Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1889 — THE STATE LEGISLATURE [ARTICLE]

THE STATE LEGISLATURE

At Point Ldtbos, ne»r San Francisco, there is extended out in the waters oi the Pacific a big wooden pendulum, so arranged that a surface six feet by twehre is exposed to the waves. The action of the waves causes the' pendulum to swing, and the swinging of the big pendulum works a big pump, which raises the sea water to a height of 150 feet. It is proposed to conduct this Water to San Francisco and use it for running turbine wheels 'and other motors, driving cable cars, supplying salt-water baths, sprinkling the Btreete, and bushing the sewers. .<; ■ The authorities ot the Reunion Office say that perpetual motion is certainly a thing no longer to be laughed at. Chief Clerk Liscomb insists that they have now at the Patent Office models that do go until they wear out, and they have the power to run till doomsday. But they are all, so far, practically useless, because they can do nothing else but run themselves. They have no surplus power to run something else. But he thinks.the machine will come that can be of practical use by tunning other machines. Possibly, but it is so very iin probable that we shall do well by going en with the perfecting of electrical machinery and steam eng»ne«. The hill to increase unGaiaries of our Supreme Court Judges to $20,000 and of the Chief Justice to $25,000 is reasonable. The President gets twice that, and is not seldom a man who, in private life, lives on a very meager income; while our J ustices are invariably taken fr6m lucrative practice, and expected to be satisfied with a compensation partly made up of honor. The Judges of the Common Pleas Courts, and other local courts in large cities, are at present better paid than the Federal Judges.: But there is no escaping the fact that'the machinery of our Government is growing to be very expensive, and theipeople are beginning to consider if we are not tending toward the costliness of royalty. It has been asserted for some time by careful observers that the power of the saloon is waning. In New York State, and the East, it has been observable for three or four years. The saloon. is by ho means the political head center that it was ten yearn ago, Votes can not so easily be bought for drinks. Temperance votes are more sought for. Candidates are more careful about appearing as Baloon representatives. Now it is asserted that the greater saloons of New York City no longer pay expenses; not even Delmonico’s and the Hoffman, while most of the others are passing under the hand of the Sheriff. One of the finest was sold out last week. This state of affairs is not quite true of Western cities, but it is approximat ly so. A few years ago Greenbackism was a somewhat powerful element in the politics of this country. It held the balance between the big parties in some of the States, and was potent enough to secure recognition from one or the other of the great organisations in turn. In 1880 James B. Weaver, its candidate for President, received 307,306 votes, it had no candidate in 1888, the few remaining members <vf the party dividing up between the” Republican and Democratic organizations or supporting Streeter, the Uhion Labor candidates At one time there were over a dozen Greenbackera in the House of Representatives. The last one of these will step down on March 4 next, when Jarbes B. Weaver jjrops into retirement ' * - » 1 ' V-.i* Tt The French lire easily and die easily. Last year nearly 8,000 people in the French Republic committed suicide. There are fertile causes for self-murder in the great city of Paris, and nearly one-fifth of th«j number arein the department waich contains the fashionable metropolis In connection with, the statistics some curious things are noted. The gloopiv days of winter are not the mtMst conducive to self-destruc-tion, as would be (supposed- Suiddes are least frequent in December, and July brings the largest number. The very old and the very young do not seek to get. out of the world in an underhand way, so often as those of the-middle age. Very few young people kill them-” selves and very few old ones. The rope and the river afford the most popular means of exit. The pistol is next and then comes charcoal asphyxiation. A sad peopie, the French, with ail their outward show of happiness. Probably the richest newsboy in the west is Moses Jacebs who sells papers on the streets of Dee Moines, la. He is eighteen yeans old, and has sold newspapers for the last fourteen years, during which time has acquired $4,000 worth of real estate from his savings. Kentucky, famous for its belles, has its.buds this season, too. In Louisville Mias Mamie Griffiths is the prettiest dancer; Miss Nellie Wilder, a blende who plays the banjo, th? greatest heiress, and Miss Marie Evans the brightest conversationalist. Do not polish your plated silver teapot with a brick or dust the satin upholstery of the parlor furniture with sandpaper. . ,

