Indianapolis Journal, Volume 49, Number 41, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 February 1899 — Page 4

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THE DAILY JOURNAL FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1800. Washington Office— 15C3 Pennsylvania Avenue Telephone Call*. Business Office 238 | Editorial Rooms 86 TERMS or S(JBSCRtFTIOH. DAILY BY MAIL. Daily only, one month $ .70 Daily only, three months 2.f*o Dally only, one year 8.00 Daily, including Sunday, one year 10.00 Sunday only, one year 2.00 WHEN FURNISHED BY AGENTS. Daily, per week, by carrier 15 cts Sunday, single copy 5 cts Daily and Sunday, per week, by carrier 20 cts _ WEEKLY. Per year SI.OO Reduced Rate* to Cliilim. Subscribe with any of our numerous agents or send subscriptions to the JOURNAL NEWSPAPER COMPANY, Indianapolis, Ind. Persons sending the Journal through the malls In the United States should put on an eight-page paper a ONE-TENT postage stamp; on a twelve sixteen-page paper a TWO-CENT postage stamp. Foreign postage is usually double these rates. AH communications intended for publication In this paper must. In order to receive attention, be accompanied by the name and address of the writer. *=--■ - ■ ■ - THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL Can be found at the following places: NEW YORK—Astor House. CHICAGO—PaImer House, P. O. News Cos., 217 Dearborn street. Great Northern Hotel and Grand Pacific Hotel. CINCINNATI—J. R. Hawley & Cos., 154 Vine street. LOUISVILLE—C. T. Deerlng, northwest corner or Third and Jefferson streets, and Louisville Book Cos., 256 Fourth avenue. f*'T. LOUlS—Union News Company, Union Depot. "Washington, and. c.—Riggs House, Ebbitt House and Willard’s Hotel. In the city of Manila meant the massacre of all those opposed to him. The American George Washington was never guilty of The rising which Aguinaido had planned that sort of thing. The Legislature is threatened by evidence from other States to show that the township council is not successful. It would not be regarded as successful by those whose schemes of pilfering are interfered with. The Minneapolis Tribune hears that Senator Pettigrew could have been induced to vote for the treaty. It is well that he was not induced. A record of complete badness should not have been broken by one right vote. The first man to assail the proposed local government legislation in print was a notorious agent of supply companies in Shelby county who had led scores of township trustees into disgrace and barely escaped punishment himself. The fight in Chicago between Mayor Harrison and ex-Governor Altgeld promises to be very bitter. As Altgeld is without a redeeming quality as a public man the better sentiment will be In favor of Harrison. The fight would afford the Republicans a great opportunity if the organization could rid itself of the influence of a corrupt gang and Tannerism. If there were county councils county commissioners would not contract for supplies for county officers until the officers had made application for them, and they would not purchase until they had advertised as the law requires. The trouble is that under the pressure of dealers in supplies, and bad precedents, commissioners in some counties ignore the laws enacted for their guidance.

The country will approve the action of the President in convening a court of inquiry to investigate General Miles’s statements regarding the meat furnished the army during the war. The matter has assumed such a phase that the honor of General Miles and of other officers and citizens is involved, and nothing short of a thorough investigation will answer. There is nothing in the order reflecting on General Miles personally, ami neither he nor his friends should object that he is to be given an opportunity to make his charges good. For more than thirty years few men in this country were so bitterly denounced as was John Sherman by the Democratic press generally. Just now some of the Democratic papers are applauding him as a wise and patriotic man because, at the close of a tpost useful life, he is finding fault with the party which he has done so much to sustain. Whatever John Sherman may say in the days of his feebleness, the intelligent people of the country will never forget that the part he did in bringing the United States to specie resumption was as important as tho service of General Grant which gave the country Appomattox. From present indications the Legislature will treat the State benevolent and penal institutions more liberally than the last one did. and will make needed appropriations more Whatever it may do in regard to appropriations, the work of the commission appointed by the Governor and the very thorough and comprehensive report made by Representative Roots has given it a better understanding of the condition and needs of the various institutions than any other legislature has had since they were established. In view of the great amount of intelligent labor devoted to the preparation of the report, the Legislature should not fail to avail itself of the information it contains. ' One of the easiest bills to be passed by any Congress is that appropriating large sums of money for river and harbor improvements, some of which is expended where it is of no usei. It has been next to impossible in recent years to get a bill through the House appropriating money for the construction of public buildings, no matter how much they are needed. Indianapolis and other large cities are practically without anything like adequate public buildings, yet it seems next to impossible to get an appropriation for one. It would be easier to get a million dollars to waste in an effort to make White river navigable than to get as much money for a public building for a postoffiee, the courts and pension and revenue oifices. There is no city of 30,000 people in the country where it is necessary to purchase stamps in one building and to mail the letters in another. A few nights ago a farmer in Hamilton county had a fine flock of sheep ruined by dogs, which killed nearly two hundred outright and injured about seventy-flve more. The law of this State gives the owner of sheep killed or maimed by dogs a claim for damages against the township, which the trustee must pay out of the dog fund. This fund is made by taxes paid by the owners of dogs in the township. In the present case the claim will amount to nearly 11,000. One of the arguments used against the antl-lynehlng bill recently killed by the Legislature was that it was not right to make innocent men liable in damage# for the acts of guilty ones. Would it be any more unjust than It is to make the owners

