The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-06
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The Democratic Programme Regard
ing the Amendments.
Talk About the State-House Appropriation
and Medical observation-disclosures Mem
tion-Committee C~hairmanslips.

Inc question OF Ine leSdllly u tue PdSSaSe
of the constitutional amendments by the
last Legislature was brought up in the Sen
ate yesterday in a preliminary way, and oc-
cupied the attention of that body for some
time. Another Democratic policy in this mat
ter was outlined by the action taken. Senator
Smith, of Delaware, offered a resolution in
structing the Secretary of State to furnish
the Senate acertified copy of the adoption OF
the pending amendments, and a like c%ertiti-
cate of the Wabash d Erie canal amendment,
and any other like measures. Senator Will
lard moved to refer this resolution to the Ju-
dietary Committee, and after the defeat OF
several subsidiary motions, this reference
was made with instructions to report next
Wednesday. The standing committees
will probably be appointed to-day, and the
Judiciary will be made up with the rest. Its
composition is altogether immaterial, how
ever, as it is positively known that the re-
port in regard to the amendments has already
been made for the committee by a number
of Democratic lawyers employed by the State
Central Committee for that purpose, and this
will be sent to the Senate as the report of the
Judiciary Committee. 1t will take the posi-
ton that the amendments are not legally be-
fore the Legislature, and will be concurred
in by the Senate as a party measure.
In speaking on one OF the mo-
tons yesterday, Senator Bell said that
he proposed to consider the amend
ment question as a lawyer and not as a poll
t%ician, but it will probably be seen when the
vote comes to be taken, his views in both
capacities will exactly coincide.
THE s~TATE-HoUsE APPROPRIATION
A Journal reporter yesterday asked a num-
Der of senators and representatives as to the
probable action of the Legislature regarding
the appropriation asked for by the State
house contractors, to reimburse them for
losses alleged to have been incurred There
is a very decided opposition to the a%ppropri-
alton, Whether it will amount to
enough to defeat the measure
remains to be seen. Representative
Huston said that he had talked with several
of his colleagues about the matter, and ne
thought the best course to pursue would be
to let Messrs. Howard & Denig throw up
their contract, if they could not complete it
for the original amount, and give it to some
body else. On the other hand, one or two
senators expressed themselves as favoring the
appropriation, under certain restrictions,
claiming that it would not add to the dignity
and reputation of a great State TO have its
| capital DullJ ny private Capital. lneTG Is no
probability of the matter being made a po-
litical issue, as has been intimated.
MEDICAL LEGISLATION.
Senator Yancey yesterday stated to a Jour
nal reporter that he would shortly introduce
a bill to regulate the practice OF medicine,
similar to that proposed by him two years
ago, and he thought that be would be able to
secure its passage. Regarding the State
Board of Health, he thought that a bill would
probably be passed making some important
changes in its constitution and management.
Its workings had not been altogether salts
factory, and much opposition had been devel-
oped to it, but probably not enough
to insure its abolition. Senator Van Vorhis
was interviewed on the same subject, and
said he did not propose to introduce any
medical bill or have anything to do with
III edical legislation further than his duties as
a senator demanded, Senator Fletcher ex-
pressed substantially the same views.
THE CAUCUS LAST NIGHT,
The Democratic senators held a caucus in
the Senate chamber last night, and made up
the standing committees of the Senate,
which will be reported to that body in a res
olution this morning, and adopted under
party pressure. Those who attended the
caucus were pledged to profound secrecy,
and it was with the greatest difficulty that
anything could be obtained about it. 1t is
known, however, that the list of
Republican senators prepared by Lieutenant
governor Hanna as members of the
committees, three to each, was adopted by
the caucus, without any changes. All the
Democratic members who were interviewed
after the meeting professed to be profoundly
satisfied with the assignments made, but re-
fused to give even their individual appoint
mentS. The following, however, is the list of
chairmanships OF the leading committees:
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Bell, of Allen.
Fiuance-SenatOr Rahm, Of Vanderburg.
Ttmperance-Senator Fletcher, of Marion,
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Niece, iof Cass.
P~risons-Senato Benz, of Crawford.
Fees and Sa~laries-Senator Noyles, of Wash
ington.
New State house-senator Willard, OF Law
renee.
Benevolent stitutions-Senato Marvin, of
Boone.
Elections-senator McCulloch, of of Gibson.
Medical LegislatiOn-SenatOr Mcclure, of
Cha rk.
Education-senato Johnson. of Tippecanoe.
The prohibitory@ amendment matter was
informally discussed and a very decided dis
position was manifested to kill the amend
ment in the Senate.
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
The late Senator Charman's desk is app-o-
priately draped in mourning.
Speaker Bynum has appointed Willie
Moriarity, George Mitchell and Daniel
McCrossland as pages.
Next Thursday has been set apart by the
Senate for appropriate services in memory OF
the late senator from this county, Hon.
George II. Chapman.
The House adjourned yesterday afternoon
until Monday morning at 10 o'clock. The
Senate took similar action, but reconsidered
and adjourned until this morning.
Doorkeeper Kirke's appointments are the
following: b. d. Crawford and n. b. Tray
nor OF Marshall, Fred w. Daniels of Fulton,
C. II. Marvin of Boone, and Mrs. Bundy,