Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1905 — INDIANA LAWMAKERS. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

The inauguration of J. Frank Hanly, of Lafayette, as Governor of Indiana, and of Hugh T. Miller, of Columbus, ns Lieutenant Governor took place Monday. The exercises were held in the Senate chamber and rotunda of the capitol immediately following the formal canvassing of the vote in the House of Representatives. Governor Durbin made a brief address. The inaugural nddress of Governor,,-Han-ly was then read. One of the first acts of Governor Hanly was to Send to the Legislature the formal resignation of Vice President-elect Fairbanks ns United States Senator from Indiana, which had been handed to him by Mr. Traeewell. Senator Fairbanks’ successor, who will be James A. Ilemenway of Evansville, chairmun of the Appropriations Committee of the Nationul House of Representatives, will be elected Jnn. 17. Senator Albert J. Beveridge will be re-elected the same day for a second term. Senator Fairbanks’ resignation is to take effect at the close of the Fifty-eighth Congress. The Senate swung into regular motion Tuesday morning, and entered seriously in consideration of proposed legislation. After routine business a roll call for bills brought a flood of them to the secretary’s desk. The first one introduced was by Senator Askren of Harrison county, who presented one that passed two years ago, but failed in the House. Askren is a Democrat. Ilia hill provides for the taxation of property held by non-residents on mortgages. Askren says the bill will put $400,000 on the tax duplicate of his county. In the House Speaker Cantwell disappointed expectations by not announcing his committees. John R. Johnson of Rockville appeared in the House and was sworn in. John-’ son was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Elia 3 Owens, who was killed by a falling tree in Parke county. Only forty minutes were required by the Republican joint caucus Wednesday night to orgnnize nnd nominate- two cundidates for the United States Senate — Senator Albert J. Beveridge To succeed himself and Congressman .Tames A. Hemeuway of Boonville to fill the tinexpired term of Charles VV. Fairbanks, Vice President-elect. Following the nominating and seconding speeches the nominntiofts of both Senator Beveridge and Congressman Hemenwny were manifested by a rising vote amid cheers from the members of the caucus. Benjamin F. Shively of South Bend and John W. Kern of Indianapolis were named on the first ballot by the Democratic caucus as the party’s candidates for the United States Senate. William J. Bryan on Wednesday accepted an invitation to address the General Assembly, which held a joint session to listen to him. Mr. Bryan spoke for an hour from the desk of the Lieutenant Governor. He was frequently applauded. He commended the paragraphs iti the inaugural message of the Governor warning against corrupt lobbying. He also commended President Roosevelt for his stand in favor of railroad legislation to give the Interstate Commerce Commission more power. lie said politics in Indiana was probably as corrupt as elsewhere and steps toward reform should be taken. Immediately upon the meeting of Thursday’s session of the House, after prayer by Rabbi Messing, engrossed Senate bill No. 34, to repeal the act of 1903 providing for the engrossing and enrolling of all bills in a specially designed type, was handed down by the Speaker. On motion of Mr. Sayre the rules were suspended, and the bill was passed at once. The roll call was read once, and twenty-nine bills were introduced. Among them were the live bills prepared by the codification committee, and previously laid upon the desks of the Representatives. The bills were referred to the committees under whose jurisdiction they fell by Speaker Cantwell. The shortest session of the Senate thus far held lasted half an hour. Seven bills were introduced. The House and Senate, met Friday morning, with the Senate looking for something to do and the House exceedingly anxious to get at the task of paying itself. Representative Kline had a bill appropriating $120,000 to defray the expense of the session which had been agreed on by the wqys and means committee. Two bills—both aimed to relieve conditions that seem to be demanding attention by the people of Indiana —appeared at the morning sessions. One bill, proposed by Senator Koehne of Marion county, is intended to provide faithful school teachers with means of existence after long terms of service in the educational institutions. The bill provides that teachers, after thirty years of service, be retired front active duty at two-thirds pay. The pension fund is to be provided by city school boards and township trustees from the general educational funds at their disposal. A hill by Representative Darby of Evansville, which has been introduced by the pharmaceutical board, would do away with the sale of narcotics to habitual users of drugs and would preclude the possibility of suicide by drugs. The House received the four bills prepared by the codification commission at the morning session. Rock introduced the eminent domain bill, Springer that on highways, Sayre,on criminal code, Shively on mte uieipal affairs, and Long that prepared on the drainage laws. The House passed the law repealing the patented type law and when it becomes n law business in the chamber can proceed. ' rile II olise received 28 new hills and adjourned at 11:30 o'clock. The Senate remained in session 25 minutes and adjourned that the committees might get to work.