The Seat of Senator Carpenter Is I>eelared Vacant. The Salient Features of the Proposed New ElectlonJLaw. :. Pttll Report of tlie Proceedings - of Botlt Branches. The Senate. on the Jit, passed a bill legalizing the record* of the Circuit and Hu|x*rior. courts. Unfavorable report* were made an. the hill Mr, (he -Improvement of public highways; and the bill eoru-i’niing the taxation of certain fee* by County officers. Kill* favorably reported were: To create a Bureau of Labor Ktatinties: providing (or the incorporation of labor organization.: providing for a hbhiesteadand cxeinptinglt from sale or execution. The bill changing time of holding eotirt in the circuit composed of Warrick. Spencer and Perry counties we* passed. Three unii.nportaht bills were introduced mid the Senate adjourned at noon, to give committees an opportunity to dispose of the work, that has accumulated on their hands. The House on the 22d took up tlie bill authorising the burial of indigent Soldiers at a public expense of not exceed $55 The amount was changed to SSO by amendment Ader moved to incorporate a clause that when a member of the Putnam Countybnr die* In poverty the State shajl bury him at an expense not exceeding •1C: laid on the table with go. at indignation: Tlie bill was engrossed'. Bill No. TO, providing for r penalty Of from $5 to so(K> and iinprisoment.for slander was reported favorably. The bill was referred back to comwiittoe. Parnell, thought the provisions too strict.- “If; all tlie bills introduced in bis House should lie passed it would be dangerous to be be alive, he sdd The bill for the removal of ilriftwood from streams ami the bill making It unlawful to destroy or withhold from their owners, discharges and other papers of ex-soldiers were engrossed; The bill is meant for the relief of sobliers nud soldiers' widows who have placed their papers In the hands of pension agents and how can rot get them again. -The agents have in scores of‘eases held these documents, which an* valued very highly by their 'owners, in order lo compel the owners to re-empiny them In ease ot other claims arit-ing -against the Ooveniment in which legal aid Is necessary The bill authorizing comity commissioners to pav a honntv of one mill per head for killing English sparrows was reported unfavorably from the committee. Hills engrossed; To authorize and encourage the construction of levees; requiring owners of tmclion engines, when running over streets and highways, lo wild a man fifty yards in advance to give warning to drivers of teams of the approach of the engine; creating a live itock sanitary commission, and the office of State Veterinary Surgeon; to encouhige the breeding of - improved - stock; giving the State Board of Agriculture an annual appropriation of $10,000; requiring the State Statistician to gather statistics relating to labor on various subject*. The following tittts were passed; Odingto the United States jurisdiction over certain lands: to legalize acts of notaries public whose conunis-' sions have expired or wljo .were ineligible; to ap ß propriate SIOO,OOO for the State Normal School: in relation to township schools; lor the establishment of township libraries; providing, for "theloaning of school funds. Seven new measures were introduced. In Hie Senate on the23d, the bill to make terms of county officers begin on the Ist of January was referred to the judiciary committee tb investigate its constitutionality. The bill milking it unlawful to manufacture dynamite or other nitroexplosive compounds within 160 roils of any occupied dwelling or public building was engrossed. Citizens of Brazil petitioned that the civil engineer atid school trusties of that city be made elective office*. Citizens of Newton county memorialized f<Vreimbursement, for excess of Value paid for tlie bed of Beaver Lake. A ivsolution authorizing a committee of three to ascertain if the laws relating to the inspection of petroleum oil-arc properly enforced, was adopted. Several -bills were reported from committees. Among those with favorable recommendations were: To fix the salarfes of Judges: defining the crime of riotous conspiracy; to make separate judicial circuits of Howard and Tipton counties; providing for the incorporation of thelndiana Swine Breeders' Association; providing for the superintendency of free gravel roads; to prevent gambling in grain, stocks, etc; to authorize cities to construct levees. Among the bills unfavorably reported were: Making a separate judicial circuit of Hamilton county; providing that Prosecuting' Attorneys should not collect fees when the prosecuted is' arrested by police. “ / The committee on public buildings was given authority to investigate the State House plumbing. The Governor entered the Senate Chamber and was shown due respect. A number of liew hills were introduced in the House on the 23d. Among which were: Providing for the purchase of ten acres of groud for use of the Insane Hospital at Logansport: appropriating $600,000 for the erection of a fire-proof liorurv at Bloomington, a bill taking from the hands o's the Governor the appoitnmeut of a mine inspector and placing that power in tlie hands of a commission exempting pension money from execution for debt; making it'a misdemeanor for a state or county office to accept a pass from a railroad eouipajiy;’proliibiting use of screens before saloon doors; making a debt for tile a lien oa the land; regulating practice of medicine by examination an* Ifceiise* Willard, D. offered n resolution requiring a statement from the Auditor w , ether he has;lssned a warrant for the payment of any money from the State Treasury to one Hubert S. Robertson. Adams, R., could see no need for the resolution. It was introduced simply to open the old sore. “The people - have heard enough of this outrage and its tperpetni tors." 