Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1901 — THE INDIANA LEGISLATURE [ARTICLE]

THE INDIANA LEGISLATURE

Reports of Proceedings and Bills Introduced. CONCERNING DEATH PENALTY. The Bill for EimoUos by Electricity, If roaaed. Would*. Not Affect Joseph Keith —Anti-Trust IsghlsUas Propose* TUlugu for Epileptic*. Wod**sd*y, January IK Senator Harrison’s bill to amend the act “concerning the death penalty, etc.,” reads as fol^ws: “Section 1. That the punishment of death prescribed by law shall in every case be inflicted by causing to p&sa through the body of the convict a current of electricity of sufficient intensity to cause deatb, and the application of such current miftt be continued until such convict be dead, which execution shall take place before the boor of sunrise, upon such day, not lesa than 100 days after conviction, as tha court may adjudge. “The warden of the Indiana state prison, or, in case of his death, disability or absence, his deputy shall be the executioner. Provided, that in any county in state in which any person may be under sentence or judgment of death at the time or the taking effect of this act, the said sentence and judgment shall be carried into effect and executed under the laws now in force for the infliction of the deatb penalty, which satfl law is hereby continued in existence for such purpose. “The execution shall take place inside the walls of the Indiana state prison and within an enclosure arranged for that purpose, and the warden and board of control of said Indiana state prison are hereby, authorized, empowered and directed to procure and place in position the necessary electrical apparatus to carry out the execution of said death penalty as provided in Section 1 of this act.”

If the bill becomes a law,* Joseph Keith, who is under judgment ol death in Warrick county, would bs hanged instead of killed by electricity, Thursday, January 17. Senators Inman, Miller and Agnew make up a special committee appointed by the late Gov. Mount to investigate the Vincennes University claim. The committee has heard some * evidence, but is not ready to make a report. Senator Agnew said that dnring the last session, the members of the committee were favorable to the bill, but bat is no evidence, be says, that the committee will make a favorable report. Gov. Durbin was notified that a detective with requisition papers was coming from Kentucky after former Gov. W. S. Taylor and Charles Finley, former secretary of the state of Kentucky, and that the expectation was that the Indiana governor would surrender the fugitives. “I have nothing to say on that subject,” said the governor, firmly. "When the papers ar« on my desk I will give them consideration.” Friday, January 18. Many members of the legislature Were practically stranded in Indianapolis for the day, because they came to the capital with only a few dollars and had not been able yet to appropriate money to spay themselves. In the\ifternoon solons were going about borrowing money from friends or wiring home for remittances to settle their personal^penses. The senate Mphed through a bill providing for the death penalty at the Michigan City prison, in order to correct the law before Keith is sentenced at Princeton for the murder of Nora Klfer. The primary election bill, requiring the holding of pa"ty primary conventions in certain lar T 6 counties, was favorably reported b ' the elections committee. Despite reports to the contrary, no steps have been taken in the direction of preparing a bill to punish wife beaters by wnipping. NOTES OF LEGISLATURE. Senator Winfield’s bill, No. 82, provides that when work has been done on a ditch by the owner of the land, and a certificate has been issued to him, the assessment shall not be a lien on the real estate. Representative Coble is looking into the question of an increase in the salary of prosecuting attorneys. He bas not prepared bis bill yet, because be is not certain whether the proposed fe« and salary bill applies to prosecutors or not. The county commissioners, road supervisors and trustees of Grant county will have a meeting at Marion January 29, for the purpose of going over some proposed bills relating to road and ditch matters. Representative Gauntt and Burrier of Grant county, will attend the meeting. House bill No. 9, Mr. Trdut, amends the compulsory education law so that children between the ages of seven and sixteen, Instead of from six to fourteen, must attend school. It aiso would abolish the county truant officer and make the township trustee the truant officer in his township. Senator Gard’s bill. No. 65, provides that railroads paying their employes by the month shall designate the day on which they Intend paying. Senator Osborne’s bill, No. 75, provides that all el ties of a population over 10,000 and under 35,000, according to the last census, shall have a board of metropolitan police. The bill in no way affects the cities already under this system, or any officer or employe appointed under the metropolitan police law. The bill will'affect Marion. Huntington and one or two other :ltles.