The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-26

Syracuse, in Kosciusco county, and to legal
ize the acts of the boards of trustees of said
town.
Representative Wilson's, of Kosciusko, bill
to legalize the incorporation of the town of
Silver Lake Kosciuslzo county, Indiana.
Representative Shaffer's bill for the relief
of Thomas Heagy, ex-treasurer of Madison
county, and the sureties on his bond.
Representative Jewett's bill to appropriate
$50, 900 in addition to $4,000 appropriated
last week to the sufferers by the floods on
the Ohio, Wabash and White rivers.
THE MARTIN WARRANT
The House OF Representatives has under
consideration the specific appropriation bill,
and much time has already been spent over
the item appropriating SAG, 1856 46 to pay the
warrant held by John Martin for brick-work
done on the new insane asylum. The merits
of this matter have been presented, The
question of the equity or legality of the
claim is not now before the Legislature.
That has been passed upon, and Mr.. Martin
holds the warrant of the State for the sum
named. The simple question is whether the
Legislature will pay the amount or not. The
State cannot evade the responsibility This
was held to be the law by Chief Justice Mar
shall in Fletcher VS.. Peck (6 Cranch, 1857 and
since that time down to the pres
ent moment has never been denied In
the case OF MeCauley VS., Brooks q6 Califor-
MAJ Associate Justice Field says; Upon the
State rest the same obligations to do justice
and keep faith as rest upon individuals
She cannoC be sued, it is true. and hence de-
mands against her must await the action of
the Legislature in the appropriation OF mon
eys for their payment. In that sense the
Legislature possesses the power to postpone
her general creditors indefinitely; in that
sense only can the State repudiate; but the
right and the power are not synonymous
terms. The exercise of that power would
never convert that power into a right"
viii the Legislature pay this warrant, or
will it leave it for another one to pay it with
interest.
The Legislature will adjourn sine die one
week from tomorrow.
The constitutional amendments may now
be regarded as things of the past
Will Senator Magee who is a fair-minded
and honest Democrat, vote for the metro
politan police bill?
The John Martin claim occupied the atten-
ton of the House for some time Saturday,
and surprising opposition to it was de-
veloped, although it is generally acknowl-
edged by those who have examined it that
the claim is just.
The Michigan City Dispatch says: The
result of the caucus settles the fact that Hon.
Eli w. Baker, formerly deputy warden of
the prison in this city, will be made superin-
tendent of one of the benevolent institutions,
which will be pleasant news to his many
friends in this city.
The opponents to the proposed location of
an insane ylum at Logansport have been
circulating the report that the Smithson
building, which it is proposed to buy, is en-
numbered. Mr.. @ A. Myers. a prominent
attorney of Logansport who is administrator
of the estate of Elizabeth Pollard, from
whom the property came, in a card to the
Pharos of that city, says the title is perfectly
clear to the building.
The metropolitan police bill came up in
the Senate Saturday Just before adjourn
ment, on the reports of the committees, the
majority reports recommending lis passage
and the minority its indefinite postpone
ment. There was spirited discussion of the
measure, Senator Van Vorhis being partcu-
larly forcble in his denunciation of it, but
the majority report was adopted by a vote of
% to 15-the party lines being strictly
drawn. The bill is now ready for final
vote.