Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 February 1899 — STATE LAW MAKERS. [ARTICLE]

STATE LAW MAKERS.

The constitution of the State of Indiana will not be revised in 1901. The Senate on Thursday defeated the hill for a constitutional convention to.bte held ia May of that year. Senator Huggs’ bill to change the rule of practice in personal injury cases so as to make it conform to that of the United States courts passed the House. It is the result of ten years of agitation by organized labor.. Under the new rule the plaintiff in personal injury cases will not have to prove that he was not negligent. The House passed t,hc bill, which originated in that body, exculpating the buyer of votes and providing that the seller be disfranchised for ten years. The two old political parties by enforcing such a law hope to take “floaters” out of the market. The bill prepared by the State commission for a uniform system of bookkeeping in county offices and for inspections under the direction of the State Auditor, which passed the Senate. was killed in the House. ' • By a vote of (53 to 7 the House on Monday passed what is known as the “Wolf Lake harbor bill.” The measure grants, the right of way through a neck of land between Wolf la£e and Lake Michigan for a waterway, and it is designed to make Wolf lake a harbor for the city of Hammond. The bill does not appropriate any ■ money for tlie enterprise, but the work is to be done through an appropriation by the general government, supplemented by funds raised among the people of Hammond.

, The bill to create county councils in every county in the State passed the Senate on Wednesday. The bills for reforms in county arid township government are now all in the House. Bo;h branches suspended the constitutional rule and passed a bill creating a commission to make plans for taking part in the exposition to be held at Toledo in 1902. A special committee id the House reported iii favor of allowing the claim against the State of $5,000 held by Mrs. Edwin May of Chicago. The claim is thirty-nine years old and lias been before every Legislature for twenty years.

The following are among the new bills introduced: * By Mr. Artman—Concerning the construction of court houses in certain counties. By Mr. Arttmui—To prohibit commissioners from giving the right of way over county roads to electric railroads. By Mr. Barlow—To keep creeks clear of drifts, etc. By Mr. Dilley—To authorize county auditors to draw on other counties for the amounts assessed agaiust the school funds. By Mr. Dilley—To amend the law regarding justices of the peace. By Mr. Caraway—To require electric alarm bells at railway crossings. By Mr. Willoughby —To maintain day schools for the deaf. By Mr. Scott of Montgomery—To amend the act concerning real property. By Mr. Roots—To fix the compensation of State officers. By Mr. Roots—To provide for a fee and salary commission. By Mr. Baker of Whitley—To amend the act concerning interest. By Mr. Leif —To prohibit combinations. By Mr. Baker of Martin—To make posting of warning notices effectual. By Mr. Scott of Montgomery—To amend the dog law. By Senator Drummond—Allowing suit to be brought agaiust the administrator of au estate on property claimed to have been conveyed to him personally. By Senator Early—Providing for a uniform township government. By Senator Early—Concerning the election aud qualification of justices of the peace. By Senator Hawkins—Regulating the State inspection of oil and taking the appointment of the State oil inspector away from the State geologist scud giving it to the Governor. By Senator Wood —To prevent extortion by the owners of stock yards. By Senator Lambert—Amending the present hotel “dead-beat law" so as to not make it prima facie evidence of intention on the part of a guest to defraud the hotel by removing his baggage. By Senator Inman—To prevent lynching by compelling the sheriff to arm a prisoner in danger of his life with a Winchester rifle and a revolver, and if he fails to do so the next of kin to the prisoner may recover $5,000 from his bondsmen. By Senator Shea—Providing for the appointment of gravel road superintendents. By Senator O'Connor—Providing that where poor persons require the services of physicians they may select their own physician aud the township shall pay the bill.

By Senator Stillwell—Providing that “no person having one-eighth part or more of negro blood shall be permitted to marry any white woman or continue to live with such white woman in this State; nor shall any white man be permitted to marry any negro woman or any woman having oneeighth part or more of negro blood, or continue to live with such woman in this State.

By Senator Xusbnum—To prevent discrimination in rates of charges by express companies.