Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1901 — THE INDIAVA LEGISLATURE [ARTICLE]

THE INDIAVA LEGISLATURE

Reports of Proceedings and Bill* Introduced. MEASURES IN BOTH HOUSES. Bills V* Make Both Buyer and S*Us* •• * Vote Am*aabl* to Punish mast D*fe* ted—Senate Passes BUI for Waterway in Northwest Coraer of the Stata, Tuesday, January 2». "Billy’’ Wilson, one of the Fort Wayn* politicians who appeared in opposition to the proposed amendment to the Fort Wayne charter, was in the Denison lobby wearing a waistcoat that rivaled in hue an Italian sunset. It attracted the attention of Representative King. •’Billy,” drawled the member from Wabash, "did you buy that vest’". "Of course I bought It. How do you suppose I go: it?” “I thought perhaps some one had bet you that you wouldn't wear it.” remarked King as he walked away. Senator Fleming says that while th* democrats of Fort Wayne are *pposed to the proposed charter amendments, they ar* in favor of a nonpartisan police an<9 fire department and are in fav*r of making the mayor’s office a tour years office of two terms of two years each. , Charges that the girls of the Indian* Industrial school have been whipped with leather straps may lead to an official investigation on the part of the state. Evidence in the case of a sensational character 1* now in the hands of the stat* legislative commission, which the governor appointed to investigate the state institutions and to report to the general assembly. Governor Durbin, who personally is cognizant of th* facts in the case, is not willing that the commission should: lay the charges before him at this time. A bill was introduced in the legislature, however, by Representative Jaanes. secretary of the state legislative oommission, providing for the entire abolahment of the present board of the Industrial school and for the appointment of a new board in its stead. Representative James, who visited the institution with Governor Durbin and other members of th* legislative commission, said tonight he had personal knowledge of cruelties at the institution. He had seen the strap with which girls were whipped and had learned from officers of the institution the methods of punishment. A leather belt taken from a sewing machine, he said, was used on th* heads of girls who disobeyed the rules, and was used also on other parts of their bodies.

In the legislature here the Democrats in the senate introduced a resolution urging Governor Durbin to return.the Kentucky refugees. Lieutenant Governor Gilbert ruled it out of order and Senator Stilwell but the senate sustained its presiding officer by a vote of 28 io 9. Wednesday, January 30. In the house bills to make both th* buyer and seller of a vote amenable to punishment, thus repealing the present law, which makes it a crime only to sell one s vote, were defeated by a party vote. In the senate the bill for a water way from Lake Michigan to the Calumet River, a distance of about three and onehalf miles, was passed by * unanimous vdte. The senate also adopted a resolution providing for the appointment of a committee of five to investigate the charges of cruelty preferred against the superintendent of the woman’s prison in Indianapolis. The resolution States report* are current that Inmates tn the prison are not properly fed and that the methods used for punishing are inhuman. • Thursday. January 31. All other legislative business was overshadowed by resolutions Introduced in both houses of the general assembly concerning the management of various state institutions. Charges of cruelty to girl* at the reform school for girls in Indianapolis led to a resolution authorizing tho 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 sensation of the day was a charge by Representative James, a member of the state legislative commission, alleging a $20,000 debt at the Indiana reformatory. After making an investigation in the offic* of the auditor of state Mr. James mad* the additional statement that he had found deficits in the maintenance account* of the northern hospital for the insane at Logansport; the eastern hospital for th* insane at Richmond and the school for feeble-minded youth at Fori Wayne. Th* accounts in the auditors office ar* straight, and the deficits have referenc* to the institutions only. Fridav. February 1. The Barlow anti-lyncßtng bill war passed by the Indiana senate. Vigorous opposition was made bi’ some of th* democratic members. The bill provides that any sheriff who aDows a prisoner to be lynched while in his custody shall immediately vacate his Office until he has explained to the satisfaction of the gov-.-ernor that he was not to blame fob allowing the lynching. The final vote was 29 to 13. ■ ' , In the house this afternoon Mr. Loultt (dem.) introduced another resolution looking to action in a requisition for Taylor and Finley, the Kentucky refugees. Th* resolution declares that the Kentucky court of appeals has * republican majority, and that Taylor and Finley hav* the right of appeal to this court if their trials by the lowef court are unfair. Speaker Artman said he would decide Monday as to whether the resolution 1* in order. Representative Hopping, of Delaware county, has prepared a bill to allow, strawboard works to dump refuse in th* streams after getting permits from th* state board of health. The Supreme court has declared that this is unlawful, and the strawboard works have been at * lo*» to know how to dispose of refuse. NOTES OF LEGIBLATCBE Senator Stillwell Invariably refers to Senator Parks as “Senator Pfeffer,” because of tue abundant whiskers worn by the senator from Marshall. A. R. Hall, author of the anti-pass law of . two years ago. Introduced a railroad commission bill similar to'the lowa law. It provides for six commissioner*, to serve six years at ».0» a year, but all expenses of the commission are not to exceed $20,000 a year. The bill prohibit* discriminations and allows the commission to limit rates. The handsome silver-mounted gave! made from a branch of: the old elm tre* at Corydon and presented to Speaker Artman. has returned from the repair shop In emphasizing his rulings Mr. Artman knocked off the silver plate and it had to be put on again. Th* County Superintendents* association has appointed a committee to appear befor* the educational committees of th* house and 'senate to protest against th* passage of the bill making the offic* of county superintendent an elective on*. The committee is composed of Superintendent* Rankin of Paoli, Harris of Greencastle. Thompson of Grant county Scott *f Clark county and Cushaan of Gr**o< county.