Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 February 1901 — INDIANA LAWMAKERS [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LAWMAKERS

Interest in the Legislature centered mainly Thursday in proposed investigations et State institutions. Senator Inman of the minority offered a resolution for inquiry into the management of the reformatory at Jeffersonville, the reform school at Plainfield find the northern prison at Michigan City. The resolution was tabled by a party vote, but later a resolution to investigate the management of the Jeffersonville reformatory was adopted unanimously. The main charges against the institution are that they are extravagantly managed, and that there are deficits at each. Charges of cruelty to girls at the reform school for girls in Indianapolis led to a resolution authorizing the appointment of a committee to make an investigation and report to the Senate. This committee consists of Senators Agnew, Goodwine, Binkley, Lambert, Corr and Purcell. The House on Friday passed the bill which provides that a natural gas company failing to supply the amount of gas required by ordinance of the city or town in which it has a franchise, shall give rebates proportioned to the failure. The James bill, requiring every institution in the State to make nn itemized report of expenses for 1900 within ten days after the passage of the bill, was also passed; also a bill making the minimum wage on all public works 20 cents an hour. A resolution was introduced do' daring that the United States Constitution provides that persons charged with crime shall be extradited; that failure on the part of public officers to do theii duty leads to lynching, and that it is the duty of Gov. Durbin to honor a requisition for the return to Kentucky of W. S. Taylor and Charles Finley if Gov. Beckham requests it. Speaker Artman said he would decide Monday whether or not this resolution is out of order. The Senate passed the anti-lynching bill, which causes the sheriff from whose custody a prisoner is taken and lynched, to vacate his office instanter, and makes his reinstatement dependent upon his ability to satisfy the Governor that he was not at fault. Bills have been prepared for the removal of the blind and deaf and dumb institutions from Indianapolis, ami Their location at points where ground is less valuable. Both branches appointed committees to investigate the Indiana reformatory at Jeffersonville. In the Senate Monday morning Senator Inman, Democratic leader, introduced his resolution providing for an investigation of the soldiers' nnd sailors' orphans’ home at Knightstown, the State prison at Michigan City and the reform school for Imys at Plainfield. Senator Matson (Republican) of Marion County was on his feet before the reading of the -resolution was concluded, and he nnd the author of the resolution both demanded recognition. President Gilbert gave the Republican Senator tlio Hoor, nnd a motion was made to refer the resolution to the committee on benevolent institutions. Senator Matsan also cut off debate by moving the previous question. The minority demanded the and nays and put the Republicans on record, when the motion to commit was carried by a party vote. Senator Wood of Lafayette is making a fight against Christian Science. His bill makes it a felony for one having the care of a dependent person to withhold medical attention from such person on account of Christian Science, death resulting from such withholding. He had a previous bill excluding Christian Scientists from the State. The Republican nnd Democratic editors have begun their fight for a bill which distributes all the legal printing in the State equally between the Republican and Democratic newspapers, nnd excludes the Independent papers. Senator Matson is pushing a hill to prevent electrolysis. It requires trolley companies to use double wires. The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill fur the village for epileptics to be located at Columbus.