Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 January 1901 — Page 7

GOVERNOR MOUNT’S MESSAGE.

Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives:

You have been chosen to the high and responsible duties of lawmakers for this commonwealth. It is within your power to do much to make or mar the good name of Indiana. Your duties are arduous, your responsibilities great. The time allotted for the multiplicity of duties before you is brief. . It will therefore be needful that prompt attention from the beginning of the session be given to important measures that will be before you for your action. The condition of the public finances of the State of Indiana are certainly a matter of congratulation 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 Jan. 10 of the present year was as follows: 8 per cent refunding school fund bonds, series 1899.... 82,930,090.00 8% per cent refunders, series 1895 585,000.00 8% per cent State House, series 1895 500,000.00 State .stock certificates (Interest stopped) 5,015.12 6 per cent bond, Purdue University 340,000.00 5 per cent bond, Indiana Univer- - sity 14^000.00 84,504,615.13 Of the public debt of the State less than $3,000,000 is available in the near future for cancellation. There has been paid on the public debt in the past two years $1,096,000. These payments have been made from the State debt sinking fund of 3 cents on each SIOO, and an addition of $109,000 from the general fund. The Legislature of 1899 made extraordinary specific appropriations consequent upon the necessities of the State institutions and the substantial improvement for the Indiana reformatory at Jeffersonville. The appropriations, amounting to nearly $1,000,000, were more than double that of any preceding Legislature for years past. Should the appropriations for the session of 1901 be of a normal amount the debt paying ability of the incoming administration will be substantially increased. The tax duplicate of Indiana amounts to $1,335,740,698, which is the largest in the history of the State. It is a source congratulation that the system of taxation in Indiana by which corporate and all other forms of property are assessed at their true cash value is largely responsible for this very gratifying aggregate of taxables of the commonwealth. While the deductions for the year 1899 were in round numbers $27,500,000, there was to offset this, an increase of $23,909,806 In the assessment of the personal property of the State, and of $6,414,640 in the assessment of corporate property. The total taxes for all purposes, State and county, accruing from the duplicate amounted to $21,059,795.81. Of this amount, however, all the expenses of the general fund of the State and the State debt sinking fund are met on a levy of 17 cents on the SIOO, which is one of the very lowest levies of any of the States of the Union. Truly pvery citizen of Indiana can take pride la the adnnrable financial status of the State. J.- Primary Election. The primary convention is the basic foundation of good government. In some of the large cities, the methods of conducting the primary conventions are anything but assuring. A law that would eliminate the evil now attending some of these conventions and guarantee a free and untrnmmeled expression from the voters, without cumbersome provisions and expensive paraphernalia, would meet with favor. The corruption of the ballot, through the purchase of votes, is a menace to free government. This dangerous evil is growing, nnd has already reached alarming conditions. Success in a campaign is becoming more and more contingent upon boodle instead of principle and merit. The present dangerous and disreputable methods must be stopped. Both the seller nnd the buyer of votes should be punished by disfranchisement, by fine and imprisonment. 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. The aggregate number of inmates in the four insane hospitals is 3,502. Both the condition and management of these institutions are to be commended. Two years ago I called the attention of the Legislature to the need of revising the judiciary of the State. Courts are multiplying more rupidly than litigation, and conrt expenses at a more rapid rate than courts. This growing expense can be obviated and existing inequalities removed through the reorganization of the State into conrt districts comprising several counties, equalizing as nearly as possible the work of the several districts and providing for the number of judges to correspond with the size of said districts. Indiana is justly proud of the splendid tribute paid to her soldiers and sailors In the monument erected to their memory. I earnestly recommend the enactment of a law that will forbid Its desecration. Non-Partisan Control. Iu the management of the State institutions the welfare es the inmates, the

good name of the State, has been kept constantly in view. The maximum in efficiency with the minimum in cost have been the objective points. The merit and not the spoils system now dominates. I recommend the enactment of a law placing the Indiana State prison under non-partisan management. This rule now obtains there, but not by direct process of law.

