Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1885 — INDIANA LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LEGISLATURE.

The appropriation bill was discussed again Its the Senate on the 7th inst. Senator Fowler opposed the item allowing the Adjutant General n clerk at a salary of S6OO a year. It was explained bv Senator Magee that a clerk would be re<iui ed for the work ot making a new copy ot the enrollment of Indiana soldiers. The mutton to strike out the item was defeated. The bill authorizing the payment of the John Martin claims was advanced to the second reading. The oleomargarine bill tailed, and also the bill allowing apjieals by ferry co i.pani«*s irmi rates fixed by Count? Commissioners. In the House, t-enator I'ailey’s Lili prohibiting the im]x>rtation or immigration of foreigners and otners under contract or agreement to perform labor within Indiana was taken up, the const itutiemfl rules suspended, and the bill passed bv a vote of 77 to 6, n spite of Mr. Patton’s earnest assurance that its provisions h d a tendency to encourage Chinese immigration, to which lie was much opposed. The following bills passed: Legalizing certain acts of the Board of Conimissioners of Wells County in relation to the Blufiton and Rockport Gravel Road Company; providing tor the proper recording ot assignments and can eflation of mortgages and me. hanics’liens; fixing the time for hold ng <ourt in the Tenth Judicial Circuit; authorizing the Board of Cknnty Commissioners to construct free gravel roads oh boundary lines between bta'es, eaoii to defray one-half of tho expense: authorhing the Trustees of the HosSital for the Insane to u-e certain lands (the IcCaslin farm) for the benefit ot the institution; provi Ing lor the distribution of certain money and funds in the treasury ot the incorporated town ot Clinton, Vermillion County. Consideration of the general appropriation bill was resumed on the Bth lust., but, although two hours’time was consumed, no changes were made materially affecting the amount of the appropriations. Pending the consideration the Senate took a recess for the purpo e ot allowing a committee to make a change in the phraseology of the bill, at'er which the constitutional rule was suspended to allow tho bill to tie read the third time. The bill finally passed. The House bill legalizing the issue of gravel road bonds in Wells County was passed under a Huspens'on of the rules. In the House the bill allowing security on lie.uor-dealers’ bends to be released upon j>ctition to the court as other sureties are released, passed. Sena or Meyers’ bill providing for tho establishment of an Apjiellate Court of live jud.es at an annual salary of $4,5 u each, at Indianapolis, was reported back from the committee without recommendation. After a long debate a motion to strike out the enacting clause preva led. The following bills were taken up out of their order and passed: Abolishing the office of Supreme Court Commissioner; to legalize the incorjtoratlon and official acts of the town of English, Crawford County; regulating the measures used by County Surveyors and legalizing certain official measurements therefor; to prevent the payment of wages in scrip or the selling of goods to employes at excessive rates; an act concerning the duties ot County Treasurers and Auditors, and requiring tho prompt payment of all funds duo Township Trustees. Mr. Williams introdu' ed a resolution, which was unanimously adopted, highly complimentary to Mr. Henry Georre (“I’TOgross and Poverty"), and extending to him the courtesies of the House. The same gentleman introduced a resolution, which was also adopted, allowing H. C. Darnel), Clerk of the House, S4OO for extra work in preparing the calendars for the regular and special sessions. Mr. Pendleton called up the bi fl to appropriate David 8, Munson 12,600 for lightning-rods rut on the Insane Hospital, which had twice before failed for want of a constitutional majority, and it was passed. The Governor signed the bill prohibiting the importation of foreign labor lute Indiana. Senator Sellers, the Chairman of the special committee appointed before the end of the regular session to investigate the accounts of Huffstetter, the deposed Assistant Secretary, presented a report to the Senate on the 9th inst., showing that Huffstetter had, on forgi d warrants, drawn on the account of Ezra 0. Knowles, an enrolling clerk, the sum of $45; on Senator Hillegass, $100; on Senator May. $ 6; on Senator Shiveley, $80; and on Senator Adkin°on. SIOO, making the total amount of his peculations, besides tho overdrafts of ills own salary, $341. ’ The