Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1885 — THE LEGISLATURE’S WORK. [ARTICLE]

THE LEGISLATURE’S WORK.

The Important Bills Defeated and the New Laws Enacted. [lndianapolis Journal.J Daring the regular and special sessions of the Legislature there were 948 bills introduced, and of this number 150 were Sassed. There were only two acts vetoed y the Governor —the militia bill and Senator L. M. Campbell’s bill providing that persons having claims against the State might bring suit in the Supreme Court. Both measures were vetoed by the Governor for the reason that he believed they contained unconstitutional provisions. Among the important bills which were defeated were the act creating an Appellate Court; Mr. Foulkes bill requiring that the effects of alcoholic stimulants and narcotics should be taught in the public schools; Mr. McMullen s, requiring foreign fire insurance companies to pay losses within sixty days; several bills reduciDg the emoluments of the Supreme Court .Reporter; Mr. Mosier's and Mr. Best’s fee and salary bills; Mr. Lindsay’s, exempting homesteads and personal property from execution; Mr. Jameson’s, regulating the business of banking; Mr. Engle’s, prohibiting the giving of passes by railroads to judicial and legislative officers; Mr. Sayre’s, reducing the number of members oc the Legislature; Mr. Foulke’s, relating to a State civil sendee system; Mr. Foulke’s, removing the legal disabilities of married women; Mr. Bailey’s, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of oleomargarine. The joint resolutions for the amendment of the Constitution which were adopted were Representative Krueger’s, fixing the terms of county officers at four years, and making them ineligible to re-election; and the resolution striking from the constitution the word “white" wherever it appears. The bills enacted and signed by the Governor number 148, and are as follows;

Anpropriat ns from the general fund for the salaries and expenses of State officers and deputies, Supreme Court judges and officers, circuit judges, prosecuting attorneys, executive and administrative departments, the various State institutions, the payment of interest on bonds, etc.,and for the erection of tablets to the memory of Indiana soldiers who fell at Gettysburg. Providing that in cities of less than 10,000 inhabitants the county auditor and treasurer shall levy and collect the city taxes, and turn them over to the proper city officers. Regulating the practice of medicine, surgery, and obstetrics, and providing for the issuing of licenses to practice by the county clerk Legalizing certain records in the offices of county recorders. Appropriating $2,500 to pay on lightning-rod clajm of David R. Munson. Amending an act creating and defining the Twenty-first, Twenty-second, and Fortyseventh judicial circuits, and fixing the length of term and time of holding the courts therein, and providing for the aopointmeut of a judge of the Forty-seventn circuit; for the appointment of prosecuting attorneys for the Twenty-first and Twenty-second circuits, and declaring an emergency. Providing a means of keeping in repair certain gravel roads, pursuant to an act of March 8, 1865. Amending section 2155 of the Revised Stantes of 1881, providing that appeal bond shall be filed in IeBB than ten days after the decision is ni de, unless the court, for good cause shown, shall direct it to be filed within one year. Relieving Calvin J. Jackson, of Hancock County, who lost $1,209,70 State money by the failure of the Indiana Banking Company. Distributing undistributed money in the Treasury of the town of Clinton, Vermillion County. Amending section 318 of the statutes of 1881, so that in certain civil cases where the defendant cannot be reaehed, a notice of the date and nature of suit shall be published in anewspaper of general e rculation. Concerning gravel and macadamized roads. Incorporating the town of Washington, Wavne County. Relieving Jess*. V Avery, Cornelius B. Wodsworth, Wm. B. Flick, Wm. H. Speer, Robert N. Harding, Israel J. Connarroe, Joseph L. Hunton, Thomas W. Janeway, Chris (irube, and Harvey R. Mathews, Trustees of the several townships of Marion County, of the responsibility for various sums of township money lost by the failure of banks.