The Indiana Industrial School for Girls and Woman’s prison should be separated, but retained under one management. That part of the fish law that permits seining should be promptly repealed and a strong provision enacted against this method of taking fish. 1' recommend that a law be enacted requiring a license before non-residents can hunt in Indiana. . I wish to call attention of the General Assembly to the efforts of the present management of the. State iibrary to make more easily accessible by systematic arrangement, cataloguing, and indexing the contents of the library. I should like also to commend the request of the State librarian for larger appropriations for the collection and preservation of materials relating to the early history of the State. A few hundred dollars well spent now will become of inestimable value in a few years. State Board of Agriculture. The energy and ability displayed by this board in securing the finest exhibit, last, fall, ever shown in the State, is worthy of commendation. In horticulture, in growth of the cereals—-in short, in all its agricultural interests, our State takes high rank. Much of this progress is due to our State fair. All our people should encourage and patronize the fair. House concurrent resolution No. 6 directed ‘ the return of the Terry’s Texas Rangers’ battle flag to the survivors of that organization. On the 4th day of October, 1899, in the presence of thousands of people, your executive, after a short address, placed in the hands of the Governor of Texas that flag. Gov. Sayre made a feeling response. The Legislature of Texas passed appropriate resolutions commending the Legislature of Indiana. With commendable wisdom and zeal, the State labor commissioners have discharged their responsible duties. 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 lobbyist is becoming more and more an element of danger in our lawmaking assemblies. 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. This magnificent capitol should be kept in good repair. An appropriation sufficient to this end is wise. Purdue University was founded as an agricultural college. The manifest purpose of the founder of this university and the subsequent laws was to furnish a training for industrial pursuits. It was to teach the farmer to apply science to his farming, the principles of economics to hfs business transactions. It was to train architects, mechanics, engineers, electricians in brief, to fit the students for the practical pursuits of business. The lack of a knowledge of the science of agriculture is producing its results. Thousands of abandoned farms in the Eastern States sound the note of alarm. Unthrifty methods are leaving their disastrous trace In our State. Purdue must disseminate the knowledge in agricultural and mechanical industries, upon which rest the material prosperity of the State. Indiana is an agriculmral State. What has it done and what is it doing to advance this great Industry, as compared with other States? (Here the Governor gives statistics of schools of agriculture in the surrounding States by which it is shown that all Of those have from time to time made large appropriations for the advancement of agriculture, while Indiana has appropriated specifically for her school of agriculture, farm and experiment station but $24,000 since 1874.) The little interest the State has taken in the agricultural department of the school, the shabby building and equipments for students from the farm, is the sequel, in part, for the small number enrolled as agricultural students. All the States that are keeping abreast of the times in their agricultural colleges have growing interest and increase of agricup tural students. I therefore recommend a liberal appropriation for improved building and facilities for agricultural instruction, and thit Purdue be made a great agricultural and mechanical university. There is 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.

In pursuance of an act approved March 11, 1895, Gov. Matthews appointed a Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Park Commission. This laborious task of locating and marking all the joints on the memorable battlefield of Chickamauga has been performed. This is Indiana’s great battlefield. Forty Indiana organisations took part on this bloody field and lost in killed, wounded and missing 3,926 men. The report of this commission is valuable to the State. County and Township Reform Laws. There is a growing sentiment In favor of strict economy and business integrity in the management of county and township business. The laws recently enacted looking to this end have, in the main, been wise. Some little amendments may be added, but the principle of these laws must be maintained. More than half n million dollars saved to the taxpayers annually thrdugh the county reform laws. Multiplied thousands of dollars have been savedte the taxpayers under these new laws. The State Board of Health, with commendable zeal, has studied sanitary conditions, and promptly combatted the first appearance of infections and contagious diseases. Many valuable suggestions are presented in their annual report. The State should sacredly guard the public health. Good Roads. Good roads are needful to social (development and intellectual progress. They

