Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1881 — INDIANA LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LEGISLATURE.

Saturday, Jan. 15.— Hoube. —The House was in session for a short time on Saturday, and disposed of a number of bills on second reading, and then adjourned till Monday afternoon. Gov. Porter signed the first session law, which Srovided for the payment of the expenses of ae present session. Monday, Jan. 17.— Senate.— There was another deluge of new bills. Senator Van Vohris introduced one providing for a State Board of Health, as recommended by the State Medical Societv, and Senator Winston a bill making material changes in the law regulating insanity inquests, so that irresponsible Commissioners cannot adjudge parties insane. Senator Poindexter presented a joint resolution cutting down the number of judicial circuits, as well as Judges and Prosecuting Attorneys. Senator Kramer’s bill to pay claims due members of the Indiana Legion and Independent volunteers went to the Committee on Military Allans. House.— The House adopted a concurrent resolution for an investigation of the management of the Insane Asylum, and appointed a committee headed by Representative Berryman, of Shelby. Nineteen new bills were introduced, including another prohibitory bill, a bill providing that in civil cases a verdict of two-thirds of the jury shall be sufficient, an act compelling railways to plank-fer.ee their tracks, and a bill permitting counties to contribute to the support of orphan asylums unconnected with religious organizations. Tho friends of Maithew M. Campbell, of Bloomington, have presented a singular claim. In his eartier days Prof. Campbell was an enthusiastic supporter’of the State University, his zeal leading liim to serve as a teacher from 1830 to 1845, part of the time filling two chairs, and all of the time resolutely refusing compensation from tho State. He was a co-worker with Andrew Wylie. Lately ho became financially embarrassed, and because of his Present condition and advanced ago the •egislaturo is asked to pay him the amount he covered back into tho treasury during the fifteen years’ services as teacher, amounting in the aggregate to $6,662. Chandler’s Railroad hill, introduced to-day, provides that every line operating in this State shall be fenced with plank within sixty days after the passage of the act, and after this time, unless the road is fenced in, no agent or conductor is allowed to collect fare for travel in any coach or car thereon. Tuesday, Jan. 18.— Senate.— A greater part of the time was devoted to the introduction of bills, prominent among which were those of Senator Wood, providing for a reorganization of the benevolent institutions, Senator Langdon’s providing for a $10,600 monument to bo placed on tho Tippecanoe battle ground, and Senator Grubb’s concerning judgments against foreign insurance companies. Senator Spann’s resolution regarding a memorial to the Indiana soldiers to be placed in the new State House was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs without discussion. Over 100 petitions on the subject of temperance were presented from all parts of the State and sent to the Temperance Committee without reading. House.— ln the House, bills were introduced: To limit the rate of travel of railroad trains to twenty-five miles an hour, to prevent fraud at elections, and making railroads responsible for damage resulting from the accumulation of rubbish along the line of their tracks. Seventy petitions, bearing fifteen thousand signatures, were presented, praying sos tho passage of a constitutional amendment’ prohibiting the sale of liquor. Two hours were occupied in a debate upon Mr. Carter’s bill for the submission to the Supreme Court of the question whether the Legislature has the power to order another vote on the constitutional amendments, and the bill, which was on its third reading, passed—yeas 52, nays 42. In accordance with Congressional enactment both branches of the Legislature balloted for United States Senator, and there being no election a joint session will be held at noon to-mor-row. The driest of routine work marked the proceedings in the Senate. Gen. Ben Harrison, the choice of the Republicans, was placed in nom nation by Senator Grubbs, of Morgan, seconded by Senator Chapman. Senator Bell, of Allen and Whitley, presented ex-Gov. Gray as tho Democratic nominee, and Senator Poindexter, of Clark, nominated Congressman De La M t r as the Greenback cbo ce. The ballot resulted : Gray, 23 ; Harrison, 22 ; aud De La Matyr, 2. In the House, Judge Lindsay, of Howard, nominated Harrison, and Representatives Morgan, of Vigo, and Meredith, of Wayne, seconded the nomrnation with set speeches. Ex-Speaker Cauthorne, of Knox, presented ex-Gov. Gray, and Mr. Wheeler, of Pulaski, placed in nomination Congressman De La Matyr, and Mr. Compton, of Vermillion, seconded the nomination. The calling of the roll showed : Hiurieou, 57 ; Gray, 49 ; and De La Matyr, 1. Wednesday, Jan. 19.— Senate. —Comstock’s bill removing the disabilities of Covertine was made the special order for to-morrow, and Senator Brown’s bill providing for a constitutional convention was laid over until next Tuesday afternoon. A bill passed amending the charter of the city of Evansville, and in the afternoon resolutions were adopted in memoriam of the late Senator B. L. Davenport, of Elkhart. Pending the adoption, tributes were p lid by Senators White, Shaffer, Hcffron and Comstock.

