The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-04
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The House Finally Engrosses the Gen.
eral Appropriation Bill,
The Democratic Caucus Dictates the Majority
Report of the Treasury Investigating
Commttee--0ther Investigations.

A portion of the General Assembly was away
visiting yesterday, and. consequently, no bust
ness requiring anal action was transacted The
day. in both branches, was occupied almost
wholly with the second reading of bills, and re-
ceiving committee reports.
THE APPROPRIATION BILL ENGRossED.
The general appropriation bill came up for
further consideration in the House, yesterday
morning and the value of $500 was wasted in
trivial and unfruitful discussion the item of
800 for the State Horticultural Society, which
was again opposed by several of the Democratic
representatives motion to reconsider the
vote on its adoption, when added to the bill
as an amendment failed by nays 81 and yeas %.
The opposition to the horticultural appropriation
of 5000 has cost the State more than double the
amount. and when the bill comes up on third
reading for final action it will probably be made
even more costly.
An amendment to the bill proposed by Mr..
Fleece was adopted, providing for the appropria-
ton of 50 900 for the purpose OF erecting tablets
20 the memory of the Seventh, Fourteenth,
Nineteenth, Twentieth and Twenty seventh In
diana Regiments, and the Third Indiana Cav
airy marking the positions occupied by the
troops of the State on the Gettysburg battle
field The money is to be expended under the
direction Of the Governor Lieutenant governor,
Adiutant general and five members Of the regi-
rnents The bill, with the amendments men
toned, was engrossed
INVESTIGATING THE INSANE AsYLUMs.
The investigating business has become prom
inent feature of the session, but thus far there
has been ''little work behind the sign" The
Moody resolution providing for an investigation
of the condition of the affairs of the new insane
hospital buildings, in course of construction,
was reported to the House yesterday by the com
mittee on public expenditures, with a
recommendation that it should pass.
The resolution was amended, giving
Che committee authority to send for
persons and papers, and it was then adopted.
The object of the investigation is to learn the
necessity for the appropriation of 5000, 600,
which passed the House. ard whether or not
work upon any of the three buildings may be
abandoned 4 special committee of FIVE was APP
pointed, of which Mr.. Moody is chairman to con-
duct the Investigation 1t Is doubtful, however,
If the Senate will concur in the resolution, after
having passed the bill making the appropriation.
THE KEIGHTsTowN INVESTIGATION.
meeting of the committee for the investiga-
ton of the abuses in the management Of the
Soldiers Orphans Home, was held yesterday
afternoon, and it was decided to go to Knights
town this evening, where the institution is 10
Gated, to begin work. No testimony will be
taken until after the preliminary work of form
ally preferring charges against the persons
TO whose conduct the investigation will
relate, and learning the of the
witnesses who are to be examined The testi
mony will all, so far as practicable, be taken in
indianapolis, and only those directly concerned
will besides newspaper representatives, be per
mitted to be present during the investigation.
1t is already evident that there will be some
al h6ffl
mony will no doubt be unfit for publication.
THE SHAM TREASURY INVESTIGATION. :
The committee appointed for the purpose of
fnquiring into the condition Of the State Treas
ury and reporting to the General Assembly
whether or not an investigation is necessary,
met at the Bates House last evening. The pro-
eeedings of the meeting were strictly according
to programme The Democratic members of
the committee submitted the report which
they had prepared and agreed upon,
and when the minority demurred to it..
the chairman stated very frankly that it would
make little difference; that they were irrevoca-
BILE in their position, and that they were simply
complying with the orders of the Democratic
caucus Their report. which reads very. much
as if it had been prepared subject to the ap-
prevail of John j. Cooper, states that the funds
of the State are secure; that the money or its
equivalent, is all in the Treasury with the ex-
ception of about 81 600 in county orders, con
eerning which little is known; that there
is not sufficient time left for an investigation,
and, therefore, it is recommended that there
should be none. minority report will be pre-
scented by the Republican members of the com
1nittee, which will recommend an investigation
and give reasons why there should be one 1t is
quite probable that the reports will be presented
80 the General Assembly this morning. and there
Is likely to oe some comment of Contemporaries
Gus interest upon the question Of investigating
THE SAFE KEEPING OF FUNDS
A bin Of more than ordinary Importance was
introduced in the Senate yesterday by Senator
Brown. 1t proposes to establish State and
county boards of finance. The bill provides
that (1l the Governor, Auditor of State and
Attorney general shall constitute the State
Board; ~ within ten days after the bill is
enacted the State Board shall designate bank
where the finds of the State shall be deposited
(3y the bank shall be required to give a
bond, with acceptable sureties. for the safekeep-
ing Of the money; 4) The Treasurer shall de
post all funds in the bank designated as the
State depository. The same regulations apply
TO The county boards. and the county funds II
is provided tha5 all interest accruing upon de-
posts shall be accounted for as part of the
original fund.
Minor Mention.