add to the material prosperity of the country at large. Rural free delivery of mail is destined to do much to elevate farm life. Road improvement is one of the conditions needful to secure these advantages. All classes of people are benefited when roads are improved. If the Supervisors enforce the law which requires service on the highways, and faithfully execute the law in regard to working out road taxes, a noted improvement in the roads would result therefrom. Both in my inaugural address and in my biennial message, I called attention to the unfair methods in vogue whereby the road assessment on railroads was farmed out through an agent who takes from the railroad at a large discount their assessment, makes a deal with the road supervisor, gets the receipt in full for the assessment, and turns the same over to the railroads, who use these receipts as cash in payment of taxes. The railroads are assessed for taxation in round numbers at one hundred fifty-four million dollars. The average road tax is about 20 cents on the SIOO, thus creating a road tax of about $300,000. It is safe to say that $120,000 of this amount is not expended for highway improvement as contemplated by law. This highhanded injustice has continued long enough. All road taxes should be paid in cash, reserving to the payer the right to work out the same, provided he responds at the time and in the manner required by the supervisor, accepting the lawful price for such labor, and performing service in full for all receipts given. Lynching* The people of Indiana feel keenly the sting of reproach and the justice of the criticism heaped upon the State by reason of the brutal lynchings that have dishonored her good name. That the lynched committed a brutal crime is no justification for dethroning law and courts of justice, aud establishing mob violence at the behest of infuriated and impassioned men. Where lynch lawlessness obtains, safety to person and property is lost. A mob is an assembly of lawless men acting in defiance to law. The remedy must be found through the co-operation of good citizens in demanding a rigid enforcement of the law, and not through mob violence. The law-abiding people must be willing to testify as witnesses, serve on juries, and see that courageous, true men are selected as judges and prosecutors. The lynchings that have marred the good name es our State and disgraced the cause of justice by revolting murder demand heroic remedy. I trust the Legislature will enact further laws that will prove a wholesome remedy against further dishonor. The county that permits conditions that lead to organized mob violence, and murder, should be made liable to heavy damages for such lynchings. Such suits to be brought by the Attorney General, and changed to a county removed from the control of local influence, the county guilty of the offense to bear all cost of witnesses and trial, such cause to be tried before the court. The minimum and maximum damages to be fixed by law, half of which shall go to the school fund of the State, and half to the legal heirs of the lynched. In addition to the above, and the valuable laws of two years ago, I approve and commend the suggestion made in the splendid report of Attorney General Taylor “that if a person is taken away from the custody of a sheriff of a county and is lynched, that such action shall ipso facto vacate his office of sheriff.” The Trust Problem. I hope the present General Assembly will wisely and courageously meet the grave questions which the greed of monopoly has forced to the front. The line of demarcation between the legitimate functions of large investments of capital, independently controlled, and the combination of industries into a gigantic monopoly, for the purpose of influencing markets and the gratification of the spirit of avarice, are so diverse that the good may not be placed under ban with the evil. During the past two years monopolistic tendency has been the rule. Small industries have been absorbed and dismantled. Healthy competition, in many instances, destroyed, large industries closed, prices forced upward by arbitrary methods, all of which constitute dangerous conspiracies against the public goods. I must be content to point out the need, and leave to the wisdom of the Legislature to provide the remedy. The rate of fire insurance should not be arbitrarily controlled by any combination of underwriters. No corporation should be allowed, at its own sweet will, to fix prices or rates. The State appropriates but $5,000 for the holding of farm institutes. This is but one-third the amount appropriated by adjoining States. At least SIO,OOO should be appropriated for this means of educating the great mass of our farmers. Public Schools. It is most gratifying to note that the educational interests of the State are making substantial progress. In the common schools the country finds its anchor of safety. These should always receive the fostering care of the State. The Indiana University and the State Normal, under the splendid and efficient management of their presidents and faculty, are making commendable progress. Where kidnapers have no legal or blood claim, where abduction is for ransom or any other unlawful purpose, it should be made in extreme cases punishable by death or imprisonment for life. Amend the laws of taxation so as to give the State Board of Tax Commissioners original jurisdiction in matters of assessment over all electric railroads extending into different counties. I deem it timely to call the attention of the General Assembly to the Pan-Ameri-can exposition to be held in Buffalo, New York. I regard it as proper that Indiana should have a representation there in some measure commensurate with the State's importance. In conclusion, gentlemen, I trust that concord and good will may prevail, and that the spirit of moderation will characterize your actions and fairness govern your discussions and deliberations. I am confident that State pride will prompt to noble effort in behalf of such measures as will beet advance all the interest* of this commonwealth.

JAMES A. MOUNT.

At the Sandy Hook Lighthouse waves in a storm break on the walls with a weight of three tons against every square Inch. Some 2,000,000 pounds of camphor are consumed in the United State* yearly.

INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF WINFIELD T. DURBIN , GOVERNOR OF INDIANA.

