Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1889 — THE STATE LECISLATURE [ARTICLE]

THE STATE LECISLATURE

Politics raced in the Senate on the 26th, being precipitated mto the discussion of the bill to elects three separate trustees for each of the\Benevolent institutions. The nomination of A. D. VaMjdoi. of Madison, as a trustee for the Tie form School for Boys was confirmed. (He is the Commander of G. A. R. in Indiana.) The above named bill was then passed, there being only three votes against it. Other bills passed as follows: Concerning the terms of the directors of the northern State prisPte&o provide for a settlement with the State-house Commissioners; when the Suite Capitol shalj be turned over to the State; city and town assessors, to establish a Department of Geology, and Natural Gas Resources Glassed over the Governor’s veto, yea's 28, nays 23]; to provide for’the man agement of the three additional hospitals for the insane; concerning the death penalty, and providing that executions shall be in the prisons North and South yeas .37, nays 13; to Appropriate $49,000 for removal of a ledge of rock-at Momence. l!l.;Fto appropriate S2OO to pay a Senate w arrant drawn last session • but unpaid; to legalize the incorporation of Center Point, Ciay county. A joint session of the Senate arid House for the election of the officers to be chosen by the Geheial Asseinbly > began at ll:3u o'clock. The Supreme Court Commissiohere were elected first. The Republicans presented no nominees and refused to vote, for the reason, as stated by Alford, whose name was the first called, that they believe the law unconstitutional, and that the election won id have no force. The result of the election vraa aS follows: bupreme Court Commissioners—First District, W. E. Niblack, Vincennes; Second District, Jeptha D. New, North Vernon, Third. John R.‘ Coffroth, Lafayette. Fourth, Robert Lowry, Fort Wayne; Fifth. Mortimer Nye, Laporte. State Statistician—W. A. Peele, Jr.,lndianapolis. -State Geologist, c. Gorby. k Prison Directors North- Janjes Rhenihan,Jridianapolis; J. W. French, Lafayette. and'Levi Mock, Bluffton, jr? Prison Directors South—W. B. McPDevold, Princeton, F. Parks. Jefferson--sville, and R.'E. Slater, Lawrenceburg. I he House passed the following bills: To legalize the acts of the board of sixty commissioners of Wells'Countyr. to prevent treating in saloons, drug stores, or other places where liquor is sold; to authorize bridge companies owning bridges across streams forming boundary lines of this State to acquire,. own and operate steel railroads in coonec* tion therewith; to stathonze the judges of the Supreme Court to purchase from the administratrix of F. V. Vieh'e a copy of the laws; concerning offenses »nd their punishment; to protect squirrels; to establish a department of gsology and natural resources in this >tato [oyer the Governor’s veto —yeas 50, nays XS]; to appropriate money to Pnrd.ue Unversity, concerning appropriations for education of pauper children; concerning the duties of circuit clerks; to require township trustees and trustees of towns and villages to make and publish an annual, financial statement; to authorize the bale of certain State, lands and the recovery of lands belonging thereto. In the Senate on the 27th the follow-’, iqg bills were passed: To encourage the construction of levees and drains, and the restoration of overflowed lands by incorporated associations; concerning the school law; to separate the hoards of public institutions by electing three trustees each, for the Insane, the Blind and the Deaf and Dirmb asylums, amended by requiring a $50,000 bond of '* the treasurer and SIO,OOO bond from each of the trustees, concerning the Thirty-third, Thirty-fifth, and creating the Fifty-fourth judicial circuit; concerning corporations owning bridges < i. < i. d over streams forming State lines; to authorize > the commissioners of Wells countv'to sell bonds to complete the court house; to institute a purchasing board for the State Library’, and appropriating $5,000 for this year and $2,000 every year thereafter to’ purchase and bind 1 nooks, and to allow the librarian $1,500. for his first and second assistant $1,200 and S9OO, respectivelyuto require railroad companies to give notice to passengers of delayed frains; to amend the county commissioners’ 1 act 'hy abolishing the special session in January; to amend the charter of the city of Evansville; to amend the act concerning public offeneesv concerning township trustees—to /epeal the act with reference to contracting indebtedness; to enable joint suits to be maintained upon separate bonds of public oflieera ami others; to piescribe the duties of judges arid clerks in guardianships. T!,ie bill to reduce the fees of the Supreme Court Reporter caused tire Recubiiearfts to filibuster for over two hours. . The bill was finally passed to a third /i-ading. Two Democratic -Sena;torsjroted with the Republicans against the bill. N umerous bills were advanced on the calendar. * The House adopted resolutions proposing amendments to Section 2, Article 6. Section 2, Article 2, Section?, Article 7, Section 1, Article l; Section 8. Article N; Sections 2 and 5 of Article 7; Seclhgn I. Article 12; Section 21, Article 7, aEd Section 125 oLthe Constitution, the I’t concerning pay of members of the General Assembly. A resolution pro-, posing a nrohibitdrv amendment to the'. Constitution was indefinitely postponed —one Democrat —Warrum—voted with the Republicans for the resolution and two Republicans—Covert and Nugent—with the Democrats against it. , The daily row was between Willard and Linci.. the latter striking the former ipi the face. It is alleged by the Republi-. cans that Wihard called Stanley a liar w hich Linch resented. There was great excitement for a few minutes which soon quieted when it was known that the fight was not to be to a finish. The joint resolutions adopted propose: To fix all county officers to four years ana prohibit a re-election; fixing the terms of all State officers at four years; increasing to nine the number of Supreme Court judges, and strildng the word “white” from the Constitution. The Sepkte on the 28th, passed bills as Tq authorize county boards to aid in establishing homes for worthy, aged and indigent women, unable to care for/ themselves; to legalize an - addition to Roachdale; to fix the rate of school-fund interest at 6 per cent.; to authorize persons bavin? claims against the State of Indiana to bring suit therefor in the Superior Court of -Manon county, concerning aid to railroad com papies by. counties and townjtupg in taking stock; to enable Bridges over streams forming State lines to operate street railroads; to exempt a on-.-

tbonoand-dbflar homestead and S6OO personaiivi; to legalize the corporation <>f HiimsvHie. concerning the taking effect oi city ordinances, their publication etc.-, jo imreaxe the requirement for mutual inniiance companies from $60,000 in l».:ia tide premium notes to SIOO,IOO and f- I- (to tn rash; to authorize sheriffs, to Ou pint bailiff's in ail the courts, to legalize i io-sets bf trustees of the town of New I i»bon: to provide for the repair di her-turnpike roads; to give drainage jurisdiction over drains in cries and towns in certain cases. A few momenta before 6 o’clock a motion to adjourn ?ame from the Republican side. Before (he ayes and nays could be demanded Alford (who Was presiding,) put the question and de- . elated it carried. 'I he Republicans I then left the chamber. Barrett. D., ; called to the Democratic Senators-to return to their seats. He declared the; Senate not adjourned as Chase was pre- I siding. Chase who was present declared that he was not presiding. He then felt the Chamber also. Urmston was called to the chair and Burke was ►elected temporary chairman for the remainder of the session. The Democratic Senators then adjourned. The House passed the following bills: To authorize to wnshi ps to construct or aid in the construction and repair of bridges across streams of water; concerning tflp official term of directors of the northern State prison; to legalize the election of the present board of directors of the Clinton Draw-bridge Company; to pro- ; vide for the appointment and compen- I sation of a custodian of public buildings and property; to prevent gambling in . grain, stocks, petroleum, wool and pro- : visions; to authorize aid in the construction, of railroads by counties or “townships taking stock in or making donations; to grant the right of way through the lands of the State for highways; to appropriate $20,000-to pay old debts and improve the State prison south, to confer additional powers upon county auditors. John W. Linck.the representative of Jefferson county, was suspended for twelve days and fined $l5O, for striking J.H. Willard on the 27th. The Republicans claimed the punishment was too severe, especially after the justification for the bieachhf decorum that that bad been offered, but their attempts to re.duca the penalty was