'Brownville. K.. then launched an indignant denunciation of tlie Democratic majority. He was called to order but afterward allowed to conclude his remarks. Willard declared he did hot introduce the resolution' in a partisan spirit hut simply for information “The trouble is,” he said, “the State -Auditor has dared to pay money from the public treasury to that man, and you are afraid to have the matter investigated. \Ve want that information in the Ways and Means Committee, and if we find that the State. Auditor has paid money unlawfully; as I believe he has. he shall not be reimbursed.”; A great deal more indignant c’-ouenee was indulged in by way Of explanation of votes. Kelly, 1). 'said the trouble is that the Republicans li ivy Imasteu that they were in a majority now they find their Governor does«*Twiel d unlimited power and they feel sore'. Covert, Democrat, voted against the resolution, and a few others of tl&l party did the same, but it. was adopted bwn vote of 55 to 40. The following bills j were then mtrqdueed: Making eight hours a dav's j wotU: for the prevention* of frauds. In retalia- ! ion for Use Willard resolution, Stubblefield. R., ! introdueeij a resolution requiring that inquiry | should lie Spade to ascertain if Green Spiith * had drawn more than the amount due him during, tlrgjlast session of the General Assemblv. A I motion was promptly made to lay the resolution on the table, and it was done, oil a party'vote. I Wilson, D.l introduced a resolution, with a ! whereas, stating that there had been rumors during the Sears IssT tfnd IssS affecting the State i rcasury anti the Treasurer, and, in consequence, l it was impoHaiit that there should be an xnvosti- ! gaiidn iuto tjie affairs of the office. The resolu- [ tion providel tjhat a committee of five should be appointed tol ebtiduet the investigation. The resolution wife adopted. The mulutfim to investigate the State Treasury was reecinsidifcil by a party vote and laid on the table. The Ggverhor entered the chamber and was given an informal reception. The introduction of bills th|ii continued until the close of the session, tlie tofiri number to date being 329. In the Senatfc on the 24th: the Jeport of the committee on §jeotiortVn the Scott Ray-Carpen- ‘ ter ooutest wuspubmitted. The majority rep it slated that CVabonter had by bribery secured more than, 100 «|tes. his majority on the fare "of the returns beiirc bnt The testimony that was taken by im committee, the report stated, showed that Caigienter met Thad, L. Major in Shelbyville shojplv before the election and significantly inqiißyj that if he should find some money in a un£f®r of his livery stable, would it be all rightTlggSd that immediately afterward 525 was depositififit n tue manger. “Major found it” the report sfeues, “with but little trouble, and apnrecuuedjat.” It is also stated that Carpenter deposited, SI oin a feed-box on the Same day for Austin Souse, and that House had no trouble in findiift the money.T The report gives in detail many instances in which bribery was swqni to, Carp«iter as a witness in his own behalf. the report sftttes. did not, by his own evidence or that offtotbers, attempt to explain or impeach any of the testimony referred t->. with > the exception of that of Jas. Garnett.with whom, he said. he*h d ftlever had any' conversation. Ray is credited with having . repeatedly called attention Sin his paper, the Shelbyvtile Democrat, jjto the fai t that Carpenter wgs using nftney to secure his election. The committee ijported that it was satisfied from the evidenoi float Carpenter had procured more than a hundjed votes bv the.corrnpt use of money, and that my had received, a plurality of the nnbougbt votc*4 It therefore reeommendeii the adoption of thewesoiulion, d. el.-irinc tMrpenter ineligible to his heat- and expelling him, uud declaring Ray the kgallyielected Senator from -Sbt-fbv and Decatur! The minority report was very long. It directed attention especially to Section 4,756 of the Revised Statutes, which set out four specific clauses upon which a contest fora seat in the Senate may be based. TlieSe causes are; (1) Irregularity or mal-conduct of any member of the Electiou Board, a prnvisiou which is modified by Section 5,737; (2) when the contestee is ineligible: |3) when, previous to the election, the contestee sjiall have been convicted of an infamous crime: and <4l when illegal votes |

•re cut tor Him. in the review of thekattltaony the report stated that there fa no evidence thal any voter was influenced by the money that wa* given by Senator Caimenter to different person* for camnaign lire. Those who wefts paid by him for their service*, were the only persons who i that money was Udng used. It was shown >,by the testimony that no money wax used* an elcciton day, but evidence had been introduced showfifg that Ray had made threats against some i jKTHofa,- and bad ortercil bribes to secure his own election. All the evidence %to public rumor wag oral and was admitted over the objections of the minority of the committee i the testimony ifs to the alleged criminal acts of Ray was excluded by the majority. It believed by the minority that the evidence was irrelevant and incompetent. The minority believed, (1), that no provision of