USA > Indiana > An illustrated history of the state of Indiana: being a full and authentic civil and political history of the state from its first exploration down to 1879 > Part 17
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On the first of October, at the trial of the machinery at the State fair, a steam boiler exploded, killing twenty persons and seriously wounding more than forty others. The accident was caused by a deficiency of water.
In 1869 a woman's State suffrage convention was held, at Indianapolis, which was quite largely attended, and at which resolutions were adopted favoring more rights to women.
The principal agricultural products of the State, according to the official report for the year 1869, were:
Products.
Bushels.
Indian Corn
73,000,000
Acres. 3,146,551
Value. $51,100,000
Wheat
.20,600,000
1,430,555
19,158,000
Rye
575,000
37,096
437,000
Oats
12,413.000
420,779
5,461,720
Barley
411,000
17,947
423,330
Buckwheat
303,000
24,240
251,490
Potatoes.
4,750,000
44,811
2,090,000
Tobacco, lbs
7,000,000
9,575
672,000
Hay, tons
1,200,000
805,369
12,624,000
Total
5,936,923
$92,217,540
CHAPTER XXX.
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BAKER - EVENTS OF 1870-1.
T THERE was no session of the legislature in 1870, and no election of Governor, therefore the political campaign of that year was not a very important one. There was no impor-
252
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
tant issue in the canvass except that of general retrenchment. The subject of the Wabash and Erie canal was lightly touched in the Republican platform, and occasioned considerable dis- cussion, and probably had some effect on the election of mem- bers of the legislature. An attempt was made during the session of the legislature in 1869, to have the State reburden itself with the old canal debt, and the matter was considerably agitated in the canvass of 1870. The election resulted in an average majority for the Democracy of about two thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the State.
It was in this year, 1870, that the divorce laws of the State began to attract considerable attention in the nation. They were pronounced injurious to society, and, in 1871, the Gov- ernor, in his message, recommended reform in this, direction, which was pretty effectually carried out.
With the commencement of 1871 the condition of the State was in every respect prosperous, financially and commercially. At the beginning of the fiscal year, which closed on the thirty- first of October, 1871, there was a surpms of $373,249 in the treasury. The receipts of the year amounted to $3,605,639, and the disbursements to $2,943,600, leaving a balance of $1,035,2SS. The total debt of the State in November, 1871, was $3,937,821.
The session of the legislature which began on the fourth of January, 1871, presented a singular contrast with that of the previous one. As we have seen, a large number of Democratic senators and representatives resigned to prevent the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment to the Federal constitution. On this occasion we have an equal number of Republican members resigning to prevent the repeal of that ratification. The res- olution was adopted in the senate by a party vote of twenty-six to twenty, and in the house was referred to the committee on Federal relations; but before the committee had time to report the thirty-four Republican members of the house resigned, thereby preventing its passage, and putting a stop to further legislation.
At this session of the legislature one seat in the senate was contested; that of John W. Burson, a Republican, chosen from
253
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BAKER.
the district made up of the counties of Delaware and Madison. He was charged with making use of bribery to secure his
CROSSCUP & WIST-DNIA
Til Genback
254
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
election The case excited a great deal of remark, both in this and other States, and was thoroughly investigated by the com- mittee on elections. A report was signed by a majority of the committee, just before the close of the session, which declared that Mr. Burson " did both offer and give bribes, and rewards to procure his election," and recommended the passage of a resolution refusing to grant him his seat, and that the same be declared vacant. The report was adopted by a strict party vote of twenty-four to twenty-one.
The controversy regarding the purchase of the Wabash and Erie canal was taken up at the session in 1871, and after a long and bitter debate, was finally disposed of by the adoption of an amendment to the constitution, making it impossible for the legislature to burden the State with any part of the old internal improvement debt, which had been disposed of by the " Butler bill."