sums drawn bv Mr. Huffstetter from the treas ry upon fraudulent warrants and orders," the committee stated, "have been covered back into the State Treasury or repaid to tho losers by his dish most transactions. While this lias been done voluntarily and without any agreement upon the part of the losers by Huffstetter’s transactions, still this restitution was but an act of simple justice to men whom Huffstetter had wronged, and it can no in any way jusi tfy an outrage com mitt d before’the eyes of this Sena e, and which has now been brought to the knowledge of the entire State. We, therefore, call the attention ot tho Prosecuting Attorney of the Criminal Court of Marion County to the facts above set forth, that lie may take such steps as may further the ends of justice." The report ot the committee w- s adopted unanimously. In the House, the general appropriation bill was reported back from the Senate with the various amendments made to it. A motion to concur in the amendments made by the Senate was defeated by a vote of 36 to 60. The Speaker appointed as the House members of the conference committee on the bill Messrs. McMullen and Brownlee. Senator Magee presented a report to the Senate, on the 10th Inst, from the Finance Committee on the general appropriation bill A compromise on the Senate amendments had been agreed upon by the committee. The changes were explained by the members of the committee, and the Senate concurred in the rei ort of the committee. The House did likewise. Senator Willard tendered his resignation of the Finance Committee and it was accepted. In the House tne following bills were passed: Winter’s bill regarding decedents' estates; tho bill authorizing the citizens of any county td form voluntary associations for the purpose od the insurance of property from damage by fire or lightning; McCullough's bill providing that! incorporated towns and cities may, if they so> desire, employ Township Assrssors to make local assessments and County Treasurers to collect their municipal taxes, without providing special officers for these purposes; Brown’s bill providing that polling-places on election dayk shall be opened at 6 o’clock a. m; Mr. Wilson introduced a bill to reorganize the State b nevolent institutions on a non-partisan basis, which, on motion, was referred to a committee; Mr. Copeland introduced a resolution denouncing Cleveland for sending Gen. Lawton, an "unhung rebel,” to Russia. The resolution was proc ptly tabled. 'J he Governor signed the bill regulating the practice of medicine, surgery, snd obstetrics. The bill provides that any person desiring to practice xn die ne or surgery shall procure from the Clerk of the Circuit Court a license, to secure which he must file an affidavit showing graouat on in some reputable medical college: or he shall present the affidavit of two reliable freeholders that he has practiced medicine in the State for ten years. The bill limiting the rental charges for telephones to $3 a month passed the Senate on the 11th inst., after a Ion? debate. Senator McCullough stated that there had been something said about the lobbying of telephone companies to defeat tne bill There had been no money used, he believed, but he said teat he had se n letters and telegrams from employes of the House demanding money fiomthe telephone compmies for the defeat of the bi 1, giving thd names of the members and tho sums they demanded After the passage of the bill an investigation was ordered into McCullough's intimation of the use of money to defeat the biiL In the House, the regular order was the consideration of Senate bills on third reading. Senator Hillegass' bill compelling liens, deeds, and mortgages to be recorded within ten days after they have been delivered was variously discussed and defeated, t-enator Rohm's bill to amend the act concerning the taxation of unplatted tra< te of lands with n the city limits was read a third time and defeated. Senator Fon ke’s bill prohibit ng the use of dynamite and other explos.ves for felonious purposes and provid ng strict penalties tor the violators of its provisions whs def< ated Sena or Hillegass’ bill to amend the present law regarding the State printing was read. Mr. M< ck explained that, in accordance with a special message from the Governor on the subject, this bill had been drawn to cut off certain unnecessary printing, and that it would save the State about $20,0 o a year. Passed. The House took cognizance of Senator McCullough's statements about money being u ed to br .be members of the House io vote againbt the telephone bill, and appointed a committee to Investigate the matter.