In this initial year of the new century I congratulate the people of this great and growing commonwealth upon the proud position Indiana has in the galaxy of States composing the Federal Union. The history of the republic cannot be written with fidelity to fact without emblazoning upon very many of its pages a tribute of glory to the part Indiana occupies in its substantial progress, and the loyalty and patriotism that has ever marked its efforts iu the upbuilding and the perpetuity of its free institutions. As we contemplate Indiana at its birth into the Union and then look around us, we can scarcely realize that so much development, prosperity and ideal conditions could be a result of less'than a century of growth. As we appreciate the blessings that are enjoyed to-day we should never forgot the sacrifices that were made by the fathers in their settlement of this goodly land, and their hardships and trials in carving from the great Northwest Territory the State of our hearts’ best love. Over a third of a century ago Indiana gave nearly 250,000 men for service in the war for the preservation of the Union, and thousands of her brave young men are now battling tot the flag and for civilization in the ■ Philippines and in China. In the islands there is one regiment iu which more than 60 per cent of the men are of “Hoosier” origin, and the regiment is also commanded by an Indianan, the courageous anil chivalrous Col. Dorst. Under the guidance of the great Oliver P. Morton, Indiana made a record in the War of the "Rebellion that hardly has a parallel in the histories of armed conflict. When the battleship Maine went to the bottom of Havana harbor as a result of Spanish intrigue and treachery, thousands ,jpf strong-hearted Americans responded' to President McKinley’s call for volunteers nnd swore eternal devotion to “Old Glory.” Indiana played a prominent part in that drama, also. This State was first to report its full quota of troops in camp; they were first to receive their pay from the State, and throughout the campaign they conducted themselves in a manner that was in every way creditable. They were not called upon to fight, but it was in them, and braver, more determined soldiers never carried sword or musket.

Indiana Products. As an agricultural State Indiana farmers have given it an advanced position in the products of the fields, the flocks and the herds. In manufacturing, especially within the last twenty years, it has attracted to itself an investment of capital, and produced an output of product that has not been excelled by any other State of its area in the Union. The natural gas development has, of itself, gathered to the fortunate territory of this unique fuel of nature, a center of enterprise and business that cannot but be a basis of future increase almost beyond conception. The investment of capital for business purposes, and the building and projection of new lines of electric and steam railway communication permeates almost every county in the State, while the construction of better roads signalizes the activity of town and township throughout all our borders.

Wagons of ludiaua make carry very largely the transportation supplies of the British in South Africa. Indiana carriages are used in the capital city of every country on the globe. Indiana building stone is iu the construction of the best public edifices in a very large part of the capitals of our sister States. The tin of Indiana manufacture, the glass of Indiana manufacture, the furniture of Indiana manufacture, are not only to be found in the markets of every State in the Union, but also found in the increasing number of the markets of the civilized world. Indiana authors have their names on the nation’s roll of fame, and so anywhere and everywhere there can be something of Indiana origin or that clusters round the material conditions of Indiana, that is a matter ftf pride to every reflecting citizen of the State, and serve very largely in the renown and the honor that attaches to our good name nnd fame.

Standing thus at the milestone to which the progress of the past has brought us, it is the practical part of the duty of our citizenship to go forward, government has its relation in an intimate and personal sense to every citizen of the State, and it is a sacred obligation, one that I appreciate to the fullest extent when I, as your chief executive, assume the great trust you have placed in my keeping. I appeal to you for your support that our government may be one of law in fact, and to our Creator for that divine guidance that I may see the right and have given me strength to do the right. I appeal to the members of the Legislature, those charged with the responsibility of devising ways and means for the business necessities of the State, to mark their acts with conservatism and practical judgment. There Is no greater business interest in the State of Indiana than is associated in the government of this State. Each taxpayer is a stockholder in State government. The taxes that are levied and which are the contribution of each taxpayer make up the sum total that goes to meet the expenses of every department of the State’s business detail. Recent legislation has libernlly provided for the necessities of our State institutions consequent upon the growth of the commonwealth, but from year to year there'will have to be added room as population grows nod the unfortunate wards increase. It is a source of gratification to note that our institutions are upon a business plane, free from any bias of party management; that our benevolent and penal institutions are conducted upon a humanitarian and a reformatory Wsis, and it should be the sincere hope of all of our citizens that from a fiscal sense, the management should be on lines of the most approved business methods and with a conscientious care and skill for those who through misfortune and affliction are dependent upon the bounty of the State for aid and support. I shall hope to preserve the high standard of all our institutions and surround them with every encouragement and influence that will tend to practical economy and accounting of financial outlay, o fidelity of official duty, and a trained and humane policy towards

