Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1905 — Page 7

WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE.

Indianapolis correspondence: The last was one of the busiest and most interesting days of the entire legislative session. The Sixty-fourth General Assembly adjourned sine die at midnight. —Wit, anger and pathos were stirringly mingled during the closing hours. The last half day developed a fight between the Senate and the House, which for hours threatened to make a special session imperative. Cool heads counseled wisely, however, and the Assembly was adjourned jn good fellowship. During the closing minutes the lawmakers forgot their animosities and indulged in much sideplay. Through it all a spirit of good fellowship prevailed. Humorous speeches were made and there was a deal of merrymaking and jollity. But a strain of pathos dominated it all. The legislators were parting after two months close companionship. Some had served their full term and were leaving not to return. A note o» regret rang through even the humorous speeches and the spirit of levity was at times tinged with thoughts which seemed to depress. , . Thanks were voiced by the lawmakers for'the able and just way in which their presiding officers —Sneakers Cantwell and Lieutenant Governor Miller —had conducted the sessions. Partisanship had no place in the legislative chambers and the members of both parties clasped hands in mutual friendship and admiration. ' - „ Governor’s Closing Word. At 11:45 Governor Hnnly sent . his final message to the two houses. This was a word of thanks and encouragement. It was read amid a profound stillness, which remained unbroken for a second or two after the concluding word had been uttered by Union B. Hunt, the governor’s secretary, who read the message. The governor said: Gentlemen- The Sixty-fourth General Assembly of the State of Indiana is about to end bv constitutional limitation. In a few hours it will have gone Into history, there to bo judged for Its deeds, whether of omission or commission. There Is in the record It has made so much of the good and so little of the bad, that I cannot forbear n word of commendation before you depart to take up again the duties of private citizenship. Incessant labor, high ability and lofty purposes Have cha fact prized your services e to the niaio throughout the session, \on have earned the gratitude of the people whose servants vou have Indeed been. Ihe volume am! the character of the legislntlon you have enacted bespeak for you the continued confidence of your fellow-citizens, without regard to their party affiliations. The measures vou have passed are in the Interest of the peace and the repose of society, and of Its Improvement mid elevation ns well as for the material Interests of the Commonwealth. Your work may contain imperfection doubtless does- the work of no man or set of men can be expected to be perfect. Some of these imperfections may not yet be apparent and may not become so until tried In the crucible of actual experience. in the main. however, your work is such as to justify the partiality of the people whose commissions you have borne. All lias not been obtained that I desired, but It has been more nearly obtained than Is usual In public affairs. We hr.ve sometlmelr differed, but our differences have been nt all times the fearless differences of courageous, sincere and honest men, who were moved by n common impulse -a desire for the welfare of the State and the happiness of its people. Personally. I bog to thank you. one and all. Yon have been, without exception, considerate and tolerant. Of your kindness I am deeply sensible, and in these, the closing hours of wliat 1 believe will be looked upon ris-an historic session. 1 beg to make grateful and publie acknowledgment thereof On the whole, you have bullded better than I had hoped, and, In fact, better than anj" General Assembly convened In the State In many years has bullded. Commending you to the considerate Judgment of an appreciative people, and wishing you safe return to your homes and your families. I bld you good-by with sincerest concern and desire for your future happiness and for the prosperity and advancement of the people of Indiana. The press of business at the close made it necessary that the hands of the clocks be made fast in order that the hour of midnight, the time set by the statute tor adjournment, might not arrive and find the session still on. At 12:01 the Senators left the chamber singing "America.” In the rotunda of the State House they met the Representatives, the lattyr singing “Auld Lang Syne. - .’ The sixty-fourth General Assembly win a matter of Indiana history. Work of the Session. According to the journals ns prepared by the clerks of the legislature, there were passed in both branches of the General Assembly during the session 207 bills. Of this number 107 were Senate bills passed by the House, and 1(M) were House bills passed by the Senate. This would make 207 bills passed by both Houses, and would leave a discrepancy between the House and Senate records, and the governor's records, which show that lie received ID!) bills. The total number of bills introduced Ln the legislature on both sides was 7'93. of which 432 originated in the House ami 3(11 were introduced in the Senate. Of the bills passed by the House nud •ent t<> the Senate, the records show that forty-four were killed by the Senate mid lot) were passed. Of the bills passed in the Senate .and sent to the House, the books show eighty-eight killed or failed to he acted upon, and 107 passed. It was an assembly which , pissed many good laws and in the big majority of eases it took n stand for the best Interests of the State. Its work is done. It now remains for those into whose keeping is intrusted the enforcement of the law to determine whether the remedial measures that have been enact'd shall really operate for good or be allowed simply to adorn the statutes without life or 0110(4. After all. the chief thing is the enforcement of law. If n law is good It is almost axiomatic that it should Io enforced. If it is bad the euitoreeinent of it will the sooner bring about Its repeal. So. good or bad, the thing to do is to make the laws operative. The bills passed have been with perhaps wiuic few exceptions good, and many of them are of very grent importance. Five or six bills prepared by th* codification commission have become laws, and one was rejected. The cities and towns bill was carefully considered, •nd. ns n result, it was much improved •nd strengthened. The legislature pawed a railroad com-

