Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1905 — A QUIET SESSION [ARTICLE]

A QUIET SESSION

Old Law Maker Says He Never Saw i Anything Like Present General . Assembly. THE RECORD FOR PLACIDITY Warren Sayre, Out of a Wealth of Experience, Says Tips Session Is the Quietest He Ever Knew —Governor Hanly's Firm Attitude Has Marked Influence on Legislation— What the Legislature Has Been Doing the Past Week. [Special Correspondence.] Indianapolis, Feb. 7. —"This Is the quietest session of the legislature I have ever known anything about," is the statement of the veteran lawmaker, Warren G. Sayre of Wabash. Mr. Sayre’s personal knowledge of the doings of legislatures runs back to the 80’s, when he was a speaker of the house. So It may safely be assumed that In the matter of placidity the present general assembly breaks all the records of recent years. The selection of two United States senators without a division of sentiment in the majority caucus was In itself an unprecedented performance, and nothing has happened since to mar the harmony of the session or render It notable for any unusual incident. Even the measures which because of their public importance and the sharp division of public opinion upon them, would seem to be freighted with possibilities of contention, have been more the subject of compromise than the occasion for struggle in the committees or on the floor of the house.

The firm and uncompromising attitude of Governor Hanly upon the remonstrance amendment to the Nicholson law, has been the most potent influence in forcing the Moore bill toward passage. The enactment of this amendment will be the most important step in temperance legislation taken since the enactment of the present liquor law. The Moore amendment is no departure from the spirit of the Nicholson law, but only carries out a purpose of the framers of that bill. It merely makes it certain that the question of saloon or no saloon In any given township will be determined by the exercise of public opinion, and that there will be no wearing out of remonstrants by persistent and unwelcome applicants for license.

The Governor’s Recommendation. The conditions which created the demand for the Moore bill, which will in all probability become a law before the end of the present week, the Guirl bill in the house having been withdrawn in its favor, were well stated by Governor Hanly in his inaugural address. What he had to say on the subject on Jan. 9 is of present interest. “The act of the general assembly known as the ‘Nicholson law, ”’ said the governor, ‘was enacted in answer to the demands of an aroused, an enlightened and righteous public sentiment. In the main it is a good law and ought to be permitted to stand. When the statute was enacted the boards of commissioners could hold regular sessions but once in three months. Thus applications were limited to the four quarterly sessions of such boards held within each year. Such hoards are now required to meet in regular session once each month. The effect of this change in the law has been to make It possible for an application to bo filed every thirty days. This brings the question of re monstrance before the people twelve times a year. A remonstrance carrying the necessary majority to prevent the granting of a license is died today and the license is defeated. If a new remonstrance is filed and the second applicant-is defeated, the same performance is enacted by someone else, and so on month after month and year after year, until, worn out and discouraged. the people are defeated and the will of the majority is over borne. This condition Is Intolerable and ought not to continue. The statute shotdd be so amended that the remonstrance provided for shrill he against the granting of license to any and all applicants, and where successful, that it shall be unlawful thereafter for the board of commissioners to grant a license to any applicant therefor during n period of two years from the tiling of said, remonstrance, i appeal to you and to the great body of the people of Indiana, without regard to party nfflllntlon, to Join In an effort to so Cure the amendment suggested."

The Administration’s Policy. Tito signing of the Moore bill by the governor will mark the fulfillment of the first purpose in the matter of legislation expressed in the message of Governor Hanly. Other features of the administration’s program are being pushed rapidly and certainly toward the statute books. Tho compromises effected upon the railroad commission hill make It seem likely that It* will go through both houses without serious disagreement. The house ways and meanß committee has recommended an appropriation of a half million dollars for the erection of an additional hospital for tho Insane, and without much doubt a hospital for epileptics will also be provided. Governor Hanly carried on his fight for the Moore bill from a sickbed through bla secretary and eloee per-

sonal friend, Union B. Hunt. Efforts were made to force him from the position he had assumed, but the firmness with which lie stood by what he believed to be the right is characteristic of the man. The governor, by the way, will find it necessary to conserve his health throughout the session. He has not yet recovered from the physical strain of his remarkable speaking campaign of last year, in which he sacrificed his personal comfort and tempted endurance in the fulfillment of a desire to meet as many as possible of the demands made upon him for speeches in behalf of the cause for which he stood. The iron constitution of the new chief executive is expected soon to assert Kself, however, and make it possible for him to be actively in the executive chair during the concluding days of the session.