House,—The House appointed a special committee on woman suffrage, headed by Representative Furnas, of Marion. Among the flood of new bills was one appropriating $6,000 to relieve the State Board of Agriculture of mortgage indebtedness; another for the more effectual protection and education of pauper children, and a third regulating railway charges for freight transportation. This bill was introduced by Fuller, of Greene, and provided a maximum rate of freight on wheat, corn, flour, lumber and agricultural implements as follows : Each 100 pounds not exceeding twenty-five miles distance, 7 cents; under seventy-five miles, 8 cents ; under 100 miles, 10 cents. All such distances to be within the State, and consignors to deliver freight on board cars for transportation. Railroads are barred from collecting additional sums for switching, but the freight rates are not to apply to less quantities than car-loads, and a violation forfeits all claims for freight charges. Adjournment followed after the passage of a joint resolution memorializing Congress in favor of the Wabash and Erie canaL The Legislature met in joint session at noon and went through the formality of electing Gen. Bon Harrison United State® Senator. The Lieutenant Governor presided. Gen. Harrison was placed in nomination by Senator Grubbs of Morgan, seconded by Chapmen of Marion, and Spann of Rush. Senator Bell of Allen, nominated ex-Gov. Isaac P. Gray, and ex-Speaker Cathorne, of Knox, seconded the presentation of his name. Then Hon. Gilbert De La Matyr was nominated by the Greenbackers. The ballot was announced: Harrison, 81; Gray, 62, and De La Matyr 2, after which the Lieutenant Governor formally declared Gen. Harrison the Senator-elect from Indiana for six years, beginning March 4, 1881. Gen. Harrison was introduced and made a short address of thanks. The President announced the election of State Librarian as also a part of the special order, and a ballot was ordered. The Republicans presented Mrs. Emma Ames Winsor, of Putnam, and the Democracy Mrs. Maggie F. Peelle, the present incumbent. Mrs. Winsor was chosen by a vote of 81 to 71. Adjournment followed. Mrs. Winsor will not qualify until April. In the meanwhile the Legislature will pass an enabling act, permitting a married woman to give bonds. As the law now stands, she is disqualified by thi« restriction. Thubmuy, Jan. 20.—Ssnate.—Several hours were wasted in discussing Comstock’s bill for removing disabilities of coverture, after which the matter was recommitted. Numerous resolutions were introduced. A bill was introduced to shorten the time by one month for the killing of quails and pheasants. Numerouslysigned petitions were presented praying for the submission of a constitutional amendment for the ratification of the people giving the ballot to women. During the afternoon session Senator Banks directed an inquiry into the reasons for the nonfulfillment of the law by the Coal-Oil Inspector. The Committee on Claims was instructed to report upon the feasibility of making the Auditor, Treasurer and Secretary of State a Board of Claims to pass upon all claims against the State. Senator Spann introduced a bill providing a school or home for indigent children; and Senator Poindexter presented a temperance bill stipulating a S2OO license for the sale of liquors, the money thus obtained to be appropriated toward the erection and maintenance of an inebriate asylum. Dealers are also made responsible for damages received from the sale of their liquors. Senator ©eutley latr?ducod a bill repealing the

Railroad Whistling act, and making provision that the engines shall sound the whistle twice and ring the bell continuously until the crossing is passed. The bill is patterned after the Ohio law, with the same signals in use on the Wabash, Bee line and Pan-Handle roads. House.—The House occupied the greater part of the morning session in debate upon the rate of interest. The Judiciary Committee submitted a majority report recommending that Buskirk's bill, limiting the legal rate of interest to 6 per cent., should lie upon the table, but the minority report recommending the adoption of the bill was accepted by a vote of 59 to 32. After considerable debate the bill was recommitted by nearly the same vote on the ground that uot sufficient consideration had been given other features of the bill. Neither vote upon the subject was partisan. The State Bar Association’s bill for submitting the constitutional amendments to a popular vote was reported upon favorably by the Judiciary Committee and the 22d of February agreed upon as tho date of election. The "bid passed, ayes, 74; noes, 23. Mr. Mclntosh's resolution declaring it unlawful and unconstitutional for tho General Assembly to pass an apportionment bill untd tho existing act had been in operation six years was laid on the table by a strict party vote—ayes, 51 ; noes, 36. Friday, Jan. 21.—Senate. —Tho Senate today designated next Friday for memorial addresses and resolutions relative to the'late Gov. Williams. Senator Wilson introduced a bill empowering the Governor to inako nil appointments now tho special province of tho Legislature, said appointments to be uividod equally between the two political factions. Senator Shaffer offered a bill separating the Soldiers’ O»p hans’ Home and the Institution for Feeble-Minded Children. The resubmission of the constitutional amendments and Brown's bill for tho Constitutional Convention went over until Tuesday. The bill appropriating $16,000 for the payment of tho Indiana Legion claims passed. A select committee of live, consisting es Senators Yancey, Wilson, Brown, Spann and Foster, was appointed, to whom ail petitions in favor of woman suffrage are to be reported. House. —Forty new bills were introduced, including one providing for electing the electors for President and Vice President, and repealing the present law requiring appointment of District Marshals to collect the vote. A committee was instructed to inquire into the expediency of reducing the number of judicial circuits in tho State, and a resolution passed recommending Congress to pension all Mexican veterans except those who had not accepted the result of the War of the Rebellion, and had failed to have their political disabilities removed by act of Congress. Representative Cotton introduced a bill amending tho present act so as to debar County Commissioners from levying a tax for township purposes exceeding 8 cents on the SIOO for any one year in any county having a voting population of over 20.000, provided also that the township tax shall i.ot exceed 1 cent on the SIOO valuation. Bills were presented, allowing women to hold any school offices in Indiana, and for the taxation of both mortgages and judgment on foreclosure of mortgage, and to adjust the taxation between parties to such mortgages.