Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1895 — INDIANA LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

INDIANA LEGISLATURE.

In the Senate, Jan. 39, there were bills on second reading, third reading and new bills. Committee recommended indefinite postponement of Senator Boyd’s bill for an inebriate crsylnm. The committee bn judiciary presented a favorable -report on the joint resolution Of Senator O’Brien, providing for an increase in the number of members of the Supreme Court, and the committee on labor favorably reported on Senator Stuart’s bUI providing for attorney’s fees where an employe has to sue for wages. Senator Baker’s bill, regulating the, sale „of cigarettes, was called up for second reading, and there was at once manifested a disposition to amend it out of existence. After a number of changes had been proposed the biil was referred to Senator Baker as a committee of one to embody the proposed changes and present his bill again. The most important new bills were: By Senator Boyd—Appropriating 839,003 for memorial tablets at Gettysburg and Chickamauga; By Senator McDonald—To prevent wage deductions for relief associations; By Senator Phares—To amencT drainage laws. In the House, Jan. 29, the ways and means committee recommended a deficiency bill for the benefit of Supreme Court Clerk Hess and deputies. Mr. Remy’s greenback taxation bill was passed to a second reading. The judiciary committee reported the bill to investigate the Attorney-General’s office and the State treasury. The Soldier’s Home bill, with the amendment cutting the appropriation to 875,000, was filed for second reading. The bill of Mr. VanArsdel preventing coroners from holding inquests where there is no sign was rec? ommended for passage. The Miller-Bow-ers contest was called up. Mr. Merritt spoke for half an hour when Mr. Leedy suggested that the gentleman was digressing. Chairman Crozier, of the elections committee, presented reasons why Bowers, Dem., should be seated on the face of the returns. Mr. Howe, of Morgan county, a blacksmith, surprised the House by an eloquent, speech in favor of Bowers. Mr. Stu teaman submitted a substitute report referring the case back to full committee, with instructions to report before Feb. 11. A vote showed no quorum ana the House adjourned till 2p. m. At -the afternoon session the vote on the Statesman substitutawas again taken and the motion was adopted—43 to 25. The Leyden bill, S. B. 104, was favorably reported and placed on passage. On a vote It pnssed---66 to 1. Mr. Adams spoke sharply when the roll-call on tho t e iate bill showed that the quornm threatened to break. He ordered the doorkeepers to lock the doors to haad off members who wanted to wander out in the corridors. The members were sent to the Capitol to transact State business, tn 1 the Speaker thought more care and consideration should be given to this business. It took a skirmish of several minutes to get the quorum together. The chait announced that it proposed to have no more committee meetings during a session of the House. A large number of bills were favorably reported, the most notable being: By Rep. Dinwiddie—Prohibiting sale of horseflesh; by Rep. Harrison—Prohibiting officials from accepting railroad passes. In tho Senate, Jan. 30, the bill for the Soldiers’ Home at Lafayette was considered and made a special order for Jan. 31 st 10 a. m. A number of amendments to the bill were adopted. Senator Newby’s amendment reducing the salary of tho adlutant, or assistant superintendent, from M.OOO to 8720 caused some debate and was lost. The genera! opinion was thavßl,ooo was little enough for such a man as would be required. The salary of the commandant was left at 81,200. An amendment by Senator Shively gives to the State Treasurer the right of investigating as to the number of inmates and employes in the Institution before drawing the warrant at the rate of 812 per month per capita as provided for in