Indianapolis Journal, Volume 51, Number 45, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 February 1901 — Page 4

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14 1901.

THE DAILY JOURNAL THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11. IS01.

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Foreign posuea is usually double these ratea. All communication Intended for publication In tiia paper must, in order to receive attention, be accompanied by the name and address of tha writer. Rejected manuscript will not be returned unless postage la incloacd for that purpose. Entered as second-class matter at Indianapolis. 11-. postoffice. TUB INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL Can be found at the following places: NEW- YORK Aster Hou and Fifth-avenue Hotal. . CHICAGO Palmer House. P. O. News Co.. 217 Dearborn street. CINCINNATI-. R, Hawley & Co.. 154 Vine street. LOUISVILLE C. T. Deertnr. northwest corner of Third and Jefferson streets, and Louisville book Co., Fourth avenue. ST. LOUIS Union Newa Company. Union Depot. WASHINGTON, D. G Rises House, Ehbltt lim and Willard's HoteL Ambassador Choate Is satisfied to remain at the Court of St. James, lie can hardly be charged with eccentricity for that. The frequent reports of the rapidly Improving conditions In the Philippines are gratifying to a majority of the people, and should be to all. It Is urged in favor of Lawyer Knox, of Pittsburg, who is talked of for attorney general, that he does not belong either to the Quay or the anti-Quay faction. There are quite a number of good lawyers in the ccuntry who do not. A bill is pending In the Senats which calls for a levy of 5 cents on each $100 of taxables for the support of public libraries. As the taxables are $1,2$5,965,056 such a levy would yield $42,952.50. Is there any limit to the demands of tax-eaters? The ceremonial at the opening of the British Parliament to-day will probably be the most spectacular and imposing thing of the kind seen in England for very many years. The new King knows the value of dramatic effects, and will not omit any details. The scheme to redeem silver dollars with Celd by the treasury when required Is denounced by several all erites as a conspiracy "to demonetise the silver dollars." It Is impossible to please some people regarding the currency unless it is made wtrthless. A Washington dispatch says that native Pcrto Illcan trocps may take part in the coming inauguration parade. In another four years there will probably be a detachment of native Filipino soldiers, and they will all march proudly under the stripes and stars. Foreigners are much given to charging frauds and adulterations on American manufacturers, but the report of the London c'.ty analyst that he found 10G pounds of arsenic in one week's supply of beer for Liverpool far surpasses any discovery of the kind ever made In this country. Representative Babcock's bill to put steel end many of Its products on the free list xr.ay be regarded as a warning to the propored comblnaiion that It must not place extortionate prices upon its products. Being f.bleto make the price of its goods in the world the combination must sell them at as low a price at home as elsewhere, which the repeal of the duty would compel It to do. The primary election bill passed by the House Is yet In the Senate. It applies only to Marlon county. If platform pledges count for anything the Marion senators should see to the passage of the bill. Last fall, when hundreds of Republicans expressed disgust because of primary methods, those who are party managers promised them that there should be a primary election law before another election came around. Cuba has an Irresponsible constitutional convention because the property owners as a whole did not take any part in the election. If they had they might have elected a conservative element which would have been influential. It Is said that not a member of the convention is worth a thousand dollars. In the larger cities of this country councils are unsatisfactory because men of Influence and ability take no part In the selection of candldites. If Senator Inman had been a Democrat In. the Indiana Senate of 1SG3 the language which he applied to Republicans on Tuesday, 'and worse, he could have applied to Abraham Lincoln. In 1SC3 it was good form for Democratic members of the Senate to call Lincoln "a bloodthirsty tyrant." and by their votes to refuse him assistance by refusing appropriations for war expenses. In view of the revenues of history, the Inxnans should preserve a discreet silence tibout Lincoln. It will take $$00.000 to establish at Munde or anywhere else as effective a normal sehool plant as that at Terre Haute. After it Is established a tax levy of $00,000 will paid year after year( Increasing as the valje of taxables In the State increases, to maintain it. This would not be objectionable if the school were needed. As it is not. the members of the Ilouse should ponder the proposition a long time before they comn.it the State to a scheme that in twenty years will coat the taxpayers more than 5..5OQ.0M. Minister Wu Tlngfang thinks the greatest &C In Lincoln's career was the issuing of hi emancipation proclamation. Doubtless that Is the general opinion, yet it is a mis take to attribute the act solely or chiefly to humanitarian motives. It was done as a war measure. Mr. Lincoln had never been cn Abollticnlst. As an oid Whig and as a ccrrrrvttive Republican at the, time of

hl3 election he believed In guaranteeing all of the so-called constitutional rights of slavery, but nothing more. After his election the sole object of his lifo was to end the rebellion and preserve the Union. He would have done this if he could cither by diplomacy or by arms, either with or without slaver)'. Many Republicans, especially original Abolitionists', urged the Issuing of an emancipation proclamation long before Mr. Lincoln did it. They urgedit for sentimental reasons, but he did it for military reasons. This, instead of detracting from, rather add3 to Ms greatness, because it shows that while originally very tolerant of slavery he did not hesitate to abolish it when he thought its abolition would contribute to the preservation of the Union.