Concerning the election, compensation, and duties of the Attorney General of the State. Airpropriating SIO,OOO for the relief of Mrs. Sarah J. May. Legalizing the incorporation of the town of Laconia, Harrison County. Fixing the time for holding court in the Tenth judicial circuit. Amending section 3333 of the Revised Statutes of 1881, concerning the incorporation of towns.

Legalizing certain assessments for the construction of the Bluff ton and Bedford and Bluffton and Warren gravel roads. Legalizing elections and official acts of the Board of Trustees of the town of Rockport. Legalizing the incorporation and elections of the town of Owensville, Gibson County. Appropriating $60,000 to pay the expenses of the extra Beasion of the present Legislature. Amending section 2108 of the Revised Statutes of 1881, so aa to outlaw the English sparrow. Reorganizing the Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home and Asylum for Feeble-minded Children, and providing that three trustees, one of them a woman and the others honorably discharged Union soldiers, shall be appointed by the Governor as a board of management Legalizing contracts and proceedings of the Board of Trustees ot the town of Brownstown. Legalizing acts ot the town of Cannelton. Regulating the term of office of county commissioners. Requiring the full monthly payment of employes engaged in manual or mechanical labor, and making the claims of such employes preferred claims. Authorizing the appointment of short-hand reporters for courts of record in counties with 10,000 or more inhabitants, and fixing the compensation at not more than $5 for each day actually employed.. Prohibiting gambling on fair grounds. Prohibiting Sunday base-ball playing where any fee is charged, and prescribing a fine of not more than $25 for violation. Prohibiting forced contributions of money or property from employes by corporations or their officers. Amending sections 1,2 and 3 of an act entitled “An act to create the Forty-third judicial district, and to provide for holding terms of court in the Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Forty-third circuits."

Authorizing county commissioners to make suitable provision from the county treasury for the education of pauper children. Defining ths Tenth, Twelfth and Forty-ninth judicial districts, fixing the times and terms of courts and providing for the appointment of a judge and two prosecuting attorneys. Levying a tax and authorizing a loan of $500,000 for the completion of the new State House. Legalizing the incorporation and acts of the town of Ligonier, Noble County. Lcga izing certain acts of the Common Council of Lawrenceburg. Permitting amendment of pleadings before justices' courts, before or during trial; new proof will not thereby be required by the opposing party. Appropriating $465 to pay the claim of John D. Works, Gustave Husthsleiner, and the heirs of George B. Sieeth. Defining the Twenty-fifth judicial circuit, creating the Forty-sixth, fixing time of courts and providing for the appointment of a judge for the Forty-sixth, and a prosecuting attorney for the Twenty-fifth. Legalizing certain sales of real estate by commissioners in proceedings by an executor or an administrator to sell such real estate. Authorizing a temporary loan of $600,000 and making provision tor finding the outstanding loan at a lower rate of interest. Abolishing offices of city treasurer and city assessor in cities of over 70,000 people, and providing for the discharge of their daties by the county treasurer and township assessor, respectively. Legalizing the incorporation of the town of Alamo, Montgomery County, Legalizing the incorporation of the town of New Haven, Allen County. the incorporation of fish ladders, defining misdemeanors and providing penalties.

Making tbe State Board of Health consist of five members instead of four, and providing for the election of a Secretary of the Board, who shall serve two years.

Legalizing the construction of the Daniel Heath free gravel road. Authorizing municipal corporations to purchase and hold real estate for sanitary purposes, and legalizing purchases heretofore made. Fixing time of holding courts in Thirty-fourth Judicial Circuit and repealing laws in conhict therewith.

Amending section 5206 of the Revised Statutes of 1881, so that claims not exceeding SSO for work performed at any time within the previous six months, by laboring men or mechanics, shall be treated as preferred debts against any corporation or person failing, assigning or having his business suspended by creditors. Prontbiting a tax levy of more than 33 cents on the hundred dollars in counties having a voting population of more than 26,000. Prohibiting the buying and selling of votes, and prescribing penalties of disfranchisement and ineligibility to office. To reapportion the Congressional districts. Fixing the time of holding circuit courts in the Fourth judical circuit. Concerning the building of bridges across boundary streams between counties. Appropriating $30,000 to the Indiana University.

