Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1897 — THE INDIANA SOLONS [ARTICLE]

THE INDIANA SOLONS

The afreet railway bill, originating In the Senate, which abrogates the charter of the Citiaens* company in Indianapolia in 1901, besides other street railway franchises, was passed by the House Tuesday. The minority attempted to break the caucus action on the Fort Wayue charter by threatening to defeat the bill, but the Indianapolis delegation stood firm. The Fort Wayne charter amendment, which was so violently opposed, provides that the councilmen of that city shall be elected by the several wards, six of them now being council men at large. Seeing that the majority would not yield on the railway bill, only thirteen voted in the negative. The House passed the compulsory education bill, compelling schooling of children between 8 and 14 years, and the voting machine bill, the commissioners to have right to use any approved device. After an hour of constant wrangling, during which the House of Representatives was so noisy that one could with difficulty hear himself speak, that body defeated on Wednesday the bill passed by the Senate limiting street railroad fare in Indianapolis to 3 cents. Another wrangle followed on the bill amending the Fort Wayne charter so as to require all the eounciliuen to be elected by wards, but being a caucus measure the majority carried it through. The House then concurred in the Senate's amendments to the anti-trust bill and to the anti-cigarette bill, and both of the bills were sent to the Governor for his approval. For a time it looked as if a personal collision would result in the Senate over the repeal of the apportionment of 1885. The bill was passed. The House passed the prison contract labor bill, which provides that the product of the labor of convicts shall not be put on the market in competition with that of free labor, but shall be used in the State institutions. Other bills passed: Taxing insurance companies upon their receipts; requiring that chattel mortgage foreclosures be made iu the Circuit Court; permitting incorporated towns to levy a tax of 50 cents on the hundred dollars for electric light plants; to wipe out wine rooms; to prevent tli# sale of impure miners’ oils. The Senate defeated the State Board of Commerce bill for a commission to revise the laws relating to local government. The House Thursday reconsidered its vote defeating the 3-ceut car fare bill and its provisions limited to Indianapolis, and it was forced to a passage by a vote of 51 to 45. It was this bill which was bitterly fought by the Citizens' Street Railway Company. A “double" motion was made to reconsider and table, which was done. Gov. Mount appointed Hugh H. Hanna, Indianapolis; ex-Congressman George W. Cooper, Columbus; James R. Henry, Spencer, aud Senator Ellison, Fort Wayne, directors of the Indiana reformatory at Jeffersonville. Following are some of the more important bills that have been finally passed: Bill making It unlawful to sell cigarettes to any minor; new street railroad bill; bill repealing the special verdict law; pharmacy bill; general medical bill; labor commission bill; Linck anti-trust bill; the bill to give the Republicans a majority in the boards of control for the hospitals for the insane aud the institutions for the education of the blind aud the deaf and dumb; bill providing for incorporation of farmers’ live stock insurance companies; building and loan association bill. There was a whirl of excitement in the House Friday evening when the Speaker intimated that there had been an attempt to bribe oue of the clerks, aud appointed a committee of Investigation, headed by Representative Smith of Tippecanoe. It Is practically settled that there was an attempt to tamper with the bill recently passed creating the Lake County Superior Court, the object being to give it concurrent jurisdiction with the Lake Circuit Court. This was the original purpose of the bill, but amendments, both in House and Senate, gave the court limited jurisdiction. Suspicion points to a former member of the House from a northern county as the principal In the attempted bribery. Several of the prominent city ministers appeared on the floor of the Senate to urge the passage of the antiquart shop bill. The bill was passed and transmitted to the Governor for his approval. The bill requires the venders of liquors by the quart to secure the same license required of saloonkeepers and, in fact, places them under all the restrictions provided against the traffic. Wholesalers, when selling ia package* of five gallons, alone are exempt. Gov. Mount receded from his determination not to accept bills for consideration passed after 12 m. Saturday night, and Monday the general appropriation bill was passed by the Senate and House and transferred to him. The Governor approved the 3-cent fare bill, limited to Indianapolis, and vetoed the county treasurer settlement bill and a bill intended to pave the way for contesting wills by heirs unable to pay costs. Examination showed that the cigarette bill had been tampered with, and the Governor recalled his approval, after which the bill was properly enrolled in both houses. The bill to protect township trustees from school supply sharks also passed, the Governor intimating that it would be acceptable. The Indiana Legislature adjourned at 8 o'clock, after having been in session six-ty-one days. Both houses were controlled by the Republicans. Some important measures were enacted into laws, among them being the following: A bill providing for a 3-cent street car fare in Indianapolis; a general medical law patterned after the Ohio law; a law to encourage the establishment of domestic insurance companies; a law abolishing the expense fund and withdrawal charges of building and loan associations; the repeal of the special verdict law; a law authorizing the Attorney General to sue the Vandalia Railway on an old State claim for $1,000,000; a law abolishing quart shops; a law providing for compulsory education; the placing of aH the benevolent institutions in the hands of Republicans, and a law providing for the conversion of the Southern Indiana penitentiary into a reformatory on the Elmira plan.

“Johnny,” said the farmer, “go down in the cellar and draw a pitcher of that sweet elder. Take a candle with you.” “Don’t need no candle,” said Johnny. “Ah, my little man,” said the minister. who was staying over night, “you must have quite an accurate judgment to have Ailed the pitcher in the dark Without running It over.” “Aw,” said Johnny, “it ain’t no trick at all. When It got up to the first joint of my thumb I stopped."—Cincinnati Enquirer.