tlie bill. Senator Holler Introduced a bill to abolish the traffic in horse flesh. . In the House the insurance bill of Mr. Davis prescribing that insurance companies shall not require 80 per cent, co-in-snrance came up on third reading. Mr. Willoughby, chairman of the 'insurance committee, demanded to know how the bill came before the House. He insisted that the bill sad not been reported by his committee whicli vas supposed •to have it in iharge. The Speaker informed him that the bill had come beforej.be. House without fraud. Mr. WHluughby insisted tbiit minething was crooked, but the records ’ailed to sustain his statements. Mr. Wdlloughby then moved that the bill lie recommitted to his committee, stating that it was a very important measure, and should not be acted upon hurriedly. Mr. Leedy. Mr. Bobiiya and others farored the bill and denounced tho present practice of insurance companies in this respect as a grievous hardship imposed apon the people as it compelled property owners to carry a Heavy insurance or they tould get none. Mr. Mcßeth announced that an open meeting of tho insurance rommittee would be held that night at which matters pertaining to the subject would be discussed. He insisted as a rnatler of decency to the committee that nothng be done with the bill until after this meeting. Ho said the object of the meeting was to put the l:c to the insiniiations “.hat tlio committee had been subsidized. His insinuation fired Mr. Robinson of tho Judiciary committee, who shouted: “Tho tentleman from Pulaski and White iharges that his committee has not been treated with decency. I reply that two Mils bearing upon insurance matters have Deen already taken from my committee and buried in the insurance committee. The Judiciary committee has not complained st this, but when tho gentleman charges that ho has not been treated decently. I >bject.” Turning to tho house, Mr. Robinson continued: “I’he truth is, gentlemen, that the members of the insurance lommitteo thought they had this bill itrangied, and were very much surprised when it appeared upon the floor. Tho truth is it got away from them. They for anco have been sleeping, and now that it has escaped their xritev and reached this house I demand that it be passed.” The roll-call on the passage of tho bill was Ftarteil, notwithstanding the vigorous protests of Mr. Willoughby and Mr. Mcßeth, and the bill w as passed by a vote *.f 73 to 7. Mr. Mclendy, on behalf of thirty-five members, introduced a new egislativo apportionment bill. It differs radically from the Wishard bill. The bill was referred to the joint committee on rcportiQnmi'nt. In the House, Jan. 31, further debate was had on H. R. 10J, concerning toll roads, which ended yi amotion prevailing to strike out tho enacting clause. A spirited debate developed when the House look up bill 19, which provides for the appointment of a State boiler Inspector with five assistants. It makes theappointmentof the inspector incumbent upon the Governor. Auditor of State and AttorneyGeneral, and that he must be a practical boiler maker of ten years’ experience. Tho bill provides for a fee of 83 on boilers of twelve horse power or less and 85 for boilers exceeding twelve horsepower unleee there shall be more than one boiler, when the fee shall be 83 for each boiler. The salary of tho inspector is 82,000 a year and that of thedeputles 81.200 each, which shall be paid out of the tees collected. Speaker Adams called Mr. Leedy to tho ehair and took the floor in support of the bill.. He said that he had suffered loss In his own business from a defective boiler. One of his employes had been killed by a boiler which nad not t>een properly in spected. The discussion went only far enough to show that the bill would meet with lively opposition, and on motion of Mr. Petit it was made the special order for next Tuesday. House bill No. 117 to abolish the office of natural gas inspector was called up, with the Speaker still oa