The right of suffrage to women was ably discussed by the legislature, and disposed of adversely to the interests of the women interested. Among the important laws passed was one fixing the compensation of State and county officers, and cut- ting off' all fees and allowances; one distributing six hundred thousand dollars to the several counties of the State, to be loaned ont for the benefit of schools, and one reducing the State taxes. The latter was, however, pronounced unconsti- tutional by the circuit court of Marion county, and an action was brought to restrain the Auditor, Secretary of State and Treasurer from making the distribution. The matter was taken to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court of the State rendered a very important decision in April, 1871, viz .: that the law authorizing counties to subscribe for stock in railroad companies, and tax the people to pay for it, was valid. It had been claimed that the legislature had no authority under the constitution to tax the people for the purpose of aiding in the construction of rail- roads, but the Supreme Court decided adversely to this claim.
During the year 1871 there was no general election in Indi- ana, consequently political matters were very dull; but with the commencement of 1872, politics began to revive. On the
255
DMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BAKER.
twenty-second of February the Republican State convention was held at Indianapolis. The State ticket nominated was as follows: For Governor, General Thomas M. Browne; Lieu- tenant-Governor, L. M. Sexton; Congressman-at-large, G. S. Orth; Secretary of State, W. W. Curry; Auditor of State, Colonel James A. Wildman; Treasurer of State, Major John D. Glover, etc.
The Democratic convention was held at Indianapolis, on the twelfth of June, when the following were nominated for State officers: For Governor, Thomas A. Hendricks; Lieutenant- Governor, W. C. Depauw; Congressman-at-large, John S. Williams, M. C. Kerr; Secretary of State, Owen W. Eddy; Auditor of State, John B. Stoll, etc. There was also a State temperance ticket in the field. The election took place on the ciglith of October, 1872. Thomas A. IIendricks was elected Governor, and M. B. Hopkins, Superintendent of Public Instruction, from the Democratic ticket. With these two important exceptions, the Republicans were successful. The State legislature for 1873 contained twenty-seven Republicans and twenty-three Democrats in the senate, and fifty-four Re- publicans and forty-six Democrats in the house, giving the Republicans a majority on joint ballot of twelve.
A special session of the legislature was convened at the capital, on the fourteenth of November, 1872, at which con- siderable business was transacted. O. P. Morton was re-elected to the Senate of the United States, and the State was re-dis- tricted for both legislative and congressional representation. The measure re-districting the State gave great dissatisfaction to the Democratic members. Among other bills passed, was one raising the Governor's salary to eight thousand dollars a year.
CHAPTER XXXI.
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR HENDRICKS - EVENTS OF 1873-4. T IIE regular session of the legislature began on the first Wednesday of January, 1873, and soon after Governor Hendricks was inaugurated. In his address to the assembly he said: "The laws regulating our elections require your special attention. They do not restrain the corrupt, nor pro- tect the votes of the people. Our elections must not become a reproach. Their result must express the will of the people. Our system must be made so efficient as to guarantee purity in the conduct and management of the elections, and also to inspire and establish public confidence. When the people know that a political result has been fairly brought about, all discontent disappears. They cheerfully acquiesce and yield entire obedience to the authority thereby established. I can- not now attempt to suggest all the provisions that may be essential to the efficient system, but without the following probably no system will prove efficient: 1st. A fair and real representation, upon the board of election officers, of all polit- ical parties having candidates to be voted for. 2nd. Voting places so numerous and the precincts so small, in respect to the voting population, that all who offer to vote may be known by the people of the neighborhood, as well as by the officers. 3rd. A reasonable period of residence in the election precinct as a qualification to vote, so that persons may not pretend a residence not real, in fraud of the law. 4th. The exclusion of money as an influence and power from elections. If, in the contest for power, money shall become stronger than the people, we will have the worst government possible. It will be a reproach to us all when wealth can buy what the loftiest talent and the purest virtue cannot attain."
(256)
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR HENDRICKS.
