The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-06
TIE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The House Endorses the Bill for an
Insane Asylum at Evansville.
The Appellate Court BILL Important New
Propositions Introduced, and the Leg
islative Record in Detail.
EVANSVILLE ON TOP.

EVANSVILLE ON TOP.
The House yesterday morning spent con-
siderable time in the discussion of Mr..
Epann's bill providing for the location and
erection of an additional insane asylum at
Evansville upon which a favorable report
had been made by the committee on rights
and privileges. Mr.. Williams, of Knox
county. moved as an amendment to the bill
that Vincennes be fixed as the location of
the new institution instead of Evansville
but to this proposition vigorous OBJ
lection was made by Mr.. Jewett and
others who claimed that the scheme
had originated with Evansville, the bill had
been drawn up in its behalf and it was
therefore manifestly unfair for Vincennes or
any other city to take advantage of an
amendment in the way proposed. This
rather offended Mr.. Williams who demanded
formal vote, which revealed the fact that
there was no quorum present. A call OF the
House was ordered and siXty-seven. an exact
quorum, responded, and Mr.. Willams's
amendment was laid on the table with much
yigor by a vote of Sc to IL. A similar propo-
sition in behalf of Indianapolis, was as sum-
marily disposed Of and then the original bill
was ordered engrossed
Senator Willard is looming up as an anti
monopolst and yesterday, in the Senate, he
introduced four bills on the subject of anti
railroad legislation, which constitute the
strongest attack so far made in this direction
His bills include the repeal of the ticket
soalpng act, the repeal of the act allowing
counties and townships to vote aid to rail-
roads; an amendment of the taxation act so
that railroad track shall be returned for tax
alton purposes at not less than the construc-
ton price, and at a minimum of $4,000 per
mile and an act to make all roads not Sc
liable n n
killed thereon in a sum of from three to five
times the value of the animal killed, the
Prosecuting Attorney to bring suit in the
name of the State on the relation of the
owner and the finding of stock dead on the
track to be presumptive proof that they
were killed by the railroad company. This
law, if passed, would force every railroad
com pany in the State to fence its road.
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS LAST NIGHT.
The Democrats had a caucus last night to
consider the metropolitan police bill and after
it and been variously amended it was unan-
imousy agreed to support its passage. The
principal amendments were as follows: The
provisions of the bill are to apply to cities
of 10000 inhabitants and over This will ex-
clude Fort Wayne, Terre Haute and Laffy-
cite, which it was previously intended to in
clude and affect only indianapolis and Evans
vile. An amendment will be added except
ing the last named city from its provision if
the senator and representative from that
district desire it. Another amendment was
made that the police commissioners should
be divided politically, two Democrats and
one Republican, and that the appointments
of all officers under the superintendent
should be divided equally between the two
political parties. The office of City Marshall
is to be abolished, and the fees hitherto
drawn by him are to go the secretary of the
commissioners. AS thus amended the DEM
ocrats, with few exceptions, will vote for
the bill
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
Thus far there have been 1863 bills intro
duced in the House and PIG in the Sena a
total of $40.
The State house investigating committee
held brief session last night, and Commits
sioner Wilson was examined at some length.
and as one member expressed it managed
to tell nothing that we cared to know The
Investigation will be continued every night
this week
Mr.. Holer, of st. Joseph county, yester-
day Introduced a bill to repeal section 3, 261
of the Revised Statutes which exempts from
city taxation all undivided tracts of land of
five acres and upward within the corporate
limits of a city or town. The bill prom
ises TO meet with an active support.
Senator Fletcher yesterday presented
memorial from ], c. Ferguson offering to
sell to the State for a Governors mansion his
elegant residence at the corner of Meridian
and Michigan streets for $4,000 although it
originally cost him 800 600 The communi-
cation was referred to a special committee
consisting of Senators Fletcher, Magee,
Bnndy, Indy and Brown.
Messrs. Hustn and Frazee of the House
prison committee, somewhat emphaticaly
enter protest against the published state
ment that all of the committee were enter
tanned by Warden Howard. and did little or
nothing but take in" Louisville during their
recent trip. The gentlemen referred TO
stopped at hotel and paid their own bills,
and furthermore did all the investigating
possible under the circumstances.
The House spent considerable time yester-
day afternoon in considering the general APP
nropriation bill and a very evident DISPOSE
ton was manifested to cut off Purdue Uni
versity with almost the traditional shilling
The bill recommends 50, 900, but efforts were
made to increase this to various amounts,
however were defeated. No definite conclu-
sion was reached, as the House adjourned
pending discussion.
The House judiciary committee has re-
ported an appellate court bill. which pro-
vides that appeals by the defendant in cases
of felony by the State in criminal courts. APP
peals from superior courts having a general
term, and in all cases involving the title OF
real estate on the construction of a statute
shall go directly to the Supreme Court. but
all other appeals to go to the Appellate
Court. The bill further provides that the
Governor shall appoint three Democrats and
two Republicans as judges until the next
election.