment pure and simple, and by this means large sums of money are annually diverted from other sources of Investment, where they are taxed, and bear their just proportion of the burdens of government. In view of the decision of the Supreme Court that the power to tax such pedicles lies with the General Assembly, and that It Is solely by reason of the nonnctlon of former General Assemblies in regard to providing regulations for valuing such policies, this board respectfully calls attention to this matter and the questions Involved, and recommends that such legislation be enacted as will provide methods for arriving at valuations of such insurance policies, as required by the decision of the Supreme Court aforesaid.” I desire to call the attention of the Legislature to the foregoing statement from the report of the State Tax Commissioners and to urge Its careful consideration. State Farmers’lnstitute*. The farm Institutes of the State, under the supervision of the faculty of Purdue University, and under the direct control of Prof. W. C. Latta, superintendent of the experimental farm at Purdue, have accomplished much good for agriculture and horticulture. The amount appropriated for this work is $5,000. I recommend that this amount be Increased to at least $7,500. County Institutions. The scandals growing out of the deplorable conditions existing in many of the jails and poor farms of the counties of the State, call for legislation upon this question. I therefore recommend the enactment of a law authorizing the Circuit Judge to appoint for each county a non-partisan committee, to be composed of men and women, who shall visit at least once every three months all the charitable and penal Institutions of the county and report to the State Board of Charities their condition; said committee to serve without compensation. Appeals for Appropriations, It Is manifest that the appeals for appropriations for the erection of new buildings, etc., in connection with State penal, benevolent and educational Institutions, will be for an unusually large amount. It Is the duty of the General Assembly to give earnest attention tethese requests and to scrupulously guard against anything In the nature of extravagance. Indiana in the War. In the course of this message proper I will not undertake to enter Into a detailed recital of Indiana’s part In the SpanishAmerican war, but, for the Information of members of this assembly, and all others concerned, a review of this State’s creditable participation In the stirring events of the period Is submitted as an appendix. I direct attention especially to the reports of trie paymaster general and the surgeon general, respectively, detailing the operations of those departments. The paymaster general corrects a popular misapprehension in stating that no deductions on clothing account were made, except In the case of officers, all of which is In strict compliance with law. Most of the uniforms furnished the Indiana national guardsmen, when they enlisted Ln the Federal service, were comparatively new. Some of the soldiers were furnished uniforms badly worn. The Government receipted to the quartermaster for these uniforms. Subsequently a board of survey was appointed to fix the valne of these uniforms furnished by the quartermaster general of the State. Some of the volunteers desired the quartermaster to furnish this equipment without charge. This he could not do and render a proper accounting to the State. I therefore call the attention of the Legislature to this matter, and, if it shall be shown that an Injustice has been done, prompt and ample reparation should be made. The Indiana volunteers for the war with Spain have made an honorable record, and the patriotism and devotion to duty they have manifested on all occasions are deserving of the highest commendation. JAMES A. MOUNT.

NO DISORDERS IN HAVANA.

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

To Form New Party.

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

Humor in This Verdict.

An inquest has been held at Criccieth, Wales, on the body of William Williams, who killed his wife and two children and then committed suicide. The coroner stated that Williams’ crime was largely due to the perusal of American police newspapers. ■ '

STATE LAW MAKERS.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION OPENS IN INDIANAPOLIS. Senate and House Organize Without Friction Republican Officer* Are Chosen—Governor Mount’* Message Read by Private Secretary Wilson. The Indiana Legislature met at the State Capitol in Indianapolis on Thursday for a session of sixty-one days. Unusually large crowds attended the opening ceremonies in both houses. The first day’s session was two hours long. During that time the two branches were organized without friction, and the officers nominated by the Republican caucuses the previous night were quickly elected. They were: Speaker—Frank Littleton, Indianapolis. Clerk of the House —Fred Kimbly, Orange County. Assistant Clerk —C. A. Dehaven, Kokomo. Doorkeeper—Samuel Gibson, Muncie. Presiding Officer Senate pro tem.—Senator Newby, Henry County. Doorkeeper—Clemmer Pelzer, Boonville. Secretary—William Converse, Richmond. Assistant Secretary—Frank Wayman, Newcastle. At noon the two houses met in joint session to hear the .biennial message of Gov. Mount. For the first time in the history of the State the message was not read by the Governor, but by his private secretary, Col. Wilson.

Croesus and Solon.

In the fullness of his glory Croesus was visited by Solon, the wise man of Greece, who was taking a long vacation after his public labors in Athens. Croesus hoped to astonish Solon by his magnificence, and to make him acknowledge that no one on earth could be happier than the mighty Lydian king. But Solon would not agree to this, and insisted that every man must wait till the end of his life, and see what fortune would finally bring him, before deciding whether he could be called happy or not. The king was greatly offended, and from that time he never spoke of the stern philosopher until his own death seemed close at hand. After his defeat and capture by Cyrus the Persian, he was condemned to be burned alive, in the presence of the conqueror. Just as the sentence was about to be executed, Croesus called out the name of Solon three times; and Cyrus, wondering what he meant, had him brought ‘forward to explain the exclamation. Croesus then described his interview with the sage, the wisdom of whose judgment was now proved by his own miserable end. Cyrus was deeply impressed by what he heard, and by the resignation of his captive. He released Croesus, and from that time protected and befriended him. The deposed sovereign of Lydia was a prominent figure at the Persian court not only as long as Cyrus lived, but during some years of the reign of Cambyses, the successor of Cyrus.

London Parishes.

No. 11 Queen Victoria street (Mansion House Chambers), in the city of London, is situated in no fewer than six parishes, arising from the curious way in which the city parishes run into one another. There are several instances of buildings standing in four or three parishes, and at least one house is half in the city and half beyond its borders. The Bank of England, Threadneedle street, is in three parishes—St. Bartholomew, St. Christopber-le-Stocks and St. Margaret. The city of London, though only one square mile in area, has sixty parishes, none of them of very great dimensions, but some of an almost inconceivably small size. The parish of St. Mary Mounthaw, for instance, which has only six houses in ft, is the smallest parish in the city. This parish stands at the corner of Queen Victoria and Friday streets, and has not possessed a church since the great fire of London, in 1666, burned down the one it formerly had.

One Soldier’s Death.

A simple story, yet a most touching one, is the Chicago Tiifies-Herald’s description of the last hours of Private Ben Jones of the First Illinois: He had lain In a stupor all day. Fever had depleted, his reserve force. Toward evening he opened bls eyes and said to Nurse Alary: “You say something.” “What?” she asked. He drew his breath and answered, “You say, ‘The Lord Is ’ ” He was too far gone to speak it all; but she understood. She bent over him and repeated, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will ” “Yes,” Private Jones interrupted, “the valley of the shadow.” He turned his face from her and fell asleep forever.

Expansion.

“There are some very sincere doubts,” said the off-hand statesman, “about the desirability of the expansion, and the mixed population that it gives rise to.” “Yes,” replied the friend, who was cornered and had to listen. “There’s Aguinaldo. I understand he’s very reluctant about taking in all these wild, bloodthirsty American Indians.”

Children Suicides in Prussia.

In Prussia 413 school children under 15 years of age have committed suicide within the space of ten years. Three hundred and thirty-seven of them were boys and seventy-six girls.

Conditional Enjoyment.

Mrs. Hlfalutin—Did you enjoy the ball? Mrs. Haut m—No; 4 cou-dn’t find a single reporter to have him describe my gown.-Syraeuse Herald. F