mission bill and gave the city of Indianapolis the needed power to provide fur the elevation of railroad tracks. A new Insane hospital, which was greatly needed, was provided for. An adequate appropriation was made for the Girls’ Industrial School. The law authorizing the construction of a new deaf and dumb school also seems satisfactory. The legislature made an appropriation for the creation of an epileptic hospital, and ordered that attention be first given to the epileptics who could be helped or,cured by treatment. It also enacted a bill for the regulation and control of private banking, which, though deemed inadequate, is nevertheless to be commended as recognizing a principle, and as a first step in the direction toward efficient control. A bill providing for the punishment of the vote-buyer was also passed. The Nicholson law was strengthened, and the sinking fund, which we shall not need for several years, was temporarily turned into the general fund for the purpose of providing for extraordinary and much needed expenditures.

Of course, there is something to be said on the other side. The defeat of the anti-trust bill is to be regretted. The legislature also refused to pass Senator Hugg's primary election bill. That is probably the most important piece -of work left undone. The weakening of the private banking bill and the failure of the machine voting bill are to be deplored. But the general judgment of the session seems to be favorable. To accomplish all this work, to do it intelligently, and to get through in sixty days, is something of an achievement. For State Institutions. An unusually good record was made In the line of legislation for the penal, benevolent and educational Institutions. Among the laws of this kind was the one to establish a State village for epileptics, a class of dependents that has received State care only when the epileptics were Insane. Sane epileptics have been poorly and often miserably eared for In poor farms and sometimes In jails, although they have committed no crimes. Other new laws for State Institutions were: One to establish n southeastern hospital for the Insane to relieve overcrowded conditions In insane hospitals and to relieve jails and poor farms and homes; one to separate th Girls’ Industrial School from the Women's Prison; one to establish the teaching of trades at the Indiana Reformatory at Jeffersonville; one providing for the cultivation of State lands near the State prison at Michigan City, and one for the relocation of the School for the Deaf. Codification Commission's Bills. Five of the six bills drawn by the codification commission created by the General Assembly of 190.3 passed both branches. The private corporations bill drawn by the commission was killed in the Senate and was never considered in the House except in committee. The Semite feared that the theory of the bill Involved a serious depar : tore in the direction of the laws of New Jersey and other State that give corporations a wide latitude. Tlie codltleatlon bills were all greatly amended excepting the bill on criminal code, and it will take time to ascertain their effects. The cities and towns bill Is modeled after the Indianapolis charter. The important feature Is a centralization of power In the hands of the mayor, but a limitation was placed upon It somewhat by an amendment which preserved the metropolttnu police system in cities of between 10,000 and 35,<XM> population. The effect of this Is to put the police in these cities In the hands of boards appointed by the Governor. Another feature is that there will be elections in all cities and towns of the State in November this year and every four years thereafter. In order to meet the expenses tlint the construction of new State Institutions will entail, a law was passed transferring for 1905, 1906 and 1907 