of Innocent dogs responsible for the depredations of a few degenerates owned by their neighbors? If law-abiding citizens cannot be held responsible for the acts of lynchers why should the harmless collie, the faithful mastiff and the law-abiding pointer be held responsible through their owners for the acts of a few sheep-killing curs? REFORM IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Considering that it affects every part of the State and Involves important changes in existing methods, the movement for reform in county and township government has encountered very little opposition. No valuable reform was ever accomplished without opposition. The Constitution of the United States encountered violent opposition when it was submitted to the people, and its fate was in doubt for many months after the adjournment of the convention that framed it. The present Constitution of Indiana was adopted over strong opposition, and every amendment to it, even the most desirable and necessary, has had a large number of votes cast against it. Objections are made to every progressive measure, and in the absence of good ground for objection imaginary reasons will be found. The opponents of reform in county and township government have been unfortunate from the beginning In the selection of their arguments and grounds of opposition. Perhaps this is because no tenable ones can be found for it. Once admit, as every one must, that the present system is antiquated, loose and violative of the principles of good government and good business methods, and it follows logically that reform is needed. The necessity of it has been felt by the people for many years and has been demonstrated at one time or another in every county’ and almost every township in the State, and now that both of the great political parties In their state conventions have pledged themselves to it there should be no doubt of its success. Os the objections brought against the pending bills not one has been well grounded or able to stand before a plain statement of facts. At first it was claimed that the movement originated in Indianapolis and that the bills were drawn by corporation lawyers. This did not touch the merits of the question, but when it was pointed out that the movement originated in the two state conventions and that the committee which drafted the bills contained representatives from every part of the State the objection fell to the ground. Then it was said that the movement was a reflection on the honesty of county and township officials, but this was easily answered by showing that it was not directed against individuals but against a bad system and faulty business methods. The people can elect county and township officers, but they cannot prescribe a form of government or the mode of doing business. Only the Legislature can do that, and when it is proposed to amend the system in the interests of the people it is a very weak argument to say that the movement is directed against individuals. One paper which has opposed the reform movement from the beginning says: “Township trustees are responsible to the people of their townships, and the people of these townships do not take kindly to outside interference.” If laws concerning township government enacted by the Legislature of Indiana are “outside interference,” then all the laws on the subject now in force are subject to that charge. Such an argument is too silly for ser.ous notice. Several papers throughout the State have been misled into opposing the bill by the statement that it provided for having all the blanks and books used in county business printed at Indianapolis. This is not true. The framers of the bill would hardly have been so unwise as to insert a provision so unfair and obnoxious. The section of the bill referred to follows: Section 46. It shall be the duty of the auditor of each county to prepare printed blanks and furnish them to persons entitled to use them in all cases where the same can be made applicable to the transaction of business under this act. It is hereby declared to be the duty of the auditor of state, by and with the advice of the attorney general, to prepare standard forms for each of said blanks, and to keep the same on file in the office of the auditor of state. It shail likewise be the duty of the auditor of state to transmit complete sets of all such blanks so prepared to the auditor of each county, and to renew the. same from time to time if necessary, recommending to the auditor of each county that such blanks be adopted by him as far as possible and used in the conduct of county business. It is declared to be the duty of the auditor of each countv and of the county commissioners to adopt such blanks as shall be prepared by the auditor of state and the attorney general of the state in all cases where the same are applicable.

The object of this section is, as far as possible. to provide uniformity in forms and blanks used in the different counties. It is made the duty of the auditor of state to prepare such forms and furnish samples of them to the auditor of each county. The county auditor is required to follow these forms, but he may have his blanks printed where he pleases. The sole object is to provide uniformity without reference to where the printing shall be done. However, in order to prevent any misapprehension on this score, the section has been amended by a proviso that nothing in it shall be construed as requiring books or blanks to he prepared at any particular place or printed by any particular person or company. So it is found that every objection to the measure is based on misapprehension or misrepresentation of facts. The re-form is needed, it is demanded by the people, and the Legislature should enact it. A NECESSARY LESSON. Aguinaido has made the task of his champions in this country a very difficult one, now that his purposes are better known. He knew very well that the administration was pursuing a concilatory course toward him. He mistook the spirit of conciliation fer irresolution or weakness. This was natural. Spain was never conciliatory unless irresolute and weak. That is Agulraldo’s conception of conciliation. It is not in the nature of the rulers who hired him to leave the Philippines, and it is not in the nature of Aguinaido and the people to which he belongs to have power and rot use it to be cruel. All the power they have any conception of is that which puts prisoners to death and uses victory to plunder the vanquished. Aguinaido knew how many soldiers General Otis has about Manila and the number of men on Admiral Dewey’s ships. The Spanish had three times as many soldiers in the Philippines when he was purchased to drop his Insurrection and leave the land. Three times as many Spaniards could not whip him; therefore he could whip onethird as many Americans in and about Manila. It is now known that that was what he planned to do. His followers in the city were to slaughter Americans and others hostile to him. his attack being the signal for massacre. His attack failed, and his assasssins, who silently murder with knives, were intimidated by the prompt action of our officers. Such was the purpose of “the George Washington of the Philippines.” The pompous Aguinaido, who has been issuing ridiculous proclamations and sending his rascally ambassador to the White House,

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, FRIDAY, FEIRUARY 10, 1899.

