Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1883 — INDIANA LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LEGISLATURE.

The question of etiquette between the two houses was settled on the sth inst. by • the Senate receding from the position it had assumed and concurring in the appointment of a committee to wait upon the Oovernor. Resolutions were adopted setting apart Thursday for a service in memory of the late Senator Chapman, of Marion county. The question of the legality. of the adoption of the Prohibition amendment by the last Legislature was brought up bv a resolution of Senator Smith, Republican, directing the Secretory of State to furnish a certified copy of official records in his office concerning the constitutional amendments adopted in 18S1, and also the one in relation to tlie Wabash and Erie canal, *nd as to whether the constitutional provision has been complied with requiring such proposed amendments, with the yeas and navs thereon, to be entered on their journals and referred to the next General Assembly. A spirited discussion resulted, the Republicans favoring it, but the Democratic majority finally referred the matter to the Judiciary Committee. The Senate refused to appoint a special committee on the subject or woman suffrage. The House, after the consideration of unimportant matters, adjourned until Monday, Jan. 8. Both houses met In joint session, Lieut. Gov. Hanna presiding, and Gov. Porter delivered his message. A resolution of Senator Spann, providing for a committee to investigate the affairs of the new State House, was defeated on the Bth inst., by the Democrats, who want the investigation to be placed in the hands of the regular committee on Publl ■ Building. A large number of bills were road a first time and referred. Among the most important of these was one by Senator Benz, repealing the present Road law and re-enacting the one in operation previous to the last session. Senator Campbell, of St Joseph county. Introduced a bill providing for a commission of three members to be appointed by the Governor, who shall regulate the railroad traffic of the State, fixing freight and passenger rates and making contracts between roads. The bill is similar in its provisions to the Georgia law. Senator Hutchinson, of La Porte county, introduced a bill for an appropriation of $.13,000 for the construction of a sewer from the S.ate prison at Michigan City to the ' harbor, its passage being requested by all the and officials of that place. In the House Speaker Bynum announced the Standing Committees: The following are the Chairmanships: Judiciary, McMullen; Organization of Courts, Patton; Elections, Ham; Ways and Means, • Jewett; Banks, Chandle ; Education, Graham; Prisons, Smith, of Blackford; Bwainp Lands. Montgomery; Milatarv Affairs, McHenry; Claims, Grit enden; Trust Funds, Greene; Fees and Salaries, Moody; Sinking Fund. Woodbury; Bights and Land Privileges, Mauck; Railroads, Schloss; Manufactures and Commerce, Smith, of Perry; County and Township Business, Bryant; Agriculture, Roster; Benevolent Institutions, Wilson, of Marion; Temperance, Gibson; Mileage and Accoun s, Sutton; Corporations, Nave; Canals. Spain;, Public Expenditures, Gordon; Federal Relations, Barr: .Affairs of ihe Ci yof Indianapolis, Wlntsett; Cities and Towns, Honfron; Engrossed Bills, Fmlter; Roa K Ely; Statistics and Immigrate n, Stucker; Insurance. Williams; Printing, Akin; Reformatory Institutions, Howland; Drains and Dikes, Williams, of Perry; Mines and Mining, Robinson; Apportionment, Robertson. The remainder of the day was devoted to the introduction of bills, the most Important being that of Mr. Jewett, appropriating SOO,QUO for the completion oi the female department of the Insane Asylum, and by Mr. Wilson, reorganizing the benevolent Institutions and giving the power of appointment of members of the boards to the Governor. Mr. Whiwett sent in a bill similar to the Ohio law making it a felony for one person to point a firearm at another. Bills were introduced in both houses repealing the law creating thd State Board of Health! A preliminary tilt was taken in the Senate, on the 9th inst., at the fee and salary matter, which promises to be the most important question before the present session. After much discussion and the defeat of several substitutes, a resolution offered by Senar--tor Bundy was carried by a vote of 24 to 23, authorizing the proper committee to make a thorough investigation of the subject of fees and salaries of county officers; aiso to send for persons .and papers and get all the evidence possible on the subject so as to be able to report an economical and just bill. An intention was manifested by Senators on both sides of the house to effect some reform. The appointments made by Gov. Porter for the benevolent institutions were referred to a committee, which will report against their confirmation. The