those that are the recipients of the State’s good rare and bounty. In connection with every other agency in the administration of State affairs charged with financial duty, I shall hope to have approved business methods prevail aud a care and guardianship in the expenditure of the people's money that will not divorce from the idea of official thought that a policy of expenditure of public funds should differ in its detail from the most approvel policies that mark the success and economy of expenditures in private business enterprises. There is no logic or reason in a difference between . the methods that prevail in successful private business not being applicable to those in public business. A public office is a public trust; scrutiny is not suspicion; the dollar that the tax levy brings to the treasury should have the full value of one hundred cents in its payment of the .expenses of public government. I think it opportune to call attention to the advisability of considering legislation looking to the statutes against fire causes and carelessness. The nsh heap of Indiana for 1899 amounted to over two millions of dollars, and for the first six months of 1900 to $1,700,000. The conditions surrounding labor in Indiana are those of general satisfaction aud prosperity. The evils of government and the needed reforms for their cure can only come through the forceful influence and support of public opinion. Law aud order must not be superseded by the slightest resort to, or approval of, the injustice of vigilnnts with rope and masks. The hope of free institutions, the sanctity of the home, the safety of the citizen, the dignity of our manhood, rests on the respect for and the enforcement of law. Too strict supervision within the lines of a proper safeguarding of the people’,* interests cannot be exercised over corporations having to do with savings, insurance and cooperative investment. It is a pleasure to note the practical completion of the Soldiers’ Monument. It is a structure of graceful symmetry and imposing grandeur. It is a tribute of memory from the people of this State to that splendid’ body of patriots, living and dead, that went forth from Indiana to save the republic from the disasters of rebellion. It should be preserved sacred and inviolate in its dignified majesty. The statutes of the State should forbid its use for any purpose of a worldly character, other than as a Mecca to which a grateful people can come to do honor to the soldiers and the cause which it typifiua. Far Institutional Investigations.

Thp committee appointed to investigate and report on the needs of the State penal and benevolent institutions has accomplished a great service in behalf of the State, but it has had neither the authority nor opportunity to become thoroughly informed of physical conditions. I therefore respectfully recommend the appointment by the Governor or otherwise of three disinterested and competent citizens to make a thorough investigation of the several establishments in order that they may report to the next General Assembly how conditions may be bettered and what steps should be taken for the safety of inmates and the protection of the property of the State. The time such commission would be empowered to serve should be limited to a reasonable period.

The more I have learned of the results of the non-partisan management of our institutions the more I have become convinced of the practical utility of tfye methods now employed. While I am myself a partisan of somewhat inflexible temperament in that particular, I cannot but realize that my first duty is to the State. I believe in the wisdom and justice of the merit system. I favor rewarding fripnds who have been my good friends, but I cannot do so by going contrary to the promptings of my conscience. In accepting this office I become in large measure lesponsible for the care and comfort of hundreds of wards of the com. monwealth whose conditions call for pity and for tears. Knowing full well these conditions, I can never consent to the indorsement of any proposition purposing a backward step. Indeed, I am frank to say further that politics should be eliminated from the public schools and that the merit system should be made legally applicable there, also.

The State’s Finances. Gov. Mount’s message contains a comprehensive resume of the State’s finances, and as I cannot add anything new or of special importance at this time, I will confine myself to congratulating the people of Indiana on the splendid record that is being made in the way of liquidating the public debt. My sole ambition is to make a record as Governor that will have the approbation of those who have entrusted their interests to my care and which will stand as my most substantial and enduring monument when the history of my administration shall have been written. It shall be my "constant aim to conduct the affairs of state with even more scrupulous care than has characterized the management of my private interests, and to demand a like accounting of every subordinate. Voting Machines. The subject of voting machines is attracting attention throughout the country, and in my judgment It should receive your careful consideration. Anything that tends to insure better safeguards for the suffrages of the people is a godsend. I gm emphatically in favor of any method of voting that safeguards the ballot and guarantees to every legal voter his choice in the selection of public officials. And now assuming the office of your chief executive, l profoundly appreciate the high honor and the weight of responsibility. My efforts shall be for the upbuilding, for the prosperity, for the happiness of all the- people of the commonwealth, and I asK of the Legislature conservatism, wisdom, economy, justice ever and always; of the citizenship of Indiana, co-operation and support, and with confidence in the Giod of our fathers to help in the conscientious discharge of my full duty, I hope for a future for Indiana full in the fruition of apparent hope and promise.