the floor. He asked that the bill be post-poned-for a day or two, but the House 1 re-, fused tc postpone action. Mr. Adams said he was in favor of the bill. Tht office, he said, was a fifth wheel and es tabiished an inspector who did not inspect. He urged that the office be abolished. ’Mr. Hundley, the author of the bill, said the office Is of no use to the gabelt and should be abolished. The lasi inspector, he said, iiad done a great jlea! of harm to the State by falsi reports about the supply of gas A general debate followed andAhe bill wai passed—76 to 3, House bill No. 184, providing that those who grow hedge or othei live fences must keep them trimmed t< the height of live feet and a width o: three feet, was passed without much debate. The bill to require street railway! to provide vestibules for ‘their cars wa? passed—76 to 0. "ST B. 54, pro Wing foi 8600 debtor’s exemption was referred. The bill providing for publication of investigations of Indiana Academy of Scienct came up on third reading, and after much debate was recommitted, with instructions to report a specific appropriation o 82,000. The Senate, Feb. 1, held only a short session. A petition favoring the passage of the Nicholson biil was presented from Henry county. A protest against changing existing laws relating to mechanic’? and material l|.ens was presented. A number of now bills were presented, tht most notable were: By Senator McLean —Reducing marriage license fee from 82 to 81; by Senator Cranor—For tho protection of hotel keepers from dead beats; by Senator Duncan—For the appointmen t of a State House superintendent. The Haggard •‘Soldiers’ Home bill \ras the special order for 10 o’clock, but no quorum being present it was again postpoped until Monday. Senate adjourned till Monday r atTO o’cloeK-- — The House. Feb. 1, was. opened with prayer by Rep. Mcßeth. Mr. Mcßeth descended from the Speaker’s stand, and speaking to a question of personal privilege, endeavored to demonstrate from city papers that the record of the House with reference to H. B. 97 was incorrect. The Speaker called on R. A, Brown, principal clerk of the House, for a statement. The clerk said that three separate records were kept, and none of them showed that the hill had been recommitted to the committee on insurance, The Speaker said with some warmth the House would stand by its record. He said members should not get in the habit of going to the newspapers for vindication. Representative Moore introduced a resolution providing for the appointment of another committee clerk for a group of twenty committees which has no clerk. Tho resolution led to some discussion. The resolution was defeated. On the call of counties a number of bills were introduced, after which thb bills to Firovide a firemen’s relief fund; to reguate shanty or Junk boats; to fix terms of court in forty-second judicial circuit, were passed to engrossment. Rep. Adams “lay-t>ver,” bill was discussed and was the occasion for much fun. Mr. Terhune proposed to amend by inserting the words “break away” instead of “lay over” and the Speaker suggested “spoon,” as a better term. The claims committee favorably reported in the matter of authorizing George VV. Julian and William. A. Maloy to act as counsel and agents for the State of Indiana in the collection of certain claims on account of swamp land., The House refused to concur, and, after a' long discussion, referred the matter back' to the committee. Tho afternoon was oc-; copied in consideration of various com-j mittee reports. Mr. Hamrick presented a facetious resolution relegating the mooted question of the date of groundhog day. The Sneaker referred the resolution to the committee on the rights and privileges of the groundhog. The House, it then being after 4 o’clock, adjourned, until Monday. LEGISLATIVE NOTES. The Legislative committee paid its biennial visit to Purdue University, r Jan. 29. The Prison Committee from the General Assembly, which went to Michigan City* Friday , for .the purpose of looking into some of the general charges made against the management of the State Prison N’oith, returned to Indianapolis Monday. The committee spent some time making inquiry into the charge that Democratic politicians are preparing to start a bicycle factory inside the prison walls. It found that the gentlemen at the bead of the enterprise woP have the factory in operation in a few weeks. The men interested in the venture declare that it is not their .intention to undersell bicycle factories in which free labor is employed unless the State should compel them to brand their goods as prison made. The committee wilj not report until after it has visited tho Southern Prison at Jeffersonville. The House railroads committee has decided to report favorably the bill of Mr. McCaskey for a general two cent railroad fare in the State, with the amendtnentj that the rate bo fixed at cents.' The bill will be hotly contested in the House. Mr. Dinwiddie, of Lake county, says the money expended on Momence rock by the Slate has increased the value of sixty thousand acres of land in the . county from 83 to 85 an acre. Senator Schneck has introduced a bl!} fixing legal rates for advertising. Thq rate proposed is 50 cents per square of 259 ems for the first insertion, and 25 cents a square for each succeeding insertion. Itj is provided that the advertising matter shall be set solid, and that there shall be no superfluous trimmings in the way ot heads extended far down the columns.

3 President Faure, of France, has formed a now cabinet It Is composed as follows.* Prime Minister of Finance and ad inerim Minister of War—M. Ribot. Minister of Justice and ad interim Min« Ister of Marine—M. Trarieux. Minister of Foreign Affairs—M. Hanotaux. Minister of the Interior—M. Leygus. Minister of Public Instruction and Woi ship—M. Poincare. Minister of Publle Works—M. DupuyDu temps. Minister of Commerce—M- Andn Ledon. Minister of Agriculture— M. Gadeau. Minister of the Colonies—M. ChauWHOU

M. ALEXANDER RIBOT.