The Indianapolis journal., 1883-03-02
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The Appropriation Bill Reconsidered,
to Force an Extra Session.
stealing Bills from the Files-A Large Num-
ber of Minor Measures Passed
Through Yesterday.
FORCING AN EXTRA SESSION.

As was surmised by the Journal yesterday
morning, the Democrats In the House recon-
sidered the vote by which the general appro-
priation bill was passed, and refused to con-
cur in the amendments recommended by the
conference committee, the evident intention
being to force an extra session, as the bill
only awaited the Governors signature to be-
come law. To secure the reconsideration
an arbitrary change in the rules was made
necessary, and at the beginning of the morn
ing session Mr.. Gibson moved to repeal the
rule which provided that motion to recon-
slider should not be made later than the day
following the passage of a bill. This was
agreed to by the party vote, and then Mr.
Hefiren moved to reconsider the vote by
which the general appropriation bill was
passed, declaring openly that this was to be
done out of revenge for the alleged unfair
ness of President Hanna of the Senate. Mr.
Gibson and other Democrats spoke bitterly
in favor OF the motion, and the leading Re-
publicans, Messrs. Huston, Shively, Frazier,
Shockney and Wright against it, the latter
declaring that if the Democrats forced an
extra session, the responsibility for it would
rest upon them alone. In the discussion
Mr. Copeland made the following pertinent
observation:
ut i'll becomes the Democratic members
on this floor to denounce Lieutenant-gover-
nor Hanna, a gallant soldier in the late war,
as brainless coward, a revolutionist and
dictator. 1t i'll becomes you, who, from the
beginning of this session, have embraced every
opportunity to thrust on the minority of this
Senate that most infamous OF all rules, the
gag law, under the leadership of a rampant,
unrepentent and unhung ex-Son of Liberty"
Mr.. Copeland was peremptorily ordered by
Speaker Bynum to take his seat, but de-
clined to do so until he was ruled out of or
der, which Mr.. Bynum was then obliged to
do and Mr. Heffren whom the shoe seemed
to fit, demanded that his words be taken
down by the clerk, which was done After
several other speeches and an Intellectual mo-
ton by Mr.. Jewett to postpone the matter,
the motion TO reconsider the vote on the
appropriation bill was agreed to, and like
action was taken on the report of the confer
ence committee, after which the latter was
laid on the table by a vote of 81 to 40,
party vote with the exception of Mr.. Jewett,
who voted with the Republicans, and thus
the matter rested.
The animus of such proceedings as are
above described is evident and if the gem
eral appropriation bill fails to become law
the blame must attach to the House Demo-
Gratis and Speaker Bynum. There
was. no reason assigned for re-
considering the VOTE except as
measure of revenge, and there was absolute
~ no JuStluCdIiOu IN lDe ACT. lneV yet nave
two days in which to send the bill to the
Governor for his signature. If this is not
done, and His Excellency declines to call a
special session. then there will be no appro-
priation for the maintenance of the educa-
tional institutions and two of the benevolent
institutions If the Democrats care to as
sumo this responsibility, they are welcome
to it.
STEALING BILLS FROM THE FILES.
Among the various disreputable practices
IN vogue in the present Legislature, that of
stealing bills, is becoming altogether too COM
mon. When the so-called Jennings county"
bill was called up for action in the Senate
yesterday it could not be found and has not
yet been found. Secretary Kelly says that
the shabby desk in which the bills are kept
was broken into Thursday night. and in all
probability this bill was stolen shen, as he
cannot account for its absence in any other
way. The mysterious disappearance of the
bill occasioned much talk in the legislative
halls yesterday and considerable bitter feel
ing was displayed. 1t was openly charged
that a well.known Democratic senator had
got away" with the bill, and he was threat
ened with dire vengeance. A more probable
suppositon, however is that it was taken by
q lobby who were indirectly interested in de-
ieating it, and who yesterday left the city
1t was rumored last night that two other
bills were missing from the Senate files, one
of which has only local application to this
city.
THE sTATE-HoUsE BILL.
The decisive vote by which the State-house
bill was made the special order for this
morning at oclock-67 to 25-was sur
prise to even the most ardent advocates of
the measure, and it is evident that it will
have very strong support There is little
rs.Ik k,~f
delay. as its opposition in the Senate is less
than that manifested by the House. 1t
should be taken up at once by the Senate, as
it is in many respects the most importa MT
bill of the session.
NOTES.
Leutenant-governor Hanna has not vet
been impeached.
The metropolitan police bill went to the
Governor yesterday morning
A vote will be taken on the johnson Over
street contest case in the Senate at o'clock
this afternoon.
The Legislature will adjourn sine die next
Monday night-at least that is the constitu-
tional limition.
The House yesterday finally passed the bill
to endow the State University after it had
,een amended so as to fix the annual tax at
ane-half of per cent
Senator llenry yesterday gave notice that
lie would, on to-day, move to reconsider the
vote on the general appropriation bill so that
the Senate might recede from its amend
ments to the bill.
Cambridge City Tribune: "Wayne county
has never been more ably and creditably
represented in the State Senate than at this
session by Senator Foulke. Notwithstand-
ing the political majority of that body was
Democratic, he won the respect of all parties
oy his honor and his industry. He was
always at his post of duty, and ready for
every emergency"
Senator CampbelPs convict labor bill yes
terday passed the Senate. 1t provides for
thorough system by which to put the con-
tracts for convict labor in the most open
competition, the object being to have the
convicts bring the highest price in the mar