The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-02-16
LEGISLATIYE GOSSIP.

One of the most important bills to the peo-
the Edwins road bill. 1t las been already
engrossed, and, so soon as DIR. Edwins gets
through with his pressing Committee work,
he will push the bill to its final passage.
Referring to this bill, the Logansport Jour
nal says:
From all parts of the State this inquiry comes
up: What will the Legislature do on the subject OF
roads? viii 1t give us betterlaws 50 that we may
have better roads for the money We have been
spending in vain for that purpose? No more i'm
p0rtant matter presses Itself upon the attention of
legislators and the latter manifest sincere desie
TO respond to the demands of the people; but
right here appears the difficulty of the situation,
and il may be called Conservatism" While
admitting that the old system Is worse than
dread getting too far away from il, preferring TO
build law-tO additions and scattered patches
rather than tear down the old and build anew
upon new foundation. The bill presented by
DIR. Edwins IL r. 1881 adopts the latter course.
II discards every feature of the old system and
substitutes an entirely new system. IL Considers
road-making not the mere moving here and there
Of dirt and sticks but art which needs the
aid of science to make il useful and effective. Ii
assures that the general public will be best served
by making much Travelled roads better roads
than roads not much used. 1t proposes that
road taxes shall be paid in money, and ex
pended that every dollar will count something
toward road improvement. 1t creates response
Dlhty Tor the expenditure Of read tax funds and
expenditures, under the eye OF critical public
observation. Its provisions are the antipodes of
the present system. but in comparison with that
system are they not sensible aud busineS$ike? If
this bill shall become the law there Will be no
need of free gravel road laws, or toll road
laws. Tor roads to be built in the future
The Committee on Railroads is IN favor of
the passage of the bill requiring railroads to
"fence themselves in"
The Senate Committee on Advertisements
yesterday refused TO recommend the pas
sage of the bill reducing the number of
number of Senators to thirty and Repre-
sentatives to sixty, as unconstitutional.
Senator Browns bill, making il unlawful
for railroads to charge or collect a greater
rate OF amount for freight for q less than
they do for greater distance, incorporation,
was yesterday recommended for passage by
the Senate Railroad Committee.
The Senate Railroad Committee Yesterday
recommended the passage of Senator
kahlO's bill. providing that not more than
81 for berth and 81 for a section of sleep
ing car shall be charged for distance less
than 200 miles, and not more than one-half
a cent mile for longer distance.
"A resolution was introduced by SenltOr
Menzies yesterday instructing the Commit
tee on Education TO inquire into and report
at an early date the average number oil
students in attendance at Purdue Univer-
sity the past College year, the number at the
present time and their residences, including
the number from Lafayette and its imme-
date vicinity. Also, to report the revenues
OF the University, independent of State aid.
The resolution was amended to include the
the State University at Bloomington and
the Normal School at Terre Haute, and
passed.
Senator Benz is of the impression that his
bill licensing engineers will meet with gen.
eral favor in both Houses.
The House Committee on Prisons leave
Tomorrow evening, by the L.. r. and G.
Road, for Michigan City, to inspect the
Northern Prison.
DR.. Mcdowell. while being an industrious
member of the House, is also kept busily
engaged in administering to the wants of the
sick at his hotel.
The mechanics Of Lafayette yesterday,
through Representative Kenner, petitioned
the Assembly for protection against convict
labor. They also declare themselves willing
to reimburse the State II the conylsts shall