PERILS OF TIIIJ TAXPAYER. If all those who go to the Legislature for legislation could have their way there would be no encouragement for man or woman to save money to put Into homes and lands which are the easy prey of the assessor. In Indianapolis, in numerous cases, those having homes half paid for have lost all invested because costly street Improvements were deemed necessary. The present Board of Public Works has complained because an act of the last Legislature limits the assessment for street improvements to 25 per cent, of the value of the property, and now that board is resisting a proposition to appeal from its decision to the courts. Yesterday the Senate refused to repeal a law which puts a portion of the taxable property of every citizen of a large city in Indiana at the mercy of a compliant board of county commissioners and the votes of G per cent, of the voters in Indianapolis who pay no taxes. If the figures of the controller of Indianapolis are correct, and there Is no reason to doubt them, the nontax-paying voters have it in their power to vote away the property of those who pay taxes taxes which are .most burdensome to those who own small pieces of real estate like homes. Such schemes to deprive petple of their property can have no fitter name than robbery. Socialism, which would put all on a level, may be'an idealism, but it Is Just compared with the robbery of the Individual under the forms of law. Another, though minor. Instance of the helplessness of the man who has visible property Is this: On Tuesday the Senate passed a bill which authorizes every person who employs a physician at the public expense to select the physician whom he desires, who will attend him as long as he pleases, receiving a stated amount for each visit. "Why Is this? Because those having the employment of physicians . for paupers and semi-paupers make a contract with a regular physician To look after them. Probably such physician, sure of his pay, takes the whole for less than tho customary price. So, to Insure the customary price and to make a good thing of it, the man who requires the taxpayers to pay his doctor's bills is to have his choice of physicians and hU services whenever ho calls for them. The result of this will be, if the Ilouse passes the bill, that taxpayers in many townships will be saddled with enormous bills for physicians for paupers. This 13 a measure both to encourage pauperism and to take from the taxpayer hi3 property. These are measures which discourage thrift. asaawBBsBBSsBaaasasaaPBBasBiMaBBBHBassBsBjsBsaaBSBBBSl AMERICAN RIGHTS IN CUBA. The Cuban situation has assumed a new phase. Recent rumors of dissatisfaction on the part of the administration with the Cuban constitution seem to be confirmed by a press dispatch from Washington which says: As a result of a conference between Presi dent McKinley and Secretary Root supplemental instructions were sent to General Wood to call attention of the Cuban constitutional convention to the importance and necessity of Including the requirements of this government in the constitution. It is demanded that the Monroe doctrine shall bo recognized; that Cuba shall not mortgage the Island to any foreign power; that the United States receive permission to establish naval stations at Havana. Guantanamo, Nlpe, Cienfuegos and the right to maintain at least a part of the present military force in the island, and that the United States shall assist Cuba in maintaining a stable government. The manner of this announcement and the definitiveness with which its points are stated Indicate that it is the result of careful consideration by tho , President and his Cabinet. It doubtless represents the deliberate conviction of the President and hl3 constitutional advisers as to the rights and duties of the United States from a broad national point of view with reference to our own Interests and to our relations with Cuba and with other nations. Recent events have made it clear that the time has come when the United States must decide whether it will impose upon Cuba such conditions as will safeguard its own interests or whether it will turn the island lcose with a government that gives no promise of stability and start it like a derelict at sea on a career equally dangerous to friends and enemies. It appears the administration has decided on the former course. An obvious criticism that will be made on this decision is that it is a departure from the joint resolution passed by Congress at the beginning of the war with Spain. That resolution was as follows: That the United States hereby disclaims rny disposition or Intention to exercise sovereignty. Jurisdiction or control over said island, except for the pacification thereof, and asserts its determination, when that is f.ccomplishcd, to leave the government and control of the Island to Its people. Careful reading of this will show that Its main object was to repudiate any intention on the part of the United States of annexir.s or acquiring Cuba and " of our fixed purpose to leave the government and control of the Island to its people when ever In our opinion it was frafe and exPdlent to do sö. The term "pacification" 1st a broad one. It includes not merely the suppression of active hostilities but the establishment of conditions that promise stable government and permanent peace. Congress made no pledge, to vrlthdraw our troops within a specified time or at a specl-v fled point of pacification. It left the President or retained for Itself a free hand in this matter. The resolution above quoted contains no pledge that the United States would allow the Cubans to adopt a constitution either openly hostile or covertly dangerous to this government. A powerful nation that has befriended a weak one may not demand an expression of gratitude, but it may exact safeguards of peace. Every fctep that has been taken in Cuba towards the fornatlon of a constitution has been taken by permission and under orders frcm the United States Shall the crowning act, the culmination of all this work be a ref udlatlcn of American rights and a menace to American Interests? The declaration of CongretsTs not a treaty nor a compact. It was a voluntary declaration of purpose & to a particular point and no bar to

action on other points. That was not the time for the United States to safeguard Its interests In Cuba. : Now is the time. After the constitution Is adopted it will be too lite. The contract between the Lnl'cd States end Cuba is not yet closed. Now is the time to safeguard American interests. The demands of tht- United States a? indicated above are reasonable and just. The Cubans should hav offered them voluntarily, and, not having done so, the United States shculd Insist upon them as essential features of the pacification of the island and conditions precedent to leavIrg its government and control to its pcoAll the dispatches from the Philippines nowadays indicate the rapid spread of American Ideas. On the 11th Inst, mass meetings' were held at three different points, at which eight hundred Filipinos pledged allegiance and fidelity to the United States and adopted resolutions deprecating resistance to American authority. Wherever the Taft commission goes It is greeted by popular gatherings and. demonstrations.