has learned a few things during the past week. He has learned that there is a difference between American and Spanish soldiers. He has learned what fighting is. It seems that what he has learned has amazed him. He has discovered that his horde of halfarmed, undisciplined men cannot resist the advance of a small, well-drilled and intelligent army. The United States will not probably pay him money to leave the Philippines, as did the Spanish authorities. General Otis will capture him if it is possible, and hold him a prisoner while efforts are made to secure the confidence and good will of the simple-minded Filipinos and establish a government which will insure them security in life and property and break up the oppression of the religious orders. Painful as is the result, it now seems that it was necessary to convince the fickle and ignorant people that the new power in the Philippines is irresistible in conflict and merciful and helpful in peace. The state and nonstate school controversy should occupy no further time of the Legislature beyond voting. The state people have discovered, if wise, that they can expect no more of the State, while the anti-state school advocate —that is, those reasonable men who desire a differently constituted Board of Education—must realize that they would have got more than they will now obtain if their cause had not been injured by men who assailed the life of the state schools. They should have repudiated such men at the outset. The state school men should learn from the contest that they must be content with the levy they now have and not come to the Legislature asking appropriations outside of the levy. They must be content with what they have. Moreover, the friends of the State University must come to the conclusion that Indiana will never vote the large sums of money necessary to make a university like that at Chicago or at Ann Arbor, because it is not needed. Legislation must not be attempted discriminating against nonstate colleges, which, to say the least, are as well fitted to educate, in giving graduates certificates to enable them to teach. Both will be better entitled to the names \hey bear if they should not give a degree of any kind to persons who do not take a three or four years’ course. The present need is not more persons having diplomas, but more really educated men and women as graduates. Again, since the levy was adopted there is no call for the presence of members of state school faculties as lobbyists. It is a practice which deprives such men of the respect which is their due as teachers. It is proper to appear before a committee and make a statement, but button-holing members is a different thing. Lastly, state school men or their opponents should not attempt to carry their contests into party conventions, to help or defeat men who are candidates for offices not affecting the school issue. That w T as charged in the House on Wednesday against a prominent educator. The Greensburg Review publishes the constitution of the “Decatur County Taxpayers’ League,” recently adopted by a meeting of the citizens of that county, including farmers and business men. The movement is the outgrowth of a temporary organization of persons interested in reform in township and county affairs. The preamble to the constitution reads: Believing that the masses of the people—the taxpayers—do not take the interest they should in their local government, both county and township, and believing, also, that there is a growing tendency among many of those intrusted with the management of local administrative affairs to drift more to the side of selfish gain and partisan reward than to the conducting of their trust upon honest business methods, thus imposing on the masses greater taxation than is necessary. The organization is declared to be nonpartisan and its objects to bring about reforms in local government, to establish a higher standard of official responsibility, “to discuss our own economical questions in their relation to taxation,” and "to keep a watchful eye on legislation and legislators and back them in their efforts to legislate for the interests of the masses.” The constitution provides for the establishment of branches of the league in the different townships, and the organization was completed by the election of officers. The movement is indicative of the growing interest in matters pertaining to local government and is worthy of imitation in other counties. DIBBLES IN THE AIR. ’lore Information. Tommy—Paw, what is a joint snake? •Mr. Figg—The kind a man gets from frequenting joints, 1 reckon. The (oriifeil Philosopher. “The woman who insists on a right to a seat in Congress,” said the Cornfed Philosopher, “should not expect one in a street car.” Hateful Wretch. Mrs. Secondtrip—You are just the meanest man alive! Mr. Secondtrip—Well, there is one consolation: I presume I may infer that the late lamented was meaner than I am. Unfair Proposition. Maloney—Oi offered to bet ’im a year's wurruk again ten dollars, but divil a bit wud he take it. Mahoney—Av eoorse not. Cud yez expect the man to give ye odds like that? INDIANA EDITORIAL OPINION. Quite a number of people are of the belief that a reasonable reward offered would soon result in the arrest of at least some members of the mob that lynched Marion Tyler. The people of Scott county may be expected to be blamed unless a greater effort is made to discover the perpetrators of this deed.—Scottsburg Chronicle. Indiana is proud of the fact that one of her United States senators, with voice, vote and moral strength, is ready to “take up the white man’s burden." That is Senator Fairbanks. Had Mr. Beveridge been in the Senate at the time of the vote on the ratification of the peace treaty, he, too. would have been in the same category. Indiana is in the statesmanship line with her United States senators.—Evansville Journal. Since the people have been given some figures the past few days, showing the relative cost of education at the state schools and the nonstate schools the authorities of the former have felt called on to explain They say that the per capita expense at Indiana University is not so great as the University of Chicago or Stanford University with their millions of endowment. The taxpayers of the State do not want them to be so expensive. There is no need of it. In making comparisons why do they not cite some of the great institutions of the country where economy is practiced as well as taught?—Seymour Republican. Representative Artman offered a resolution in the Hous#, Monday, requiring the threp state schools to make an itemized statement of expenditures to the Legislature, Feb. 13, and it was unanimously adopted. In speaking of the resolution, Mr. Artman said that he was informed by the auditor of state that one of these institutions had received $85,000, and the other two had received $65,000 each. The auditor of state further Informed him that the institutions refused his requests for a statement as to the expenditures of these sums on the grounds that they are private corporations. It is most remarkable that such a condition of affairs exists in our State. There are three state schools for higher and special training drawing from the taxpayers $215,000 annually from a direct tax levy (besides as

much more from other sources) and are not required by any law to make reports. If they are private corporations, how can it be constitutional to make appropriations for same? Why should not otner corporations be also favored by state taxation?—Noblesville Ledger. There is no crying need of increasing the salaries of either the Supreme or Appellate Courts of this State. They are large enough to command the very best talent, and an increase in salaries would not add a tittle to their effectiveness. The people are already overburdened with taxes, and why these officers or any other state or county officers should have their salaries increased passes the understanding of persons outside of the office-holding classes, who are much more liberally paid than persons in the ordinary walks of life. The Legislature should set Its face like flint against all schemes calculated to increase the burdens of the taxpayers and fatten the coffers of the of-fice-holders, no matter how insidious the appeals may be or from what source they come.—Elkhart Review. The custom of changing an officer's salary during his term of office is vicious in the extreme and can hardly be justified under any circumstances, yet every Legislature has this same question to contend with and it is needless to say that the tendency has been upward instead of down in salaries. In 1895 the Legislature gave the Supreme and Appellate Courts an increase of salary and the former now receives each $4,500 salary and SSOO stenographer’s allowance, and the latter $3,750 and S3OO stenographer allowance. At this salary men eminently qualified to fill the high position have earnestly sought these places and our present Supreme Bench is acknowledged to be the best in the history of the State. One of its members stands near to the people of our county; his whole official life having been devoted to the enforcement of the most rigid economy in public affairs, to keeping the compensation of public officials within reasonable limits, and we are confident the proposed increase does not meet his approval.—Winchester Herald. Just now a lobby of men deeply interested in leaving the laws as they are, are busy at Indiananolis endeavoring to kill the reform bills prepared by representatives of both parties, the purpose of which is to lessen taxation. County officers, township officers, bridge sharks, school furniture sharks, and all who have lived and grown fat by well nigh doubling taxation within eighteen years, are arrayed against these measures. Numerically, they are as one to one hundred against the number who are annually and unnecessarily robbed by taxation. But they are in earnest, and that counts a great deal. Business men in many cities and towns have met and passed resolutions indorsing the proposed reforms and urging their passage. The farmer—the man who pays by all odds the big end of the taxes—what of him? Does he want his taxes to go on increasing, year by year, as it has, not only in Franklin, but throughout the State. If you do, then remain silent. If you do not, the time for effective work is here.—Laurel Review.

