Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1885 — INDIANA LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LEGISLATURE.

In anticipation of the Governor's proclamation calling an extra session of the Legislature, but little was done in either house on the 9th inst. As ne die adjournment was taken, and the .proclamation read which convenes the Legislature in extra session. Gov. Gr y unpointed O H. Adair prosecuting attorney for the judicial district com; o«d of Jay nnd Adams Counties. He also reap ointed and ri-commis-sione I all of the members of the Board of Commissioners of the additional hos itals tor the insane, namely: Da Fae Skinner, of Valparaiso: 'John C. Robinson, < f Spencer; J. R. Grav, of Noblesville; and William Gross, of New Castle. The Governor approved the following bills: An act for he relief of Mrs. May; an act to protect all persons in their civil rights; an act regulating weights and measures; an act relating to the removal of obstructions trom highways; an a t for the incorporation of building associations; an act preventing the ownership of lands in Indisna bv ■ liens; an act authorizing colleges to own and sed real estate; an act to amend the a t relating to the presentation of claims against counties. The Le islature began its extra session on Tuesday, the loth inst. The Senate held but a brief session, and transacted only such business as was made necessary by the extra s'ssidn. All the old officer were re-ele ted on motidh of Senator Macee, and the l ieutenant Governor announced that the old committees would be continued. Un Senator Fowler’s resoluti uto adopt the rules of the regular session, Senator Youche offered an amendment to return to t;ie original rule Toqulring a two-thirds vote to suspend the re.ular order of business, and it was adopted, it being generally agreed that there was no necessity for the ma'ority rule, as all the political legislation was finished. The committee clerks w-re all discharged, as the secretary and assistant secretary had agreed to detail their assistants for snch work. It was reso ved that clerks be not allowed per dicm for days when they were abet nt. Bills were introduced designating the secon i Wednesday of April of each year as “Arbor day," and making such a holiday for pupils of the public schools. The Senate adjourned until Friday, the 13th. In the House the Speaker announced that the old officers and committees would be continued, there being a provision of the statutes for the retentiou of the fo'mer without special action by the House. He also ruled that leaves of absence could not be granted to members until after they had answered at least one roll-call. The rules governing the last session were adopted. The regular order of buslne-s was then resumed. and the first measure called up for consideration was Seuaior Campbell's bill providing strict penalties for buying or selling votes. After long debate, the bill passed, with barely enough votes. There was no session of the upper branch of the Legislature on the 11th inst. The House went to work earnestly topass the bills pending on their final reading. The first taken up was that introduced by Senator Foulke, which provides that, when corporations or municipalities become insolvent, the claims of their emplovts tor wages to the amount of SSO shall be preferred over those of other creditors. It was leased by a vote of 75 to 0. Copeland s bill limiting railroad passenger fares for adults to 3 oouts a mi e and children half-price was passed by a vote of 74 to 3, the author explaining that there are twelve railroad* in Indiana—generally small linos —which charge fare in excess of that proposed. A spirited nlscussion was held on the passage of the bill which provides that German alia 1 be taught in ungraded schools only when petitioned fir by twenty-five patrons, and giving colored children equal rights wi h the white in all the public schools of the State. The Republicans generally voted for and the Democrats against it, and the bill was def ated by a vote of 32 to 41). Senin orWinters’ bill limiting the tax levy in Marion County for 188 G to 33 cents on the SIOO of valuation for current ex euses, and 10 cents to i>ay interest and such extra expenses as were incurred in building the workhouse, wm called no. Mr. I'ondleton explained that it was a restoration of the act of :870, which was repealed by implication, as some people insisted, by a subsequent enactment, under which the tax levy had increased to 55 cents. At present, he said, 'here was a deficiency of sß<',Otic, and to pay this, as well rs interest on the bonded debts and their expenses, it was proposed to allow an extra levy of 10 cents, which, in addition to the 83 cents, would provide ample revenue for the necessary expenses of the county. The bill passed by a vote of 6ii to 9, several gentlemen voting against it for .he alleged reason that it was special legislation. Mb. Rivers' bill providing that county offices shall be declared vacant when the officers thereof shall have been absent from them without excuse for sixty days, was called up in the House on the 12th, and Mr. Reeves moved to recommit it to the Judiciary Committee with instructions to make certain amendments. After a heated debate the matter was allowed to drop. Mr. Pendleton offerfed a resolu ion that when the House adjourned that day it should be until Monday morning (the icth), and this was ca rted by a vote of 48 to 24. The regular order of business was then resumed, and the first bill taken up was that of Mr. Overman, providing that taxes on mortgages on real estate shall be paid by the mortgager, and that the mortgagee shall pay taxes only on the assessed value of his land less the amount of the incumbr nee. Twenty or more members discussed the bill at considerable length, many of them arguing that if enacted it would not afford the relief desired. The bill was defeated The Senate held a brief session on the afternoon of the 13tb. Several House bills were read the first time. The House was not in session. Speaker Jewett is of tho opinion that it will take about two weeks longer to finish up the necessary business; but the probabilities are that an adjournment will not be reached before the middle of April. A BILD was introduced in the Senate on Saturday, March 14, providing that in all courts except justices' expert witnesses may be callea npon to testify upon the r etition of either party to the suit, snch witnesses to be selected by the court and paid for their services whatever sum the court may deem just and proper. A bill was also introduced providing that no person shall be confined as an insane person in any private asylum in the State unless snch asylum shall have been licensed by the Board of Trustees of the State Hospital for the Insane, and that said board shall visit such asylums at least twice a year, and shall appoint in each county a board of three or five visitors, whose duty it shall be to inspect the asylums at frequent intervals. The meet important provision of the bill is that which allows all persons confined in asylums to consult or communicate with any friends or advisers, medical or otherwise, outside, and to write such letters as they desire. Senator Foulke introduced a concurrent resolution proposing an amendment to the State Constitution that any voter of good moral character may practice law. The objector the proposed amendment is to give future Legislatures an opportunity to place greater restrictions upon legal practice. The House was not in session.