the 3-eent sinking fund levy to the general fund. This will bring Into the general fund In three years nearly $1,500,000. Act Relating; to Schools. There will be’ an Increase of three-fifths of a eent on the SIOO in the total State levy, ns the result of the Kean law, designed to help the schools in poor townships that can not now maintain the legal six months’ minimum term and pay legal wages to teachers, even with the maximum local levy and with their share of the proceeds of the 11 went, common school State levy. Another law of interest to schools and to parents that buy school-books is the Balmim-MU-burn law, under which the State Board of School Book Commissioners is required to make contracts for ten years, except In cnses of geographies, histories ami copy books, and unless two-thirds of the board votes for a change after five years. Advocates of this law said the people were protesting against the necessity of buying new books frequently. > Although the House defeated the Senate bill creating a new deputy for the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, whose bmlitess. among other tilings, was to be to look after the teaching of agriculture In Hie high schools and after the township high schools, the general appropriation bill carries an appropriation of $2,000 a year for this purpose, and there Will be such a deputy. There was another law authorizing the transfer of tile special school fund surplus to. the tuition fund, ami another Increasing the salary of comity superintendents to $4.50 a day and raising qualifications to at least a thirty-six months State license. The Farmer Fared Well. The farmer fared very well. A law was passed appropriating $25,(100 a year an nually for an agricultural experiment station at I’utdue University. Another law that may please the farmer provides punishment for the fruit tree agent who aclfs trees that do not produce the kind of fruit which the agent represented they would produce. For Instance, an agent will hesitate henceforth to sell a Ben Davis for a winesap. A law was passed authorizing the State Board of Agriculture to Issue non-taxable bonds t»> raise money with which to obtain title to ami Improve the State Fair grounds. From the rural districts and cities and towns ns well came an insistent demand for legislation regulating the apeejl of automobiles. The Crumpneker bill became n law. Autolsts do not have to stop their motors, but they must tiring their vehicle* to tv stop on signal, and must not go faster thaq twenty miles an hour in lonely built up, part* of cltle*. State regulation lakes the. piner of local ordinances. Recent bank failures. particularly In northern Indiana, resulted In a law to reg Ulate private banks. The law Is not all that advocates of regulation desired, but It Is a start, and future ia'glslntuies mny timend the law. Senator (laniard, whose name goes with the bill. Insisted on nnnunl examinations by the Auditor of State, but the private bankers In the lobby were able to ilefeat tills. Railroads, Business, Insurance. Shippers nail railroad* are directly Interested in the Newhouse railroad commission blit, which Is the r< suit of an agitation of several-years on the part of shipper* and business men agiilmt In J its t ice on the part of the railroads. Shippers, railroads and the people of Fi. Wayne and Imllauapoll* nre Interested lit the two laws for the elevation of railroad tracks In those cities. Indiana will soou begin the practical solution of the grade crossing danger. The Itoemler law abolishes the o’.d three days of grace mid makes Saturday oftcr noon a half holiday for banks. All birslne** men *re interested lu this’ln w. in the wny of Innuram’e legislation the Gulrl law, admitting foreign mutual* with *s<>.ooo cash asset* snd *IOO.OOO tn premium note*. I*, perhap*, the most Important.