THE REPUBLICAN CLUBS. Indiana Dengue Will Meet at Fort Wayne To-Night. The annual convention of the Indiana League of Republican Clubs will convene in regular session to-morrow, when the business of the league will be transacted. The Republicans of Fort Wayne have arranged for a preliminary meeting to-night, followed by a banquet at the Randall Hotel. It is expected that many short speeches will be made at this meeting. Every man mentioned as a candidate for Governor will be heard. The railroads have given one fare for the round trip, tickets being good to return until Sunday night. Most of those who will attend from this city will leave over the Lake Erie & Western at I:2<J o’clock this afternoon and will reach Fort Wayne at 6:20 this evening. Those who desire to return to Indianapolis on Saturday can leave Fort Wayne at 12:25 p. m. and reach their destination here at 6 o’clock. Connection will be made at Peru, over the Wabash. The fare for the round trip from this city is $3.60. Frank Posey and John Wingate arrived last night to accompany the Indianapolis party to Fort Wayne. President Holloway was in town over night and left this morning through Muncie for Fort Wayne. Secretary Huffman accompanied him. Union B. Hunt, secretary of state; R. A. Brown, clerk of the Supreme Court; W. L. Taylor, attorney general, Auditor of State Hart and many of the senators and representatives will attend thf convention. The headquarters of the league will be the Wayne Hotel and the banquet will be given at the Randall. All the available rooms of the Aveline Hotel have been reserved. Reports from Fort Wayne indicate that the local Republicans have done everything possible to make the meeting a success. The banquet is a new* feature of the annual meetings, but will be made the regular order for the night preceding conventions of the future. Anderson has elected one hundred delegates, who will attend for the purpose of securing the convention next year. New Albany is also a competitor for the next convention. The election of officers will occur Saturday morning. The candidates are Senator Gilbert. John A. Shunk. of Plymouth, and J. W. Egnew, of the statistician’s office. It is probable that a committee will be appointed to report a plan for a more perfect and systematic organization ',{ the league, the report to be made at the annual convention of 1900. The address of welcome at the public meeting to-night will be made by . S'' B ’ stemen - who was the candidate in the recent election for Congress. Judge Taylor will act as toastmaster at the banquet. Robert A. Hanna will assist in the oratory of the evening, responding to the toast: “Our New Senator.” Other toasts and responses have been arranged as follows: “This Day we Celebrate,” John L. Grifliths, Indianapolis, "The League and Its Work,” W. L. Taylor, attorney general, Indianapolis. “First Campaign in the New Century,” Charles S. Hernly, New Castle. "Campaign Experiences of ’96 and ’98,” James S. Do’ge, Elkhart. “Passing of Bryanism,” Charles F. Griffin. Hammond. “The Senatorial Fight,” Fred A. Joss, Indianapolis. “Expansion.” J. Frank Hanly, Ivifayette. “No Rust for the Navy,” H. C. Pettit Wabash. “Ind ana’s Republican Statesmen.” W. H. Haggard, lieutenant governor, Lafayette. “The Volunteer Soldier,” N, W. Gilbert Angola. “Down in the Pocket,” Frank Posey. * On the Banks of the Wabash,” A. M Higgins. Terre Haute. ‘Killing off Legislation,” Perry S. Newby Kmghn-lown. ’’Across from Kentucky,” Jasper Packard, New Albany. “Press in Politics,” J. Bennett Gordon, R’i him no. “What the Gas Belt did fer Republicanism,” H. A. Shideler. Marion. “Student in Politics. ’ S. W. Mansfield, president College Clubs, Indiana LawSchool. “Industrial Progress,” James E. Watson Rushville. “From Mayor to Congress,” George W. Cromer. Muncie. “The Band Wagon,” Horace Stilwell, Anderson. THE CORONER’S BILLS. L. T. Nash Allowed $71.60 for Summoning; 'Witnesses. Tiie County Commissioners yesterday considered the coroner's bill for the month of January. During the month seven autopsies were held. The law provides that $25 shall be paid for each autopsy’. One of the bills allowed was S7B to Miss Ivina 'aster f.jr services as clerk. Another of the bills was for services as constable in summoning witnesses. work perform s! liy L. T. Nash. The amount asked was $71.60. The Kindergarten Monthly. This month's number of the Kindergarten Monthly contains an interesting story on “A Grain of Wheat.” by Rev. Frederic E. Dewhurst. There are extracts from the paper on “A Beautiful City.” which was read by Mrs. John W. Kern before the Local Council of Women in January. There are art notes by Miss Roda E. Selleek and a description of a visit to a primary school of this city. In addition there are the usual departments of kindergarten and primary work, the former being a lesson on “Form" and the latter on "Arithmetic.” There is also an article on “The Relation of the Kindergarten to the Primary School,” by Mary E. Rowe. Retail Merchant*’ Meeting:. The second annual meeting of the Indianapolis Retail Merchants’ Association was held at the Commercial Club last night, where a banquet was held. At the business meeting anew constitution and by-laws were adopted. The association has been incorporated and to-day the director* will elect the officers for next year.