Reapportioning the State for legislative purposes. I'roposipg an amendment to Section 2 of the Constitution, so that no county officer except surveyor shall be eligible to a re-election for the term of office immediately succeeding a term already served by him. Authorizing county commissioners in certain cases to construct free turnpikes instead of free bridges built, and authorizing boards to pay for bridges within the corporate limits of towns and cities. Prexentine the spread of Canadian thistles. Providing for the reading in open court of the full record of each day’s proceedings in the circuit courts. Fixing time of holding court in the Thirtyfifth judical circuit Validating acknowledgments taken before officers whose commissions had theretofore expired. Extending for thirty years mining corporations existing before the State Constitution took effect. Legalizing continuances of terms ot courts heretofore and after this time, beyond the expiration of the time fixed by law, where trials may be in nrogress at the time of such expiration. Giving powers concerning libraries in certain cities, formerly held by town trustees, to common councils, after such towns may have become cities.

Legalizing certain acts of the Brown county commissioners. Fixing time of holding and length of terms of courts in Twenty-fifth, TweDtv-eighth, Fortysixth, and Second judicial circuits. Legal zing certain sales of real estate made without appraisements by majority votes of common councils of incorporated cities. Appropriating $(100,1)00 for the completion of the three new asylums for the insane. Creating the Forty-eighth judicial circuit and fixing the time of holding courts in the Twentysixth, Twenty-eighth, and Forty-sixth circuits. Granting certain rights and franchises to the Union Railway Company of Indianapolis. Concerning drainage, repealing certain laws, prohibiting the obstruction of drains, etc. Increasing the bond of the State Treasurer to $700,000. Appropriating $125,000 to defray the expenses of the regular session of the General Assembly. Appropriating $3,000 to repair that portion of tho Asylum for the Insane damaged by fire. Prohibiting aliens from holding titles to real estate in Indiana. Providing for the removal of obstructions from highways.

Legalizing the incorporation of the town of Bourbon, Mashall county. Fixing the time of holding courts in the Thir-ty-sixth judicial circuit. Legalizing the incorporation of the town of Ambia, Benton county. Appropriating $3,900 to maintain the Indiana exhibit at New Orleans. ' Legalizing the incorporation of the Union Loan and Savings Company of Marlon county. Authorizing the levying of a township tax of 1 per cent, to support libraries. ( hanging the t me of holding courts in the Forty-third, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth judicial circuits. Legalizing acts of notaries public whose commissions had expired. Appropriating $25,901.64 to pay W. B. Burford for public printing. Appropriating $1,013 for the payment of a claim of Carlon & Hollenbeck. Legalizing the appointment and acts of trustees in certain cases, Appropriating $40,000 to Purdue University for the years 1813 and 1834. Amending the act incorporation the town of Vermont, Jennings county. Appropriating SO,BOO for the erection of a new building at the Reform School tor Boys. Regulating the business of building, loan fund, and savings associations. Providing means for securing the health and safety of persons employed in coal mines, prescribing penalties for violations, and repealing all conflicting lawa Empowering voluntary associations incorporated under the laws of the State for establishing homes for aged females, to receive into such homes aged men also. Providing that interest on county bonds may be paid annually or semi-annually. Prohibiting the importation of foreign contract labor.

Amending the act providing for the organization and perpetuity of voluntary associations. Prohibiting discriminations by telephone companies. Authorizing school trustees to pay out of the special school fund money for real'estate purchased for a public library. Appropriating $3,184.69 to reimburse the city of Indianapolis on account of money expended in the construction of the Reformatory sewer. Appropriating $16,990.71 for the payment of certain claims of members of the Indiana Legion. Authorizing boards of county commissioners to accept gravel roads and maintain the same.

