The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-13
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The Discussion of the Winterbotham
Memorial Continued in the Senate.
The State-House Inquiry and Speculations
as to the Committees Report-The
Progress of Legislation,
TIE w1NrrRnorHAM MEMORIAL.

=
ing order of business at the adjournment Sat
urday was the consideration OF Senator Nc
Culloch's motion to reconsider the vote by
which the committee on elections was or
dered to investigate the charges made by ex-
Senator Winterbotham that the employees Of
several large manufactures in the
Thirteenth congressional district were COM
PEELED TO vote the Republican ticket against
their inclinations. There was a short dis
cussion of the question on Saturday and it
was thought that vote would be reached
yesterday with but little further debate, but
such was not the case Senator Voy les in
augurated the trouble by alluding TO the Sem
ator from Hancock Mr.. Yancey) saying that
the latter really should have been a Demo-
crat, as he was born in Kentucky and lived
there many years, and that he had fallen
from grace in becoming a Republican. Mr..
Yancey retorted that although he was a
native of Kentucky he had al
ways been loyal to his country, and
followed this up with a somewhat vigorous
denunciation of the Democratic methods on
the pending question This brought Senator
Bell to his feet, and he made the rather dis
courteous remark that it would have been
better for Indiana had the last speaker re-
manned in Kentucky and he followed this
by a bitter political speech, in which he de-
clared in favor of 'boycotting' the Studeba-
kers and divers for their alleged interference
with the suffrages of their employees. Sena-
tor Spann, the next speaker, although inter-
rupted many time nv aimless questions,
made most striking ai.>. -ncst.-e answer to
the Democratic claims and reviewed the
course of that party in the South in manner
that showed the utter inconsistency of its
present pretensions. He defed the Demo-
cratic committee of the Senate to investigate
the charges made. Senator Foulke followed
in a similar strain, speaking earnestly and
foroibly and he was frequently interrupted
by enthusiastic applause, He said that Win
serbotham had declined TO carry his contest
to Congress because he knew the charges he
made were maiciously and villainously false
and he could not substantiate them-a state
ment that was received with cheers Mr.
Fouike, always an effective speaker, was I'M
usually so in his effort yesterday, and he re-
ceved many congratulations for it. Senator
Brown sp oke next in support of the Demo-
cratic position, and Senators Bundy and
Campbell against it, the latter disclosing
some of the infamous methods resorted to by
the Democracy to carry the election in the
Thirteenth district. The debate was con-
eluded by Senator McCulloeh but pending
vote the Senate adjourned. Throughout it
was animated and almost bitter and it was
decidedly the ablest extemporaneous dis
cussion of the session. 1t also showed one
thing concluslvely, that the Democratic
"bosses," Messrs. Brown and Bell were no
match for Messrs. Spann and Foulke in a
running political debate.
THE sTATE-HoUsE INQUIRY.
1t is probable that the State-house inquiry
will be concluded this week, and that re-
port from the committee will be made about
next Wednesday. This evening the commit
: 20 viii o9Hqnlt with the State-house Com
rnissioners GoNarpor portar o,1 +la Ctoto
officers regarding the building, and at the
subsequent sessions a number of employees
will be called upon to testify. 1t is evident
that since the Investigation began the feeling
has grown in favor of continuing the present
contract under certain restrictions and it is
now thought that majority of the House
committee will SO report. A member yester-
day told a Journal reporter that the commit
tee would probably report provisional bill,
so that in the event that the present Assem-
bly, did nothing definite about the matter,
:he Commissioners would be authorized to
continue the work, their power in this di-
reetion being enlarged to allow this.
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
Mr.. Winterbotham seems to be losing his
grip as a reformer.
Senator Bell yesterday again discussed the
great fraud of 1876" and it is suspected
chat he will next tackle the subject of infant
lamnation.
Itis said that the House fee and salary
committee have in course of preparation a
Ola on that subject that its main features
ere identical with the bill introduced by
Representative Moody last week.
The finance committee of the Senate last
night decided unanimously not to appro-
priate dollar for Purdue University unless
the order keeping secret-fraternity men out
Df the institution was rescinded.
The House Democrats held caucus last
night and decided to pass all the political
bills at once, notably the metropolitan police
Dill, the Brown bill, and the various other
measures recognizing the benevolent and
penal institutions
The Senate committee on elections will not
report on the Johnson Overstreet contest
until the latter part OF the week as the argu-
'tnent is not yet concluded There is little
doubt that it was part of the original Dem
ocratic plan to Dust Mr.. Overstreet but it
is row believed that this will not be done.
I'd. The House prison com mittee have returned
rom the Northern Prison, where they spent
several days last week, and they will report
the result of their observations before the
end of the week. The report will find that
:he Northern Prison is in a much better con-
ition than the Southern, but that both are
under capable management, so far as cursory
observation can determine The Committee
will also recommend that the appropriation
De made for the construction Of the proposed
sewer at Michigan city
The Senate bills introduced during the SEES
sion number 2T4, and the House bills 4l2
total bills before the General Assembly, CSC
There has also been introduced nine House
and eight Senate concurrent resolutions
Four House bills have passed the Senate and
been approved, while eighteen House bills
are still pending in the Senate. The House
has received twenty-four Senate bills, and
six of these have passed. About seventy
oils have been disposed of by indefinite
some 300 are still in the hands of committees.
100 have. not yet been reaa a second time,
and the remaining 200, or thereabouts, are
waiting third reading for passage or rejec-
ton.