257
The Governor also made some excellent suggestions on rep- resentation reform in the same address. He said; "In this connection I wish to call attention to the subject of represen- tation reform, which, during the last ten years, has been advo- cated by some of the best minds, both in Europe and in this
CRUSSONP & WEST, PHILA
H. A. PEED, ESQ. See page 21.
country, and is now undergoing the test of experience. I desire to make this the more emphatic, because in this State it seems yet to be regarded as right and proper for the majority to deny to the minority even that representation which an
17
258
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
apportionment based upon population and contiguity of counties would give. Representative reform rests upon the proposition that minorities of constituencies should have a representation as nearly in proportion to members as may be practicable. All the citizens contribute to the burdens of government, and should yield obedience to the laws, and it is just, equal and fair that all should be represented."
Among the important acts of the session were the following: One abolishing the courts of Common Pleas, and dividing the State into thirty-eight judicial districts for judicial purposes; one remodeling the divorce laws; one amending the school laws, and one regulating the sale of liquors.
The following are the only causes upon which divorces can be granted under the new law: 1st. Adultery. 2nd Impo- teney, existing at time of marriage. 3rd. Abandonment for two years. 4th. Cruel and inhuman treatment of one party by the other. 5th. Habitual drunkenness of either party, or the failure of the husband to make reasonable provision for the family. 6th. The failure of the husband to make reason- able provision for the family for a period of two years. 7th. The conviction, in any county, of either party, of an infamous crime.
The new liquor law provides that it shall be unlawful for any person, under penalty from ten dollars to fifty dollars fine, or from ten to thirty days imprisonment, to sell, barter or give away intoxicating liquors, to be drank on the premises, with- out a permit from the county commissioners, and even when the permit is so procured, the law is definite as to how the traffic shall be regulated, and is very stringent. A case of violation of this law was soon carried to the Supreme Court, to test its validity, and it was sustained in all points.
There was a very enthusiastic temperance convention held at Indianapolis, in April, 1873, at which a long list of stirring resolutions were adopted; and, in one way and another, during the fall of that year and the carly part of 1874, the temperance question was agitated with greater enthusiasm than it had been for years before. The "crusade " prevailed throughout Indiana, as well as in other States, but, unfortunately, at the
259
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR HENDRICKS.
election in 1874, the temperance projects were defeated, and the liquor law alluded to above, approved February 27, 1873, and known as the " Baxter law " or " local option law," was supplanted by the general license aet approved March 17, 1875, which repealed all former enactments regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors.
The total receipts during the fiscal year of 1876 were $4,570,943.71. The disbursements for the year amounted to $3,993,777.97, and there was a balance on hand at the close of the year of $577,165.74.
The second annual meeting of the Congress of Agriculture was held at Indianapolis on the twenty-eighth of May, 1873; about two hundred delegates were present, representing twenty- five States. The proceedings of this body were very interesting to the public and beneficial to the cause of hus- bandry. The committee on transportation submitted a very lenghty report, which called forth considerable remark.
The question of building a new State House was seriously considered by the Legislature of 1875, but no definite steps were taken in that direction. This was reserved for the next Legislature, and the act creating a State House Commission will be found under the administration of Governor Williams.
The administration of Governor Hendricks expired Jan- uary 4, 1877. In his last message to the Legislature con- vened at same date, he gave a clear statement of the financial condition of the State, and of the management of its various State institutions and offices. In this message he recom- mended that steps be taken for the construction of a new State House, and took occasion to repeat what he had said to the Legislature of 1875, viz .: " It can hardly be questioned that a new State House should be built. This house is neither suit- able nor safe for the transaction of the public business. It does not correspond with the greatness of the State. It is not creditable. No other State in the Northwest has such a house. The halls are not fit for your sessions. Your constituents, when they visit the city, can neither see nor hear your pro- ceedings. They are much better provided for in your court
260
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
houses. You have no suitable committee rooms. You are dependent upon rented rooms over the city. You are thereby hindered in that personal consultation among yourselves which is so important in legislation. The people do not desire this. But they will expect you to avoid that prevalent fault in public buildings of extravagant ornaments. The building should be plain, tasteful, substantial and permanent, adapted to its purposes, and sufficient for the growing demands of the publio service. Several years will be required in its construc- tion, and a small special tax annually will be sufficient."