Building Inspector Bedell is to be commended for his persistence in trying to enforce the anti-smoke ordinance. It Is his business to enforce the law and not to Inquire whether there Is any effective smoke consumer in the market or not. On general principles every proposition to create a new state commission for any purpose should be carefully scrutinized and most of them should be rejected. In view of the fact that the re-election of President McKinley was not officially completed until yesterday, who will say we are not addicted to formalities? It took the Filipinos some time to size uy the American character correctly, but, having done so, they are rapidly falling into line. The great State of Ohio seems to be temporarily triumphant over a small and pestilent gang of lawbreakers. FROM HITHER AND YON. It Was Old Kr.ouch. Philadelphia Press. "Thia cake." mid Mr. Starbord, "reminds me of my mother's. It might almost have been baked by her. "Indeed." replied Mrs. Starvem, much pleased. "Yes. Mother died about ten years ago." If It Only "Were. Catholic Standard. "After all, my friend," said the moralist, "life is but a dream." "Not much it ain't," snorted tho hard-headed man. "In nearly ever dream I ever had I was gettln' more money than I knew what to do with." Another Frost. Baltimore American. "Your xoem la very nicely written, and Is well punctuated, but somehow I fall to catch the drift of It," said the Cruel Editor. Pressing the manuscript of his "Ode to the Snow" to his heart, the poet stalked dlgnlfiedly away. On the Way Homo from School. Life. First Little Girl Oh, you told a lie. You'll go to hell If you tell lies. Second Little Girl Hell? Where's that? "What! You a rood Methodist and don't know where hell la?" "No, I don't. ' They don't teach geography In our class. Prophetic. Detroit Journal. The soothsayer razed long and earnestly Into his palm. "Beware of a dark woman!" said she, finally. "Black Maria I" gasped the bank cashier, paling. He was deeply affected by the warning. Indeed, he was a changed man. henceforth. He stole but sparingly, nor could he be Induced to accept the superlntendency of the Sabbath school, choosing to remain teacher of tha Bible- class, merely. EDITORS AT WORK. They Will Submit the Revised Cuban Constitution To-Day. HAVANA, Feb. 13. The finishing touches were given to-day to the constitution by the editing committee, who will give the corrected project to the constitutional convention to-morrow, when it undoubtedly will be adopted. At the last moment the reference to "pernicious foreigners" was struck out, and a clause was inserted providing for two sessions of Congress, beginning in April and November, Instead of one. Senors De Quesada, Tamayo, Gomez, Vllluendas and Silva were appointed a committee to draw up a proposition defining the relations to exist between Cuba and the United States. General Rivera, in a letter to the press, objects to the convention making any attempt to settle the question of future relations. He says the matter should be decided by the republic after the constitution has been adopted. "If the United States are allowed coaling stations in Cuba and permitted to draw up the programme of our foreign relations," he declares, "there will be no features of independence left. Such an arrangement would not be living up to the resolution of Congress." On the other hand, a majority of the delegates are in favor of touching the question now, and probably a meeting will be arranged between Governor General Wood and the committee to consider some proposal that would be acceptable to the United States government. The committee is expected to report to the convention next Monday. WHAT DOES CHILE MEAN? Trying to Purchase nn Island Off the Central American Coast. Correspondence of the Associated Tress. MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Jan. 21. Work on the railroad to connect the eastern and western divisions of the National Railroad is progressing rapidly. It is calculated that a continuous railroad line will unite the port of Corinto, on the Pacific ocean, with Lake Nicaragua, at the city of Granada In March of the present year. El Commcrcio, a dally newspaper published at Managua, declares that the government of Chile has made approaches to both Salvador and Honduras for the lease or purchase of an island in the Gulf of Fonseca for a coaling a'nd naval station. Nicaragua Is Interested In this because a portion of her territory, the peninsula of Cosequlna, bounds the southern part of the entrance of the Gulf of Fonseca and also the southern and a large portion of the western side of the sulf. Besides, Nicaragua will soon open her new seaport. Jerez, at the southern extremity of the Gulf of Fonseca. and the nav.il station tuggested by Chile would be only a few miles from the deep-water channel In the Gulf of Fonseca from the port of Jerez to the Pacific ocean. Great Britain once occupied the Isle of Tiger, on which Anlrala is situated. In the Gulf of Fonseca, but retired from it at the request or objection of the United States. Wca After the Woman. KANSAS CITY. Mo.. Feb. 13 Mrs. Ella Seeley, the divorced wife of Illlam A. Seelev. a buyer icr tno t.wilt Packing ':oni ranv. who" ast night, disguised as a mm. entered the home of her former hnbaii.'i and shot him In tho arm. will be arraigned cn a charge of assault with Intent to kill. She Is held in tho city Jail. Mm Seeley is sixty-two years old, and is believed to te mentally unbalanced. To-Jav she said the had not Intended to harm Seeley, but jjroa after beciey second, wile.

