Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1907 — INDIANA LAWMAKERS. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

Asked by State Institntlons. The {legislative committee that visited all of the State-institutions to ascertain how much money the institutions wish,, end will later recommend how much they should get. has compiled the want column. The demand for general and specific appropriations is much greater than ever before. The committee will report the figures for specific appropriations as fol-, lews: Purdue ... ...$ 304,000 Indiana University 337,873" Institution for the Blind 53,280 Institution for the Deaf 780.000 State Normal . . 191.465 Central Hospital for Insane .... 32.500 Northerh Hospital for Insane . 2,500 i Eastern Hospital for Insane ... 77,800 Southern Hospital for Insane... 123.000 Southeastern Hospital for Insane 876.358” Epileptic Village. 396,208 School for Feeble-Minded ..... . 75,700 Soldiers’ Home 179,500 Soldiers and Sailors’ Orphans’ Home ..; 14,172 Bovs’ School .... 44,500 Girls’ School ... 12R.026 Indiana Reformatory 6,500 Indiana State Prison 53,357 Total .. .... .... . ~ . $3,753,239 These figures do not include the regular appropriations for maintenance, which will amount to as much more, at the. lowest calculation. The members of the committee decline to discuss the amounts they will recommend. Democratic Anti-Trust Bill. The anti-trust bill that, it is under-"st6od7wilT'J)eba"cked~'by'’ttrc-Dfmiocratil* caucus strength, was Introduced in the House by Representative R. C. Brown of Salem. The bill was drawn by Brown, and, in the case of other measures to be -supported-by the was submitted to the caucus for consideration and discussion before being put in form for introduction. I’nder his bill. Brown says, it will be possible to reach the international harvester trust, the dredging trust and others that it has been difficult to prosecute. He makes participation in any pool, trust, agreement, combination or confederation, to fix or limit the quantity o's any article of manufacture, miffing or commerce, or for bidding on public contract work, a conspiracy to defraud. Fines are provided in addition to forfeiture of charter rights and termination of incorporation. Moneys collected by fine shall go to the school fund. Tfle bill contains no immunity clause, such as in other States has proved an effective means of obtaining evidence.

Hngg's Anti-Trnst Bill. Senator Hugg's anti-trust bill caused the Senators to “sit up and take notice” as they listened to the reading clerk announce the title. There has been a feeling uppermost in the minds of a majority of Senators that an anti-trust law is bound to pass during this session of the General Assembly, and the Senate i« likely to be the scene of the initial contest if there is to be formidable opposition by the Corporations affected. First Bill to Pas* the Senate. Senator Carl Wood, the minority leader, had the distinction of pushing through to passage in the Senate the first bill of the session. The bill, which was introduced by Senator Wood, when his name was reached on roll call, was a local measure which fixed the time of holding the terms of court in the Forty-second judicial circuit, composed of Washington and Orange counties. It was passed under suspension of the rules.

Popular Vote for U. S. Senator*. A Senate concurrent resolution, setting forth the declaration that the General Assembly of the State of Indiana favors the election of United States Senators by popular vote and proposing that Indiana join with other States similarly inclined, in requesting that a convention be called for the purpose of considering an amendment to the constitution of the United Stakes, has been offered by Senator Slack. Bill Aifectß Inheritance. A bill introduced in the House by Charles O. Baltzell. Representative from Vanderburg, Gibson and Knox counties, provides that any one unlawfully causing the death of another or aiding or abetting such unlawful death, shall not inherit any of the property of the decedent. This has been part of the State's unwritten law, Mr. Baltzell says, but he would make it a specific statute. The bill carries an emergency clause.

In Interest of Barbers. Senator W. R. Wood has introduced a barbers’ bill, 'which prohibits the “knights of the tazor” working at their trade on the Sabbath. Senator Wood offered the measure at the request of members of the Barbers’ Union/who say that barbers throughout the State, with the exception of a few in Indianapolis, favor it The bill provides a penalty of a fine of $25 for each and every violation. No Capital Punishment. A bill abolishing cflpital punishment has been introduced by Senator Kimbrough! The bill is very short, changing the present law that allows hanging for premeditated murder to imprisonment for life. This bill js in line with the recommendation made by Gov. Hanly in his message. Bill for Good Ronda. In the interest of good roads, Newton F. Watson,‘Representative from Kosciusko, Huntington and Whitley counties, has prepared a bill to extend the jieriod of service of road supervisors from forty to seventy-five days in a year and increase their pay from $1.50 to $2 a day. School Ennmern t lon Work. Mr. Barkley Of Union and Franklin counties introduced a bill in the House requiring township assessors, whfn making the aAessment. to enqjnerate the school children in the. townAip." ’ The work is now done by the township trustees, and. Barkley sgys, entails a great, unnecessary expense on rhe State. This extra work by the trustees, he figures, costs Indiana annually about SIOO,OOO. There are 1.200 trustees In the State, and they draw $2.50 a« day for enumerating the school children.