Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1903 — PROCEEDINGS OF TOE LEGISLATURE [ARTICLE]

PROCEEDINGS OF TOE LEGISLATURE

Measures Under Consideration in the Capitol at Indianapolis. BUST FOR STATUARY HALL Niche at Washington to Be Filled by Statue of General George Rogers Clark—Pigeon Roost Massacre Monument Bill Passes the Senate. Senator Barcus introduced a bill providing for an appropriation of $5,000 for a statue of Gen. George Rogers Clark, and the placing of it in the National Statuary Hall at Washington. The matter was caucused on by the Republican Senators. The bill provides also for the appointment of a commission of three by the governor to have full charge of the work. Congressman James E. Watson visited the Senate and made an address. The committee on public morals has agreed on reports on two important tills. It will recommend for passage Senator Wood’s bill prohibiting the sale of intoxicants within one mile of a state or national soldiers’ home. Senator Lindley’s bill, prohibiting public officials from engaging in bets or gambling of any kind, under penalty of forfeiture of office, was also recommended for passage by this committee.

The Senate continued its roll call for bills on third reading. The bill for a monument to the victims of the Pigeon Roost massacre in Scott county in 1811, introduced by Senator Fortune, passed without a dissenting vote. The bill had been before two previous Senates. Senator Wolcott’s bill providing for the filing of crop liens also passed. Truancy Bill. Senator Davis introduced a bill to repeal the present truancy law. It would vest the duties that now devolve on the truant officer in the township trustee. It provides that parents may teach their children reading, writing and arithmetic, in. which event the children need not be sent to school. If parents fail to teach their children or to send them to school, they shall be amenable for misdemeanor. The trustee must give the parents ten days’ notice before <suit may be brought, and even then suit may not be brought unless the trustee gives his consent to the suit. Senator Johnson’s criminal assault bill was called as a special order of business. After a discussion of more than half an hour, in which the question of whether the bill as drawn would not interfere with the intermediate sentence law, a motion to recommit was carried. The Senate sent to engrossment the convict labor bill of Senator Matson. New Schoolbook. A primer to introduce the school children of Indiana to the first reader is proposed by the committee of the State Association of County Superintendents, consisting of R. C. Hillis, James R. Wilson and C. A. Van Matre. This committee was appointed to lobby, and it is working about the Legislature for a primer bill, for an increase in the school levy from 11 to 16 cents and for a bill creating a high school inspector. The levy and high school inspector measures are indorsed by the State Board of Education. The primer bill is being urged on the ground that there is not enough matter in the first reader, for the reason that publishers can not afford to make a bigger book for 10 cents than the first reader now in use. Should the primer be authorized the State Board of Education, acting as the State Board of Schoolbook Commissioners, would have a new contract to let. Codify Corporation Laws. Senator Matson has introduced a bill creating a commission to prepare a compilation, revision and codification of the statute laws of the state concerning corporations. The commission snail be composed of five competent lawyers, appointed by the governor, who shall have been engaged in the practice of law or in judicial duties for at least fifteen years. Not more than three members of this commission shall be of the same political party. Within two weeks of their appointment the commission shall convene in Indianapolis to organize. The commission shall appoint one clerk, who shall be a competent lawyer, and stenographers and other assistants, not to exceed three, to assist the commission. The commission shall submit its codification in the form of bills to the next session of the general assembly.< The work of the commission shall be

completed before the first Monday after the first Thursday In January, 1905. Each member of the commission shall receive a salary at the rate of $4,000 a year. The clerk shall receive a salary at the rate of $3,000 a year, and the compensation of all the other assistants shall not exceed $3,000 a year. Calumet Canal. Senator T. Edwin Bell of Hammond Bald that the Calumet canal blil will not be Introduced this session of the legislature. The agents of the land companies at Indiana Harbor and East Chicago, who backed the measure two years ago, have reached an agreement with the railroads whereby the latter will not place any further obstacles in the way. The Calumet canal bill was one of the principal features of the last session. It was defeated after a bitter fight on the part of a big railroad lobby, which spent several thousand dollars in lining up enough members to win. The lapd companies were prepared to reintroduce the bill in a slightly modified form, but after a several days’ conference with the railroad representative Senator Bell says that a compromise nas been reached. The canal is to be constructed from Indiana Harbor to a point on the Calumet river, near Hammond. It will open thousands of acres of sand land for valuable factory sites, and the promoters believe that in a few years it will result in the foundation of a great manufacturing city. Senator Bell thinks that work will begin on the canal within a short time. Hurty’a Lobbying System. Dr. J. N. Hurty, secretary of the state board of health, has the greatest scfieme for lobbying of them all, whether he intends to win , votes or not. Many of the senators and representatives had never been vaccinated when the general assembly opened, and they felt it a wise precaution to fortify themselves against the contagion. Being state officers, they naturally looked to the state board of health to take care of them, and Dr. Hurty, who has a pure food laboratory bill pending, was only too glad to accommodate them. One after another they marched down to Dr. Hurty’s office and bared their arms, and walked back to the legislative halls gratefully. Two-cent Fare. "I am already getting letters from home requesting me to introduce a bill in the house for 2-cents-a-mile railroad fares,” said Representative Watson last night. No such bill has been introduced, though a session of the assembly seldom passes without the introduction and the killing of such a bill. Mr. Watson says that he will not likely present such a measure, but that he would be glad to support one. He said:

“The railroad companies haul people for 2 cents if they will buy S3O worth of tickets in advance. The man who buys mileage books is generally the man who needs reduced rates the least. Charges should be uniform.” Senate Passes Ripper Bill. After a sharp contest, Governor Durbin’s “ripper” bill, reorganizing the Indiana Reformatory, passed the State senate by a vote of 39 to 10. Five Republicans and five Democrats voted against the bill. Most of the Democrats supported the measure in return for the acceptance by tne Republicans of an amendment by Senator Fortune, providing that the new board of control shall consist of four members, two from each of the leading two political parties. Senator Barcus (Rep.) offered a substitute bill for that of Senator Goodwine, making several important changes, but the substitute was rejected by the senate^ Senator Thompson, Republican, offered an amendment making the Board of Control consist of four members instead of three, as provided in the bill, but owing to an agreement between the leaders of the majority and the minority sides, to the effect that Senator Fortune should be allowed to father such an amendment, the Thompson amendment was voted down and the Fortune amendment, providing for practically the same thing, was adopted. Shot-Firing Bill. The “shot-firing” bill was reported favorably in the senate. This is the bill that caused the names of a number of Republican members of the last legislature to get into the blue book of the labor organizations. The bill provides that operators of coal mines shall hire experts to fire shots in the mines, and this was an expensive undertaking, the operators said. The State Federation took up the matter, and it was agreed that the bill should pass, but it was defeated. During the last state campaign the miners proposed to defeat the candidates who would not pledge themselves to vote for the bill at this session. The Republican leaders hswe agreed that the bill shall pass at this session. Senator Wampler, a Democrat, introduced the bill, but the understanding is that the Republican leaders will carry out their agreement with the miners and pass the bill.