Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1893 — INDIANA LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LEGISLATURE.

The Houso got down to business Monday and passed a number of measures of Importance. Tho most important was that authorizing the city of Indianapolis to compel the Citizens’ Btreet Railway Cornpan v to Save between tracks where there fs a ouble track and two feet on the outside of the tracks. Tho Houso, also, passed the Evansvillo charter bill, giving tho city of Evansville a government similar to that under which the oily of IndlanapeHs operates. The bill now only requires the Governor's signature to become a law. Tho Fort Wayno charter bill also pi ssed. - Another bill passed under-suspension of tho rules, was that granting the city of New Albany the right to purchase the waterworks of that city. Another bill which passod under suspension of the rules was Mr, Sulzor’s bill to abate the Roby race track by declaring it a nuisance. The law makes the second offense a felony, punishable by from two to live yoars in the penitentiary. Tho Senate spent most of the day in hearing oommitteo reports, and a great grist of pet measuros were killed oft, while a few were recommended for passage, one of tho most important being that appropriating SIOO,OOO for un addition to tho School for the Feeble Miuded at Fort Wayno. The Senate adopted the following resolution offered by Mr. Wlshard: "Wheroas, Beniamin Harrison, the retiring President or the United Statos, will be aooorded a public rooeptlon by the citizens of Indianapolis upon his return to this city, upon Mnrun 6. 1808; "Therefore. Be it resolved by the Senate.tho House of Representatives oonourrlng. that a committee of thirteen each, from the Senato and House, be appointed to co-operate with the citizens' committee of Indianapolis In such reception, in order that the people of tho State of Indiana may participate with the eitizens of Indianapolis in according to President Harrison a cordial and popular reception upon his return to our midst. Tuesday tho House bill providing a revenue for the yoars 1893-'94, was substituted for the Sonate measure and passed by the Senate.

Tins Honnto, also, passod tho Houso bill extonding tho terms of township .offloors until 1N94 and changing tho time of holding election from May until November. During tho consideration as a oommtttoe of tho wholo of the gonoral appropriation bill in tho House Kopresontutlvo Johnson of Marion, sprung the claim of Mrs. Edwin May. who Is asking SB,OOO for sorvloes other lata husband as architect in construction of tho Prison North. It was defeated. Her friends will carry It to the Senate, Tho Senate bill appropriating $75,000 for tho World's Fair was cut down to $25,000. A concurrent'resolution passod appropriating $250 Tor a flag for the battlo-shlp Indiana, launched tho other day. Tho senate building and loan bill, which Is designed to fraozo out toreign corporations by compelling thorn to deposit $50,000 with the Auditor, was aclvancod to engrossment. The legislative apportionment bill approved by the Democratic caucus, was introduced. On Its fftoe tho bill gives flftyUvo Democrats and forty-five Republicans fn tips House and twonty-nlno Democrats and twonty-ono Republicans in tho Honate. There are three doubtful Senatorial districts apportioned to tho Republicans and one to the Democrats, while In the Houso there are fifty-five straight Deinoe-atlo dlstrlcia and four doubtful Republicans, so that In the future there Is a possibility that there will bo thirty-two Domooratle Senators and llfty-nlno Democratic Representatives.

The Houso. Wednesday, called up the caucus legislative apportionment bill and orowdodlt through under tho previous question. The balldlng and loan association bill, which was backed by a powerful lobby of looal associations, passed the House, and was submitted to the Governor. It Is ono of the most important ptecos of legislation marking tho present session, and its effoots will be far reaching. It Is. In fact, a boycott of all foreign minding and loan associations oporttlng In the State, as it compels thorn to deposit $50,000 with tho State Auditor as a guarantee <jf financial solidity, besides which tho foreign associations are subjected to examination, and aro required to nay 3 per oent. on gross receipts from Indiana members Into the State Treasury. The Senate defeated the bill presented by tho Democratic Editorial Asacclatlon asking for a modification of tho presont criminal llbol law. Giving tho editor, charged with criminal llbol. tho right to show by subsequent publication that thoro was no malloo in the original publicity. The Fort Wuyne charter bill, sending it baek to tho House for concarroneo In slight amendments. Tho charter oxempts the olty from metropolitan police control. Senator Magee's bill to mako tho minimum price of contract prison labor 95 cents per day was defeated. A great mass of bills was rushed through by both Houses, wd tho wav Is now easy for a final adjournment on Monday next.

The bill regulating punishment In penal institutions.' which Is approved by the Prison Wnrdons, passed both Houses Thursday. Under its provisions no punishment can be administered until twelve hours elapse after the eommlssion of the otTonse, snu then only in presence of tho physician and Chaplain. Tho oonviet is given the right to make a defense, which deftmso is mndo part of tho record. Tho Honate workod all day on gonoral appropriations. Tho House appropriation of #BO,OOO to the World’s Fair was increased to $75,000.. Tho House passed McHugh's metropolitan police bill. This gives non-partisan police to South Bend, Now Albany, Richmond, Lafayette, Logsnsport, Elkhart, Muncie, Michigan City, Anderson, and JoiTorsonvillo. Tho House hill also passed making any oomblne to restrict tratfo, to limit production. to prevent competition and to fix prices on food unlawful. Tho penuity calls for 15,000 fine and prohibition from continuing Inbnsiness. Daly’s road bill ulso passed, making an application of tho saving-and-toan-asspoiatlon principle to tho building of roads. The Government sent to tho Senato the names of Editor J. J. Hiiigas of Muncie and General George F. McGinnis, of Indianupollsl as Trustees of the Roform School, The Senate spent ull of Friday considering the general appropriation bill. The House passed the following bills: Extending tho ten-year installment plan of paying for municipal improvements to property owners whose assessment is loss than SSO; bill extending the ehfldren'a fuardtans' act to Terre Haute, Evansville, ort Wayne, Richmond. Lafayette, and other oitles; to permit building associations to increase their capital stock; to givo cities title and custody of school property taken In by extension of their limits; empowering Oxford, Clinton County, to buv a gas -plant and water works; providing that the cost of purely locql sewors in cities and towns shall be assessed against abutting property owners; pnrmitling city council* in cities of 21.000 and upward to compel property owners to make sower, water, and gas connections to the curb before streets are improved.

Minor State Items. A company has been organized at Bedford for procuring a telephono system for that town. The business houses in some cases reach out for a mile, and merchants see the need of some communication. George Lins ay, while at work tearing down an old building at Emlson, Knox County, was caught under a falling wall and crushed to death. It Is said that dynamite is used to kill fish in White and Eel Rivers near Worthington, and that tbe people are afraid to report to the authorities. Fish is being shipped away in barrels, so heavy are the catches. All of the 812,000 for the new bank at Lafontatne, Wabash County, has been subscribed by fourteen farmers. The President is Jehu Banister; Vice President, John W. Harper; cashior, J. G. Harper of Washington, O. Porter County has four lunatics in her county jail awaiting admission to to the overcrowed Logansport hospital. The proposed consolidation of gas plants In the Indiana gas belt is a certainty. The syndicate Is composed of wealthy New York and Chicago capitalists. Harley Hartley of Oakville, Delaware County, ate a pound of cheese aqd thirty-four bananas on a wager, his opponent devouring thirty-three bananas and giving up tho race. In spite of the frightful manner whlcty they are imposed upon, women I tive longer than mem