The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-21
The GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The Senate, After a Two Hours Session,
Adjourns Until Monday Afternoon,
Although Fifty-Seven House Bills Are Pend
ing Before It-Passage of the Bill Reorgan-
i2iag the Knightstown Institution.

The Senate is making easy progress toward
the end of the special session by doing nothing.
There have not been more than forty-one mem
bers present at any time during the sessions this
week. There was no business transacted Mon
day morning and an hour or more has been lost
during nearly every morning in the week before a
sufficient nHmberof members could be got to-
gether to constitute quorum. After being in
session only little more than IAN hour and
half yesterday morning it adj curned until Mon
day afternoon, at 2 o'clock, which covers the time
Of the constitutional limit for temporary ad
~5c1rument Although nominal sessions were
held during Friday afternoon and Saturday
Of last week, there was no quorum,
and no business could be transacted.
With the loss of three more days the Senate will
have worked less than half the time during the
two weeks of the special session The reason
given for adiourning yesterday was that the
Senate has about disposed Of all of its business,
and is now waiting on the House. However, an
examination into the records shows that there
are now pending in the Senate ffty-seven House
bills that have not been disposed of, besides
more than that number of Senate bills that are
yetpending 1t is apparent, therefore, that the adj
iournment is not because there is nothing for
the Senate to do, but because it is not disposed
to do anything.
The House has wasted much time in discuss
ing unimportant propositions outside of the reg
ular order of business, and has made slow prog
ress during the week, besides having failed to
transact any business whatever on one day.
The cali of counties for the purpose Of allowing
each member to designate one bill to be disposed
Of which began a week before the regular ses-
sion ended, is now down to ST. Joseph county,
and there are yet seventeen counties to be called.
At the rate of prodress which has been made
thus far this order Of business will not be con-
eluded before the middle of next week. A propo-
sition to take up the general appropriation bill
for consideration at an evening session was twice
defeated yesterday. New bills are being in
troduced every day, and business is continually
Aaecamulating, so that, with the spirit Of indo-
lence which is manifested, there is no probability
that the special session will end until the expira
ton Of the constitutional limitation.
THE KNIGHTsTowN INSTITUTION.
The bill for the reorganization of the Soldiers
Orphans Home and the Asylum for Feeble
minded Children, located at Knightstown, was
finally enacted yesterday, the Househaving con-
curredin the Senate amendments. The bill, as
passed, provides that one of the trustees of the
institution shall be a woman, and that the SUI
perintendent may be a woman. The Governor
is empowered to appoint the trustees no two of
whom shall be selected from the same political
party. The question was raised that the woman
would probably be appointed Republican,
but the assurance was given that she should not
De selected as the representative of any party,
and the Speaker facetiously suggested that she
would probably be chosen from among tAs Belva
Lockwood party. The changes in the institu-
ton under the provisions of the act will now be
made as soon as the Governor signs the bill and
makes his appointments.
MINOR MENTION.
An amendment to the Constitution has been
proposed by Representative Kellison increasing
the number of Supreme Court judges from nve
to nine.
Senator Benz, the Democratic member from
Crawford, Harrison and Orange, declares that it
is his intention to resign. There liant anything
being done. half the members are away, and,
he says, Il amt going to stay here any longer
and help waste time"
Representative Best's concurrent resolution
proposing an amendment of the State Consti-
tuition by striking out the word white" where
it relates to the organization OF militia compar
MES, so that colored men may become members
of the State militia, was adopted in the House
yesterday.
Ex-senator Huston has introduced bill propos-
ing an amendment to the statute authorizing
county duuiJofs 70 coliec5 sehii-dnHudiiy inc
interest on school-fund loans. The existing
law provides that they may" collect the inter
est semi-annually, and Senator Illusions bill pro-
poses to make it mandatory by saying they
shall" There are instances in some counties,
it is said, where the interest has not been col
lected for twenty years.
It seems to be generally believed about the
legislative halls that James FL. Harris, of No
blesville will be the Republican member of the
board of trustees fthe Knightstown institution.
He is the caucus nominee of the Republican
members of the Legislature, and q petition ask
ing his appointment, headed with the signature
of General Manson, has been signed by all the
Republican representatives and many Demo
Gratis He was brave soldier and was under
the command of General Manson, who is
earnestly urging his appointment. 1t is said
that Governor Gray has given the friends of Mr.
Harris the assurance that he will appoint him.
THE pRACFEnINGS I'm DETAIL.