He also repeated a portion of his message to the preceding Legislature relative to the Centennial Exposition, in which he said : " The act of Congress has committed our country and the people to the celebration. A failure would cause us na- tional humiliation. Success will gratify our national pride and at the same time promote our prosperity by attracting the the people and wealth of other countries. I recommend that you make such provision as will secure to the people of In- diana and their interests a full aud advantageous representa- tion."
Among other recommendations in his closing message he called the special attention of the Legislature to the laws regulating our elections, and suggested several salutary pro- visions that he deemed essential to an efficient system. Before the expiration of his official term Governor Hendricks re- ceived the nomination for the Vice Presidency of the United States on the ticket with Samuel J. Tilden as President, from the Democratic National Convention of St. Louis. On this subject see biography of Governor Hendricks in another part of this work.
CHAPTER XXXII.
ADMINISTRATIONN OF GOVERNOR WILLIAMS-EVENTS OF 1878-THE RAILROAD STRIKE.
THE fiftieth regular session of the Legislature began on Thursday, January 4, 1877. The administration of Governor Williams, in accordance with the provision of the Constitution, commenced on the second Monday in January, or the first Monday succeeding the meeting of the Legislature.
In his inaugural address to the General Assembly he said : "Our State, in common with the rest of the Union, and especially the western portion, is experiencing the distress and embarrassment consequent upon a system of overtrading and deceptive speculation. Our consumption having exceeded our income, the balance must be restored by a corresponding excess of our receipts over our expenses. We have been lured to the embrace of debt under the flattering guise of credit, and we can be extricated only by the joint aid of industry and economy. We should again seek the ancient landmarks of frugality and republican simplicity, from which too many have unwittingly strayed. Labor is the prime source of wealth in a State." He recommended further, true economy in all public expenditures, and that none should be incurred for official services unless found necessary or useful. He de- clared excessive legislation to be an evil; that it imposed additional burdens upon the treasury, and made the laws themselves to become complex, vague and uncertain. He recommended that the right of suffrage should be properly guarded against all encroachments in the shape of fraud, illegal voting, or lawless violence; that the ballot-box should be made to reflect the will of the majority, and that illegal voting and frauds in elections should be severely punished.
:
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
The regular session having adjourned without completing the necessary legislation appertaining to certain appropriations, Governor Williams called an extra session, and in his special message, delivered on the 6th day of March, he said : " At a late hour last night I was made aware of your probable ad- journment without final action, and requested your attendance in this special session to complete the unfinished business of publie importance remaining on your files. Without further enactments than those you have left in force, the benevolent and possibly the penal institutions can be supported as enjoined by the Constitution, and in general the ordinary expenditures can be lawfully made. It is more particularly for expenditures of an extraordinary character that you are asked to legislate. Our indebtedness, foreign and domestic, permanent and tempo- rary, costs us in interest nearly $300,000 annually. For the payment of this an appropriation is needed. An enlargement of our Hospital for the Insane has been prosecuted nearly to the enclosure of a spacious and well-planned department for women. An appropriation of $300,000 is asked for its speedy completion. Completed, it will provide for the female insane of the State, and by relieving the present building of the women who are now inmates, afford ample room for the insane men. The large and rapidly increasing number of conviets in the Prison North, and the inadequate provision made for their care, have already been fully brought to your notice."
He called the attention of the Legislature to the heavy indebtedness of the Prison South, and recommended that something should be done to relieve its embarrassments. He also called attention to the agricultural interests of the State, and urged the Legislature to make an appropriation of at least $25,000 to the Board of Agriculture "to save their property from sacrifice."
The Legislature, at its special session, made the following specific appropriations, viz .: To the State Prison North, for the completion of a new cell house, $70,000; for an additional workshop, $10,000. It also appropriated $500 to each of the
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR WILLIAMS.
