Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1885 — INDIAKA LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIAKA LEGISLATURE.

THE appropriation bill was discussed again ia the Senate on the 7th Inst. Senator Fowler opposed the item allowing the Adjutant General a clerk at a salary of S6OO a year. It was explained by Senator Magee that a clerk would toe re<iui dfi for the work of making a new copy of the enrollment of Indiana soldiers. The motion to strike out the item was defeated. The bill authorizing the payment of the John Martin claims was advanoed to the second reading. The oleomargarine bill failed, and also the bill allowing appeals by ferry companies from rate* fixed by Conn tv Commissioners. In the House, benator Hailey s bill prohibiting the importation or immigration of foreigners and others under contract or agreement to perform labor within Indiana was taken up, the constitutional rules suspended, and the Mil passed by a vote of 77 to 6, >n spite of Mr. Patton’s earnest assurance that its provisions had s tendency to encourage Chinese immigration, to which be sas much opposed. The following bills passed: Legalizing certain acts of the Board of Commissioners of Wells County in relation to the Blnffton and Rockport Gravel Road Company; providing tor the proper recording of assignments and cancellation, of mortgages and mechanics’liens; fixing the time for hold ng court in the Tenth Judicial Circuit; authorizing the Board of Ccnbty Commissioners to construct free gravel roads on boundary lines between States, each to defray, one-half of the expense: authorizing the Trustees Of the Hospital for the Insane to use certain lands ithe McCaslin farm) for the beneflt of the institution; provi< ing for the distribution of certain money and funds In the treasury of the incorporated town of Clinton. Vermillion County. Consideration of the general appropriation bill was resumed on the ftth Inst., bnt, although two hours’time was consumed, no changes were made materially affecting the amount of the appropriations. Pending the consideration the Senate took a recess for the purpo-e of allowing a committee to make a change in the pbraso* ology of the bill, after which the constitutions! rule was suspended to allow the bill to be read the third time. The bill finally passed. The House bill legalizing the issne of gravel road bonds in Wells County was passed, under a Bnspens'on of the rules. In the House the bill allowing security on liquor-dealers’ bonds to be released upon petition to the court as other sureties are released, passed. Senator Meyers’ bill providing for the establishment of an Appellate Court of five judges at an annual salary of $4,5u0 each, at Indianapolis, was reported back from the committee without recommendation. After a Jong debate a motion to strike out the enacting clause prevailed. The following bills were taken npoucof their order and pissed: Abolishing the office of Supreme Court Commissioner; to legalize the incorporation and official acts of the town of English, Crawford County; regulating the measures used by County Surveyors and legalizing certain official measurements therefor; to prevent the payment of wages in scrip «r the selling of goods to employes at excessive rates; an act concerning the duties or Connty Treasurers and Auditors, and requiring the prompt nayment of alt funds due Township Trustees. Mr. Williams introdu. ed a resolution, which was unanimonsly adopted, highly complimentary to Mr. Henry Georize (“Progress and Poverty”), and extending to him the courtesies ol the House. The same gentleman introduced a resolution, which was also adopted, allowing H. C. Darnell, Clerk ol the House, s4no for extra work In preparing the calendars for the regular and special sessions. Mr. Pendleton called np the bi 1 to appropriate David 8. Munson $2,500 for lightning-rods put on the Insane Hospital, which had twice before failed for want of a constitutional majority, and it was passed. The Governor signed the bill prohibiting the importation of foreign labor into Indiana. Senator Sellers, the Chairman of the special committee appointed before the end of the regular session to investigate the accounts of Hnffstetter. the deposed Assistant Secretary, presented a report to the Senate on the 9th Inst., showing that Hnffstetter had, on forged warrants, drawn on the acconnt of Ezra C. Knowles, an enrolling clerk, the snm of sls: on Senator Hillegass, *100; on Senator May. $ t; on Senator Shiveley, S3O; and on Senator Adkln«on, SIOO, making the total amount of bis peculations, besides the overdrafts of bis own salary, $341. “The sums drawn by Mr. Hnffstetter from the treas ryupon frandnlent warrants and orders,” the committee stated, “have been covered back Into the State Treasury or repaid to the losers by his dishonest transactions. While this has been