Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1881 — INDLANA LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDLANA LEGISLATURE.

Indianapolis, April I.—A call of the roll showed only thirty-three senators present this morning, and the door-keeper was instructed to bring in absentees. It was determined to meet hereafter nine o’clock in the morning. The following house bills were passed; concerning landlords and tenants,with senate amendments; and authorizing railroad companies to operate telegraph lines for contmercialpurposes. Senator Comstock’s bill legalizing certain acts of gravel road companies, which purchased roads at sheriff’s sales, was also passed. Senator Chapman’s bill to repeal the act of March, 1879, touching foreign insurance companies, was indefinitely postponed. The general appropriation bill was passed, and the education of pauper children, and oi the insurance of plate glass. ' The house adopted a concurrent resolution to give the committee investigating the insane asylum a short hand reporter, and passed the following revision bills: Concerning the adoption of heirs; concerning circuit courts; concerning fences and relating to bridges over rivers; adding election days to the list of legal holidays ; concerning guardians and wards; enlarging the sewers of cities. Hie special session dosses two weeks from to-morrow, but the legislative work is pretty well advanced; the house having disposed of nearly all the bills prepared by the revision commission. Indianapolis, April 6.—The senate had a long discussion this morning on the bill providing that the state shall relinquish its title to 9,000 acres of land in the bed of Beaver lake in favor of the settlers thereon. The bill was finally laid on the table. The joint resolution proposing a prohibitory amendment to the constitution was referred to the judiciary committee, which, it is believed, will be the end of it.

In the senate the bill giving city and town marshals the same fees and power as constables was passed. The rest of the day was spent on the criminal procedure i>ill. The house passed the senate bill concerning drainage; the bill making cruelty to animals a misdemeanor; authorizing inspectors of elections to be selected by voters when the appointee is absent at the time of opening the polls: to prevent the pollution of streams which furnish water supply for cities and towns. Mr. Meredith’s bill, for the government of the prisons by the appointment of five directors, failed to pass by yeas 38, nays 42. Indianapolis, April 6.—Mr. Rohip called up the Evansville bridge biil|n the senate to-day, which, after being amended so as to require charges to be responsible and uniform, and reserving the right to alter the charter by the general assembly was passed. The bills concerning the settlement of decedents’ estates, authorizing owners of real-estate to petition for improvement of streets, highways, etc., and establish a superior court in Vigo county were also passed. The bill authorizing aliens to h 1 real estate was postponed. In the house the following bills were defeated: Allowing connty boards to loan money to agricultural societies; allowing plaintim to select the paper in which sheriff’s sales shall be printed; to reorganize the benevolent institutions of the state. * The fallowing billk were passed: Appropriating $1,050 to the former employes of the Orphans’ home at Knightstown; providing for the incorporation of mutual aid and benevolent associations; providing for the taxation of banks; providing funds to continue work on the state house; amending the act for the incorporation of cities; and providing for five commissioners to aid in the supreme court at a salary of $4,000 each, and to be named by the judges of the said court.

The senate judiciary committee reCorted favorable on the bill for a proibatory amendment to the constitution, and the bill was made the special order for to-morrow morning. The house also passed the Insurance bill, which requires foreign insurance companies to appoint an attorney in this state upon wnom servile may be made when suits are brought. INDIANAPOLIS, April 7.—ln the senate Mr. Menzie’s Mil: concerning the boundary line affecting Green River Island was amended by decreasing the appropriation from $3,000 to $1,500. The bill concerning husband and wife was passed; also the house bill amending tbe whistling nuisance act of 1877. The prohibition amendment went over again until tomorrow, when it will be taken up with the proposition for woman suffrage, admission of to practice law, etc. . The house passed the joint resolution amending the constitution so as to give women the right to vote by yeas 62, nays 24. The following bills were passed: For keeping in repair public cemeteries; to encourage the destruction of birds that prey upon poultry; requiring witnesses to be notified when their fees are paid into court; allowing witnesses in the circuit court one dollar per day in the county and $1 25 outside; allowing lands to be redeemed from execution sales by paying eigut per cent, interest, The bill to encourage immigration by allowing aliens to hold real estate failed in the senate by yeas 23, nays 22.