LOST IN THE HOUSE DEFEAT OF OXE OF THE BILES FOR REFORM OF t’OI.YTY 111 SI\ESS. 4. The Minority Report to “Indefinitely Postpone” Was Concurred In Yesterday. ■ ♦ VOTE OF 51 TO 38 RECORDED BILL PROVIDED FOR A I'XIFORM SYSTEM OF KEEPIXG ACt OUSTS. . ♦ Senator Hueg'n Contributory Xeligrenee Bill Passed—Sew Measure* Introduced—! ounulttee Meetings. The first of the county and township commission bills to receive the consideration of the House appeared yesterday afternoon, and the consideration it received was scant. The bill was the one introduced by Senator New, providing for a uniform method of keeping county and township books. The bill further provided that the blanks should be prescribed by the auditor of state. As it passed the Senate it was reported by the House committee on county and township business with two reports. The majority report recommended its passage and the minority report, signed by Mr. Reser and Mr. Green, recommended indefinite postponement. The question was first on the adoption of the minority report and Mr. Reser was recognized. He proclaimed the bill to be the worst monstrosity he ever saw. He read that portion which stated that the auditor of stale should prescribe the blank forms to be used by all county and township officers, and said he regretted he was not in the printing business in Inuianapolis so that he could secure this contract. He did not believe that a uniform system is necessary, for it would cost many thousands of dollars. He supposed a case where the county officers had books which cost them large sums of money and which would not be used up for three, four or five years, and jet this bill would force them to throw those books avay and purchase new ones. He said that no two banks or business houses use the same system, yet their systems are so near alike that an expert accountant can go over their books without trouble. He did not believe that the state auditor could do the work this bill required without at least ten additional deputies, and he reminded the members that the policy of this Legislature is against the creation of new offices. He said that the bill specifically provided for one salary and that the deputy auditor should have traveling expenses and unlimited allowances for stationery, etc. He declared the intent of the bill to be to centralize power in the Statehouse, and pronounced it paternalism of the worst kind and un-Amer-ican and unpatriotic. The bill, he said, referred to the county council and the advisory board when no such things exist in the State.

Mr. Reser then indulged himself in personalities regarding those who had no connection with this bill in any w-ay. He said the bill is not to appoint a state officer to look after state affairs, but it says in effect “the county and township officers do not know how to look after business, and we will send out a man to show the deluded country people how to do it.” Furthermore, Mr. Reser said, the power to prosecute. which is vested in the deputy auditor, is a dangerous power. If the county or township officers, he declared, used a ledger with two columns when three columns had been prescribed, they would be liable to a line and imprisonment. The deputy auditor could torce them to draw four lines one way and five fines another, he said. He drew aii imaginary picture of the visit of the deputy auditor to his county, how ho would examine the books, call in the officers, find fault that they had not complied with some small thing and then call in the prosecutor and prosecute them. Mr. Reser closed by asking that the minority report be adopted. He occupied not only his own time, but he was given the time of Mr. O’Bannon, Democrat, and Mr. Lief, Populist, in which to finish his speech. MR. BLANKENSHIP REPLIES. Mr. Blankenship, as acting chairman of the committee, replied to Mr. Reser. He said he never knew r a session of the Legislature when county officers were not assessed to pay the expenses of looking after legislation for their benefit or preventing legislation that was hostile to their interests. This he knew r from experience, having been a county officer once himself, and in addition he had many letters W'hich have been sent to him by men now in office, showing what efforts are being put forth to defeat these bills. He charged that during the morning the president of the County Officers’ Association had been in the ante-room with a stenographer dictating amendments to the bill. Turning to Mr. Reser he said: "You were sent here to legislate for the people and not in the interests of corporations and such associations. ’ Mr. Blankenship said the township officers are organized, and that the time has come to stand up for the rights of the people, as the taxpayers are being robbed in every county. He cited many instances in different counties. Mr. Murphy, of White, moved the previous question and the roll was called. Just before the vote was announced Mr. Caraway changed his vote from "no” to “aye,” and it is not expected that this result will be accepted without another contest. On the question of concurring in the minority report to indennitely postpone the vote was 51 ayes and 38 noes. The detailed vote was: Yeas—Aikin, Baker of Whitley, Baker of Martin, Brown, Burkhart, Caraway, Clark, Compton, Catley, Clayoomb, Cravens of Washington, Cotner, Cunningham, Dilley, Durham. Downey, Eichhorn, Furness, Gants, Geisel, Graham, Green, Hall, Hedgecock, Herod, Herrold, James. Knotts, Krick, I.arr, Lawrence, Leif, McGary, Marshall, Miller, McCarty, Madden, Marsh, May. Morriscn. Mull, Murphy of White, Myler, O’Bannon, Powers, Reser, Schrader, Schaal, Shirley, Sullivan and Wise. Nays—Artman, Barlow, Beardsley, Blankenship, Bonham, Burrier, Canada, Fuller, Glossbrenner, Hayes, Hays, Heuring, Holcomb. Huff, Kerwood, King, Kirkpatrick, Manifold, Messick. Murphy of Marion, Neal, Noel, Osborn. Owen, Rifenburg, Roose, Roots. Scott of Montgomery. Scott of Lawrence, Shideler, Somers, Stevens, Strong, Titus, Whitcomb