Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1903 — INDIANA LAWMAKERS [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LAWMAKERS

The city’a track elevation bill was introduced in the House Thursday afternoon by Representative Muir. The railroads had not agreed to it anil will probably fight. The discussion over a bill empowering the State Auditor'to investigate for sequestered and delinquent tuxes was the cause of a lively tilt in the House. The bill passed to engrossment by a vote of 44 to 41. Half the members of the House were on their feet at once during the excitement. The Senate spent most of the entire day wrestling with the compulsory voting machine bill. Senator Wood made a vaiu effort to amend the bill by making the machines compulsory in all counties. Gov. Durbin signed tlie bill for the Indianapolis coliseum. The bill gives freedom to the executive committee to incorporate and tlie result will undoubtedly be articles of inCtSporation which will protect all hold ers of stock, whether large or small. By a vote of .37 to 5 the Senate Friday passed the House bill making the use of voting machines compulsory in all counties containing a city of 13,000 population or over. The law goes into effect at once, and the machines will be used in tiie next election. The counties tlint come within the provisions of the bill are Vigo, St. Joseph, Wayne, Floyd, Madison, Elkhart, Vanderburg, Allen, Marion, Tippecanoe, Grant, Laporte nnd Delaware. Lake, Clark, Knox and Howard are exempt by amendment. The House on Monday passed the Goodwine bill for the separation of the (Girls’ Industrial School from the Women’s Prison. The bill will go to the Governor ns soon as the Senate concurs in the House amendment that the board of control shall consist of three women instead of two women and one man, which was a provision of the bill as it passed the Senate. The new Institution is to be built near Indianapolis, on the cottage plan. The bill carries an appropriation of $150,000. The House refused to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill to increase the salaries of the Marion County judges, ahd the bill will go to a conference committee. In the Senate tlie Davis bill, to give a mau who violates an injunction out of sight of the court a trial by jury, was killed by a voto of 28 to 15. Senator Ogborn’s Dill, to assist in the merger of the Indianapolis Northern and the Union Traction Company, was favorably reported and advanced to second reading. The bill of Representative Kirkman to legalize' the pumping of natural gas was ndvnnced to third reading, under a suspension of tlie rules. The Gray railroad consolidation bill came up on second reading nnd brought forth a spirited attack by Senator Fortune and a defense by Senator Gray.