done voluntarily and without any agreement upon the part of the losers by Hnffstetter's transactions, still this restitution was bnt an act of simple justice to men whom Hnffstetter had wronged, and it can not in any way justify an outrage committed before the eyes of this Senate, and which has now been brongbt to the knowledge of the entire State. We, therefore, call the attention of the Prosecuting Attorney of the Criminal Court of Marlon'County to the facts above set forth, that he may take snch steps aq may further the ends of justice.” The report of the committee was adopted unanimously. In the House, the general appropriation bill was reported back from the Senate with the various amendments made to it. A motion to concur in the. amendments made by the Senate was defeated by a vote of 36 to 50. The Speaker appointed as the Honse members of the conference committee on the bill Messrs. McMullen and Brownlee. Senator Magee presented a report to the Senate, on the 10th insfc, from the Finance Committee on the general appropriation bill. A compromise on the Senate amendments ted been agreed upon by the oommittee. The changes were explained by the members of the committee, and the Senate concurred in the re- : 1 ort of the committee. The Honse did likewise. ; Senator Willard tendered his resignation of the i Finance Committee and it was accepted. In the Honse tne following bills were passed: i Winter’s bill regarding decedents’ estates; the bill authorizing the citizens of any county to form voluntary associations for the purpose of j the insurance of property from damage by fire or lightning; McCullough’s bill providing that ! incorporated towns and cities may, if they so desire, employ Township Assessors to make local assessments and County Treasurer* to collect their municipal taxes, without providing special officers for these purposes; Brown’s bill providing that polling-places on election days shall be opened at 6 o’clock am; Mr. Wilson introduced a bill to reorganize the State benevo- * lent institutions on a non-partisan basis, which, on motion, was referred to a committee; Mr. Copeland a resolution de- ’ nonneing Cleveland for sending Gen. Lawton, an “unhung rebel,” to Russia. The resolution was promptly tabled. The Governor signed the bill regulating the practice of medicine, surgery, and obstetrics. The bin provides that any person desiring to practice medicine or surgery shall procure from the Clerk of the Circuit Court s license, to secure which he must hie an affidavit showing gradual on in some reputable medical college: or be shall present the affidavit of two reliable freeholders that be has practiced medicine In the State far ten years. The bill limiting the rental charges for triephones to $3 a month passed the Senate on the 11th inst, after a Ion; debate. Senator McCullough stated that there had been something said about the lobbying of telephone companies to defeat the bill. There baa been no money used, be believed, but be said that be had seen letters and telegrams from employes of the House demanding money from the telephone compinies for the defeat of the MU, riving the 1 names of the members and the sums they de- ' rnanded After the passage of the bill an investigation was ordered into McCullough’s intimation of the nse of money to defeat the bill. ’ In tbe House, the regular order was the consideration of Senate bills on third reading. ; Senator Hillegass’ bill compelling liens, deeds, and mortgages to be recorded within ten days after they have been delivered was varioashr discussed and defeated. Senator Rohm’a bill to amend the act concerning the taxation of unplatted tracts of lands within the city limits was read a third time and defeated. Senator F’ouike’s bill, prohibiting the use of dynamite and other explosives for felonious purposes and providing strict penalties for the violators of its provisions was defeated. Sena or Hillegass’ bill to amend the present law regarding the State printing was read. Mr. Hock explained that. In accordance with a special message irom the Governor on the subject, this bill had been drawn to cut off certain unnecessary printing, and that It would save the State about s»,ou« a year. Paseed. The House took cognizance of Senator McCullough's statements about money being used to bribe members of the Honse to vote against the telephone bill, and appointed a committee to Investigate the nutter. In Canada—“ Well, wife, I suppose we ought to call on the Mandelbeums, hadn’t we?” “Yea, dear, I suppose so, but they are horribly common people; just think, they only stole $13,000.” — Boston Post A man may as well expect to grow stronger by always eating. as wjsevJyy always reading. Too much overcharges nature, and turns more into disease than nouri hment— Jeremy Collier. AM idle man is like stagnant water; he corrupts himself.— Latena.