Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1889 — THE STATE LEGISLATURE [ARTICLE]

THE STATE LEGISLATURE

The morning session of the Senate on the 19th was devoted to the Boyd and Timmons natural gas bills. The Boyd bill, which provides regulations for use of natural gas, was amended and engrossed. Timmon’s billjwhich provides for of property needed for right of way pipe lines, and for assessment of damages to be paid land owners, was passed and sent to the Governor. Johnson introduced a civil, service bill, The following bills were passed: To provide for the crossings of railroads; declaratory of the meaning of the word “mining” as embracing petroleum and natural gas; to authorize boards of commissioners to negotiate and sell bonds to complete court houses in certain cases; to pay to eight trustees of Clay county for moneys lost by failure of the bapk in which they deposited public funder concerning orphans homes for destitute children. Several bills were engrossed and others read a third time. The bill to increase the liquor license was laid on the table. The House was occupied by consideration of Foster’s bill fixing salaries to be paid county officers instead of fees, which was’ down as a special order. Foster made a lengthy speech in its support. Pleasants moved to recommit the bill. Lost by vote of 07 to 25. After further discussion it was engrossed. The school book bill was up for consideration. The following billswere passed: To organize an interstate fair; to appropriate 560,000 to the Indiana University; to provide for election of justicfefi of the peace, and reducing number of jurors in such courts to six; concerning the duties of supreme court reporter and reducing his emoluments; to provide for the election of trustees for the State hospitals; to pay claim of Cornelius Loy; for the relief of Edgar Hibbard; tor relief of Q.O. Rugy, to encourage construction of levees; concerning taxation, relating to railroads,, building branch lines, to appropriate lands lor railroad purposes; fa fix salaries of certain township officers; to authorize the purchase or condemnation for public use of the shares of bridge companies. The Senate on the 20th passed the bill creating a Supreme Court Commiss'on by a party vote. Byrd’s bill providing for aState Geologist and a mine and coal inspector by the legislature came up. Johnson arose to declare himself. Alter he had said that he would fight the bill. Byrd turned and demanded the previous question. Johnson maintained that he had the floor and that the previous question could not be demanded while a member was br aking/ In his characteristic way he 'proceeded to denounce the bill,continuing to speak longer than the five minutes allowed by the rules. The Democratic Senators protested against his being allowed to continue speaking, until the confusion was such that even Johnson’s Voice could not be understandingly heard. A=s’«tant Doorkeeper Bulger stepped from the corridor and an-'' nouuced, that if ordered to do so, he would force Johnson into his seat. “I dare you to attempt it,” exclaimed Johnson. ‘ T/ese cowardly brutes may put men down'in the House but you can not force into his seat a member of the Senate.” “The whole twenty seven of them can’t do it,” exclaimed Dresser. “No, sir!” cried out General Grose. “You can’t do it in here; all of you can’t.” Johnson squared himself, “l am waiting” he cooly remarked, “for that Doorkeeper to force me into mv seat.” “Yes, we arp waiting for him,” added Dresser. The forcing was not attempted, however; and Johnson continued speaking. Dresser also spoke, saying that the minority had been submitting to outrageous rules simply for the purpose of getting through some of the legislation needed by the State, but the rules were being pressed a little too far, and a crisis was close at band. Lieutenant Governor Chase stated that he “hoped no Doorkeeper of the' Senate would ever again take such liberty.” If the. assistance of any of them in forcing a member into his seat was ever desired he, the presiding officer, would call upon them. Later in the’session Dresser offered a resolution ordering the discharge of the Doorkeeper for “indecent violation of the proprieties of the Senate.” Senator Smith, as an explanation, stated that Bulger admitted that he had acted hastily and regretted it Cox repeated the same statement’, saying that the Doorkeeper felt that he was at fault and was sorrye A motion to reject the resolution was lost. The motion was then withdrawn. A message was received from the Governor reciting that there is great complaint throughout the State in regard to the management of the Insane Asi lum at Indianapolis. Whether such complaints are just'or unjust, the future walfare and reputation of that.institution demand a full and fair investigation of its management and'financial operations, The expenses of the asylum for the montn of January past ataonnt to the enormous sum of $23,916.66. For the fiscal year ending October, 31, 1888, the expenditures amounted to $287,(Mi0. The coal bill for that year was $25,619.9), the gas bill $5,840.35, making a total for gas and coal of $31,260.26. These items seem to be enormous fpr one institution. I respectfully request that a joint resolution be passed authorizing the Governor to appoint three or 'five non-partlean experts, the appointment to be confirmed by the Senate, whose duty it shall be to make a full and thorough examination of the condition, management, accounts and expenditures of all of our benevolent and reformatory and make their reports at such times as the General Assembly msy direct. Johnson offered a resolution demanding that some report should be made by the committee on benevolent institutions. Thompson, chairman of the committee, made a verbal report, stating that the' hospital had been visited and found all right from cellar to garret, and that Phil Gapen. the Treasurer, had made an affidavit declaring that the funds were all right Barrett offered a resolution which read: “Resolved, by the Senate, the House of Representatives Concurring, That a committee of four be appointed by the Senate to act with a committee to be appointed by the House, two members to be selected by the majority and two by the minority oh the part of the Senate, to fully and thoroughly investigate the condition of affairs of the Indiana Hospital for the Insane, with power to send for persons and "papers to employ a . stenographer and expert accountants and to report at as early a day as possible. Johnson proposed as a substitute that the Governor select five experts, and that thfeir names be submitted to the Senate for approval. The substitute was rejected, and Barrett’s resolution was adopted. Another

