The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-18


for us - relieve these trustees. The might
before the suspension of the banks everyone
thought that the banks were among the
strongest. The trustees invested or placed
their money at the very place which they
thought was the safest. In the acts of 1881
We find case precisely parallel With This
n 1883 We ind another. The Constitution,
the Supreme Court and the Speaker of the
House have held the justice OF parallel cases.
Mr.. BROWNLEE: / said some time ago
that this set would be unconstitutional.
understand that IN these cases there are
judgments already rendered against some Of
them. I need not say TO YOU that the jGdg-
mems give vested rights tbas this Legisla-
fure or no other body has the right % de-
str1y or curtail. I unGerstand that there
are some o. these cases where Judgments are
not given. Here IS whore | make my point
This confirms the contract If good in one
case 10 IS good IL another The banks were
paying interest on this money deposited
there and that Is the reason that such funds
were taken there. ! do not care 20 60 home
snd by my vote say 10 he trustees OF our
county that thsy can invest the peoples
money as they plesse-in pork IN wheat
margins, OF any other avenue OF trade On
the contrary. I want them tt understand
that they and their securities must be good
for the money. do not want them to think
that they can loss the money and ths1 thai
l will 90 to the Legislature and have them
released as others have been.
MIR. GOODING: 1 did not intend 10 say
another p ord on this bill, but the OPP lsitiOa
remains persistent. II seems to have No
charity for the unfortups'e. The gen leman
who Just preceded me Mr.. B.0Wnlee) seems
to doubt the power of the Legislature to re-
lease these men. But against his oDinion is
the opinions of the highest courts of Indiana
and that OF preceding Legislatures He
finds fault with the trustees for putting this
money in banks. Would they have kept Il
st home 20 be taken by robbers? Then he
would have said that they were negligent,
that they should have placed their money
in TIE banks as business men do. The Office
OF Township Trustee is not paying one.
And il man takes it. and il the funds
should Oy accident be lost, will his neigh.
bOTs or the Legislature turn against him.
Suppose the lightning from Heaven should
destroy bis home and the funds, would you
take the trustees stock or his all for the lost
money? No one would think of that bat
the honorable gentleman who has Just pre-
coded me.
Mr.. SMITH, ef Tippecanoe: This ques-
ton OF coustitutionality can be settled in a
word. The highest courts of the country sus-
tain bankrupt laws, and bankrupt laws over
throw contracts entered into. Oar hearts,
of course, should not be our whole lives, but
We should temper our acts with mercy. Two
years ago we relieved Township Trustee
the palitics of these men; I merely inquired
into the necessities of the case and voted for
their relief. ! have investigated this case
believing that we should be humane anu
that they were faultlese shall vote for the
bill.
Mr.. CORY: From the interest manifested
by certain parties here. one would be led to
suppose that matter OF very great import
snce is TO be pa sed upon; that there will be
great less and actual suffering unless by act
OF the Legislature relief is granted. What
are the facts? Certain Trustees of Marion
County deposited money in Indianapolis
banks that failed. The most that is claimed
is that some Of them have been compelled TO
mortgage their farms 10 obtain the money to
pay these losses. Gentlemen claim that 1t
would be al act OF charity TO pass this BILL
which authorizes the levying OF g tax In
each township to reimburse the Trustee.
IN the loss TO Trustee IS s., 900,
backed by the action of the Assem-
bly, he viii place a lax on the people of
his TOWNSHIP by which they will be made
10 pay 81 800 of this loss This will De col
lectsd from many who are poor and ought 70
be free after bearing the burden OF tax that
would legidmRtely TALL upon them. IL these
men and their bondsmen are to be relieved
if the bond in their case is 10 go for naught,
then, indeed, should We dispense with the
foImaity of making bonds. 1t bonds are
not to bind, it is worse than childs play TO
require them to be made. My friend from
Hancock (Mr. Gooding) opens his big heart
and says be is willing 10 assist those in dis
tress-that his people have big hearts In
them. o, yes Extremely charita
bic and benevolent. But l notice
that his charity amounts to this:
He doesn't propose to go down into his own
pocket TO get single c0ppeT-he don't pro-
pose TO take single cent from those constit-
uents of his who have hearts in them-but
in his unbounded generosity he is willing to
compel the sboring men of Marion County
to make good the losses of these Trustees.
There is no charity in this-nothing that
looks like benevolence. The maker of the
bond should expect and does expect. to
make good the losses. The boDdsmen expect
to stand the losses, il any come. This action
would authorize csrslessness; it would au-
thorize parties throughout the State to come
here for relief. Il is unwise legislation, and
ought not to be iDdUlged in.
The bill passed by yeas 90, nays 81.
HIGHWAY DISTRACTIONS.
Mr.. Barnes bill ( a. z. 1871 in relation TO
the removal of oostructions from public
bighways was read the third time and passed
by yeas IS, nays II.
DANGEROUS TOYS
Mr.. Bars bill H r. 1877 to prohibit the
the sale of dangerous toys was read the third
time and passed by yeas 80. nays %.
Mr.. Peasants bill a. Z. 1921 TO amend
Section % of the common school law was
read the third time, bat failed to pass By
yeas 20 nays 60.
The House then adjourned.