People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1895 — INDIANA’S NEW LAWS [ARTICLE]

INDIANA’S NEW LAWS

Compilation of the Acts of the Fifty- : ninth General Assembly. k . i SIXTY DAYS OF LEGISLATION Sixty days of legislative work was completed Monday night March li, with a result of many added and amended laws, a synopsis of all of which are appended. Something like 1,200 measures were proposed during the session, but many of these met discouragement and defeat in one branch or the other. Notable among the political measures were those providing for new congressional and legislative apportionments, the constitutionalty of which will doubtless be tested in the courts; the bill ousting the trustees of the north and south prison boards; the bill reorganizing the benevolent institutions; the fee and salary law and a few others, all of which were passed over the governor’s veto. ACTS AND THEIR TITLES. New Measures Which Will Stand on the Statutes Until Repealed. The following measures, passed by both houses and approved by the governor, have been filed with the secretary of state: The first act passed Was that appropriating <IOO,OOO for the expenses of the legislature. The second bill passed (enrolled bill No. 4, house) appropriated money to meet the expenditures of the governor for the support and transportation of the militia to enforce the laws, mainly during the Debs strike. Bouse enrolled bill No. 259 became a law Jan. 23. It fixed the number of employes in the house, creating a doorkeeper, a cloakroom custodian and eight assistant doorkeepers at $5 per day, and four janitors at $3 per day, four pages at <2 a day, 17 clerks at $5 and a folding clerk’ at <3, six committee clerks at <5. Enrolled bill of the house No. 107 appropriates money for the salaries of the office of the clerk of the supreme court, which act was necessary because the salary law ot 1891 relating to that office went into effect when the new clerk came in, in December, and the last legislature had made no appropriations. Enrolled bill No. 66, house, approved Feb. 16, provides for the opening, vacating and change of highways; provides that the auditors of counties shall require sheriff- to notify the viewers of proposed roads, for their location or discontinuance, who shall, after being ■ Worn, proceed to that duty. Highways of public uti ily shall be laid out on the best ground, but shall not run through any person’s inclosure of one year’s standing without the owner’s consent, unless a good way cannot otherwise be had. Where roads are laid out on the dividing lines of individuals, each shall give half the road. Senate enrolled bill No. 104, which became a law by the approval of the governor Feb. 16, provides that the sinking fund commissioners shall be selected from the two parties casting the greatest number of votes at the previous election, and shall be chosen by the city council, and shall give bonds of <IOO,OOO. House enrolled bill No. 93, approved Feb. 16, defines the course to be pursued by churches, benevolent institutions and educational societies to attain property by gift or purchase by the agency of trustees. An act was approved Feb. 16 which provides that boards of county commissioners in counties where coffiracts were let and courthouses begun before January, 1895, may issue bonds not exceeding 1 per cent of the assessed valuation of the taxable property of said counties, in addition to any loan for such purpose for which bonds may have been previously issued. Senate enrolled bill No. 120, approved Feb. 18, forbids the running of railway tracks through cemeteries, and it has an emergency clause. Enrolled act No. 22, Senate, approved Feb. 23, provides that when gravel roads have been built by order of county commissioners. and the viewers shall depart from the line of such highway and construct portions upon a new line, the abandoned portions shall be deemed vacated, and shall revert to the owner. Emergency. Enrolled act 124, house, legalizes the acts of notaries who, acting in good faith, had no commissions when papers were certified, or who are ineligible for any cause. Emergency. It was approved Feb. 23. Enrolled act No. 125, senate, provide* that cemetery property shall not be taxed except the corporation derives a pecuniary benefit or profit therefrom. Approved Feb 25. The house bill of Mr. Leedy, providing for the pensioning o f wornout fire men after 25 years’ service, at a rate not to exceed <SO a month, and those disabled in th- service according to their disability, and the widows and orphans of those killed in the line of duty. It may apply to several cities besides Indi anapolis. Senate enrolled act No. 1 created a state soldiers’ home at Lafayette, appropriating <75,000 for administrative buildings and the fitting up of the grounds and provides for a commandant and adjutant and t board of trustees to serve without pay. It also provides for the support of any veteran and his wife actually at the home. Approved Feb. 25. Enrolled act No. 136, house, appro priates. JJ.27 fjr street pavinir in. front of Subfic nuTTuings and lots. “Approved Feb. 25. Enrolled act No. 58, senate, establishes a superior court in Madison conn ty, the judg to have the salary of the other superior court judges. A unroved -Feb.

