The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-30
THE PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
THE n

HI
Senator Magee Introduces a Bill Proposing
a State Loan of 5000, 900.
Lieutenant-gover Manson opened the ses-
sion by reciting from memory the one hundred
and thirty third Psalm.
Bills were introduced by Senators Smith Of
Jay, May, Peterson, Magee, Davis, Brown.
Schloss and Fowler.
On motion by Mr.. Sellers the committee on
phraseology was authorized to employ a clerk.
Mr.. May moved that George A. Ross be- ap-
pointed a page. Acknowledgements Manson
remarked that there were three regularly ap-
pointed pages already. He understood there
had been four and sometimes FIVE in the Senate.
The motion was agreed to-yeas %, nays 16
Pending the ~rollcall, Mr.. Overstreet, in ex-
PLANTATION, said that he did not like to obstruct
the business of the Senate, but had been in
formed that three pages did the work of the
House of Representatives, and therefore he
thought that three ought to be sufficient for the
Senate.
A 5000, coo LOAN.
Mr.. Magee, by consent, introduced q bill rs.
1856 to authorize the Governor, Treasurer and
Auditor of State to make a temporary loan of
5000, 600, to run five or ten years, at 4 per cent.
interest, redeemable at the pleasure of the State,
tShN ~ AbAAOk ~ WIZ AAAAAAS vi UbO OUCeb AOOV q y
a lower rate of interest than at present paid.
The bill being read the first time, Mr.. Magee
said: During discussion of the bin for COM
plotting the three new insane asylums this ques-
ton of making a loan was also discussed as a
collateral branch of the insane asylum compile
ton question. / understand from the State of
fcers that it is possible to make a loan at 80 per
cent. including commission and all expenses of
making the loan. This bill also authorizes the
refunding of the State debt, if it can be done, at
a lower rate of interest than at present paid. 1t
is carefully drawn, and guards the interest Of
the State in every particular. l move the con-
stitutional rule be suspended. and that the bill
be read the second time by title only.
Mr.. Fowler hope this important bill will
take the usual course, and be referred to a com
mittee.
The motion TO dispense with the constitutional
restriction was r~ejected-yeas 33, nays two
thirds not voting in the affirmative, as required
for suspension of a constitutional rule. The bill
was referred to the finance committee.
STREET L FAX.
Mr.. Rahm's bill rs. 38l to authorize a tax on
street-railway cars was read the second time,
with a favorable committee report thereon.
Mr.. Magee-The object of this bill is to raise
revenue in cities where they have exceeded the
limit of the law for taxation. The men who have
helped to build up cities should be protected by
the Legislature from paying this extraordinary
rate of taxation. This bill proposes that a tax
of $25 may be levied on each and every street-car
in addition to what the owners pay on the same
for State, county and other purposes. The State
doesn't need revenue to be raised in that way.
There has also been q bill introduced here called
the omnibus bill, which proposes to tax every
thing under heaven except the air re breathe
and the water we drink. Like one of these dew
ilfishes, it attacks everything IN sight This
species Of legislation is wrong. Last session ~
committee Of the Senate reported unanimously
against this species of legislation, and no mem
Der of the Senate raised his voice in favor of
such vicious legislation.
Mr.. Rahm-This is simply a bill to protect
cities by providing that certain corporations
shall pay a share of the burden of city taxes.
In Evansville o street railway company have a
charter which runs for forty years, and it uses
any Of the streets of that city without a cent of
damages. We tax every poor drayman who
owns a dray and herse, and in addition, they
have to pay a tax, whatever the assessment NAV
be, on their drays and horses. This bill provides
that there shall be a tax not to eceed $25 ON each
street railway car. The city councils will be
Just and fair-they may tax each ear only 81, So,
or So per annum. If senators think $25 is too
much, let the bill be amended so the tax shall
not exceed S. or $40.
Mr.. Magee-Did the senator ever know a city
council to levy a tax any less than the limita 1
understand there are three hundred saloons in
Vanderburg county taxed only $50. Would it
not be as we'll to raise the tax on saloons and
lower the tax on the poor mans dray?
Mr.. Rahm-I don't want to charge anybody
with fighting for them. But it seems like every
time it is proposed to touch corporations there is
objection because it is special legislation. There
is no reason why railway companies in Cities
should be allowed to cut up the streets in front
Of the finest property, and not pay a cent of tax
Tor that privilege. This bill does not propose
special legislation, and ought to pass.
Mr.. ThompSon-Our street railway has been
of vast benefit to this city. 1t has absolutely de-
veloped the city. The present proprietor of our
street railway has had great trouble in the past
FIVE years in keeping up his railway. He has $50
or 200 mules and 100 men employed, and / un-
derstand last year he scarcely made one end of
expenses meet the other. He has 100 cars. and
perhaps more than 100. He has attempted to
the street-car system to the wants
OF the community, so that a man can hardly GO
IN any direction to a given point and have to
walk more than a few squares. A great many
gentlemen. who used to keep carriages and bug
gies, have laid them aside as q matter OF econ
omy, and now take the street cars. / don't know
OF any greater calamity that could occur to Indi-
annapolis than that the system of street cars
should be legislated out of existence. The city
Is full of praises for Mr.. johnson, the owner Of
our street railway. He has sacrificed q great
deal of capital in order to extend street railway
facilities to the residents of our city. 1t is the
poor mans carriage.
Mr.. Campbell, of Hendricks am a member
of the committee on corporations, which re-
ported in favor of the passage of the bill, and l
want TO explain that was not present when it
was considered or | should have opposed the fa-
vorable report | am opposed to the bill on prin-
ciple.
Mr.. Wefr-There Is one reason which should
be a sufficient one why this bill should not pass.