The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-01
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Che Senate Finally Passes the Brown
Benevolent Institutions Bill.
Another Measure of Party. Necessity-The
House Concludes the Discussion of the
Observation-Disclosures Notes.
MEASURES OF PARTY NECESSITY.


MEASURES OF PARTY NECESSITY.
The Senate yesterday passed Senator
Browns bill for the reorganization of the
Benevolent installations, which takes the
power of appointing trustees from the Cover
nor and gives it to the Legislature. AS has
been frequently stated in the Journal. this
bill has received the off cial Endorsement of
TIRE Democratic caucus. When the bill was
called up for its final passage yes
terday, the Democrats resorted to
the gag rule to prevent the Republicans
from discussing its provisions and the bill
passed by party vote-27 to 20-with the
exception of Senator Magee, who voted his
conviction in opposing the bill. Three Re-
pubicans were absent, Messrs. Hostetter
Smith and Youche. There is little doubt
that the bill will pass the House, but there is
no certainty that it will have such easy sail
ing in the Governors Office.
In the Senate, at the afternoon session,
the Voyles bill for the reorganization OF the
House of Refuge, on the approved Demo-
cratic plan was advanced to engrossment,
with an amendment that the directors for
the first term should be Lewis II. Jordan,
L. A. Burnett and H. NJ Helms,
Senator Spann tried to get the name of
Findley Bigger, of Rush county, inserted
for that of Mr.. Helms, but the scheme
didn't work, and the Democrats supported
their caucus nominees The bill was en-
crossed by vote of 26 to d
CONCLUSION OF THE HOUSE DEBATE.
The conflict of words over the status of the
constitutional amendments was ended in the
House yesterday but vote will not be
taken until next Tuesday. The speakers
yesterday were Messrs. Best, Hanson How
land, Campbell, Henderson. Holer, Weaver,
Peters, Pettibone and McMullen.
THE BLOOMINGTON EXCURSION.
The educational committees of the House
and Senate went to Bloomington yesterday,
to inspect the State University, on special
tr,in, leaving here at 7:3O o'clock. They ar
rived about IL o'clock, and were met at the
depot by large delegation of citizens, headed
by the mayor and a special reception COM
mittec when they were taken Immediately
to the Orchard House, where lunch was
spread. Carriages in waiting conveyed them
them to the University buildings, where
they were cordially greeted and visited the
different recitation rooms, thus being given
an ample opportunity to observe the work
ings of the institution. After an
hours tour through the different de-
partments they were shown into
the chapel, where the students had collected,
andss hort speeches from the different mem
bers present were INDUCED in, all evidently
being well pleased with the result of their
observation, if what they said was an indca-
ton. At l o'clock the committee, with a
number of prominent citizens, were invited
10 dinner at the National, where dinner was
served. At O clock the special train with
the visiting statesmen returned. Among
those on the train beside the committees were
Hon. j. i. Mitchell, Superintendent Bloss
and wife, Superintendent-elec J. W. Hol-
comb, Judge d. D. Banta, George w. Cromer,
and others Thus far this has been a year
: urrexcefied in prosperity by the University
sSere being enrolled near 400 students, while
the administration of affairs was never in
better hands.
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
1t begins to look like cold winter for
John Fishback
Senator Fletcher's bill providing castration
as punishment for rape is not mandatory
in its provisions but this mode of punish
ment is optional with the court.
care you going to sign the Brown bill?"
asked Journal reporter of Governor Porter
yesterday. Il haven't signed it yet" was
the somewhat mysterious reply Of His Ex-
cellency
JACK I1OWaru Is SeLLlnH IN MS WORK again,
as the following item from Jacksonville,
will testify: THE legislative prison investi-
eating committee arrived last night, and left
immediately for Louisville, to attend the
theater."
The Establishments and seductions of city
life are too strong to be withstood by some
of the legislators from the rural districts
and one gentleman, who has been noted for
his sobriety at home, has been 'tarrying with
the enemy here until overthrown, not once,
but several times, to the great regret of his
friends"-Daily News. This is too much
to believed
Representative Chittenden will to-day in
troduce bill providing for a State In
spector of gas meters to be appointed by the
Governor at an annual salary of $4,000; and
il shall be the duty OF himself or his deputies
10 at least once a year inspect all the gas
meters to see if they are accurate. If enacted,
this will introduce a system that has worked
advantageously in other States
There is a strong lobby here in the interests
of a bill concerning the re-establishment of
county lines, the relocation of county seats,
etc. Ostensihly the bill is for Blackboard
county, but it is proposed by it to make
another dividing line between Warren and
Fountain counties, SO that the county seat
of the latter may remain at Covngton and
not be removed to Veedersburg. which is
more centrally located as the county is now
shaped.
The House committee on fees and salaries
has prepared an elaborate bill on that sub
iect, which will be introduced in a day or
two. In many respects it is similar to the
present law, 1t makes the compensation for
clerks and sheriffs, fees, almost exclusively,
while the other officers are to be paid mostly
by salaries. 1t cuts off many of the present
extortionate fees of the clerks in probate
business, but otherwise by its provisions,
these officials will remain about as hereto
fore. The bill is said to be very ingeniouslv
constructed, and when it is introduced a
closer inquiry will be made into its provis-
IONS