Enrolled act No. 20, senate, la a resolution authorizing R. S. Hatcher to Investigate ah matters relative Io the state seal an report to the next senate. Approved F b. 37. Enrolled aet No. 184, house, relates to the cutting of hedge and other live fences along dividing lines. It provides that hedges shall be trimmed to five feet in higni and three feet in width each year, and when complaint is made bv one of the parties in interest that the olner fails to comply with the law the township trustee, after due notice, shall muse the hedge to be trimmed and begin a suit against the owners of the property. Approved Feb. 28. House enrolled act No. 812 establishes a board of public parks in Indianapolis to be appointed by the mayor, to serve without compensation. The board has extensive powers, but is subject to the city council. Approved March 1. House enrolled act No. 28 prohibits the landing and beaching of family shanties or fiatboats on shore for a longer period than ten hours without the consent of the owner. A penalty not less than $5 and no more than <2O is provided. Approved Feb. 28. House enrolled act No. 341 relates to taxation, being an amendment of sections 11, 114, 115, 125 and 129 of the act of March 6, 1891. It defines specifically when property shall be taxed, provides for county boards of review, composed of auditor, assessor and treasurer and two freeholders, and defines its powers and extends the session of the state board of review. Approved March 1. Senate enrolled act No. 106 legalizes the appointment of township trustees by county commissioners where the predecessors of such trustees are of unsound mind. House enrolled act No. 61 regulates tobacco warehouses. It was approved March 2. Senate enrolled act No. 18, approved March 2, calls for an accounting of the proceeds of the swamp hind fund by the treasurer of state. Senate enrolled act No. 48 extends the jurisdiction of the police judge of Indianapolis and increases his salary to $2,500. Approved March 2. Senate enrolled act No. 54 legalize* the sale of forfeited school land by county auditors. Approved March 2. Senate enrolled act No. 207 materially changes the old law regarding the publication of libels in newspapers. The new law requires the aggrieved party to servo a notice on the publisher, giving the statements which he claims to be defamatory. If after suit shall be brought it appears upon trial that the article was published in good faith, that its falsity was due to mistake and that a full and fair retraction was published within three days, if a daily, and 10 days if a weekly paper, in conspicuous place and type the plaintiff shall receive only actual damage's. This was approved March 2 and had an emergency clause. Senate enrolled act No. 252 require* insurance companies to add cash to tiie t r capital until it shall be equal to SIOO,000. Approved March 2. Senate enrolled act No. 128 authorizes cities to refund their indebtedness. It was approved March 2. Senate enrolled act No. 129 defines the manner of paying drain and sewer assessments and affords the privilege of paying the same by installments. Senate enrolled act No. 142, approved March 2, authorizes circuit courts to employ clerical assistance for probate commissioners, and fixing the manner of their cot pensation. Emergency. . House ent died act No. 57 is the revised code xor the government of the militia. Its distinctive feature is that in cases where officers are compelled to fire on a mob their action shall be considered by a military rather than a civil court. It was approved March 5. Einer gency. House enrolled act No. 101 amends the existing law regulating the organizing of benevolent, scientific and improvement ssociations. Approved March 5. Emergency. House en oiled act No. 300 legalizes the incorporation of the town of Middleton, Henry county. Approved March 5. House enrolled act No. 525 authorizes and specifies the term upon which the governor, auditor and treasurer of state may issue and sell bonds. Approved March 5. Emergency. Enrolled act No. 128 of the senate authorizes cities and towns to sell bonds for the purpose of funding or refunding the same. It also requires city councils and boards if trustees to levy taxes for the payment of interest pn bonds and for a sinking fund. Emergency. Approved March 2. House enrolled act No. 11 compels railroad companies to maintain suitable waitingrooms and closets in cities and towns of more than 100 population. Approved March 5. Senate enrolled act No. 303 is the celebrated Robj bill. It prohibits racing on any track from Nov. 15 to April 15, for purse or prize, in the presence of 50 persons. It prohibits the calling of any race meeting on any one track oftener than three times a year. The penalty for winter racing is a fine of from SIOO to SSOO and not more than six months' imprisonment. Emergency. Approved March 5. Senate enrolled act No. 371 relieves certain township trustees in Vigo countyon the payment us certain funds deS sited in a bank that failed. Approved arch 5. Senate enrolled act No. 124 changes the name of the Mutual Lite and Endowment association of Indiana to the Mutual Life Insurance company of Indiana. Emergency. Approved March 7. Senate enrolled act No. 392 extends the provisions of the act of 1893, which authorized city counc-ls to sell bonds and raise money for organized water works in which cities may be part owners. Emergency. Approved March 7 Senate enrolled act No. 360 amends the act of 1851 incorporating the town of Vernon, Jennings county. Approved March 6. Senate enrolled act No. 262 appropriates SIO,OOO annually for premiums to be awarded by the State Agricultural society. Emergency. Approved March 7. Senate enrolled act No. 205 is a long law changing the old law relative to the construction of free gravel, stone and other roads. No abstract cap convey au