resolution was adopted providipg “that the joint committee investigate the boots of the Auditor of State and report whether the expenditures of the benevolent institutions fo’-the year 1888 reached SB7 JOO, as stated in the Governor’s message, or only $75,519 as stated in the Auditor’s report’’ Cortez Ewing, elected to succeed Catpenter, unseated, was sworn im .The Republicans resorted to dilatory tactics, however, and delayed the event for some time. Bills passed: to make Hancock the 18th and Henry the 53d judicial circuit; to establish a State Board of Charities. Numerous bills were reported from committees. The House passed following bills: coneerning public offenses; to protect sheep husbandry; to legalize town of Rensselaer, to appropriate $5,000 for the Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home; to empower certain trustees in Steuben county to sell certain lands; to create the 33d, 35th and soth judicial circuits; to equalize acts of trustees of Booneville; appropriating money for Deaf and Dumb Institute; to regulate insurance companies. A resolution Requesting Indiana Representatives in Congress to vote for the arrears of pension bill was adopted. The Senate concurrent resolution for an investigation of the Insane Asylum was adopted after increasing the committee to five from the House. The bill to regulate the sale of drugs was indefinitely postponed. The Pleasants school book bill was passed—--12 votes only being cast against it. The nays were: Adams of Morgan, Covert, Cranor, Dryer, Hobson, LinCk, Hoop, Logan, Mendenhall, Raygan, Stanley and Stubblefield, all Republicans. The Senate on the 21st passed the following bills: To regulate insanity inquests; relating to city sinking-fund commission; relating to the Beaver lake lands; toatuhorize the organization of corporations to conduct health, resorts and manufacture medicines; to appropriate $60,000 for buildings at the State University; relating to the issuance of $3,905,000 in bonds to be redeemable after fifteen years; to refund the State debt; to legalize certain acts of Michigan City authorities; amendatory of the school law; to appropriate $185,000 for the completion and furnishing of the three additional hospitals for the insane; to abprbpriate $27,000 to provide fire protection for the building at the Reform School for Boys, and heating the same; for the registration of plumbers in larger cities; relating to the Howard and Tipton county courts; to prevent the use of stoves in any baggage or passenger car by railroad companies; to prohibit contracts of waiver by which persons agree to purchase goods at a particular store (pluck-me store.) The House passed bills as follows: Concerning Cemeteries and voluntary associations; concerning term of life concicts, fixing the life term at 25 years; relating to public notices, to empower county commissioners to appropriate money for the erection of soldier memorial structures; relating to crime; concerning voluntary associations; concerning the appointing of deputy sheriffs/ The resolution to pay of the Peyton-John contest was adopted. The Foster fee and salary'bill was defeated by ayes 39, nays 54. The nays were: Adams of Morgan. Applegate, Askrew, Bell, Bernethy, Bigam, Briant, Carrick, Carroll, Claypool, Covert, Cox, Fowler, G ladio, Goodwin, Harley, Harrell, Hay, Henry, Heiney, Hughes, Iddings, Kobbe, Langstaff, Legg, Linck, Loop, Logan, McGovney, McKittrick, McQuilken, Manwarring, Moon, Nolan, Nugent, Patton, Peyton, Pickhardt, Pierce, Pleasants, Ragon, Robbins, Schmuelr, Stanley, Stephenson, Stubblefield, Timmons, Vandolah, Whitworth, Woodward, Work and Zoercher. The Senate on the 22d passed bills as follows: ,To amend the act to regulate thevpractice of medicine; to enable county commissioners to purchase toll roads and make them free; to pay S. P. Thompson for services, to make accessories to a criminal act chargeable as principals; to create separate judicial circuits of Floyd and Clark counties; to regulate manufacture and sale of dynamite; relating to telegraph companies; to prohibit obstruction of ditches. A resolution was adopted requesting members of Congress to vote for the arrears of pension act. The bills to exempt ex-soldiers and sailors from working on the roads and to require farmers to mow down weeds, thistles and briars in the roadway failed to pass fpr want of a constitutional majority. A message from the Governor vetoed the bill creating a Supreme Court commision on account of its unconstitutionality. By a party vote the bill was promptly passed over the veto. The House passed bills as follows: Authorizing county commissioners to purchase" lands for establishing orphan’s homes; to pay claim of Vulcanite company; to create department of geology; concerning voluntary societies; relating to the appointment of humane inspector; to define the crime of riotous conspiracy; to equalize acts of board of commissioners of Lagrange county; to regulate life insurance companies; concerning -the opening and vacation of highways; concerning the levying of tax for library purposes, relating to the institution for the feeble-minded; to confer additional powers on town marshals. A resolution instructing the Governor to appoint an experienced committee of three to draft a fee; and salary bill to be returned to the next General Assembly was tabled. A resolution was adopte’d. providing for a committee of five to visit St. Louis to confer with a committee from the Kansas Legislature in relation to the combination pl pork and beef-packers. The Governor vetoed the bill creating a supreme court commission. By a party vote bill was promptly passed over the veto. V The Senate, on the 23d, passed bills aet follows: To prohibit explosion of dynamite in certain cases; the Peasants school book bill. Various bills were advanced, and a few indefinitely postponed. * , ' The House passed the bill to build a sewer at the northern penitentiary. There was not a quorum present and the business transacted was of a routine character. Neither House transacted any important business on the 25th At noon both Houses adjourned until 4 p. m., in respect for the President-elect.