The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-01
CORRIDOR COMMENTS.
The Uninteresting Subject of Ditch Legisla-
tion-A New Militia Bill.


The Uninteresting Subject of Ditch Legis1a-
tion-A New Militia Bill.
Nearly the whole of the afternoon was devoted
by the Senate yesterday, to discussing the ditch
bill, which is measure more important than in
teregting. It makes several changes in the pres
emit law Among its more important features, it
allows two thirds of the property owners inter-
ested in any proposed ditch to prevent its being
made by joining in "a remonstrance, and ten days
time is allowed for filing the remonstrance. The
property-owner is given the privilege Of doing
the work for which he is assessed at the rate Of
the lowest bid. The cost of the work, it is
claimed, will be greatly reduced under the provis
ions Of the bill. The drainage commissioners
are allowed only So per day for the time actually
employed The bill was finally passed. and only
awaits the signature of the Governor to become
a law, as it contains an emergency clause.
The Weir bill, now pending in the Senate,
which proposes to allow any person to hunt on un-
inelosed lands without obtaining the permls-
sion Of the owner, win make the Kankakee
swamp region, much of which is now owned by
shooting clubs, free hunting grounds. The tres
pass law is now enforced against Sonsper who
venture to do any shooting the grounds of
these cubs, and it is said that frequently sports
men from northern Indiana towns are arrested
Cor stepping over the lines which incloSe the
land held exclusively for the amusement of
Chicago Detroit and other shooting clubs.
The House, it is said, ''has it in" for Senator
Foulke, who, in the course of a speech, few
days ago, made some unfavorable remark about
the slow manner in which the House is proceed
ing In spirit Of revenge one of his bills was
defeated by the House last week, and a COM
pact has now been formed for the purpose of
killing any measure that bears the name of
Foulke. Inasmuch as the senator from Wayne
now has no bill pending it is hardly likely that
Ehe House can do much mischief in trying to
CRAFTY petty personal spite
The bill prohibiting base ball playing on SUM-
euasy is still missing, and the employees of the
sGsenate and House are accusing each other of be-
ing responsible for its disappearance. The SEN
ate clerks solemnly swear-and they are willing
to swear in all kinds of languages-that the bill
was properly transmitted to the House, while
the lower end employees vigorously protest that
they have never received it. In the meantime
the investigating committee has found nothing
TO report upon, and the disappearance of the bill
IL called mystery.
Senator Hilligass introduced new militia
bill yesterday. 1t provides that the active
militia organizations of the State shall not con-
sist of more than forty-eight companies of in
fantry and five batteries of artillery. 1t fixes
the salary of the Acknowledgment at 81, 500
year and gives county commissioners the
authority to provide armories for local militia
companies It appr0priates $40 900 year for
.
n military service shall be allowed $12. The bill
brief and simple and has none of the objec-
nable features which embodied in the
,asure vetoed by Governor Gray. 1t was en-
ossed yesterday by the Senate and it is be-
wed that it will be enacted.
Senator Eli Brown, the member from Allen
I'D Whitley, was an applicant for revenue col
ector in the Kokomo district, and confidently
expected to receive the appointments He met
: John Kern, one of Oscar Hendersons warmest
supporters. in the Bates House, Monday after
noon, and accosted him with the remark: II
want to say to you sir that your fight has only
begun meaning the contest for the collectorship
appointment. It was hardly FIVE minutes after
wards that Mr. Brown read the bulletin an
pouncing Hendersons appointment, and anyone
who could nave seen him as he walked up to the
Senate chamber would not have suspected that
his name was Eli.
The ladies of the Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union yesterday afternoon presented Sena-
tor Fouke with basketful of beautiful flow
ers, as an expression of their grateful apprecia
ton of his efforts to secure the passage of the
bill providing for the teaching of temperance
Aygiene. Representative Staley was also the
recipient of presentation of flowers from the
same sourcA