The Stricter law on foreign Insurance companies Is expected to result in the admission of several new companies to do business in Indiana. It allows the companies to furnish as assets required in Indiana bonds of cities and towns of other States or foreign countries where business Is done. It also allows assets to be invested in the national bonds ot foreign conntries where business is done. The Hendee law allows companies incorporated in Indiana to invest in bonds of countries or provinces where business is done. It is understood that the State Life Insurance Company of Indiana desired to Invest in bonds of Canada. The McHenrv law widened the character of bonds which foreign casualty, health and accident companies could furnish as assets to file in Indiana, so as to include the bonds of cities and towns of dther States than Indiana. The bill of Moore, of Putnam, to create an insurance commission with power to fix fire insurance company rates and control the alleged insurance combine, was chloroformed in the Senate Insurance committee. Marriage and Divorce. Peculiarly enough the bill to lessen the divorce evil, to which so much attention has been paid publicly and which was supported by some of the churches, was defeated, while the marriage bill, for which there was less demand, became a law. According to the new marriage law applicants for a license will be required to file with their applications detailed information about their parentage and their health, and if a license Is refused an appeal may be had to the Circuit Court judge. What is regarded as the most important feature Is that which will make It difficult, or impossible for imbeciles, paupers or other dependents or epileptics to obtain marriage licenses. If a man has been an Inmate of a poorfarm he must be able to show his ability to support a wife. The appropriation of *35,000 was made for the erection of a monument of Oliver P. Morton In the State House yard. This law grew out of a demand on the part of soldiers of the Civil War and particularly the Grand Army of the Republic. All other monument bills were killed. A bill for a monument to Gen. I.ew Wallace In Statuary Hall at Washington, D. €'., passed the Senate, but was defeated in the ways and means committee of the House. In the Interest of pure food and public health a State laboratory hygiene was created. An osteopath will be added to the State Board of Medical Examination and Registration under another law. Still another law creates a State Board for the registration and examination of trained nurses. Bills Interesting; Politicians. Of particular Interest to politicians are the Kirkman legislative reapportionment law and the Htigg law which punishes the vote buyer and vote seller with fine up to SSO and disfranchisement for ten years but not imprisonment. The House amended an Imprisonment provision of the bill. Vigo County got a primary election law, but the Marlon County primary election bill, which, passed the Senate, stopped at second reading in the House, after it had been amended in such a way as to defeat the unity of the bill. v Cost of the Session. By the time all the bills have been paid the Sixty-fourth General Assembly will have cost the State approximately $119,000, which Is the appropriation made to cover the expenses. The original appropriation was $115,000. This was Increased s4.imm) by nn amendment to the general appropriation bill. A comparison of the expenses of the Inst 1a n n llonse during the~ first session wtththose of the session two years ago show that It was just $2,161.23 less costly than the preceding House. The total expenses of the House, as summed up by assistant principal clerk George L. Hellman, for the session just closed, was $60,688.27. Two years ago the expenses amounted to $62.849.50. This year the per diem paid to the members of the House aggregated $36,638, while two years ago it amounted to $36,900. The mileage given members this year was likewise less than that of the preceding session. being $3,779, as agtialnst $3,817. Tlie greatest economy of this year's session was in the employes of tlie House, there being n less number in every depart, ment. The amount paid out to employes in salaries this year was $17,494. Two years ago it. was $20,393. Election contests this year cost the State $743.60. and the postage amounted to $325. The total paid out this year on resolutions nets up sl,708.67, as against $l,BlO two years ago. While the work of the General Assembly of 1905 may be open to some criticism, the people of Indiana may perhaps be thankful if they never have a worse legislature than that which lias adjourned.

The Short Story Art.

The art of short story writing has not become a widely popular accomplishment in this country, according to the testimony of tlie judges in the Collier prize story contest. There were no less than 12,090 stories sent in for competition, and William Allen White, who was one of the judges, states that each of the first 95 in every 100 could be cast aside with five minutes' reading. Only one in a hundred contained the rudiments necessary to make a good story even a passably good stpiy. The work of the amateur, says Mr. White, may hide itself for ten pages, ami then stick up like a sore thumb In a trite handling of an excellent situation; but the professional writer, the skilled workman, shows his presence in the first sentence, proves himself in the first paragraph, and establishes himself in the reader’s confidence (luring the first 500 words. —Boston Herald.

The Original Hackman.

