The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-04-03
INDIANAPOLIS Letter.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind Mar. 90, 1879.

L have done my duty to my constltu-
ents, as 1 believe, and have wasted
no time, either in long winded
speeches, or in running about. But
have faithfully stuck to my post night
and day: so ends my first experience
in law making.
The week past has been one OF SOL
id work; many bills OF great impor-
lance to the people have been passed,
and will be transferred to the statutes
OF the State. Among those OF special
Importance 1 may mention the
married woman's bill, which allows a
married women to hold property &C.
CURED by descent. device, or gift
from seizure for debts contracted by
her husband, and prevents her from
encumbering it in any way, for her
husbands liabilities, though she may
be willing to do so. Another bill was
also passed, by which husband can.
not cut off the right OF his wife to the
one-third OF his personal property by
a will.
The homestead bill was finally
passed after numerous conferences
and amer dments; 1t assumed as
many forms as the chameleon has
colors before it could be finally dis
posed of. 1t now gives a man $500,
and allows him to decide for himself
whether 1t shall be be personal or
real estate. Its general provisions
are much the same as the old law,
with the exception that 5000 is made
to read six hundred.
In my last weeks letter tho Den
lists bill was reported as lost. So 1t
was, but now it has been found Qike
the Prodigal SOM and has passed, and
unless the Governor sits down on IL
as he did on tho Doctors bill.
it will become law. The bill
as passed. does not effect any person
engaged in the practice Of dentistry
at this time, but all dentists who
straggle in from other States. or
come hereafter, will be required TO
undergo an examination.
The item 500. 900 in the specific ap-
preparation bill reported last week
for the purpose OF purchasing the
State Agricultural Fair grounds has
been reconsidered and not allowed
in consequence OF which the State OF
Indiana will not be compelled to 60
into the Fair business.
The expenditures incurred by the
Bureau OF Statistics Cor State smell
ing institution, will be confined to
$4,000 a year instead OF $1,000 as frat
agreed on. The people can sport
upon the muddy banks OF the Kanka-
kee river, during the months OF
March and April, aud decoy the finny
tribe into SENS, nets. or pots. or
chase them with the barbed spear.
as the Law does now freely allow.
The county Treasurer can pursue
the delinquent tax payer now Tor 6
per cent. instead Of Ave, as formerly.
but be Is shaved little in some other
points in the Fee aud s ,lary bill.
A bill was passed two weeks ago
allowing the people OF a school dis
trict to select thoir teacher, but In the
codillsd laws which have finally pass
ed, the duty of selecting the teachers
will be performed by the Trustees.
The Governor on yesterday return
ed tho House bill No. 377, or Doctors
bill. with his objections, am ong
which was the following: ~If the
bill had been law during the days
OF our Savior. the good Samaritan
would have been prosecuted for
practicing surgery without a license.
aud thus valuable lesson on charity
and philanthropy would have been
lost TO the world" Two efforts were
made to pass the bill over the veto.
but did not secceed.
The Investigation OF public Of
dcials 80 effsctually accomplished by
this extra session, will not only have
the effect of covering back into the
Treasury money squandered by State
officers. but will most effectually
block up the way through which
thousands OF dollars have been lost
to the people, and thereby amply re-
pay the expense OF the extra session.
In conclusionI hope, that what was
intended by these letters. has been
to some extent accomplished. (name-
lyJreporting some OF the transactions
OF the 5lst general assembly. I have
carefully culled the items which i
deemed Of the greatest interest to
my constituents in brief style, and
with as little verbiage as was consis-
tent with fair description Of the
subject. Censure and prejudice have
been avoided, partisan structures dis
carded, that my judgment might
not be swayed by political attach.
ments, believing mysel; to have been
the servant OF the people OF Marshall
county it may be presumed that my
political education did not COMPEL
him to be partial, except on those
great State questions, where the path
Of my political duty was plainly de-
fined. 1 have sought no oratorical
or rhetorical notoriety In the arena
of oral discussions. having observed
that such efforts were being carried