A Busy Week. Last week was a busy one with the general assembly. Quite a number of bills have reached a stage where their prospects for finding a place in the Acts of 1905 are promising. The governor’s table will become the repository for a number of important measures before the end of the week, and the legislature having got a good running start, tne output of measures for executive consideration from now on will be continuous. It is unlikely that the present general assembly will vary from the rule established not only in Indiana but in every state, of completing the larger part of its work in the last few days of the session, leaving the governor to struggle with a great mass of proposed legislation during the several days which are given to him for final action after the legislature has adjourned. Institutional Legislation. The bill for the relocation of the institution for the education of the deaf and dumb and that for the separation of the girl’s industrial school from the woman’s prison, and its relocation on the site already purchased northwest of Indianapolis, have passed the senate. The senate has also passed a bill to replace the contract labor system with trade schools at the Indiana reformatory. In these trade schools it is proposed not only to give industrial training to the young men there confined, but to manufacture supplies for the counties, townships and public institutions of the state. It is estimated that In due time the financial return from this system will be quite as large as that from the existing contracts, while the results will be vastly more advantageous from the standpoint of reformation. Other Work Accomplished.

In both the house and senate bills have been reported creating a southeastern insane hospital district, comprising the counties south and east of Indianapolis, and making appropriation for the erection of a new hospital within its limits. Already a lively contest is one for the location of this hospital, Madison, Columbus and Seymour ail being ready to make a fight for the institution when the commission having in hand its establishment has been created. The senate will pass the Purviance bill providing for an institution for epileptics early In the present week. The Idea of relieving the insane hospitals by transferring Inmates from these Institutions to an epileptic hospital seems to have -been abandoned. The new southwestern hospital will, after its completion, solve the problem of the insane in Indiana for -some years to come. It will ospepially relievo the central district. • The central hospital at Indianapolis is one of the largest institutions for the insane in the country, and one of the most crowded The house ways and means committee has rejected a number of bills providing for monuments, hut has favorably recommended an appropriation of $35,000 for the erection of a statuo of Oliver P. Morton in the statehouse yard at Indianapolis. The Grand Army of the Republic has been actively urging this action. Other important Bills. Great public interest has centered in the many proposals before the general assembly looking lo the Improve ment of common School conditions. The splendid showing made by the state In its educational exhibit at St. Louis seems to have been an Incentive to more liberal provision for the state's educational interests. Tho plan to increase the state school levy from 11 to 10 cents has failed to receive tho approval of tho ways and means committee, hut it has recommended a general, levy of three-fifths of 1 per cent to provide funds to carry on schools in townships which cannot support six months school and pay the minimum teachers’ wage under the present law The hills reported by the dodlfioa tion commission In themselves constitute sufficient subject for delil>erntion throughout the entire session. It is no reflection upon tho ability of the members of this commission to Ray that serious objection has been made to many provisions of tho bills reported,. because they touch upon questions certain to arouso differences of opinion whenever discussed. Imminent lawyers seem to be unable lo agree even as to the effect of certain pro visions or some of tho proposed measures. The hill on highways has been amended so ns to leave to the taxpayer the right to work the roads instead of paying his road taxes In cash, and with this change is likely to become a law. The bill on municipal corporations seem to have an excellent chance of passage, though it is a long ways from the committee-room to the governor's table for a moasuro an which there la so much dlfferenoo