State prisons for the purchase of books for the use of the con- viets. To the new building of the Insane Hospital for the year 1877, in addition to the $50,000 previously appropriated, $100,000; for the year 1878, $150,000, and to the State Board of Agriculture for the year 1877, $15,000, and for the year 1878, $10,000; and to the State Prison South, for the pay- ment of the indebtedness contracted prior to December 15, 1876, $120,000.
Among the acts of principal importance passed at the special session of the Legislature was the one authorizing and provid- ing for the erection of a new State House. As the building of a new capital will require several years for its completion, and is a public enterprise of the highest importance to the people of the whole State, the entire act authorizing its construction is given below :
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE AND PROVIDE FOR THE ERECTION OF A NEW STATE HOUSE, AND FOR MATTERS INCIDENT THERETO. APPROVED MARCH 14, 1877.
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That for the purpose of organizing to build a new State House, the Governor shall appoint four State House Commissioners, who shall be selected in equal number from the two leading political parties of the State, and, together with the Governor, constitute the Board of State House Commissioners. Such Board shall be appointed by the Governor within such time as he may deem best, not later than September first, 1877 The Governor shall notify such persons of their appointment under his certificate and seal, and such notice shall constitute their commis ion, and shall be by them deposited in the office of the Secre- tary of State, and there recorded The Commissioners, so appointed, shall each give bond, to be approved by the Governor, in the sum of twenty thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of such duties as may be imposed upon them by law, and that the cost of the building shall not exceed two millions of dollars. The Governor shall not give bond by reason of being a member of such Board, and shall be the President thereof. He shall sign the record of the pro- ceedings of the Board, and shall sign or stamp all vouchers before a warrant is drawn upon them. He may, for canse, remove any member of the Board, and shall report the cause, and the fact. to the next Gen- eral Assembly. He shall fill, by appointment, all vacancies occurring
264
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
by reason of such removal, or other eause. The person so appointed, to fill any vacancy, shall be selected from the political party to which his predecessor belonged.
SEC. 2. The persons appointed State House Commissioners, as above provided, shall, within thirty days after their appointment, qualify by taking an oath that they will honestly, diligently, and according to law, discharge the duties of State House Commissioners. They shall eause to be kept a record of their proceedings, shall report, quarterly, to the Governor, for the use of the public, a synopsis of their proceedings, and an account of their expenditures. They may make such rules and regulations for the payment of money, the government of contractors and employes, and the management of the grounds and premises, as they may deem prudent, not inconsistent with this act and the laws of the State. They may meet on their own adjourn nent, and shall meet on the call of the President of the Board. A quorum present shall be sufficient to do business. They shall receive for their services the sum of five dollars per day, and actual traveling expenses, for the time they are actually employed in attending to their duties as State House Commissioners, to be paid on itemized statements, sworn to by the elaimant.
SEC. 3. The Board of State House Commissioners are authorized and directed, as herein provided, to build a new State House, the ecst of which shall not exceed two millions of dollars, on the grounds provided by the State for that purpose, in the City of Indianapolis, and bounded by Tennessee, Mississippi, Washington and Ohio streets ; and when it becomes necessary they shall cause the old building to be removed, and they shall provide temporary quarters for the General Assembly, and for the officers now occupying the present building ; and the said Commissioners are authorized and directed to contract and agree with the City of Indianapolis, or persons interested, for the vacation of any intersecting streets, or for the use of streets and alleys, for disposing of tools and materials, and for the purpose of laying down temporary con- meeting railroad tracks for the transporting of materials, tools, ete , and the City of Indianapolis is hereby authorized to make such agreement and contracts as are herein contemplated. The State of Indiana hereby accepts the offer made by the Board of Commissioners of Marion county, to furnish rooms for the General Assembly, and the order of such Board of Commissioners, in furnishing such rooms, is hereby legalized.
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