of Vigo, Whitcomb of Malion, Willoughby and Littleton. .Absent—Clements. Cravens of Monroe, Cutty. Feist, Louttit, Patterson, Reece, Roberts, Ross, Vogel and Williams. Under the leadership of Mr. Eichhorn, Senator Hugg’s bill on contributory negligence was sent through on a run and after the required number of votes had been received salt was rubbed into the gaping wound of the opponents by clinching its passage. This is the bill which caused two fights in which much was heard about "corporations” and "corporation influence.” The bill provides that it shall not be necessary in suits for personal damages for the plaintiff to prove the want of contributory negligence. When the bill was first considered on its second reading an amendment was forced through which materially weakened the effect of the bill. On the next day the bill was reconsidered and the amendment stricken out, so that it came up on third reading in its original form. Mr. Eichhorn moved to take up the bill yesterday and the motion carried with a rush. He rose and said that when the bill was under consideration before the statement had been made that its passage was favored by none but the weaker lawyers, In order that damage suits might be the more readily brought. He then read a petition signed "by many members of the Marion County Bar Association asking for the passage of the bill. The House insisted on hearing the names of Ihe signers and for some time Mr. Eichhorn. stood on the floor reading them. MR. NOEL'S REMARKS. Mr. Noel, who had championed the amendment which was lost, said that every name that could be secured to such a petition was on that paper and he did not hear the names of many eminent attorneys whom he named. He said that as well as he knows the bar of thie city there were many on

that petition whom he had never heard of. The roll was called and the bill was passed by 55 ayes to 28 noes. The vote was as follows: Yeas—Artman, Blankenship. Bonham, Burrier. Brown, Burkhart, Canada. Carawry, Ccmpton. Catley, Cravens of Monroe, Cotner. Cunningham, Dilley, Durham, Downey, Eichhorn. Fuller, Gants. Green. Hays, Holcomb, Huff, Hedgeoock, Herod, Herrold, James, Kerwood. Kirkpatrick. Knotts, Krick, Imrr. Lawrence, Leif. Louttit. McGary, Manifold, Messick, Miller. McCarty, Madden, Morrison, Mull, Neal, Osborn. Owen, O’Bannon, Roberts. Schrader. Scott of Lawrence, Somers, Stevens, Sullivan. Titus and Wise. Nays—Baker of Whitley, Baker of Martin, Beardsley. Clark, Clayoomb, Furness, Glossbrenner, Graham, Hall. Heuring, King, Marshall, Murphy of White. Myler. Noel. Powers, Battcrson, Roose. Shideler, Strong. Schaal, Whitcomb of Vigo. Whitcomb of Marion, Williams, Willoughby and Littleton. As soon as the vote was announced. Mr. Eichhorn moved to reconsider it and then moved to lay his first motion on the table. This was merrily done and the fight over the bill was closed so far as the House is concerned. Mr. Eichhorn started after the bill by Senator Agnew to repeal Section 10 of the building and loan association act. His motion to strike out the enacting clause met with a hearty response and it was quickly done. Mr. Murphy, of this city, tiled to kill the bill by Senator Johnson requiring that natural gas pipes shall be kept in repair and providing a penally for neglect to do so, but no one voted for his motion to strike out the enacting clause, not even Mr. Murphy himself. Mr. Caraway’s bill to permit the pasturing of stock on the public highways, on that portion which is owned or leased by the occupant of the land, was defeated by 28 ayes to 42 noes. Mr. Williams’s bill for traveling libraries, which was that framed by the Federation of Clubs, failed by a vote of 42 ayes to 39 noes. and thus a constitutional majority was wanting. The. law relating to the burial of ex-Union soldiers was so amended as to include those of the last war. NEW BILLS INTRODUCED. A number of new bills w’ere introduced. Mr. Kirkpatrick’s provides that the management of the Reformatory and ihe State Prison shall be placed with a board of four —a nonpartisan board—each member of which is to receive SSOO a year. The prison now has three Republicans managing it who each receive SSOO a year, and the Reformatory has a divided board, the members of which receive expenses only. Mr. Louttit’s bill provides for the care of feeble-minded women in an asylum until they are forty-five years of age. Mr. Glossbrenner’s bill provides that when food, clothing or anything shall be purchased on credit, an agreement may be entered into between the creditor and debtor providing for the payment of a certain amount at stated times. This agreement shall further provide that in case suit becomes necessary and judgment shall be taken, the amount taken from the wages or salary due shall not exceed a certain amount. The intent of the bill is to bring such a debt under the classification of a specific contract, and thus make #t collectible notwithstanding exemption law r s. Mr. Williams’s bill provides that when the trains of any railroad have stopped at a station for ten years and then the station is abandoned, such road must provide a stopping place for trains there if twentyfive freeholders petition for it. The bill of Mr. Canada, which was passed under a suspension of the rules, makes the conviction of a county or township officer on a felony charge a cause for removal from office, and provides that the office shall be declared vacant on such conviction. Mr. Canada explained the necessity for such a law by saying that there is now in the State Prison a county auditor who has been there for eighteen months, and yet has draw'n his salary for all the time he has been there. Mr. Schrader’s bill reorganizes the circuits so that Ripley and Jennings counties shall form the Sixth district and Clark and Scott counties the Fourth district. Mr. Shideler’s bill requires that in towns the natural gas mains shall be at least two feet beneath the surface of the ground. NEW BILLS INTRODUCED.