futile. On the evening of the 28th they caucused with the evident purpose of resigning, but ■ reached ho conclusion. In jfee/Senate, on the Ist, the follow- : ingTlWwere passed: Concerning the purchase of toll roads, relating to the Institution for,the Feeble-minded; .concerning the duties and compensation es Reporter of the Supreme Court; to legalize the incorporation of the town of Russellville; to add to legal holidays Thanksgiving day, the 22d of February and the 30th day of May, amended by adding also the day of national State or general elections; to amend certain Sections of the criminal procedure aßt, to the city and town incorporation law concerning street improvements; granting ten years’ time to propertyowners in paying assessments therefor, etc.; m-oviding thfct branch railroads may bnSd branches “fifty” instead of “thirflr miles to coa] oriron lands, and including “stone quariies;” to authorize cities to appoint One or more meat inspectors in each incorporated city to inspect beef, veal, mutton, lamb and pork; for a metropolitan police in cities of

20,1'00 and over —yeas, 26; nays, 18. The House passed the following pills. To appropriate $355.40 to pay Hay, wood & Cooper for improvements on St. Clair street, Indianapolis; to organize and regulate th# militia of Indiana; to limit the amount of taxes that may be levied /in “counties Jiayir ia population of legs than 25.000 inhabitants; for the punishment ot fafee pretenses in furnishing certificate of registration es horses and other animals; to make appropriations for the Indiana Insti’ntion for the Education of the Blind; to provide against the aduheratioh of food and drugs; to fix the official bonds of county auditors; to provide for the publication of legal advertisements; to authorize and direct road superxisors to make arrests in certain cases—t hat is, when game laws are being violated; to pay the claims of J. L. Spaulding for labor performed by graditig certain streets in Indianapolis; to regulatqjthe weighing of coal, use of timber props, screening coal, etc.; concerning cruelty to animals, to provide penalties against persons who neglect or cruelly treat the same, to provide for the conn letion, equipment and furnishing of the three additional hospitals for the insane; for the relief of David M. Bernhardt; to authorize boards of county commissioners to make appropriations to aid in establishing homes for worthy and indigent old women; to authorize the organization of corporations to conduct health resorts, hospitals and sani•arit.ins, to manufacture chemicals and medicines; a bill to amend certain sec--tions of the school law;to appropriate S2OO to pay Merchants’ National Bank, of Indianapolis, on account of John D. Carterto provide for the assessment of street ways to pav for streetumprovements; to legalize acts of Trustees of Carmel. The Senate, <rn the 2d, passed bills as follows: To authorize school commissioner# in cities of thirty thousand and more, undei the census of 1880; to issue purposes; concerning the increase of capital stock iri business men’s and voluntary associations; concerning v.>'out ary associations, providing for their incorporation so as to envou> breeding of- stock; concern.fsg la.xation of coal tug-boats and wharflax; concerning elections and nominat'.ng conventions and to maintain political purity; to authorize thev purchase ot ten acres of land for the use of the Hospital for the insane near Logansport. in Cass county; to enable stock-' holders of companies formed for furnishing inel or natural gas to make agreement for voting stock etc.; to prescribe the terms of court to which certair. proceedings and actions shall stand issue to place the J., M. & I. R. R. pu a level with all the other railroads in'this State as far as condemning real estate for railroad purposes is concerned. The bilL to provide for the election of three trustees fdr each of the additional hospitals for the insane, vetoed Dy the Governor, was passed over the veto. The House “did likewise. The House, on the 2d, advanced various bills on the calender. . There .was not a quorum in the House on the 4th. The Governor returned the bill depriving the Reporter of the Supreme Court of his fees with his veto. The bin was then passed over the veto. The Beasley bill, .intended, it is claimed, to compel the Governor to call an extra session, was passed under a suspension of tne rales. The bill prevents payment “of salaries to State officers in the absence of a specific appropriation bv tht®Legis ’attire.