Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1899 — STATE LAW MAKERS. [ARTICLE]

STATE LAW MAKERS.

'* The bill which provides that the county commissioners shall furnish a place for holding the sessions of the Superior Coot in Lake and Laporte countie* at Hammond and Michigan City respectively, and which was opposed because it was believed to be the first step in an effort to move the seats of county government to these cities, was passed by the Senate Hraraday afternoon. The Senate also passed the bill to fix the salaries of Circuit and Siqierior judges in eounties of not over 45,000 population or $25,000,000 property valuation. In such counties the salaries are to lie fixed at $25 for each 1,000 papulation. The hew law will affect the salaries of tlie judges in the second, eighth, eleventh, thirteenth, fourteenth, sixteenth, thirtieth, thirty-fourth and sixtieth judicial circuits. The anti-lynching bill, prepared by Senator Drummond and providing that the sheriff shall forfeit his office in the event that lie suffers a prisoner to be taken from his custody and lynched, was killed, and with it died the prospect of legislation along this line at the present session. The House met in the evening to discuss the bill providing for 2-cont railroad passenger fare. The railroad committee reported agajnst the bill, and after a two hours’ discussion the report was adopted by a vote of 49 to 24, and the bill was killed. The Elections Committee in the Senate, composed of six Republicans and three Democrats, reported on Friday in favor of retaining Frank W. Cregor as the Senator from Hancock, Rush ami Madison counties. The seat was contested by Elmer E. Stoner, Republican. In the House the bill originating in that body providing that a divorced person shall not re-marry within two years passed. The House also passed the bill originating in thaLbody abolishing the State Board of Sanitary Commissioners and creating the office of State veterinary surgeon. A bill providing for the introduction of the Torrens land system was advanced to engrossment in the House after having been so amended as to authorize the people of any county to vote on the proposition to take advantage of the system. The pharmacy hill was advanced to third reading in the Senate after having been so amended as to permit druggists who do not hold licenses to sell patent and proprietary medicines.

The Governor on Monday sent to the House messages vetoing the hiU amending the Lake, Laporte and Porter Superior court act so as to provide meeting places for the court at Hammond and Michigan City, and the bill authorizing the purchase of water works in cities under 20,000 inhabitants. lie refused to sign the court bill on the groand that it was a step toward the erection of additional courthouses in the counties of Lake and Laporte. The water-works bill was vetoed on the ground that snch a law would be unconstitutional. The Republican majority in the House after a noon caucus advanced the bill for the establishment of township councils to third reading. Six Republicans bolted the caucus, but there were fifty-one votes for the bill, with two of its supporters absent. The Senate passed the bill creating a State board of pharmacy and requiring that all druggists be licensed. The bill known as ihe Hammond court bill, which the Governor vetoed on Monday, wns passed over his head on Tuesday. It provides for Superior Court meetings and buildings at Hammond and Michigan City. The following are among the new bills introduced: By Mr. James—Concerning taxation. By Senator Cregor—Requiring all State penal, educational and benevolent (iustitutians to turn into the State treasury ail moneys earned by them. By Senator Corr—To permit county assessors to be eligible to re-election. By Mr. Kirkpatrick —To consolidate the management of the reformatory and itrison. By Mr. Hedgecock—To extend the Mull law so as to include the minor expenditures. By Senator Horner—Regulating the fees and salaries of county officers. By Senator Lambert —Regulating the construction of partition fences. By Senator Logeman—Requiring the publication of the Stute legislative Manual by the State librarian. By Senator legcman—Specifying a method for draining aud improving public highways. By Senator New—To allow foreign insurance companies, 1 whose capital is invested in the bonds of other States, or the United States, to do business in this State. By Senator Newby—To allow boards of school trustees, in cities of 10,000 or more, to levy a tax on each $1 of taxable property, to maintain public libraries. By Senator Newby— To repeal the insurance laws of 1854 and 1865, which compel stock life insurance companies t» go iuto liquidation at the cud of thirty years. By Senator Newby—To repeal the Insurance law of 1852. By Senator Purcell—Requiring * peddler's license for transient merchants ia all towns aud cities. By Senator Wood—Providing for the killing of vicious dogs and the fining of the owner in the sum of $lO. By Mr. Baker of Martin—judicial circuits. By Mr. Whitcomb of Marion—Concerning insurance. By Mr. Caraway— To increase the tax for libraries in towns of over 5,000. - By Mr. Hedgecock—To appropriate $5,000 for a statue of Thomas A. Hendrick*. By Mr. Osborn—To regulate telegraph charges. By Mr. Graham—Concerning the pay of assessors. By Mr. Burkhart—Concerning the organization of building and loan associntious. By Mr. May—Concerning thistles, etc. By Mr. Noel—To reduce the interest on bonds under the Barrett law from 6 to 5 per cent. By Mr. Holcomb—To amend the law on the State Normal School. By ,Mr. Glossbreuner Concerning claims for food and Clothing. By Mr. Owen—To protect owners of * threshing machines. By Mr. Baker of Whitley—To amend i the act on public printing. By Mr. Schrader—To define the sixth and fourth circuits. By Mr. Shidrier-Regulating the laying of natural gas main*. By Mr. Stevens—To amend the act tw* I garding fees. By Mr. Binkiey-To fix the time when county auditors shall begin their term. tio/of streams. '*