the Constitution, no civil statute, nor any rule of procedure of the Senate, has been invoked by Ray requiring any Senator to make inqnirv touching the crime defined In section 2,200. and based on section 87; (2), that the statement and notice in the contest contained no allegation, supported by evidence, calling for any judicial aetioh in the Senate to (deprive Carpenter of his seat; (3), thal it was the proper duty of the Senate to dismiss the contest as presenting no question for adjudication, und that in consequence Mr. Carpentci should remain a member of the Senate. A long debate then ensued on the adoption of the reporti that is it was long for il occupied the entire day and had not been coih'pletca on adjournment. , The Senators who spoke were S V. Thompson, K.. Cox,D..Johnson, K., Burke, D., I)eMotte. It.. Barrett I>., ITuliliell, R., and Griffith. B. In The House on the 24th a rcsolntfoii eonvi<*ir Ing tlie-“dcpnrtore from a time honored custom” of entrusting the State library to the eare-of ladies was tabled by n party vote. The bill,providing that a person who neglects to clear drift-" wood from drains for which he is held responsible, shall lie made to bear the expenses when tlie work is ordered done bv the Township Trustee,' was lost by ayes 77, flays 10. Kelly, in explaining ins vote,.made one of the most remarkable speeches on record in English.. He'said that “ik-causc of geologic irt.ovefn.ents* in the shape oi .eyi-Jonies, the breaking i,if rocks, tin- gorging of i v, the w ill of AHnighty God. and other aits of the earth, according to its constitution,'; it would manifestly be unfair to require a man'to the streams clear at liis own expense. * tt>-%les it was unconstitutional, he was satistied Ungstoff’s bill, providing for the estotilislimevt of-a State Bureau of Statistics and Geology, and creating the office of Chief of the Department, was read a third time nnd submitted the ordeal of discussion. It oroadens the field of work of the Bureau of Statistics enormously and allows tlie auiiointment of a staff of assistants under Hie direction of the Chief. The Chief is given wide power'in the examination of witnesses and the investigation of many things deemed desirable for stntististieal information, l ive thousand dollars is set apart for the payment of the assistants of the Chief, whose salarv remains the same as is now paid the State titi lieiau. The bill is designed to encourage thi? accumulation of information concerning the conditions and needs of labor particularly. On these, it is argued, can hr based wholesome laws regulating the employment of child labor, rates of w ages, hours of work, adoption cf safety devices in machinery, and a host of rtlated improvements. The measure was non-partisau, and passed by a vote of 83 to 1. ” Other bilU passed wore to legalize incorporation of ElktttM ille: nlso Slieridt.n; and a bit! prpViding that whenever a traction engine is run-over any public, road, the .owner shall semi a man ahead to notify all drivers of teams of its approach, and that the engine shall halt until the horses driven by those approaching shall have passed. Several hiilsi Were reportetl from committees, and new. ones introduced. Tlie Senate on the. 25th resumed the debate on tlie Ray-Carpenter contest. The evidence iiefore the committee, relating to the alleged bribary fiyas read at length, requiring an hours time, ,Dresser, R.. Hays, R., Thompson, K.e of Jasper. Closed the debate in a. legal discussion of fifteen minutes. The resoHithin To "unseat arid expel,’' Carpenter was then adopted by a party voted. The Republicans took advantage of the word r'expel” and kept tin* Senate in session until 7 o’clock. To •‘expel” a member requires a two-thirds vote. This the Democrats did not have. They then reconsidered.the vote, sent the report back to tlie Committee, expunged the words “and expel,” nnd again adopted the reso' lotion unseating Carpenter by a party vote. A motion was adopted in dnitelv postponing the' resolution giving the seat to Scott Ray, and the is now without a Senator. Those who voted in favor of Ray were Burke, Byrd, Foley, Hale, Hade, Hayden, Jackson. McClure, Muliinix und Thompson of White nnd Pulaski. In the House a resolution was adopted requesting the Auditor to furnish the House informa tion ns to whether or not he has issued warrants to pay W. T. Leonard as ah employ of tho Legislature. Leonard being also a member of tlie Federal Grand Jury. A concurrent resolution giving the Soldiers and Sailors monument commission the right to occupy a room in the State House was adopted. The bill providing for the in corporation of religious societies was passed. •Several committee reports were received and the House adjourned until Monday at 2 o'clock. .Neftlfer House w: s in session on the 26th. In the Senate on the 23th the Andrews election ' reform bill was reported favorably from committee. Numerous other bills were reported and several new ones were introduced. The most,important bills engrossed were: Concerning the death penalty*} serihingtimeand place; concerning county i nmissioners compensation: tti define tlie crime of riotous conspiracy. The Hon*e indefinitely postponed the following bills: relating to partition fences; to create a food commissioner: relating to stock breeding: for tlie protection of quails. Three or four bills were engrossed.