THE VKCEK8ES CLAIM

TIM .r SE.VATK PASSES HILL TROVIDIXG FOR IIOXD ISSUE OF $120,000. The Claim Is a Historic One, Hnrlnc lice ii Before Many Preceding Legislatures. THE LAYMAN BILL KILLED SENATE REFUSES TO REPEAL THE RAILROAD SUBSIDY LAWS. House Pnssea the Ilonhnm Toor Relief 1)111 Legislative New, CosIp and Routine. One of the important measures passed by the Ilouse yesterday was a bill by Mr. Bonham providing for the relief of the poor, and an amendment to the measure, which affects the county reform law. The amendment was introduced by Mr. Reser. It allows county commissioners to give township trustees permission to extend as much relief to the poor as is needed. The bill was passed under a suspension of the rules. Another important measure considered in the House was the Gerber bill providing for voting machines. The' bill came up on second reading and was passed to engrossment. The House held a brief afternoon session, adjourning a little after 3 o'clock. In the Senate Mr. Layman's bill prohibit ing the voting of railroad subsidies by townships was called up, and after a debate was defeated. The Fort Wayne charter bill was called up by Senator Matson and was passed without debate. One of the important measures to be successful in the Senate was the bill providing for the liquidation of the claim of Vincennes University. This bill was Introduced by Senator Purcell, and provides for the issuing of liLU.Ouo of bonds for the purpose of paying the claim. Among the numerous committee meet ings held yesterday was a session of the Joint committee on claims, when it was oeclded to allow the claim of George H. Pennington, of New Albany, who was Injured at the state fair grounds while the troops were gathered there at the breaking out of the war with Spain. The committee decided to disallow the claim of Joseph Ralble, of this city, who was Injured while in the service of the State about the time the war of tho rebellion closed. THE SENATE'S SESSIONS. Dill for Vincennes University Finally Passed nailrond Subsidies. . The bill introduced by Senator Purcell, providing for the Issuing of bonds in the sum of J120.000 by the State for the liqui dation of the claim held against the State by Vincennes University, was passed by the Senate' yesterday afternoon by a vote of 30 to 15. When the bill was called up for Its last reading Senator Purcell obtained recognition from the chair and, begging the Indul gence of his fellow-senators, read from a manuscript the detailed history of the case in which was stated the facts on which the university based its claims against the State. The history of the claim is. In brief, as follows: On the 26th day of March. 1804, by act of Congress, one township of land. comprising 23,000 acres" In the Vincennes land district, was set aside for a seminary of learning. The territorial Legislature of Indiana, by an act passed Nov. 29, 1S0C, established and incorporated the Vincennes University, under the style of the board of trustees for the Vincennes University, and designated it as the recipient and beneficiary of the congressional gift. The board of trustees thus appointed was organized ou Dec. 6, 1S06, with Willlara Henry Harrison, as president, and General Johnson, clerk of the board, and, thereupon, the university became the owner of the township of land that had been set aside by act of Congress two years before. On the 22d day of January, 1320, the Legislature of Indiana, assuming that the State owned the land that had been ceded to the university, ap pointed commissioners to rent all of the land in the amount of 19.000 acres, not there tofore sold, and to turn the proceeds into the state treasury. INSTITUTION FOUNDED. The proceeds thus derived were used In founding another and competitive institution of learning. In 1SC2 the Supreme Court of the United States held that the act of the Indiana Legislature in appropriating the land to the use of the State and the conduct of the State in assuming its control and appropriating the proceeds from the sale of the land were illegal and void. The university preferred a claim against the State for $120,000 and a bill allowing that sum to the institution was passed by the Legislature two years ago, but it was afterwards vetoed by Governor Mount.- A committee, composed of Senators Agnew, Goodwine and Inman was appointed by the Sixty-first General Assembly, two years aKO, to investigate the claim of the university and report the facts to the present Legislature. This committee made a report during the first week of the session, holding that the university had no legal claim against te State, but leaving the question of a moral obligation for the Legislature to settle. There was a long debate over the passage of the bill, a number of senators being opposed to It, because the State had canceled Its legal obligations In full. Those who supported the bill, however, had the floor the greater part of the afternoon and talked with such good effect that It was a foregone conclusion that It would phss before a vote was taken. Senator Agnew, chairman of the committee appointed to investigate the claim, made an eloquent plea in behalf of the measure. He said there was no question in his mind but what the State was morally obligated to pay the university the sum asked for In the bill. "A great wrong has been perpetrated by the State," he said, "and it is high time that it was rectified. Vincennes University has been robbed by a preceding Legislature, and it is our duty to make reparation." SENATOR WOOD'S BELIEF. Senator Wood said he believed the claim to be a just and moral one. He believed, he said, that the investigating committee which had reported on the claim was honest and conscientious, and would not have recommended the payment of the claim had it not been a Just one. -'The State will never have done its duty," he said, "until a law has been passed authorizing the payment of the claim." Senator Stillwell said honest men should pay their debts, notwithstanding there might be technicalities of the law behind which they might hide. The land stolen from the university by the State, he said, was worth more than a million dollars, and there should be no disposition on the part of the senators to refuse to vote for a bill allowing one-tenth that much. Senator Inman closed the debate. saying " that there was a moral and equitable reason why the claim should be paid. The claim Is an old one, he said, but no older than tho wrong: done by the State to the University of Vincennes. Senator Layman's substitute game bill, which had been made a special order of business for 10 o'clock at the morning session, was advanced without debate or amendment. Several amendments had been prepared, but before the senators had awakened to the fact that the opportunity to present them was at hand the bill had been engrossed. RAILROAD SUBSIDIES. Senator Layman then called up his bill repealing all laws authorizing the voting of subsidies by townships to railroads. The author of the bill read a short speech in rupport of his measure, in which he stated that while in the earlier days of the history of the State it was necessary to raise moner by taxation to encourage the construction of railroads for the development of the country, the time had now come when It was no longer necessary. The rail roads, he said, are becoming richer every

