Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1889 — INDIANA LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LEGISLATURE.

A WEEK’S DOINGS OF OUR STATE LAW-MAKERS. —: Resolutions OflVreil—Bills Introduced Some Passed ami Others Defeated—A Summary of the Proceedings. Feb. 7.—ln the House, the Peyton- • John contest election case was considered. John was unseated bv a vote of \ 50 to 47. In the Senate the Andrews election I bill was discussed at length, seventeen of the sixty-six sections being acted upbn. A bill was passed to repeal the statute prohibiting a wife from legally becoming a surety or guarantor of any ~Dond or contract. Feb. B.—Consideration of the new election bill was continued in the Senate, the thirty-third section being reached. In the House a resolution to investigate Insane Asylum affairs was tabled by a party vote. The Indianapolis Board of Control bill was passed. Also a bill for the protection and relief of railroad employes. A bill was introduced to make it unlawful to “treat” in saloons.

Jacob P. Dunn was elected State Librarian in joint session. Feb. 9.—ln the House a bill was passed limiting bequests for charitable or religious purposes to one-fourth of the estate. The Senate devoted tlje day in considering several sections of the new election bill. Feb. 11.— Senate —After the introduction of several bills, the reading of the election bill for the purpose of ascertaining w hether or not the numerous amendments made thereto in the last few days were correctly incorporated ■was commenced and pursued until the recess for dinner. The reading was continued part of the afternoon. The remainder of the day’s session was consumed in discussion of various amendments to the bill, among them the substitute prepared by the minority, which was rejected by yeas, 21; nays, 27. Senator Barrett moved that the report of the committee be concurred in without further amendment, and that the bill be ordered engrossed. The motion was agreed to by yeas 38, nays 9. House—A bill repealing the statute making it a criminal offense to intimidate men from working or to interfere with the running of trains was ordered engrossed. A bill lessoning the power of Township Trustees was passed. A bill was introduced to legalize the marriage of Rachel Mason Coy, to Lawrence Burggs. The bill appropriating $190,000 for buildings for the feeble-minded children, with majority and minority reports thereon, was read and ordered engrossed, and made a special order for next Wednesday. The bill relating tothe Police Boards of cities of 29,000 inhabitants, on motion of Mr. Curtis, was ordered engrossed. Feb. 12.—Senate— Bills passed: To legalize the elections in the town of Booneville; appropriating $186,300 for the Indiana school for feeble-minded youth; to legalize the election of the board of directors of the Clinton Drawbridge Company. House —A number of unimportant bills were introduced and the following passed: To appropriate $60,000 for a library building at the State University; to appropriate $27,000 to the Plainfield Reform School. Feb. 13.—One of the partisan bills introduced by the Democrats, taking from the Governor the power to appoint a Geologist, Mine Inspector and Oil Inspector, was passed to engrossment in the Senate. The election bill was read a third time. * A local-option bill w'as indefinitely postponed in the House. Bills passed: Appropriating $187,000, to be used in constructing a home for feeble-minded children; making appropriations to meet deficiencies; authorizing the State Treasurer to borrow $200,000 to pay the expenses of the General Assembly.