Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1893 — INDIANA LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LEGISLATURE.

In the Senate, Tuesday, bill creating one efarenit court each for Grant and Huntfngton -counties passed, and a bill creating an additional circuit in the south-west part of the State was advanced to a second reading. Bill Increasing number of town-trustoes frorn three to five passed under suspension of rules. Bill extending provisions of McHugh municipal bill to Incorporated towns was favorably reported. House bill changing time of holding township elections, and making terms of trustees, assessor, justice of the peace and road supervisor four years, was passed with slight amendment. Bill attaching Jefferson county to Clark for judicial purposes passed. Bill to allow county officers certain per cent, of fees collected was advanced to second reading. The House, Wednesday, resumed its sitting as a committee of the whole. The claim of Mrs. Edwin May for 85,000 came up. It has been before every Legislature since 1881, and is for services rendered the State by her husband, Edwin May, in furnishing plans for the Prison North. On a vote chair declared the bill lost. A motion to appeal from the decision of the chair was made and carried. On a division the chair was vindicated—4o votes being cast for the measure and 45 against it. Several motions for Increase of salaries were rejected. Resolution providing 86,000 for salarles and expenses of State tax com--mission was adopted. Bill proyidihgZfor State Board of Railroad Commissioners failed., Senate bill requiring foreign building and loan associations to deposit with State Auditor 8100,000 in cash or bonds before doing business in the State was advanced to third reading. Apportionment bill agreed to In Democratic caucus was ordered engrossed—s 7to 34—by a party vote. Resolution appropriating 8250 for a flag for the war ship “Indiana” was adopted. Bill appropriating 825,000 for the State militia was ordered engrossed. Senate convened, Wednesday, at 9 o'clock. Rev. Mr. Xander prayed. Bill authorizing condemnation of land for sewer purposes passed. H. B. 387 giving special charter to Ft. Wayne was amended and passed. Bill must go back to the House. H. B. 297 increasing salary of Marion county assessor to 81,800 passed. Bill to enable Indianapolis saloon keepers to keep open till 12 o’clock was made subject of two reports—majority in favor, minority against it. A motion that majority report be adopted failed. Bill amending Grubbs libel law was laid on the table after a red-hot discussion. Bill fixing rate of tax levy was passed, making a net reduction of 3 cents upon the 8100 for all purposes. Bill providing that any school corporation not using full amount of revenue apportioned to it shall return surplus to county assessor passed—37 yeas, 8 nays. Bill amending Timmons ditch law passed. In the House, Wednesday, the rule requiring all bills to be printed and lay over one day was rescinded. Resolution for printing 14,000 copies of compiled road laws was adopted. Senate bill to allow Monument commission to use 830,000 raised by a new levy in excess of 8100,000 formerly appropriated failed. Bill to require township trustees to keep record of all orders issued passed. Bill to provide for the pur-

chase of “feeder” gravel roads passed. Gifford building and loan association bill came up on third reading and passed after an extended debate—yeas 64, nays 26, and now goes to the Governor. The caucus legislative apportionment was passed under exciting circumstances, two Democrats voting against it. Rep. Sulzer denounced the bill and persisted in the face of an order from the Speaker to “take his seat.” The Speaker ordered Doorkeeper Glazebrook to “seat the gentleman from Jeffer»on.” which was done. On a reconsideration of bill to allow Monumentcommission to use (30,000 surplus raised by new levy It passed. Llndcmuth’s tax bill, affecting real estate mortgages, passed. World’s Fair appropriation bill was amended to bill abolishes the office of secretary of the commission, which has been costing (100 "pcrmonth. HIII creating a State Board of stationary engineers passed. General appropriation bill was passed and sent to the Senate. Railway commissioners bill failed for want of constitutional majority for third time. Bill appropriating (37,000 for use of State mlitia passed. In the Senate. Thursday, Mr. Boyd called attention to the resolution for investigation of the office of Attorney General Smith. (Debate disclosed that printing had been delayed. Report is daily expected showing: disposition of fees received by the office. Senate went Into committe of the whole on)the general appropriation bill. Salary on Governor’s secretary was raised from (I,*X) to (1,800. State Statistician was allowed (9,000 Instead of (7,000 as heretofore. • Salary of second assistant Librarian was raised from (8,009 to (9,000. Large numbers of other items were considered and apptoved without change. Mr. Fippen entered an elaborate protest against the whole appropriation bill, alleging reckless and extravagent approbations, and his remarks were entered upon the the journal. Senate refused to concur in House amendment to World’s Fair appropriation bill. Senate bill appropriated (75,000, and House amendment reduced It to (50,000. A conference committee was appointed The salary of the Sheriff of the Supreme court was raised to (750. The result of the consideration of the appropriation bill for the day In the Senate is to raise it (250,000Jhe items passed by the Irndy; Senate, qommfltee of We. whole kdjourued till Friday. House opened with prayer by Father Gavlskj, Thursday. Bill amending gravel road law by making It possible for commissioners to purchase roads without an election, failed. McHugh's Senate “omnibus Mil” was amended and passed. Bill appropriating (500 for monument to Governor Jennings passed. Bill to allow farthers to form voluntaty ditching associations passed Bill amending law governing road supervisors, and providing th(t he shall give a bond, and with concurrence of commissioners levy a road tax of forty cents on th* (100, passed. Bill providing that excess of sinking' funds shall be covered back into city treasuries after bonds have been extinguished, passed. Bill to enable Indianapolis to convert Greenlawn cemetery Into a public park passed—yeas 68, nays 3. Bill to regulate practice of dentistry failed for lack of constitutional majority. Bill providing for Construction of road* by building and loaii associations passed. Bill extending moftropolitan police law passed. Bill to