day, many of the roads In the Stite being I

Lunut'u ior two or tnree niut-a ui ium cost of construction. The taxpayers of the State, Senator Latman said in conclusion, were now groaning under the heavy taxes that they had to pay to carry on the machinery of the State, county, township and municipal corporations, and there was no reason why they should be subjected to the burden of county or township taxation for the building of railroads. Senator Inman was opposed to the passage of the bill. He said he had supported the bill Introduced by Senator Charles, v-hlch reduces the amount of subsidy that can be voted by a township to 1 per cent., simply out of his liking for the author of the bill. He believed that the bill under consideration should not pass because it abrogated the power of the people to do as they pleased. He said he could see no danger in allowing the people of any township to vote a tax of 1 per cent, to the construction of a railroad If they wanted to. Senator Lawler (Dem.) and Senator Wood (Rep.) both took the same stand against the bill as had Senator Inman, each insisting that the peojie should be allowed to do a3 they pleased In voting subsidies. Senator Dausman, who was in favor of the bill, said that while the people should be allowed in most instances to do as they pleased, yet it was not right that one man should be allowed to vote a vicious tax on the shoulders of his neighbor without the latter's consent. The railroad, he said in conclusion, was no more of a public enterprise than a factory, and the latter was as much entitled to a subsidy as the former. After some further discussion the bill was put on its passage and was defeated by a vote of 37 to 8. After the bill ,had been killed Senator Wood moved to reconsider the vote, but his motion was tabled by a unanimous vote. - This action on the part of the Senate was Just what the senator from Tippecanoe wanted, as he was opposed to the bill and wanted his motion to reconsider tabled so that the bill could not again be reconsidered without a two-thirds vote of the Senate. Senator Matson called up the Fort Wayne charter bill, and it was passed without debate by a vote of 28 to 17. The bill was one of the two made a caucus measure by the Republicans, and the vote on its passago was strictly partisan. The bill introduced by Senator Thompson, by request, which provides that a taxing officer shall file an affidavit In the Circuit Court before searching for sequestered property, was passed after someiscusslon by a vote of 3G to 8. The District code bill was read from 8 p. m. to 10:23 o'clock, when the. Senate adjourned without completing the reading of the bill. HOUSE PROCEEDINGS. Minority Report on Kidnaping; Dill Adopted limy Sessions Held. Rev. Casslus M. Carter, of the First Baptist Church of Muncle, offered prayer In the House yesterday at the opening of the morning session. Committee reports were taken up as the first order of business. There were two reports on the bill by Mr. Bishop providing the death penalty as punishment for kidnaping. The minority report, amending the bill so as to make the punishment imprisonment for from ten years to life, was adopted. The majority report recommended that the punishment be fixed at from ten to thirty-one years. Two bills by Mr. Dudley, one appropriating $10,000 to be used toward a Shiloh monument, and the other providing for the reorganization of the Indiana National Guard, were reported favorably by the committee on military affairs. , The bill by Mr. Louttit providing" f or a home for feeble-minded women at the School for Feeble-minded Youth was reported favorably by the ways and means committee. The bill had been sent to this committee with an amendment by Mr. James appropriating $50.000 to aid in carrying out the provisions of the bill. 'The committee recommended that the bill be passed without the amendment. At the roll call of counties for the introduction of new bills a number of new measures were introduced. A REPORT DEMANDED. The Ilouse adopted a motion of Mr. Louttit requiring the committee on railroads to make a report on the Louttit bill providing for a 2-cent railroad rate on or before Feb. 14 at 10 a. m. Mr. Klrkman, chairman of the committee cn railroads, said he would be, glad to make a report if the committee could be got together, and promised to try and submit a report today. He said a meeting was called for Tuesday night, and only three members were present. After Mr. Klrkman's explanation Mr. Louttit withdrew his motion. A measure Introduced by