“Say,” queried little George, addressing the historical cherry tree, "why don't you branch out?” “1 wood leave this place,” answered the tree, ’’lf I had some way to move my trunk.” "If that’s all that holds you,” said the embryo daddy of bls country, "I'll see that you get a hack.” Whereupon be hurried over to the woodshed in search of bls little hatchet.

Cold Reasoning.

Bacon —We have an Ice plant in our new fiats. Egbert—Who attends to it? “The Janitor.” “Oh, then It's connected with the furnace, Is It?” —Yonkers Statesman.

Disturbing the Fence.

She —What is meant by the pipe of peace? He —Can't imagine'. Never yet smoked n pipe In the house but my wife made a fuss about it!—Detroit Free Press.

Practical Training.

Singleton—Your muscles have developed wonderfully of late. Do you practice with health lifts? Wedderly—Well, you can call ft health lift* if you want to; 1 carry all our coal up four flights of stairs.

Serious Fait.

"You seem worried,” said the caller. "Yes,” responded the Irate father, "tny soH la the cause.” "I hear Ids mind is unsettled.” "No; It Is his bills that are unsettled.”

RECORD OF THE WEEK

INDIANA INCIDENTS TERSELY TOLD. Murder Arouses Terre Haute People to Ask Reforms—Woman Hears of Son Who Ran Away 20 Years Ago-Wal* lace Fish Hatcheries for Nation. Protestant church ministers the other night preached on the wide-open conditions in Terre Haute, which culminated In the murder of “Matty” Robertson by Joe Roach in a .gambling room, and the congregations were asked to attend a mass meeting the next night, which took action binding Mayor Bidaman to a closing policy as regards public gambling, at least. When Roach killed Robertson the gamblers voluntarily closed their places, after which Mayor Bidaman’s police board issued orders to close them. The reform clement lias faith in Mayor Bidaman and hopes that the mass meeting will influence him to carry out his own views. The fact that Roach shot Robertson because he suspected the latter was a party to the theft of $340 in Roach’s, gambling room is pointed to by the reform element as conclusive proof of the evil effects of permitting public gambling. Find* Son Believed Dead. Ray Freeman, a Westville boy, disappeared twenty years ago and vcigorous advertising and efforts to find him were of no avail. Then he was mourned as dead by the mother' and other kin. Last week, however, the silence of years was broken by tidings received by Mrs. Jennie Freeman, the young man's mother, that the long-imissing son was in Chicago, where he is filling a position in a bindery. The boy has not Communicated with his mother, but she will now make an effort to find him that tlie reunion may take place. Search for Father Ends. Mrs. E. J. Dawson of Chicago, who for twenty-four years Ims been searching for her parents, has found her father, Noah Black, who is a wealthy Franklin county farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Black separated and Mrs. Dawson, who was then a small child, was placed in an orphan’s home. The child was adopted by a family near Chicago and a short time ago she was married to E. J. Dawson. Black has £one to visit his daughter at Chicago. Wallace Gift to the Nation. The great fish hatcheries at Waterbable, on which General Lew Wallace spent thousands of dollars, are to be presented by the family to the government. Congressman C. B. Landis received a letter from Henry WallaV-c. the only son of the general, making the offer on behalf of iiis mother. There is no doubt of the government’s acceptance.

