Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 February 1891 — INDIANA LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LEGISLATURE.

Twe only measure that got throngfi the Ker ate, February 5, on its the statute books was Senator Shoekney’s bill looking) io the breaking of pools and trusts. Ravine seen absent several days on account of sickness, the Senate asked unanimous eonlent to consider the measure, which was dveft, and ft was read the third time by' lections. The main provisions are that alt rusts, pw-li and combinations tending to* prevent full and free competition in the production, manufacture or sale of any artilie produced in any State or country, that seek to regulate the production of price, of uiy commodity, or tend in any way to create- a monopoly, are'declared to be conspiracies to defraud the public, unlawful, against public policy and void. Any person entering into such combination as principal, stockholder or agent is made guilty of conspiracy :o defraud, and upon conviction shall lie fined not less than SI,OOO nor more than SltkOOO. It is provided that if any corporation or any officer or stockholder, as such, becomes a member of any pool- or trust, such corporation shall forfeit its charter. It is further provided that any person or corporation damaged by any pool' or trust may bring suit and recover twicedie amount of the damage sustained. The following bills were passed by the Rouse: Reducing the charge for transcribing short-hand notes in criminal cases from ten cents to U cents per one hundred words*, and providing that, where a litigant is unable to pay for this service the court may;. In its discretion, direct the work to be done, the county to bear the expense; providing; lor the change of venue in all civil actions;. For the better protection of miners, regulating the weighing of coaL and providing for Uniform screens; to prevent persons not bo entitled from wearing budges of tho Grand Army, Loyal Legion, Union Veterans and Sons of Veterans, and imposing a fine of not 'tore than S2O for such offense. Thkke was such a slight attendance of Doth houses. February 6. that no business of importance was transacted.

Mb. McGinnis’ bill to extend tho operation of the metropolitan police law to all cities in the State having a population of 20,000 or more, came up for a second reading in the Legislature Feb. 9. The committee on cities and towns recommended that the bill bo amended so as id make the law applicable to all cities having above 14,000 children enrolled in their public schools. Several senators, especially Mr. Hubboll, were curious to know why such an amendment was proposed, and what the number of school children had to do with the police law. It was brought by successive questions that Terre Haute wants the law, but Fort Wayne doos not, but that each has more than 29,000 inhabitants, lu this predicament the committee, with a desire to please everybody, cast about for some means of giving Terre Haute, with 31,000 people, the law It wanted, and at the same time making it Inapplicable to Fort Wayne, with 35,000. The following bills were Introduced: To require building and loan associations to file statements of their condition semjannually with the Auditor of State; to abolish the office of State Librarian and place the library in charge of tho custodian of public buildings; providing for boards of health of, throe members in cities of 15,000 inhabitants or over. This bill is very long, and was prepared by the medical society or tho faculty of the Indiana Medical College; fixing the salaries of w ardens of State prisons at $2,>OO, and deputy wardens at $1,200 per tnnum.

Mr. Ewing’s bill to abolish the State Board of Agriculture and establish In Its place a "State Agricultural and Industrial Board” was a special order for 11:30 9’clock, but it was again postponed. In tho Senate, Feb. 10, bills were introduced for the creation of board of highway engineers. Bills passed authorizing boards of trustees of Incorporated towns to erect workhouses; making it unlawful to enter a horse to compote for a prize under an assumed name. Bill permitting paupers to select their own phy-, sfclan Indefinitely postponed. In the Honso the boiler inspection bill was defeated. Bill prohibiting tho shooting of ducks between sunset and sunrise passed; also bills to prevent the dealing In margins on farm products; to punish persons for bringing into tho State stolen goods, etc. In the Senate, Feb. IT, the Terre Haute metropolitan police bill was passed. Appellate Court bill engrossed. The House went into committee of the whole on tho fee and salary bill. Twentyfour sections out of seventy-five considered. No changes made except Deputy State Auditor and Law ’ Librarian which have been increased to $1,500* each.