Mr. Bonham, providing for the relief of the poor, was taken up on second reading, and after an important amendment was added by Mr. Reser the bill was passed, on motion of Mr. James, under a suspension of rules. The amendment introduced by Mr. Reser affects the county reform law, in that it allows county commissioners to authorize township trustees to extend what is needed for the relief of the poor. As the law now is the commissioners can only authorize the expenditure of $15 in any quarter. Mr. Reser declared his amendment was in tho interests of humanity, and instanced a case in his county where a woman was sent to the county poor farm and her children to the Orphans Home. Mr. Reser called for individual members to give Instances that had come under their notice of the effect of this law. Representative Cooper, of Clinton county, toid of a case where a family at Frankfort was down with typhoid fever. The township trustee had expended the limit for their relief. Mr. Cooper heard of tneir sunenng, ana went to the home, finding the doors locked. - The father was de lirious ana one or tne children had locked the doors to keep him inside. Cooner hrok in the door and found the family starving. He aided the family by supplying their immediate wants. The father and daughter died of the fever. Representative Short, of uapune, itepresenianve Fassage, of Miami, and Representative Van Fleet, of Elkhart, also gave instances of similar kind. air. wnitcomb's bill providing a tax for the benefit of the Free Xinderearten in In dianapolis was advanced to engrossment with. the amendment by Mr. Marshall, of Tippecanoe, that the bill apply to all cities of 13.000 or more inhabitants. Mr. CooDer's auu-irust um was aiso advanced to engrossment. VOTING MACHINE BILL. The Gerber voting machine bill came up on eecond reading as a special order of business, and after considerable debate was advanced to engrossment. As amended the bill authorizes the Governor to appoint three commissioners whose duty it will be to Investigate voting machines, and If they lind a suitable machine they may recommend it for use. These commissioners are to be appointed within thirty days after the taking effect ot the act. The bill contains an emergency clause. One of the commissioners shall be a mechanical expert and not more than two of them shall be of one political party. Neither of th commissioners shall be interested in any voting machine. -The bill provides that the commissioners shall receive $50 each for their fcervices, the amount to be paid by the owners of machines who ask that their machines be examined. The bill , provides what the qualifications of the machines must be and how the voting is to be tarried on in the event machines are "substituted for the present way of voting. When the commissioners decide on a certain machine they may certify this decision to the secretary of state County commissioners may purchase machines if it is desired to use them, but counties are not compelled to adopt machine voting. The bill provides, however, ihat where coupty commissioners decide to buy machines they must purchase the machines approved by the commission. The bill repeals the voting machine law passed two years ago. Representative Trout's compulsory education bill came up on second reading and was advanced to engrossment. As amended the bill provides that children shall attend school from the age of seven to fourteen. It requires trustees of townships to perform the duties of truant officer except In cities and towns of 2,000 population and over, where a truant officer may be. appointed by the board of school trustees or uchool commissioners. Under this bill any child that absents itself from school habitually may be adjudged a confirmed truant by the truant officer and superintended of schools and may be sentenced by the Judge of the Circuit Court to the Reform School for Boys If a boy and to the Industrial School for Girls if a girl, provid.ng the age of the truant is within the lln.lt set for admission to these Institutions. The offenders are to be sent to these institutions with the understanding that they be kept separated from the crimlnal department. The Ilouse adjourned at noon until 2 p. m. AFTERNOON SESSION. A short session was held in the afternoon, the House adjourning early in order to give the committees an opportunity to meet. One of tho bills disposed of In the afternoon was the measure providing for a state board of examiners of architects. It was introduced by Mr. Marshall, of Fountain county. The bill came up on sec-