Wabash Foundry Burned. A SIO,OOO fire partially destroyed the foundry of the Btircus Company and Wat»a»h Stove Company in Wabash. The main part of the plant was saved, but patterns were destroyed which will be hard to replace. The fire started iu the molding room. AH Over the State. The I. O. O. F., at Harrisburg;- will erect a new hall, costing $2,000. Twenty-two young men of Shelbyville and county have recently enlisted in the regular army. Eastern capitalists have leased rooms preparatory to opening a bank in Muncie to cater especially to oil men. A majority of the taxpayers have petitioned for a special election at Daleville to pass upon the question of incorporation. John Benton, aged 70 years, deliberately walked to bis death near Hanna, by stepping iu front of a Pere Marquette passenger train. The Sixty-seventh Indiana Infantry survivors will hold a reunion at Madison during the State encampment of the G. A. R. in June. The Peru grand jury has adjourned, returning but two indictments, and reporting all the county institutions satisfactorily>managed. ParrygGrady, aged 33. was found dead in his barn at Covington by his wife. His throat had been cut. The coroner's verdict was'suicide. Mrs. Mary A. Sust wants $5,000 damages from the city of Muncie because of a defective sidewalk, by which she was permanently injured. Two blocks of buildings in the business center of Monroe were destroyed by tire, five stores and the postoffice being, swept away, the loss is $20,000. Miss May Malone, daughter of exSheriff James IL Malone, and James Gordon Spencer of Chicago were married by Rev. J. H. O. Smith at Valparaiso. A company is being organized in Rushville to manufacture buggies in the building to be vacated by the Rushville Buggy Company, which will remove to Flora, 111. Charles Lambert, near Harrisburg, while driving along the highway, lost one of his horses, the animal dropping dead through fright on seeing an interurban car. George Bullock, 38 years old, committed suicide in Evansville by shooting himself, after having attempted to kill his wife and daughter. He had been drinking. , John (Smiley of Muncie, 20, kissed his young bride nud infant babe good-by and announced that lie was going to end his life. For half an hour his young wife fought bravely to prevent the rash act. but at last she was overpowered, ami her husband swallowed the morphine. dying two hours later. He was insanely jealous, but relatives say his jealousy was unfounded. Victory Bateman, the well-known actress. who has appeared liefore the pule lie frequently a* a member of a stock company, was seriously burned in a hotel fire in Edwardsville. There is a family of seven boys and four girls in Pierceton, whose names begin with a “P"—Pleasant, Paul. Percy, Peter, Perry, Philip, Patrick, Pansy, Pearl, Polly and Phyllis. Raymond Nolan, of Richmond, ten years old. attempted to drive a nail into a box, but, as a result of a mis-atroke. the nail bounded and struck him in the tight eye, instantly destroying the sight.

THE SPOT ON THE SUN.

Blemish on Old Sol’s Shining Face the Largest Seen in Many Years. The large, spot which now appears on The face of the sun, according to the Toledo Blade, is the largest observed in many years. The largest spot which appeared on the sun measured miles, and was seen in February, 1892 The present spot denotes an unusual ac tivity and is caused by the upheaval of a vast amount of gaseous matter fron. the interior portion of the sun. This greah volcano of gnmforees itself through the idiotosphere. which is the visible stirface <d' the sun and the highly (listUl’bei' area ofttimes takes on a cyclonic move ment. The central portion of the spot or group of spots, is generally dead Idmdi in appetiranee. This central portion is called the nucleus, ami tlie spot gener ally shades oil into light gray toward) the edges. The present spot seems U be made up of a group of spots; forty oi fifty dead black patches can be observed intermingled with the lighter portions The form changes rapidly and this chntige can be noted from day to-day, ami sometimes from hour to hour.

The central nucleus of the present spot is large enough to permit the passage of four bodies, tlie size of our own earth without grazing the edges. While thf sun spots appear black to the eye. this is no indication that they tire not highly luminous areas, for a brilliant arc light will tippear black when viewed against the sun's surface.. When we look at th< side of a house in the brilliant sunlight, the open windows of tlint house appeal black to the eye, We know that should we enter the house and find ourselves in the rooms containing those windows, that the rooms would be unusually well illuminated and quite light. The windows only appear black in comparison with the brightly illuminated surface of the house side. 'l'his illustration will hold good also with the appearance of sun spots. It is possible that a nucleus or black portion is a hole in which we see a portion of the sun's interior through the outer visible photosphere, and it appears black by comparison. It is in reality more highly luminous than anything we can imagine mi the earth. The sun revolves on its axis once in 25 days, consequently the present spot will soon pass from our field of view and the disturbance caused by the eruption will have subsided before that portion of the sun's surface comes into sight.

