The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-20
Afternoon session,

MIR. Schloss's metropolitan police bill is. 175I
came up as special order on the second read
ing, with a committee report favoring an amend
ment making it applicable to cities Of 1900 in
stead of 10000, and a minority report recon-
mending that the bill lie on the table.
Mr.. johnson of Tippecanoe spoke in favor of
the bill. Had it not been introduced he would
have proposed such a measure. At his Sugges-
ton the amendment was now proposed.
Mr. Foulke--A good deal has been said about
this being civil sc ryice reform measure. am
ardently in favor of civilservice reform in every
case; if it is good thing for policeman, it
ought to be good thing for fireman. I am
opposed to the metropolitan police bill. because
it violates the principles that all cities and COM
munities should manage their affairs in their
own way, to determine whether or not each city
desires to leave its police system in the hands
of its council, which costs nothing, or to
police commissioners, who will cost $4,000 Or
81. 600 or more per annnm. To say they shall
necessarily have board Of police commission
ers that they do not want, and that a majority
of the people are opposed to- is thing do not
believe we have right to force upon them. In
Richmond there is only one dissenting voice
against 8. 600 who say they do not want such a
metropolitan police BILL The principle is
wrong.
Mr. Smith of Jay moved to amend by appro
pirate inserting the words LESS than %, 600 in
the first section"
Mr.. Null made an Intellectual motion-yeas 49,
nays 22-to substitute the minority for the ma
jority report.
Mr.. Winter moved to amend the majority re-
port by substituting the board of alderman and
| common council of said city" instead of ''the
Governor, Secretary and Auditor of State, in
the provision for the appointment of the COM
missioners and providing for the election of said
commissioners by the aldermen and council. and
fixing the number of inhabitants at $4,000 to
which the bill shall apply. He said: II concur
in the statement that the people OF every locali-
ty should decide for themselves what is best for
/ 81 70 ho
metropolitan police bill being extended to a
single city in its present form. My amendment
only applies to the two cities now provided with
a metropolitan police system. Under my
amendment the minority in the common council
can designate their representation on the police
board.
Mr.. Marshall-I think the amendment is fair
and just, and hope it will be adopted. Talk
about taking the rights of the people away.
When the colored people were knocking for ad-
mission Democratic Senate broke quorum
and went home in order to defeat a measure to
enfranchise them. I would as soon expect to
find reform in the Democratic party as to find an
iceberg in Florida or an orange blossom in Ice
land.
Mr.. Sellers moved substitute for the amend
ment by,inserting land less than 26 500 in all
cities having population Of over 29,000" and
demanded the previous question. The Senate
refused to second the demand.
Mr.. Hiligass-I have peculiar ideas upon the
organization of the police force | believe the
State should make 1t creature of law. But
see disposition to exclude some cities and in
clude others. This proposition does not meet
my appreciation. l am not in favor of either
amendment, but would prefer the one offered by
the senator from Marion Mr. Winters) l move
to indefinitely postpone the bill.
This motion was agreed to by yeas 80. nays IA.
Mr.. Brown moved to reconsider the vote and
lay that motion on the table, which was agreed
to.
THE KNIGETsTowN INSTITUTION.
Mr.. Smith of Jennings returned the bill fci
the reorganization of the Knightstown institu-
tion with amendments, providing that the board
of trustees shall consist of four persons one Of
whom shall be woman, and one shall belong to
the two parties casting the highest number of
votes.
Mr.. Foulke explained the other amendments,
stating that the pay shall be $500 for each of the
trustees, with four years term; that the super
intendent may be removed by the trustees and
his compensation is fixed at 81 500; that the
sound-minded soldiers orphans are to be kept
separate from the feebe-minded; that the ap.
pointmentS Of trustees are to be made by the Gov
ernor, without confirmation by the Legislature.
On motion by Mr.. Weir the report of the COM
mittee was concurred in.
Mr.. McClure-l cannot see why there is so
much hurry about this bill. would like to see
the connection of these amendments with the
| original bill. 1t becomes us to act slowly and
with judgment on this matter
Mr.. Marshall--Fhe House has spent consider
able time on this bill and think we should give
the House lesson on this matter. Without re-
fiecting on the House, this bill should have been
passed long ago. and we ought not to delay an
hour IN placing this matter in the hands of the
Governor and allowing him to appoint trustees
to go down there and wipe out the disgrace
On motion by Mr. Weir the constitutional
rule was dispensed with and the bill was read
the second time.
Mr. Faulkner demanded the previous question
The Senate seconded the demand and under it's
operations the committee amendments were con-
Cured in The bin was then read the third
time and passed, rs amended, by yeas 40 nays O.
The House bill aprropriating 100000 for the
expenses of the special session of the General
Assembly was read and referrsd to the finance
committee.
THE HOUSE.