The morning session was opened by prayer by Rev. Alexander Urquhart, of the East Washington-street Presbyterian Church. A number of new bills were introduced before the special order for the morning w r as taken up. Mr. Baker, of Martin, would change some of the judicial circuits, and his bill provides that Jennings, Jackson and Scott counties shall compose the Sixth circuit, Washington and Orange counties the Fortyseconct circuit and i.ipiey, Dearborn and Onio counties the Seventh circuit. 'me bill introduced by Mr. Whitcomb, of Manon, maxes it unlawful for foreign insurance companies 10 place insurance on Indiana property in offices outside the Slate. Mr. cutaways bill increases the tax for litraij purposes from one-fourth of a mill to one milt in towns over 5,4 M) population. Mr. Hedgeeock’s bill is to appropriate SS,WJ lor a statue of Thomas A. Hendricks to lie placed in Statuary Flail at the Capitol in Washington. Mr. Osborn's hill is to regulate the charges for telegraph service, 'the rates provideu are 15 cents tor ten words or less by either day or night service, and half a cent tor each additional word. The press rates are fixed at one-third of ;t cent a word for day service and one-sixth of a cent a word for night service. Mr. Graham's bill is to give assessors in townships of 15,000 population 5>4 each day actually employed. Mr. Holcomb's bill amends me present law so as to forbid the Normal School from issuing life licenses to teachers. In compliance with Mr. Eichhorn's resolution the principal doorkeeper reported that he had hfteen men on his force, and tl.e clerk reported that he had the came number. The special order of business £or the morning was the Torrens land bill by Mr. Louttit. The author explained his measure, and tiie minority report of the judiciary committee that the bill Fie passed was concurred in without further argument. The only break in the morning routine was a brief set-to between Mr. Roots and Speaker Littleton. Mr. Roots came in from the ante room as a roll call was being completed and expressed the desire to vote. “Why don’t you stay in your seat?” hotly asked Speaker Littleton. "You are always out of your seat or running around when the roll is called," and the gavei came down with a bang. "1 was at the telephone, Mr. Speaker,” warmly replied Mr. Roots as Fie proceeded to his seat. In a moment a page went to the speaker from Mr. Roots to ask permission for the latter gentleman to leave his seat. The next move was when the speaker and Mr. Roots were in close conference, and as the result of this conference the speaker rose and said: "The gentleman from FayeUe has taken exceptions to the statement of the speaker. It is possible that the statement was too broad and it should lie discounted by 50 per cent.” Mr. Roots rose to a question of personal privilege. He said he had, not been absent from one session on personal business r.r.d that his private business is seriously suffering from his neglect of it. Whenever he had been absent, he asserted, it had been on state business. He laughingly declared that the discount which should be applied to the speaker’s remarks should be Ito per cent. He then sat down and the incident was closed. Mr. Shideler reported the bill by Mr. Willoughby for all state institutions to turn into the state treasury all money received by them, and it was passed under a suspension of the rules. The Dill by Mr. Marsh to authorize cities of less than 20,000 population to purchase its water works plant caused some discussion. The bill- is general in nature, but is intended fur Seymour, and some of the members expressed the opinion that the measure is a crafty scheme to unload old water works plants. The bill was passed by 81 ayes to 7 noes. ELECTION BILL PASSED. Mr. Caraway called up his election bill which failed to pass the day before for want of a constitutional majority and it was passed by 58 ayes to 26 noes. The bill is on the theory that both parties being liable to prosecution it is impossible to secure a conviction, and hence the seller of the vote is punished alone. The penalty prescribed is disfranchisement for from ten to twenty years. Those voting for it were: Aikin, Artman, Baker of Whitley, Baker of Martin, Barlow, Beardsley, Bonham, Burrier. Canada, Caraway, Clark, Compton, Dilley, Durham, Furness, Gants, Glossbrenner, Geisel, Hall, Hayes of St. Joseph, Hays of Greene, Holcomb, Huff. Kerwood. King. Kirkpatrick, Knotts, McGary, Marshall, Messick, Miller, Murphy of Marion, Neal, Noe!, Owen, Osborn, Bowers. Reece, Reser, Rifenburg, Roberts. Roose, Roots, Schrader, Scott of Montgomery, Scott of Lawrence, Shideler, Somers. Strong, Whitcomb of Vigo, Whitcomb of Marlon, Williams, Willoughby and Lit'.eton. The bill to grant a pension to Mrs. Morton came up on third reading and Mr. Roose moved the previous question, but no disposition was shown by the Democrats to tight the bill and the question was not put. Many of the Democrats explained when their names were called their admirat|pn for Gov. Morton, but they did not believe it to be good precedent to start a civil pension list, and so they would oppose the bill. They weie in favor of an appropriation to pay Mrs. Morton any money that -might bt dut her from the State. The bill passed by 80 yeas to 2s nays, and Mr Mull and Mr. Cravens, of Monroe, both Democrats, voted for it. Mr. Caraway’s bill to require railroad companies to put up stations in every towm of over one hundred Inhabitants was passed with but one dissenting vote. Mr. O’Bannon spoke at some length on his

bill to tax inheritances and legacies. Mr. Huff opposed the bill on the grounds that it is unfair and that under Us provisions "the State will tax a man while he lives and then fine him when he dies." He thought it would operate against an accumulation property. Mr. Baker was opposed to this bill or any other that taxes a man when he dies. Mr. Blankenship said the bill is a good one. as it will enable the State to get some money out of personal property that is never taxed as iong as a min lives. The bill was passed by 63 yeas to 29 nays. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. The following committees reported to th® House yesterday: —Affairs of the City of Indianapolis.— No. 406. By Mr. Whitcomb, of Marion: To amend the act concerning taxation; passage recommended. No. 506. By Mr. Strong: To amend the charter as regards sewer assessments; passage recommended. S. B. No. 26. By Mr. Hugg: The police pension bill; passage recommended. —Judiciary.