DURBIN IS GOVERNOR.

NEW EXECUTIVE TAKES OATH AT THE CAPITOL. | state House Finely Decorated for Cereal many—Detail* at Proceeding*— ions of Incoming Official Revealed ltt| Extracts from Inaugural Address. J Indianapolis correspondence: The corridors of the State House handsomely decorated for the inaagura- ‘ tion of W. T. Durbin as Governor of Indiana on Monday. On the south half of the lower floor three stands had been erected for the ceremony, and. the pillars and walls had Iteen festooned with flags, In the space under the dome of the Capitol palms und potted plants had been arranged and banked. The electric light* on all three floors had been changed so that, in place of the white light* that are ordinarily to be found there, red, white and blue lights were to be seen on each chandelier that hung from the ceilings or is fastened to the walls. The appearance of the whole interior was a vision of beauty when the decorating was, finished. The inauguration eeremohy began when the oath of office was administered to Lieut. Gov. Gilbert in the Senate chamber shortly before noon. The members of both bouses of the Legislature then proceeded to the lower floor, where

GOVERNOR DURBIN.

seats were provided for them, to witness the administering oif the oath of office to Col. Durbin. In the meantime. Gov. Mount, accompanied by C. E. Wilson, his private secretary, went to the Denison in a carriage, escorted by detachments of the Indiana National Guard. At the Denison Gov.-elect Durbin joined the party and was escorted to the State House. The p?rty dismounted from the carriages at the east entrance of the State House and went directly in st the east doors and thence to the stand prepared for the inaugural ceremony. This stand had been erected just in front of the office of the Auditor of State, which is several feet south of the central part of the building. On either side of the principal stand was another stand for the use of the Senators and others who were special guests for the occasion. Judge Dowling, chief justice of the Supreme Court, administered the oath of office to the incoming Governor. Following the oath, Col. Dnrbin delivered his inaugural address. In his address Gov. Durbin commended the administration of his predecessor, James A. Mount, favored the non-parti-san management of State institutions and warned the Legislature against the danger of overburdened statutes, On this point he said: “There is danger of having too many laws in our statutes rather than too few. The enactment of petty measures has become entirely too common, and many acts that have taken the form of law are dead letters, and merely cumber the statutes and produce confusion. It is the almost unanimous opinion of lawyers that there should be a general revision and condensation of the acts already in existence. While lam not at all disposed to suggest any particular policy to be followed by this General Assembly, I respectfully submit that the passage of a few deliberately considered bills is far preferable to a flood of petty measures rushed through without any particular attention being paid to them, as has frequently happened heretofore, only to be followed by regret on the part of all concerned that more prudence should not have been exercised in matters of legislation.” Concerning labor Col. Durbin said: “The conditions surrounding labor in Indiana are those of general satisfaction and prosperity. The legislation looking to arbitration where differences occur between employer and employe has had a beneficial result, and I trust that the trend of our statutes and of public opinion, and the high sense of justice that generally pervades the ranks of labor and capital will reach that stage at an early day when strikes will be felt and feared no more, the adjustment of differences be peaceful and satisfactory and conflicts that usually are alike disastrous to contending parties be adjusted on a basis of right and fair dealing.” Gossip of LeKislatora, Senator Wood will introduce a hill making it a felony for uny one r to make a false statement of real or personal property to secure credit. Business men want such a measure to protect them against the man that lies to get goods “on tick.” Another bill in the same line, to be ofTered by Senator Wood, provides that wholesalers that take liens ofi stocks of goods on which payments are deferred shall record the liens in the record- , er’s office. This will prevent troubles i arising from two or three bouses having * liens on the same stock of goods.' The State officers of the American Federation of Labor are preparing a bill providing for boiler inspection. The bill will provide for a Btate inspector, who will in- , speCt all boilers of over twenty-Wse- . power twice a year. Representative Reagan will introduce & | bill against the desecration of the flag of | the United States. The bill is so 4*awifcl as to include mutilation or defaceoMDt of J the flag, either by direct means of any | sort, or by printing, painting or ret> sentation of the flag, in ordertp advertise 1 or call attention toagv ajmeto on whictt\