most important billa Introduced were those by Senator Blschowsky to appoint a commission to secure a uniform system of text-books for the schools, of the State; and by Senator Henry to reorganize the State prisons, placing both of them under one bo rd of five managers, to be appointed by the Governor. In the House, Mr Frazier introduced a bill for an appellate State court, with five Judges, to be elected as are the Supreme Court Judges, and having appellate jurisdiction from Criminal, Circuit and Superior Courts. Mr. Patton, Irom the special committee to w hich was referred the resolution instruct mg our Senators and requesting our Representatives in Congress to aid in securing pensions for the survivors of the Mexican war, etc., reported a substitute to the original resolution, which report was concurred in, with an amendment so as to read, “all soldiers of the Mexican war, except Jefferson Davis and other persons not now loyal to the United States.” In both houses resolutions were offered commending the Pendleton Civil Service bill A memorial was presented to both houses by Hon. J. H. Wmterbotham, of Michigan City, late candidate for Congress in the Thirteenth district against W. H. Calkins. He alleges that in his district the employes of numerous large manufacturers are hot allowed to vote their real sentim uts, but are intimidated by their employers into voting the Republican ticket, and in various other wavs a full a d free expression of opinion at tbe ballot-box Is prevented Wherefore he prays for a law to remedy these evils. The memorial was sent to tne Committees on Election. Political matters consumed much of the time of the Senate, at its session on the Kith inst, resolutions being offered favoring and opposing a protective tariff, which, after dieenssion, were referred to the Committee on Federal Relations. The contested-election case of Johnson vs. Oveestreet, from Morgan county, was referred to the Committee on Elections, and the Senate refused bo order printed 1,000 additional copies of the report of the Kankakee survey. From the tenor of the discussion of the latter proposition, it was evident that a very strong feeling exists against the appropriation of #600,000 asked for to drain and reclaim the swamp lands bordering the Kankakee and Calumet rivers, In the northern oounfcles of the State A number of minor bills were introduced, the most important being that by Senator Foulke, removing the disabilities of married women. In the House, a resolution was adopted authorizing the appointment of a committee of five to thoroughly investigate all matters pertaining to the new State House, with instructions to report as to the advisability of making further appropriations. Mr. Copeland offered a bill making it murder in the degree for persons to place obstructions on railroad tracks whereby an accident and loss of life resulted, and Mr. Hndson Introduced a bill taxing the gross receipts and property of foreign corporations doing business in the State, having especial reference to Bell Telephone monopoly. In both houses temperance bills were introduced to do away with tippling-shops, the provision being to grant licenses for saloons, bnt not to allow ih a liquor to be drunk upon the promises. Both the Democrats and Republicans were in canons in the evening, planning a lftre of action in rega d to thp constitutional amendment. Mr. Magee offered a joint resolution in the Senate, onthellth inst, for the ir.provement of the harbor at Michigan City, requesting Representatives and instrncting Senators it Congress from Indiana to favor an appropriation. Referred to the Committee on Federal Relations. A resolution offered by Mr. Reiser, ordering the Secretary of State to transmit to the Senate a copy of the record of the constitutional amendments, was laid on the table by a party vote. The afternoon was devoted to appropriate services in memory of the late Senator George H. Chapman, of Marion county, speeches being mode by Senators Willard, Brown, Bundy, Graham, Spann, Ristine, Van Vorhis and Fletcher, and as a further tribute of respect the Senate adjourned until to-morrow. In. the House the Speaker announced aa the State

House investigation committee, Messrs. Hefron of Washington, Moody of DeKalh. McCormick of Bartholomew, Stock ney of Randolph, and Huston, of Fayette. The most important' measure introduced was the Metropolitan Police bill It provides that a board of three Police Commissioners shall be appointed for each city by the Governor, Secretary, Auditor and Treasurer of State, and that this board shall have exclusive control of all police matters. As the State officers are now Democrats, th« bill, if passed, would place the police force of the Republican cities, such as Indianapolis is, under the control of the Democrats. The House refused to order 500 additional conies of the report of the Kankakee survey printed.