The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-06
THE PROCEEDINGS in DETAIL.
THE SENATE.

Bills.
The Senate, yesterday morning was opened
with pray CT by Representative Smith, of Tippe-
canoe
Mr. Sellers moved that Fl. B. No. 222. to abol-
ish the Office Of ditch commissioner, be placed
upon its passage.
Mr.. Weir-The present law is system of rob-
berry. Under it may start ditch scheme
and rob the people of thousands of dollars. We
need some legislation upon this question; the
people are expecting and demanding it. In one
county of this State I am told that there are
over sixty executions that have been returned
while the property assessed as benefited is not
sufficient to pay the executions. This is an in
famous law and ought to be changed
Mr.. Youche-I hope that motion will not pre-
vail. There have been bills introduced here and
reported by the committee that would do away
with the most Objectionable parts of the drain
age law.
Mr. Weir-It is evident that no bill that has
not gone through the House can originate in the
Senate and then go to the House ard pass 1t is
the duty of the Senate to take some action upon
the matter
Mr. Magee-This is going to make a radical
change in the law. The people have become
thoroughly familiar with the present law, and it
has worked satisfactorily with few exceptions
/ am opposed to this bill at this time
MIR. Weir-The people in my section have be-
come so familiar with the law that they regard it
as Infamous. 1t is from this familiarity that the
people demand n change.
Mr.. Magee-I don't know why the bill should
work one way in Cass county and another way
III LaPorte county You cant have a public
drainage law that is not arbitrary. / insist that
a bill so important as this. coming at this late
day ought not to be considered. 1t is utterly
impossible to give this bill the proper attention.
The first law that was passed in Indiana in re-
gard to drainage was in 1865, and we have
changed that until We have got the present law,
and it is the best law we have ever had
Mr.. Hilligass-The present law is eminently
satisfactory to one class of people. and that class
is the attorneys. In any county where great
deal of ditching has been done the most satisfac-
tory law is the commissioners law. A more
arbitrary law has never been placed upon the
statute books than the present one.
Mr.. Wlllard-lt seems TO me that this Legisia-
ture, in this late session. is trying to follow out
the action of the Legislature of 1881, when sew
eral bills were rushed through that were after
wards found to work unjustiy. doubt whether
there are three members on the floor of this
house who understand anything about this bill
1t changes radically tho entire drainage law of
the State We ought not to change the present
law by passing q bill we know nothing about
Mr.. Shively-1f there is any: law that is in
famous, odions and oppressive to the people it is
this Circuit Court ditch law.
THE SUPREME COURT REPORTERS EMoLUMENTs
The bill reducing the cost Of the Supreme
Court reports from So 80 TO So IS was read, with
minority report recommending that it lie on
the table
Mr.. Sellers-Ths bill provides that the State
shall issue these reports, and have all the profit
after paying all cost of publication.
Mr.. Fowler-It seems to me fair that any law
that passes should not apply to the present Re
porter of the Supreme Court. I therefore offer
of this office by any means, then this law is to
go into operation
Mr.. Macee:-You could sell these reports for
81. 90. You can get the Pennsylvania reports
for 81. % volume. 1t is entirely wrong that any
officer In the State should get the salary that the
Reporter of the Supreme Court gets. j can show
that he gets nearer 500, 600. year than $40 000
From every town in the State a petition has
come up here asking as to pass such bill as
this
Mr. McCullough-I don't believe in the theory
that we can't cut down the fees or salary of an
office during the stay of an incumbent. l think
we have the right to regulate the fees
of any officer at any time The only trouble I
find is l don't know what are the enrolments
or fees of this Office. 1t has been said
that the Supreme Court Reporter gets $40 600
This is a robbery. These committees are utter
~ unable to get the ex-Reporters or any one
else to give them any facts in regard to the cost
of the reports | believe we ought to make this
law take effect in 1887, and if the Supreme
Court Reporter sees fit he can come before the
next Legislature with facts and get the Legis-
lature to repeal the law.
Mr. Smith of Jay-Up to 1880 you could not
get any reports for anything like the price men
toned by the Senator from Cass. A company
in New York published United States reports
four volumes in one for about dollar volume
This proposed change will decrease the cmolu-
ments if that Office onc-half: and, in addition
the introduction of the Appellate Court will take
away great part of the business of the Su-
preme Court Reporter.
The substitute bill was rejected. The amend
ment OF Mr.. Fowler to his report was agreed to-
On motion the report of the committee, as
amended, was concurred in.
Mr. Hllls bill is. 800 was called up for consid-
Grafton. Mr. Hill said: This is a bill to regu.
late The county school revenue. 1t is a matter
OF great Importance, not only to every county in
the State, but also to the State Of
ncers. IL lessons the amount of liabil-
ity Of the State Treasury. If you