PRAYED FORTHEIR MAYOR.

An Extraordinary Spectacle in Philadelphia. An extraordinary no American municipality ever before witnesses! anil which many think does little credit to its participants, howsoever efficacious their prayers may be, because it lays religion bare to ridicule, was given in Philadelphia the other day, when all the advocates of reform joined in a day of prayer for the city officials. About 200 preachers met in Holy Trinity church and prayed that the "shackles of the gang be. stricken from our sinful Mayor.” About 300 Others held services in their own churches. Prayer meetings were 'hehl in lioiiles aniUTii one church 1.000 women prayed and, fasted the entire day. Thousands upon thousands of prayers were made between the hours ot 10 and 4. Before the meetings men paraded the streets with banners inscribed "Pray for the Mayor.” Some prominent business men protested against the gathering, asserting that it was an absurdity. The pray”er meetings were part of the anti-vice crusade which is being waged in Philadelphia. The Mayor, who is a prominent church man, has been appealed to to bring about reforms and has been asked to remove the head of the police department and failed to do so.

THE RAILROADS

The Erie and Lehigh Valley roads are engaged in a war over the co-1 traffic. The Big Four road has inaugurated a through dining car service between Chicago and Washington, IX C. Through passenger trains between Sait Lake City, Utah, ami San Pedro, Cal., over a new line will begin to be operated April 1. Judge Ryan, at St. Louis, has made permanent a number of temporary injunction against six offending ticket brokers of that city. Announcement is made by the Santa Fe officials that the contract for a $490,900 grain elevator at Argentine, near Kansas City, has been let. The sale of the Esquinialt am! Nanaimo railway to (he Canadian Pacific railway will be completed upon the passage of a formal act of ratification by the dominion parliament. In connection witli the proposed crosstown line of the Wabash road, which is to connect it with the Gould line, the Wabash road will erect n new passenger station at Toledo. Ohio, at n of over $590,000. According to Vice President Laudstreet of the Western Maryland railroad the Cuiuberland extension of the road will be ready for use by Oct. 1. and trains will be put into service on it at that time. The train rule committee of the American Railway Association has completed a code of rules to govern the operation of trains on road* having three or four tracks. It is thought that the danger of accidents will be greatly reditee<l by a uniformity in the rules and method* of operation. The Rock Island road, according to •.•eport, hits obtiiined control of the Colorado Midland ami the Colorado and Southern. It is now said that construction work of the Western Pacific railroad will begin within two months and that a Gould road to San Francisco promises to tie an accomplished fact in the near future. Preparations are being made in the principal cities of tlie East and West for apecial train excursions arranged by different councils of the Knights of Columbus to it* annual convention, to be held in May at Lo* Angele*. Cal.

INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

The sixty-first and last day of the Six-ty-fourth General Assembly opened Monday at 10 o’clock with prayers for’ the safe guidance of the legislators. Bill.«i were hurried up for consideration and passed indiscriminately in either house to be voted down in the other; some failed for the lack of. a constitutional majority and most were voted down because nobody listened ami consequently nobody knew what was in them. In the Senate proceedings began with a vote of thanks to everybody for the second time. Short ly afterward Senator Roemlor endeavored to revive a bill which is to succeed one vetoed by the Governor, that provides for the voluntary bankruptcy of merchants whose affairs have become so Involved as to admit of no recovery. The Senate passed the Roomier bill. Senator Slack tried hard to rescue his primary referendum bill, but failed. Joshing, jocularity and rough-house horse play characterized both morning sessions and a disposition to make a joke out. of everything kept the Legislature from seriously attempting any now business. Lient. Gov. Miller signed the appropriation bill shortly before midnight, when it had passed, and it went to the Governor. Following that movement, Gov. Hanly's last message was read by his secretary. Union B. Hunt. The Governor had many words of praise for the Legislature.' Among-them he said, “On the whole, you have builded better than I had hoped, and, in fact, better than any General Assembly convened in tlie" State in many years has builded.” Bills Signed by the Governor. » • H. B. 135. Darby. To give justices of the peace in cities <>ver 50,900 in population power to appoint, substitutes. Emergency. If. B. 248. Hanna. To legalize the incorporation of I’lainfield. H. B. 32G. Martin. To legalize the incorporation of Bryant, Jay county. 11. B. 350. Honan. Providing for uniform reports to the Governor from State institutions shortly after the State elections. H. B. 331. Bosson. Authorizing the erection of the Masonic Temple to be used by the local lodges of Masons in Indianapolis. H. B. 233. Stansbury. Taking Fountain county out of the Twenty-first judicial district and creating a new district for this county; known as the Sixty-first judicial district, leaving the Twenty-first composed of Warren and Benton counties. S. B. 339. Kirkman. The legislative reapportionment bill. 11. B. 217. McGonagle. To empower county councils, by resolution, to return unexpended balances of appropriations to the general fund of the county. 11. B. 317. Stansbury. To legalize acts of township advisory boards taken without notice on account. Emergency. H. B. 340. Houk. To regulate primary elections in Vigo county, providing that the’ primaries of all J parties shall be held on the same day and the names of all candidates shall be on the same ballot, further providing that the voter can vote for only the candidates of one party. Emergency. H. B. 210. Barring claim against decedents' estates when no letters of administration are issued within twelve months after notice is given. 11. B. 353. Branch. To provide punishment for the wearing of G. A. R. or other military badges unlawfully. 8. B. 170. Stephenson. Empowering the Attorney General to hire special counsel to prosecute the claims of the State against the federal government in reference to. money due the State from the sale of swamp lands, and providing that the special counsel be paid 25 per cent of the money so collected. Emergency.

8. B. 283. Ulrey. Providing for the elevation of The grade crossings in the city of Fort Wayne. 8. B. 355. Kirkman. Empowering city councils to allow Chautauqua assemblies to use public parks. 11. B. 52. Branch. To make the Reporter of the Supremo Court a member of the State printing Itoard. H. B. 145. Fletcher. Providing for the elevation of tracks at the grade crossings in Indianapolis. Emergency. H. B. 318. Carmichael. To enable denominational schools to require that four-fifths of the stock in the corporation shall be held by members of the denomination. Emergency. 11. B. 342. Baker. To legalize the incorporation of Galveston, Howard county. Emergency. 11. B. 409. Shively. Prohibiting jurors in mayors’ ami justice of the peace courts from serving oftener than once in six months. H. B. 425. Force. Legalizing a gravel road election in Orange county. Emergency. S. B. 97. Beardsley. To prohibit the shooting of live pigeons. S. B. 191. Smith. Appropriating $25.000 to Purdue Fniversity to pay for certain experiments in agriculture and horticulture. Emergency. 8. B. 318. Bens. Legalizing the incorporation of Milltown. Crawford ty.IL B. 323. Beals. To provide for a seal for the justices of the peace ami for better authentication of certain records. S. B. 5. Cavins. To authorize the admission of army nurses to soldiers* home. 8. B. 05. Korkman. Authorizing the erection of a monument to the memory of Oliver Perry Mot Tom •" the State House grounds.ml including an appropriation of $35;OO0. Emergency. H. B. 2. Guirl. Allowing foreign mutual tire insurance companies to do business in this State, provided they had cash assets to the amount of $50,000 and premium notes to the amount of SIOO.000.

H. B. 110. Hanna. Giving town board* uinl city council* the right to condemn land* for cemeteries. Emergency. H. B. 263. Legler. To permit railroad* in cases where they have changed from steam to electricity to continue to haul freight by steam. S. B. <H. Good wine. Providing for the separation of the Girl** Industrial Hcliool from the Women's prison, and carrying an appropriation of 1233.000. H. B. 13S. Itoemler. Concerning the conveysu<v of real estate and transfer, of personal property by the Indiana poll* sctiool board. Emergency.