Amending the law providing for the taxation and registration of dogs. Amending section 32 of the election contest law, so as to give the judges the right to examine ballots after the same have been read and announced by the inspectors. Providing a contingent fund of $2,000 per month to be disbursed by the Superintendent of the Hospital for the Insane. Requiring plats of new additions to cities or incorporated towns to bo submitted to council or trustees before being recorded. Authorizing owners of land separated by railroads to construct wagon and drive ways over such railroads; also, releasing railroads from liability for stock killed on account of Buch driveways. Legalizing a deed for certain land in Randolph county made by Aquilla Jones, as Treasurer of the State to William M. Lock. Authorizing the county treasurer, auditor and recorder jointly to accept offers of compromise touching delinquent lands in certain cases, by consent of the Auditor ot State. Legalizing the organization ot the Zionsville and Pike Township Gravel-road Company. Allowing county commissioners of different counties to unite in the purchase of grounds and buildings for an orphans’ home. Providing that any person may appeal from a decision of county commisioners, in claims against counties, to the circuit or superior courts.

Authorizing universities and colleges to acquire, hold and dispose of real estate. Regulating weights and measures. Giving to all people, without regard to race or previous condition, the advantages of restaurants, inns, eating-houses, barber-shops, and all places of public accommodation and amusement, and providing penalties for violation. Authorizing commissioners of counties with uncompleted court-houses to issue bonds to raise funds for their completion. Fixing the time for bolding court in the Twenty-fifth judicial circuit. Authorizing the councils of cities and boards of trustees of incorporated towns to pass and enforce ordinances requiring contractors to receipt estimate records within thirty days after payment of street improvement claims. Appropriating sl,'*>o to pay the indebtedness of the State to the estate of Daniel Hough. Requiring foreigminsurance companies operating in the State to have a paid-up capital of $250,000, of which SIOO,OOO must be invested in stocks created under the laws of the United States, making the Auditor of State the attorney of the State on the St ite’s dealing with such companies, empowering him at any time to examine their accounts, and defining the duties of agents of such companies. Creating and defining the Twenty-first, Twen-ty-second and Forty-seventh Judicial Circuits, fixing the length of terms and times of holding courts therein, and providing for the appoint-

ment of a Judge for the Forty-aeventh and a Prosecuting Attorney for -the Twenty-second. Prohibiting the employment of children under 12 years of age in mines and manafactorries. Appropriating $406.50 to pay the claim of Patrick Kirkland. Amending an act concerning proceedings in civil cases so as to exempt the State officers and Prosecuting Attorneys from liability for costs in State cases. * Empowering County Commissioners to appropriate money lor the erection of soldiers’ monuments. To amend an act authorizing the formation of companies for the detection of horse-thieves. Providing for the printing of reports from institutions biennially. Providing for the election and qualification of Justices of the Peace. Appropriating $54,000 to pay John Martin for brick work at the Insane Hospital. Concerning contracts made by order of the common councils of cities for the improvement of streets and a •leys. Authorizing the Governor to issue to Frank Coffern a patent for certain railroad land. To amend an act relating to opening streets and alleys and for improving water-courses. Concerning the relocation of county seats. To amend an act providing for the appraisement and purchase and conversion of toll roads into free roads.

Regulating the reports on State school revenue by county treasurers. To amend an act concerning apportionment of decedents’estates. For the relief of Lewis S. Calder. To empower the trustee of Cool Spring township, In LaPorte county, to enter satisfaction in favor of said township against Henry Keifer and Robert Curran. Allowing mechanics’ liens on railroads and bridges. Making appropriations for the State government and its institutions. To regulate the rental of telephones. To amend an act concerning highways and the supervision thereof. For the relief of commissioners of drainage ana contractors thereof. Requiring railroad corporations and other persons controlling railroads to fence their right of way and railroad track. \ To enroll the late soldiers, their widows and orphans, residing in the State of Indiana.