Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 140, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1904 — [?]UCH WOEK IS AHEAD [ARTICLE]

[?]UCH WOEK IS AHEAD

COMING LEGISLATURE TO CONSIDER IMPORTANT MATTERS. Bills for Apportionment Acta* Horn* for Epileptics and Railroad Co-u- ---. mission Are Most Important Onee— Laws Wanted on Private Banking. All signs point to an important session of the General Assembly, and ab ready there are many important measures in sight for that body to consider, Writes W, 11. Blodgett, stuff-correspond-ent, to the India uanol is News. In add! tion to electing two United States Senators the Republican majority will be called upon to do many other things, and it is likely that some time will be spent in wrangling over another apportionment act to take the place of the one set aside by the Supreme Court. The most important feature of the coming legislation besides the political measures, are the bills that will be introduced in the interest of public charities. There will he several, but the one that will attract the attention of more people than any other will be that to provide for a separate institution for epileptics. There is a general demand for an institution from all parts of ludiana and, ns yet, very little, if any, opposition has developed. The people of the State seeui to want to give the unfortunates better care than they can receive iu the jails and poor houses. A demand is being made by the citizens of Indiana that the degenerates nnd defectives in poor humanity receive huninne treatment, and several bills will be introduced that will receive the indorsement of the Board of State Charities. Nearly all, If not quite all, the State institutions are asking for additional appropriations. It is more than likely, too, that the Legislature will do something toward taking care of the consumptives in the State.

Railroad Legislation. Of course there will be the usual flood of railroad bills, most of them put in by the railroad labor organizations. Then —there are two or three matters of general importance to come up. One is what is called the railroad commission bill. There is no question, so it is declared by those who have canvassed conditions, that a railroad commission law of some kind will be passed, but, already there are In sight enough bills relating to that subject to fill an ordinary law book if they were passed. Indianapolis will insist that this Legislature give It some kind of n law under which it can force the railroads in Indianapolis to do away with the dangerous grade crossings, by either elevating or depressing their tracks. Though it lias been denied, there is no doubt that another attempt will be made to pass a railroad consolidation bill, but a bill less radical than some that have been attempted ly previous Legislatures. The effort to have .eliool books printed at the Indiana Reformatory, as suggested by Will 11. Whittaker, general superintendent of that institution, will result in a very lively contest. The big school book companies are against the proposition, and already have agents at work to discourage the plan. The State Board of Education has passed resolutions against it, and the officers of some ►of the other State institutions are opposing it because they think that it will take so much money to install the plant their own institution will suffer in the matter of appropriations. The State Board of Agriculture will ask for a large sum of money with which t& purchase certain lands and make improvements. And it is in connection with this that the lion. Warren G. Sayre has served notice that at the proper time and moment he will do things in the lower house of the General Assembly. Mr. Sayre says he will iu>t only fight any attempt to make further boards, he will insist that some that are now in existence be abolished and others con solldated. He will start on the Board of Agriculture, following up with the Board of Forestry. The Revision of the Code. Two years ago the Legislature created a board to revise the code and codify the laws. This board has been in almost continuous session and has not much more than half completed its work It is the understanding that the question of continuing this board and giving it additional powers will be acted upon by the General Assembly. - 1 One of the issues in the last campaign was the Nicholson law. and the Republican ticket got many a vote because it was understood that the Republicans food against any change in the law. But since the electiou some Republicans have announced that they »avor a change in the law that will serve to make it stronger against the liquor traffic. There are olhers, however, who feel that an attempt to change the law is dangerous to its welfare, and will oppose any attempt of that kind. An active campaign lias already started to strengthen the laws relating to private bankers and throw more protection around the depositors. The proposition is to Compel private hanks to have a certain amount of capital and to make publication of the condition of theii affairs. The private banks have a number of representatives iu the General Assembly who are holding meetings and will appose any such bill. The barbers of’the State again will introduce n bill creating a board of examiners for barbers. Bills of this kind have been up at different times for several sessions, and have always been defeated. The barber's who are favoring it say they think they have votes enough pledged this time to pass it.