Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1881 — INDIANA LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LEGISLATURE.

Saturday, March 19.— Senate. —Tho Senate consumed the day with discussing the committee report censuring the management of the Institution for Feeble-Minded Children. The friends of the accused Superintendent claim that he Was not permitted to make a defense, and that the judgment of the committee was based on misrepresentations by his enemies. The Superintendent, Ibacli by name, has never been present, owing to the terrible illness culminating in tho death of liis son, Charles L. Ibach, with trichiniasis. For these reasons lbach’s friends demanded an investigation, and, although this was voted down, they prevented any definite action against him during the day. House. —The House olosod this week by engrossing a number of bills and making the proposed change in the jury system the special order for Tuesday. The bill passed providing for the purchase of school books for indigent children ; also allowing fees for State witnesses in criminal cases, and tho bill was engrossed making Wasliington’s birthday a legal holiday. Monday, March 21.— Senate.— The Senate was without a quorum, but it spent its time on the bill relating to public officers and offices. The bill was drafted by [the Revision Committee under the old law requiring fees and salaries of public officers to be granted according to the population of counties. One of the constitutional amendments submitted to the people at the recent election wiped out this law, and it is now left with the present Legislature to provide what Uie fees and salanes shall be. The vote thereon showed no quorum. During the afternoon all matters relating to fees were referred. Consideration of the report of the committee on the Feeble-Minded Institute went over until Wednesday. House. —Tho House attempted to pass the Whipping-Post bill, but the measure failed for want of a constitutional majority. The bill passed providing that County Auditors shall file a duplicate list of school bonds with the State Auditor, so that in case of fire a record may remain ; and the bill was engrossed taking from the Grand Jury small felony cases and misdemeanors, and conferring jurisdiction upon Peace Justices. The bill exempting private libraries from taxation was killed because it was unconstitutional. Bills were introduced, preventing the pollutio n of water in canals and streams and fixing the terms of Criminal Court Prosecutors at four years. The bill prohibiting the receipt of life insurance applications on the tontine plan was indefinitely postponed. The returns from the special election on the amendments, held last Monday, were completed to-day, and to-night Gov. Porter issued his proclamation declaring the amendments adopted. The vote on the several amendments is as follows: v . . for. A gain* t. first 123,736 45,976 Second. 124,952 *3,696 Third 128,038 40,163 Fourth....'. 125,170 42,162 Fifth 128,731 88,345 Sixth 116,570 41,434 Ninth 126,221 36,435 The highest vote cast was on the first, 169,711; the lowest on the sixth, 158.004. Tuesday, March 22.— Senate. —The Senate voted down a proposition to adjourn sine die on April 4, after a lingering debate, in which both parties charged bad faith in delaying public business. A resolution was adopted ordering night sessions. Resolutions were offered prohibiting the sale of liquors, and providing for female suffrago. Another amendment was suggested, empowering women to practice law. Numerous new bills were introduced : Empowering married women to apply for alimony; makr ing township Trustees superintendents of roads ; to regmate and license tho sale of spirituous, malt and other intoxicating liquors, prescribing penalties for intoxication, and providing for the recovery of damages for injuries growing out of sales of intoxicating liquors, and requiring polioe officers and constables to see this act enforced; providing subjects for dissection. Senators Spann and Menzies were appointed a conference committee to confer with the House on Tax-bill amendments. Consideration of the bill relative to officers and offices took up the remainder of the afternoon and night session. The only bill passed was one legalizing ordinance 69 of tho town of Edinburg. House.— Tho House objected to the Senate amendments to the Tax bill and a conference committee was appointed, which resulted in the Senate receding from the clauses abolishing the publication of delinquent lists, and taxing foreign insurance companies on gross receipts. The House, therefore, agreed to the amendment prohibiting the employment of ferrets, and tlie report was unanimously accepted. A bill was passed providing for a special May election in Indianapolis on the erection of a market-house, and tho one fixing the salary of the Adjutant General at SI,BOO per year, and his assistant SBOO, was defeated. The bill abolishing constructive mileage for Sheriffs on serving notices passed, and a resolution in memoriam of the late exSpeaker, John U. Pettit, of Wabash, was unanimously adopted. A bill was introduced prohibiting cities on rivers from charging dockage or wharfage, the plea being made that the charges now collected along the Ohio river from steamboats was proving a serious bar to inland commerce. A bill was also introduced prohibiting corporal punishment in schools, and providing that pupils may be suspended for habitual idleness, insubordination or gross immorality. Two witnesses are necessary for suspension, and the right of appeal is given to the County or State Superintendent The House refused to reconsider the vote by which the School bill was passed. Bills were passed : Relating to the manner of choosing Township Trustees; amending section 26 of (he Fee and Salary act; authorizing railroad companies to construct and operate telegraph lines for commercial purposes ; and authorizing the construction of bridges over county boundary lines. Wednesday, March 23.— Senate.— The Senate concurred in the report to-day censuring the management of the Institute for FeebleMinded Children, and accepted the result of the conference on the Tax bill. A bill passed repealing the aot establishing a Superior Court in Cass couaty,bnt the one against “hay-fork” swindlers and others of that ilk failed for want of a constitutional majority. Consideration of the bill relative tODffices and officers absorbed the afternoon. An amendment was accepted requiring County Commissioners to file a $5,000 bond. A biil passed amending the Discount act so that the capital of A bank may be reduced at any time, and one oonoeming the Liberty and Richmond Turnpike Company. Among the bills introduced was one enabling medical colleges to secure subjects for dissection.