— No. 117. By Mr. Louttit: To provide a system of registering titles; minority report recommending passage accepted No. 4SO. By Mr. Roots: Concerning the maner ot" procedure in the trial of certain felonies; passage recommended. Con. R. No. 4. By Mr. James: To authorize a legislative and state manual; indefinitely postponed. S. B. No. 129. By Mr. Stilwell: To prevent dog stealing; passage recommended. S. B. No. 103. By Mr. Gilbert: Relating to the recording of assignment of mortgages; passage recommended. S. J. R. No. 3. By Mr. Wood: Authorizing the investigation of certain tracts of land in Indianapolis: adoption recommended. S. B. No. 86. By Mr. Miner: To amend the act regarding wills; indefinitely postponed. No. 477. By Mr. Louttit: To authorize receivers appointed by a court to be sued in that court without leave; indefinitely postponed. S. B. No. 130. By Mr. Wood: Authorizing the commissioners of Tipecanoe county to sell certain lands: passage neoinmtiiut>. S. B. No. 79. By Mr. Hogate: Concerning the tender of money: passage recommended. S. B. No. 80. By Mr. Hogate: To amend the act relating to the deposition in the probating of wills: passage recommended. No. 483. By Mr. Artman: To define fraudulent marriages and to amend the act concerning them; passage recommended. No. 4%. By Mr. O’Bannon: To amend the act concerning proceedings in criminal cases: passage recommended as amended. No. 507. By Mr. Scott, of Montgomery: Concerning real property; indefinitely postponed. —Education.— No. 379. By Mr. McCarty: To amend the act concerning the education of children; indefinitely postponed. No. 492. By Mr. Vogel: To provide for the reimbursement of tow'nships for school property annexted to a city; passage recommended. No. 346. By Mr Burrier: To amend the school law; indefinitely postponed. No. 438. By Mr. Reser: To permit towns of 1,000 to discontinue school boards; passage recommended. —Agriculture.— No. 451. By Mr. Barlow: To encourage the use of American maize by people of foreign countries; amended and passage recommended. S. B. No. 89. By Mr. Patten: Concerning the manufacture and sale of commercial fertilizers: passage recommended. S. B. No. 12. By Mr. Nushaum: To provide for the inspection of nursery stock, etc.; amended and passage recommended. —Banks. No. 4t)4. By Mr. Glossbrenner: To amend the law regarding the incorporation of loan, trust and safe deposit companies; passage recommended. No. 253. By Mr. Holcomb: To abolish the days of grace: passage recommended. No. 340. By Mr. Kerwood: To prevent extortion. etc.: indefinitely postponed. No. 354. By Mr. Dilley: Toi.nake all promissory notes negotiable as inland bills; passage recommended. —Mines and Mining.— No. 90. By Mr. Cutty: To prevent shooting or blasting in mines during working hours; passage recommended as amended. —Organization of Courts.— No. 412. By Mr. Ow*en: To fix the time of holding court in the Forty-seventh circuit; passage recommended. —Military Affairs.— No. 422. By Mr. Marshall: To provide for the erection of a monument on Tippecanoe battlefield; indefinitely postponed. S. B. No. 154. By Mr. Shea: To provide for the erection of a monument at the scene of the "Pigeon Roost” massacre; majority report to indefinitely postpone concurred in. —Printing.— No. 514. By Mr. Baker, of Whitley: To provide for printing I.4XK) copies of the State Manual; passage recommended. —Ways and Means. — No. 473. By Mr. Willoughby: To amend the act concerning taxation: passage recommended. —lnsurance. No. 433. By Mr. Furness: To amend the act concerning the organization of corporations; passage recommended. —Soldiers’ Monument.— No. 445. By Mr. Kerwood: To appropriate money to complete the monument; passage recommended. —Manufactures and Commerce.— No. 419. By Mr. Larr: To provide for a label on packages of flour in amounts less than one barrel; passage recommended. —Telegraphs and Telephones.— No. 321. By Mr. Herod: To regulate the price of telephone companies; indefinitely postponed. —Claims.— No. 149. By Mr. Noel: To appropriate money to pay the claim of M. M. Defrees; passage recommended. —Elections.— S. B. No. 69. By Mr. Agnew: Prescribing the manner in which nominations to office shall be certified; passage recommended. No. 474. By Mr. Artman: To authorize the use of voting machines; passage recommended. —Rights and Privileges.— No. 511. By Mr. Leif: To prohibit contracts or combinations; substitute recommended. No. 172. By Caraway: To regulate the stock yards charges; passage recommended as amended. No. 4SB. By Mr. Hayes: To amend the act regulating the taxation of dogs; minority report to indefinitely postpone concurred in. No. 510. By Mr. Baker, of Whitley: To amend the act concerning usury; passage recommended. No. 135. By Mr. Kirkpatrick: To prohibit the use of passes by judges and members of the General Assembly; report recommitted the bill to judiciary, but it was sent back to the reporting committee with instructions to report if favorably according to orders from the House. County and Township Business.— S. B. No. 121. By Mr. New: To provide ’a uniform method of keeping county and township accounts; minority report to indefinitely postpone concurred in. No. 499. By Mr. Dilley: To authorize the auditor of any county to draw his warrant on the treasurer of another county for the amount of money assessed for school purposes; referred to the committee on education. No. 153. Bv Mr. Scott, of Montgomery: To amend the act regulating the taxing of dogs; passage recommended as amended. No. 496. By Mr. Artman: Concerning the construction of courthouses in counties of more than 25,000 population; passage recommended. No. 362. By Mr. Blankenship: To amend the act concerning taxation: passage recommended. , _ No. 391. By Caraway; To amend the act concerning taxation: indefinitely postponed No. 427. By Mr. Stevens: To amend the act concerning taxation: indefinitely postnum and. _ . _ No 471 By Mr. Geisel: Concerning the construction of roads; recommitted to roads. No 497 By Mr. Artman: To prohibit commissioners from granting the right of way to any electric railroad company over any highway; passage recommended. —Bills Referred.— No 516 By Mr. Bak*r, of Martin: Concerning judicial circuits; organization of courts. No. 517. By Mr. Whitcomb, or Marion: Concerning insurance; insurance. No. 51X. By Mr. Caraway: To increase the tax for libraries in towns of over 5,000; state library. „ , , No. 519. By Mr. Hedgecock: To appropriate $5 000 for a statue of Thomas A. Hendrteks: ways and means. No. 520. By Mr. Osborn: To regu'ate telegraph charge-: telegraphs and telephones. No. 521. By Mr. Graham: Concerning the pay of assessors; county and township business. No. 522. By Mr. Burkhart: Concerning the organization of building and loan associations; building and loan associations. No. 523. By Mr. May: Concerning thistles, etc.; roads. No. 524. B> Mr. Noel: To reduce the interest on bonds under the Barrett law from 6 to 5 per cent.; affairs of the city of Indianapolis. No 525. By Mr. Noel: To pay the claim of Robert L, King Ar Cos.; claims. No, 526. By Mr. Noel: To pay the claim of August M. Kuhn, administrator, claims. No. 527. By Mr. Noel: To pay the claim of C. S. Austin; claims. No 528, By Mr Holcomb: To amend the law- on the State Normal School; education. No. 529. By Mr. Kirkpatrick: To consolidate the management of the Reformatory