idea of the ccnlants of the seven sections of the bill. Emergency. Approved Match 7. Senate enrolled act No. 13 defines the duties, fixes the salaries and penalties for nonperformance of duty of county comihissioners in counties having over 63.000 inhabitants and not less than 20 townships. Emergency. Approved March 7. House enrolled act No. 97 abolishes the 80 per cent clause in insurance policies and places further power in the hands of the auditor over insurance companies. Emergency. Approved March 6. Senate enrolled act No. 163 provides for the enumeration of school children. Approved March 5. Senate enrolled act No. 466 fixes the time for holding the courts in the Fortysixth judicial circuit and regarding other matters relating thereto. A;>proved Maron 7. Senate enrolled act No. 372 contains the important provision under which Ktt of school tuitiofi of the state shall withheld equal to the amount of tho previous year which was unexpended. Emergency. Approved March 7. Senate enrolled act No. 211 relates to the management of waterworks in eities and towns of 5,000 inhabitants. Emergency. Approved March 7. Senate enrolled act No. 153 repeals the existing law fixing the rules of evidence in cases where employes receive injury from railroads and other incorporations. Emergency. Approved March 7. Senate enrolled act No. 6 fixes tho number and compensation of the senate employes. Approved March 26. Senate enrolled act No. 180 requires township trustees to keep a register of orders and warrants issued ami an account of all indebtedness of townships and publish the same. Approved March 7. House enrolled act No. 646 authorizes cities with more than 2,000 and less than 2,200 inhabitants to grant and convey any market square or piece of land to a corporation which will devote it to a, public purpose. Emergency. Approved March 7. House enrolled act No. 107 defiuea fraudulent marriages. It provides that any man who, while under prosecution for seduction or bastardy, shall marry the woman to escape prosecution ami shall desert her or treat her cruelly within two years of the date of the marriage, shall be liable for a penalty not less than S2OO. Approved March 8. House enrolled act No. 289 is an act concerning the purchase of toll roada and providing for the maintenance of the same as gravel roads. It provides that tho cost of such roads shall be as sessed upon the property in the township voting to purchase, and further that if tho commissioners deem best one-third van be paid for out of the general fund. Approved March 8. enrolled act No. 442 fixes the time of holding courts in Vanderburg, Gibson and Posey counties. Vanderburg is a district by itself and courts begin the first Monday of 2Li. , ch l Jute, September auu December. In Gibson county the term begins the first Monday of October, January, April and July. Ju Posey the courts begin the Monday succeeding the terms in Gibson. Approved March 8. Senate enrolled act No. 11 requires street railway companies to so construct their cars that drivers and motormen shall be protected from the inclemency of the weather. Approved March 8. Senate enrolled act No. 49 amends existing laws relating to the organization and perpetuity of voluntary associations. It provides for the organization of orphan asylums, live stock associations, women’s exchanges, etc. Emergency. Approved March 8. Senate enrolled act No. 13 i amends all laws authorizing city councils to divide cities into wards—said wards to contain as nearly an equal number of voters as possible and no changes of li lies to be made oftener than once in two years. Emergency. Approved March 8. Senate enrollee act No. 11 authorizes cities of 10,000 popnlation or more to provide for police matron wno shall be not less than 35 years of age, to be recommended by not less than 20 women and five mien in writing. This act is not compulsory. Emergency. Approved March 7. House enrolled act No. 384 lays a tax of 1-6 of a mill on every $J of taxable property in the state for the support of the Normal school, Purdue and the State University. The State University gets 1-15 of a mill and the other two 1-20 each. Emergency. Approved March 8. House enrolled act No. 623 authorizes the county commissioners of Vigo to add $520 to the salary of the circuit judge. The following acts legalizing the incorporation and acts of tov. ns were passed with emergency clauses: Wheatland, Jasper county, approved Jan. 23; Albany, Delaware county, approved Feb. 16; legalizing issue of school bonds issued by the town of Shoals, approved Feb. 16; legalizing the incorporation of Alton, Crawford county, approved Feb. 18; legalizing the incorporation of the town of Grandview, Spencer county, approved Feb. 25; legalizing tire incorporation of Greenville, Floyd county, approved Feb. 28; legalizing the town of Crandall, Harrison county, approved Feb. 28; legalizing the incorporation of the town of Broad Rippie, Marion county, approved Feb. 28; legalizing the incorporation of Ossian, Wells county, approved March 5. Senate enrolled act No. 369 makes the stockholders of state banks responsible for doable the par value of their stock and requires that any impairment ot capital shall be made good. Approved March 9. Senate enrolled act No. 292 provides that two trustees of Purdue shall be named by the board of agriculture, one by the board of horticulture and six by the governor. Approved March 9. Senate enrolled act No. 296 authorizes counties or townships to construct or aid in the construction of bridges over streams forming the boundary line between townships, whether in the same county or not. Emergency Approved March 9. Senate enrolled act No. 215 appropriates money to pay the claim of T. T. Shehaa fpr .bnck oaving Washing(Continued on Patje 2 ;