ond reading and Mr. Roberts offered a mo

tion to strike out the enacting clau?e. There was some debate on the bill, but the Roberts motion finally prevailed and the till was killed. Senator Thompson's bondlntr and surety till came up for second reading, but the House postponed consideration of the measure, making It a special order of business ior to-morrnw Afternoon at 2 n. m. Senator Osborn's metropolitan police bill was passed 10 tnirtl reading, altnougn air. jjrtnun sought to kill it with a motion to strike out the enacting clause He announced his opposition to the metropolitan police system. The bill is designed to benefit the cjty of Marion. Mr. Murphy wanted to amend it so that it could be applied to the city of South Bend in the event the South Bend charter bill falls to pass, but the House appeared to be afraid of the amendment and voted it down. The House adjourned a few minutes after 3 o"clock until 9 o'clock this morning. FIRST EXCCUTIA'E SESSION. Appropriations Soncht by Representatives of Institutions. The ways and means committee of the House and the finance committee of the Senate held another Joint session last night to consider financial matters. The committee held Its first executive session last night. This took place after a hearing had been given to President Tarsons. of the State Normal, and the superintendents of the Soldiers and Sailors' Orphans Home and the Reform School for Boys. The State Normal is asking for $3,000 with which to erect a boiler house and an electric lighting plant. The Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home is asking for an additional Jö.OuO for maintenance besides some specific approprla tlons. While President Parsons, of the State Normal, was before the committee Senator Blnkley asked him this significant question: "Are you so crowded that there Is any good reason for the establishment of a new normal school?" "I sec no reason for it whatever so far as that is concerned," said Mr. Parsons. "There may be other teasons that I do not know of. The present normal school, so far as I am able to say, can take care of all the people In Indiana who are asking for normal school Instruction for years and years to come. There Is no time when It is full. Classes can be too small as well as too large, and the average class in the school is quite too small for efficient work." About the middle of next week the committee will complete the hearings and will then begin the work of preparing the general appropriation bill. A subcommittee was appointed to confer with the Governor tnd auditor of state In reference to a general plan of insurance for all the state institutions. COL. PENNINGTON'S CLAI3I. The House Committee Agrees to Allow Hlra 92,200. At a meeting held by tho Joint committee on claims yesterday afternoon It was decided to recommend that the claim of George H. Pennington, of New Albany, be allowed. He was injured at the State fair grounds at the opening of the war with Sjaln while stationed there with the troops. His horse fell on him the day before he was to be mustered in as a colonel. Pennirgton's right leg was broken above the knee, and the bones having lalled to knit he is a helpless cripple. He put in a claim for $2.500. but the committee will reduce It to $2.200. The committee will recomm2nd that the claim of Joseph Raible, of Indianapolis, be rot allowed. Raible is a veteran soldier. He came out of the service In 1&S4 and wa3 engaged at the State arsenal when injured. His arm was shot off while he was assisting in firing a salute in honor of the return of the Sixty-third Regiment. Raible was acting as "rammer" and on account cf the carelessness of the "thumber" the gun was prematurely discharged. While the committee agreed that the claim of CoL Pennington could be allowed, the members, under the decision of the attorney general, did not see their way clear to allow the Raible claim. The Pennington cialm was allowed under a statute enacted In 1S)5, but the Ralble claim being nearly forty years old, could not come under this statute according to the opinion of the attorney general. t CITV OF INDIANAPOLIS. A Favorable Report on the Firemen, BillTree Cultivation. The committee on affairs of the city of Indianapolis last night decided to make a favorable recommendation on the bill which grades the men in the employ of the city fire department. The committee will suggest some amendments, however. The committee is not in favor of creating new positions in the department, und will recommend that the provision relating to the employment of additional battalion chiefs be stricken out. As to the salaries, the committee will recommend that tho bill be so amended that the City Council may increase the salaries of the men from $100 to $500 a year. A similar bill relating to the police department will be considered by the committee later. It was decided to make a favorable recommendation on the bill giving park boards permission to look after trees In the public thoroughfares of the cities. The bill gives the board charge of the planting, culture, care, protection and preservation of trees and shrubs in the public streets. This right Is given to boards of park commissioners in all cities of the State. Inanrnnce Dill Considered. The House committee on insurance yesterday considered House bill No. 442, by Mr. Neal; designed to prevent discrimination by life Insurance companies by making rebates on premiums In certain cases. Several Insurance men were before the committee, among them being President Wynn, ni the State Lifo Insurance Company of Indiana, who spoke against the measure. Attorney W. A.N Ketcnam gave the opinion that the bill was an interference with the right of private contract. State Auditor Hart was also heard, speaking in the interests of the bill. Representative Stutesman, a member of the committee, offered a motion Indefinitely postponing the bill. The committee deferred action on the motion. Snbpoenaa'Sent Out. Attorney General Taylor yesterday sent out subpoenas for twenty-six witnesses who are expected to testify in the investigation of the Indiana Reformatory before the Joint committee, which meets again Saturday morning. The names of the witnesses were furnished Mr. Taylor by Representative Davis, the Democratic leader in the Ilouse. It is said that most of the evidence secured by Mr. Davis has bten given him by John Pate, of this city, exclerk of the Reformatory, and Mr. Hert's friends maintain that there will be some very strong evidence tending to impugn the motives of Mr. Pate. Grocer Defore the Committee. A number of persons representing the Indiana Retail Grocers Association were before the Senate judiciary committee yesterday asking for a favorable report on a bill introduced last week, which seeks to amend the present exemption laws. The bill was drawn up by the Indiana Retail Grocers Association, and H said to have the indorsement of the best business men of the State. It is Intended to amend the present law so that only 75 jer cent, of a person's wages will be exempt from garnishment proceedings. The committee took no action on the bill. The Meeting; Postponed The Senate committee on elections, which Intended to meet yesterday afternoon for the purpose of hearing the evidence in the Lawler-Dougherty contest, decided to postpone the meeting until to-morrow or Saturday, in order to allow the contestant time to prepare his evidence. A Favorable Report. Tho committee on benevolent and scientific Institutions at a meeting held jesterday afternoon decided to make a favorable report on Mr. Dudley's bill providing lor the employment of matrons at Jails in counties having more than 0,000 popula tion. LEGISLATIVE ROUTINE. Senate Hills on Third Readlncr In Senate. No. Ill (Senator Darby) Amending the rhart?r of the cltv of Fort Wayne. Pas.ved. No. 112 (Senator Conlogue) Amending the charter of the city of Fort V ayne. Passed. No. 156 (Senator Layman) PrevenUn

the voting of subsidies to railroads. Fasscge oefeated. No. 223 (Senator Percell) Authorizing the State to ilpuldate the claim preferred ar.alnst it by tho University of Vinrtnnes. Fatsed.