of opinion. The bill on eminent domain is hanging fire in the house, having been referred back to the committee for amendment. The bill on public corporations has excited a vast amount of discussion. The criminal code bill has been favorably reported in the house, and will probably become a law. Voting Machines. , It is understood that the committeeon elections will report favorably on Representative Branch’s bill providing for the use of voting machines throughout the state. A similar bill was presented two years ago, but failed, not because the senators and representatives were opposed to the useof the machine, ‘but because it wa3 thought to be premature, the machinebeing yet more or less in the stages of experiment. The author of the bill: believes that it will meet with favorable consideration at this session. Hedeclares it to be the only way to prevent vote-buying and vote-selling and’ that it will abolish election frauds and election contests. Anti-Cigarette Bill. In the senate on Friday a good’ many people received a surprise in the vote on the anti-cigarette bill' introduced by Senator Parks. This bill provides that it shall be unlawful to manufacture, sell, exchange, give away or even to own cigarettes or "the makings," such as wrappings and' cigarette tobacco. The vote was- 85 to 7 in favor of the bill. There bad been a sort of feeling that the bill was not to be regarded seriously, but the discussion elicited the sact 1 that the use of cigarettes was regarded as one of the great social evils. Whether the bill will find favor in the lower house or not Is a question, though among the-, prophets there are many who believe that it will. To Regulate Automobiles. One of the most interesting discussions that has taken place was brought up in the house Friday by the bill of Representative Yencer to govern the operation of automobiles. The bill was advanced to engrossment, but not until it had been amended. One of the amendments provides that when the automobillst meets any person driving cattle or other stock on the public highway he must bringthe machine to a stop on a signal from the driver. Another amendment provides for a signal between drivers by which the driver of any vehicle may signal the driver of the machlneto come ahead by holding up his arm. Still another amendment gives cities and town!) the power to control and license automobiles within the corporate limits. The bill provides for registration of all automobiles at the office of the secretary of state, the fee being sl. as the hill now stands cities can charge a license fee In addition. On the public highways the speed limit is twenty miles an hour: In cities or towns fifteen miles an hour except in congested and business parts where the limit shall not be more than ten miles. The bill provides for stops and slow-downs, the occupant of a vehicle drawn by an animal to raise his hand, the penalty for violation for first offense is a fine of not over $25, second offense not teas than $25 nor more Ilian $100; third offense not leas than SIOO nor more than SSOO. Railroad Commission.

There will be a railroad commission. There seems to he no question about that. The railroad companies, having foreseen that this was probable, conferred through tholr representatives with representatives of the shippers and agreed upon a moasuro which Senator Newhonso declares to be satisfactory. He is the author of tho original bill introduced in the senate. The hill provides that the rate fixed by the commission shall become immediately effective unless tho railroad company files an appeal. In such a case the railroad company will be required to file a bond which will protect the shippers from loss. In the event of litigation it is to he the duty of the commission to push the case and to represent the shippers. In case the railroad should appeal from the decision of the commission, the appeal is to be- heard by all the Judges of the Marlon superior court, sitting as a court of equity, without a Jury. When a railroad files an appeal tho rate fixed by the commission is held lip pending a decision,-but the railroad must file with the court a bond to cover the difference between the rtew rate ana the old as it effects all interested shippers. Such shippers, pending tho decision of the appeal, are lo ho given certificates by the railroad, amounting In effect to promissory notes for the difference tho rate paid and the one fixed by the commission. If (he court of appeals affirms The finding of the commission, then Ul9 railroad company must pay to each holder of a certificate the amount called for, representing tho difference between tho old rate and tlio new The members of tho commission shall he three In number, hut no conditions of membership —as so railroad or shipping Interests are Imposed. They are to lie appointed, one for four years, one for throe years and the third for two years, but. always thereafter for four years. Thfc Legislature Hard at Work. There wero evidences of something doing In the general assembly during all of laHt week. The daytime sessions wero prolonged, and the evening hours were occupied by the deliberations pf committees. Both houses remained In session until Saturday noon, Instead of Indulging In the usual Friday evening adjournment, which has probably gons out of date for the present session.