allow W. H. Drapier 813,158.44 for stenographic reports was lost—3o to 50. A majority report sustaining Monument Commissioners in their action in regard to dates was adopted. Bill increasing salaries of Trustee and " Assessor of Center Senate bill empowering prison directors to feed hogs passed. Bill to allow county commissioners to pay county orphans’ homes forty cents per'day Tor each child passed. Bill regulating investments of savings banks passed. Senate as a committee of the whole took up appropriation bill, Friday. Amendment giving Purdue 840,000 Instead of $30,000 prevailed. Reform school was given 870,000 instead of $60,000. Bill allowing 83,500 to clerk of Supreme Court for indexing records passed. Bill to recognize judicial circuit in Hunting ton, Grant, Blackford and Wells counties passed. Bill appropriating 825,000 for G. A. R. encampment passed. Balance of day was devoted to .consideration of general appropriation bill, item by item, and a general increase was made. In the House, Friday, a bill to authorize State Board of Agriculture to buy and sell land was killed. Senate bill extending law for-establishment of board of children’s guardians to all townships of 75,000 population passed. Bill requiring clerks of cities having less than 100X03 population to report once a year was reconsidered but again failed. Bill to allow Geo. W. Juliah and W. A. Maloy 25 per cent, of all swamp land money they may collect from general government passed. Bill to increase salary of school superintendent of Marlon county was defeated. Bill to provide for custody of school funds taken in by extension of corporate limits of cities passed under suspension of rules. Bill to enable building assoclationsto increasecapitalstockwas passed in same maimer. Senate bill to allow all political parties watchers at the polls was advanced to third reading. Weed cutting bill was killed. Senate bill fixing salaries of Marlon county judges was concurred in. Baby life insurance bill was killed. Bill to abolish fifth judicial circuit was passed to third reading. Rep. Daley offered a resolution reflecting on action of Senate in retaining eo-ejnploye liability bill without action but withdrew it before vote could be had. Extended debate ensued In the Senate, Saturday, over the motion to dispense with reading of the journal. Journal was then read arid approved. Bill requiring sewer connections to be made in streets before permanent improvements are made in cities of 20,000 inhabitants passed. Bill to consolidate Jefferson and Clark counties as a judicial circuit passed to third reading over protests of members from counties named. Governor returned with his veto bill relating to pollution of streams. Motion to adjourn at 12:15 in honor of Grover Cleveland passed with much enthusiasm. When Senate convened in the afternoon Senator McHugh, of Marion, asked unanimous consent to report street railway paving bill, but objections was raised and the bill is probably dead. Debate ensued on House apportioment bill and it was passed. In the Hquse, Saturday,“ Senate bill appropriating 825,000 additional for removing Momence ledge in Kankakee river was passed. Senate bill to require competition in letting of bridge contracts was killed.

Resolution giving reading clerk and roll clerk (100 each extra pay for session passed. Senate bill making provisional appropriation for prevention of cholera passed. Senate bill increasing pay of deputy assessors in Center township, Marion county, for (2 to (3 per day failed. Report of conference committee on World’s Fair bill calling for (70,000 was discussed and on a vote was not concurred in, and Senate was notified of the action of the House. House adjourned until 2 p. m., after passing complimentary resolutions concerning Cleveland’s Inauguration. The general appropriation bill was considered with the Senate’s amendments and House refused so concur. Conference committee was appointed and agreement was reached whereby total appropriations were reduced (170,000 from Senate’s figures, after which House agreed to amendments and the bill was sent to the Governor. LEGISLATIVE NOTES. Richard Neff, the hero of the Peru wreck, was presented to the Senate, Tuesday. Representative Baugher, of Marshall county, cleans his spectacles with a ten dollar bill. He claims It is the best thing known to clean glasses, and does not injure the note. In the House, Wednesday, afternoon, 1 Mr. Hatch’s anti-option bill was defeated by a very close vote. The vote was—yeas 172, nays 123; not the necessary two-thirds in the affirmative. Representative Stakebako’s bill empowering the courts to divide the estate of husband and wife, giving the latter her portion, when the former is an habitual drunkard, has passed the House. Everything moveable about the legislative chambers has been carried off by members are employes. Stationery, pocket knives, pencils, etc., have disappeared. It is thought the carpets and desks will be left after adjournment.