House.—The House passed a road law to-day remodeling the present system of the State, creating a Road Superintendent for each township, assessing $2 on each able-bodied citizen in lieu of labor, and exempting incorporated towns and cities from road service. An iron-clad medical bill also passed, being a compilation of several bill* pending in the House, and differing from the bill passing the Senate in every material respect; all physicians must scoure license by Jane, 1882, from the Circuit Court; the Board of Examiners provided by the Senate bill were thrown aside. The bill providing for the appointment of Fish Commissioners passed, as did the Evansville Bridge bilL The State House bill was engrossed, appropriating SIOO,OOO from the general fund, and authorizing a levy of 2 cents on each SIOO for 1881 and 1882. The Jury bill raising the per diem of jurors to $2 per day, and allowing Scents mileage, was passed in-hen of the one vetoed by the Governor Thursday, March 24.— Senate.— The Senate passed the bill providing for the survey of drainage routes in the Kankakee swamp lands. This bill is based on the Governor’s recommendation that such survey be made, the estimated cost of which is placed at the maximum figure of $5,000. Bills passed : Legalizing the incorporation of the Baptist Association in Gibson county and the Union Christian College in Sullivan county; amending the act incorporating the Indianapolis Insurance Company (now the Bank of Commerce), making stockholders liable for three times the amount of stock; providing for reinvestment of Purdue University funds in 5-per-cent. twenty-year State bonds; and providing for but one voting precinct in towns of less than 2,000 population. The Indianapolis Police Judge bill met with strong opposition, and went over until to-morrow. An amendment was adopted adding Physician-of-the-Poor duties to the Health Officer, without additional pay. A joint committee was instructed to visit the Kankakee region next-week to inspect and port upon the drainage question. House. —The House amended the pending bill relative to temporary loans by providing that the maturing bonds now held by Purdue University shall be replaced by the State with bonds bearing date April 1, 1881, running ten years with 5 per cent, interest. The bill was then engrossed. Numerous bills was then passed, among them a bill increasing the bond of Poor-Farm Superintendents to $5,000 ; enlarging the limit of taxation from 33 cents to 45 cents on the SIOO in Marion county; prohibiting the destruction of wild deer and making the killing a crime at any season of the year, and compelling railways to fence tracks against straying cattle. Several hours were given to the Civil Code bill and 280 sections were disposed of, leaving 600 to be considered. Amendments were accepted making a change of venue in cases where local prejudice is alleged discretionary with the Judge and prohibiting the payment of special Judges’ services save where the regular Judge is incapacitated by sickness from attending court. The Mechanics’ Lien bill passed, being a codification of all the old laws, with additional provisions enlarging the rights of mechanics and empowering a mechanic having a lien to file notice with the County Recorder instead ot employing an attorney. Fbiday, March 25.— Senate. —Senator Langdon introduced a bill to establish three Appellate Courts in as many districts of the State, these courts to hear appeals from Circuit, Superior and Criminal Courts, except appeals by defendants and the State in felouy cases, and appeals from Superior Courts having a general term. The court in each district shall consist of three Judges, to be chosen at the next general election, one to serve two years, one three years and one four years, the term thereafter to be for four years. The bill is to take effect upon its passage, the Governor to appoint the Judges. An especial feature of the bill is a provision for the cumulative-vot-ing feature upon what is known as the “ Illinois plan. ’ Electors may cast two or three votes for one man if they desire. The Indianapolis Police Judge bill was amended so as to leave the appointment of such officer discretionary with the City Council. The House resolution relative to relaying the cor-ner-stone of the now State House consumed several hours. An amendment finally prevailed, directing the Commissioners to erect a tablet commemorating Indiana’s part in tho war of the rebellion. The Revision Committee was directed to report a bill providing for holding general elections on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Amendments were made in the Public Offices bill requiring all county offices to open at 8 a. m., and requiring records to keep a Mechanics’ Lien bill The bond of notaries public was reduced from $2,000 to SI,OOO.

House. —The House adopted an amendment to the civil code, allowing Judges in property trials to grant changes of venue at discretion. A bill was introduced permitting railway corporations to consolidate lines in this State upon a vote of three-fourths of the stockholders interested. A concurrent resolution was adopted directing the Trustees of the Institute for Feeble Minded Children to dismiss the present Superintendent, Dr. B. F. Ibach, as per report of the committee. The Senate bill passed abolishing the Superior Court in Cass county. A bill was introduced imposing heavy penalties for adulterating milk. The bill passed conferring upon City Judges when elected the judicial powers now exercised by Mayors of cities, also authorizing Circuit Judges to appoint Commissioners to select the panel of frand and petit jurors; limiting litigautsbefore 'eace Justices to one change of venue; and* authorizing the mortgage of the State fair grounds, and appropriating $4,000 per annum lor payment of interest on the debt. About 100 sections of the civil code were passed upon. An Apportionment bill is being prepared on the basis of the recent census. It is understood no change will be made iu the Senatorial districts, but the lower house will be fixed so as to insure fifty-one Republican Representatives, with six doubtful, the remainder Democratic.