New Hnnfco Bills. The following new bills were Introduced In the House yesterday: No. 476. Mr. Bonham Concerning taxation. County and township business. No. 477. Mr. Carmlc.nael-Flxlng tha salaries of township assessors. Fees ani salaries. No. 478. Mr. Coble Regulating the prac tico of dentistry. Medicine, health and vital statistics. No. 471. Mr. Neal Providing for a revision of the statutes. Judiciary. No. 40. Mr. Morgan Concerning public printing, etc. Printing. No. 41. Mr. Reagan Concerning procedure in criminal cares. Judiciary. No. 4!s2. Mr. Small Concerning insurance trusts. Rights and privileges. No. 4i3. Mr. Murphy Concerning tha incorporation of towns. Cities an- towns. No. 4SI. Mr. Harri? Concerning street railroad companies. Railroads. No. 4S5. Mr. Louittit Providing a maximum charge for telephone companies. Telegraph and telephone. No. 46. Mr. Morton Abolishing the Howard Superior Court. Judiciary. Senate Ulli on Second Reading In llonae. No. 49 (Thompson) For th incorporation of bonding and surety companies. Made special order for Friday. 2 p. m. No. 36 (Osborn) tor the encouragement of county institutes. Passed to tuird reading. No. 75 (Osborn) To amend act relating to metropolitan pollco forces. Passed to third reading. No. 154 (Osborn) To legalize the town of Keystone, Wells county. Pas3cd to third reading. No. ts (Bums) to reimburse ofücers and soldiers of the One-nundred-nnd-fifty-sev-tnth. Onc-hundred-and-fifty-eighth. One-hundred-and-flfty-nlnth and Une-hundred-rnr:-slxtleth Regiments of infar.trv and tno Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Batteries of Artillery. Indiana Volunteers, for clothing, etc. Passed to third reading. House Rills on Second Rendliifc la House. No. 270 (Bonham) Concerning the relief of the poor. Passed under uuspenslon of the rules. No. 52 (Gerber) Providing for voting machines. Advanced to engrossment with amendments. No. 2H5 (Whitcomb) Providing tax for free kindergarten schools In Indianapolis. Advanced to engrossment with amendment making" bill apply to all cities of IS.0'0 population or over. No. 415 (Cooper) Anti-trust bill. Advanced to engrossment. No. 11 (Rogers) Regulating the furnishing of books for ust In common schools, authorizing the sale of the books to dealers. Advanced to engrossment. No. 21$ (Trout) Amending compulsory school law by making the township trustee the truant officer and by raising the age limit from fourteen to sixteen years. Advanced to engrossment, with amendment' placing the age limit at fourteen scars. No. 422 (Roberts of Jefferson) Prohibiting the location of stands within one-half mile of place where an old soldiers' reunion is being held. Advanced to engrossment. No. 19 (Marshall of Fountain) To regulate the practice of architecture. Enacting" clause stricken out. No. 25S (Owen) Concerning taxation, etc Advanced to engrossment. No. 322 (Owen) Concerning taxation. Advanced to engrossment. No. 27C (NeaD Regulating the maximum wages of teachers in public schools. Advanced to engrossment. No. 13 (Mummert) To regulate sales gt personal property and to provide for the recording of Instruments pertaining to the same with county recorders, etc. Dill withdrawn by author. Honae Ellis on Third Rending la House. , No. 61 (May) Concerning the cuttln down and destroying of briars, thistles, etc. Defeated, 37 to 43. Honae.Billa Signed. Governor Durbin signed the following House bills yesterday: Bill No. 84. An act providing for the establishment of school libraries in certain cities of the State. Bill No. 114. An act legalizing the acts of trustees of tho town of Medaryville, Pulaski county. Pill No. 16. An act authorizing certain cities to accept the management and control of established libraries. House Committee Reports. Judiciary. No. 51 (Bishop), providing for the pun ishing of kidnaping by the death penalty. Majority for passage with amendment changing penalty from death to Imprison ment for from ten to thirty-one years. Minority for passage witn amendment changing tho penalty from death to imprisonment for from ten years to lif. Minority report concurred in. No. 122 (Owen), concerning taxation. For passage. No. 258 (Owen), concerning taxation. For passage. Military Affairs. No. 329 (Schreeder), appropriating $10.000 for monuments for the Shiloh Nationnl Military Park. For passage. No. 2t3 (Dudley), for the reorganization of the Indiana militia. For passage. County and Township Business. No. 3S5 (Whitcomb), authorizing the pan.ent to county officers of postage used in official business. Indefinite postponement. No. 312 (Gillett). concerning county business. For passage. No. 274 (Catley). authorizing the compromising of delinquent taxes. Indefinite postponement. No. 170 (Erdlltz), concerning the foreclosure of delinquent tax liens. For passNo. S77 (Davis, of Greene), conrnir.rr county and township baslness. For patage. No. 376 (Davis, of Greene), concernlüj the office of assessor. For passage. Cities and Towns. No. 33C (Bonham). concerning the collection of street improvement assessments. For passage. Senate bill No. 122 (Lrgeman), providing for a sinking fund In cities of from 50,000 to 100.0"0 population. For passage. Senate bill No. 121 (Legeman), concerning collection of delinquent taxes. For passage N Drains and Dykes. No. 413 (Alrhart). providing for the tiling of public drains. For passage. Ways and Means. No. 120 (Louttit), providing for the custody of fetble-mlndtd women at tho Indiana School for Feeble-minded at Fort Wayne. For passage without amendment appropriating fcD.Oüö for tho additional expense. Education. No. 402 (Clem), providing for the election of school superintendents in towns and cities of 3.000 or more, for a term of four years. Majority for indefinite postponement. Minority for passage. Majority report concurred in. Mines and Mining. No. 239 (Johnson), prohibiting mine operators from pirating minerals under adjoining lands being mined. For passage. Libraries. Senate bill No. 61 (Brooks), providing for libraries in county seats of L,7!X) to iO,(M) population. For passage. LCGISLATIVH GOSSII. Stories Picked Up In the Corridor of the Capitol. The Republicans of Vincennes are dolr.i some vigorous lobbying to get the metropolitan police system for their city. They thought they had the matter "fixed" In the Senate the other day when they got the population limit of the general metropolitan police law cut down to 10,000. which would allow Vincennes to slip in, but' Senator Purcell. Democrat, introduced an amendment raising the minimum limit to 11,000, shutting out Vincennes. The Republicans are saying unkind things about Senator Purcell. but the senator I o hippy over his success In getting the Vinc-enm-a University claim through '.he Senate y -terday afternoon that he is not worrying. XX Representative Bishop, of Morgan county, was smiling radiantly last evening. He had succeeded In getting a favorable report from the House Judiciary committee on h.s kidnaping bill. The report was dgned by only one member Cyrus E. Davis, of Greene county making it a minority ie port, but It jvent through tho House lik. 4 runaway hors-e through a country village. Representative Ronham's fac 1 taid ta have been a study when he lUtened to the reuresentatlvc4 voting "ayo'- tm the report