The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-23
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The Debate on Senator Foulke's Bill
for q Constitutional Convention.
The Democrats i'm the House Refuse to In
Vestigate Treasurer Cooper, but Order
an Investigation Of Gov. Porter.

The discussion of Senator Foulke's bill pro-
viding for the calling of a convention to prepare
new State Constitution occupied nearly the
whole of the days session in the Senate, yester-
day, and the debate will doubtless be resumed
this morning 1t is evident from the tendency
of the expression of the Democratic leaders in
the Senate, that there is no hope'or probability
of the bill passing that body. 1t is claimed that
it is not in harmony with the Democratic State
platform. However. four years ago a similar
bill was introduced in the Senate, by ia
son B. Brown and all the Democratic
members, with the exception of one
voted for it. The constitutional convention bill
of Representative Deem has not been reported
upon in the House, but when it does come up it
will doubtless be summarily disposed of under
the arbitrary rule of caucus dictation.
THE TREASURY INVESTIGATION.
The Democratic members of the Legislature
will probably find that, as a partisan movement,
the resolution adopted in the House yesterday,
ordering an investigation of the official affairs Of
Governor Porter and particularly in relation to
his suggestions regarding the necessity of an ex-
Animation into the general condition of the State
Treasury, is kind of boomerang. There
was never man in public life whose
official acts were more inyunerable than are
those Of Governor Porter An investigating
committee will not find it necessary to stir itself
much to find sufficient information to warrant
an investigation of the Treasurers affairs and
the uncalled-for action of yesterday will leave
the Democrats In a still more embarrassing
position, in having refused to order the investi-
CATION which is needed and demanded, instead
of ordering one for which there has been no
public demand. When the resolution providing
for an investigation of Governor Por-
ter's affairs was substituted by the Dem
ocratic majority for the original proposition to
Investigate the Treasurer's Office the majority
of the Republicans voted for it, with the Demo
Gratis, the ballot standing Y to IL. but when Mr..
Adams afterward proposed substitute for the
Senate concurrent resolution, ordering an in
vestigation of the Treasurer also, the Democratic
members voted solidly against it, with the ex-
tion of Mr.. Patten, of Sullivan. Nothing could
have been more inconsistent. The evident dread
of an exposure Of the real condition of the
Treasury is a strong confirmation of the sus-
picion that some disclosures of questionable
character ght result from a thorough investi-
CATION Mr. Cooper was an observer of the pro-
ceedings yesterday, but he authorized no one to
state that he desired an investigation.
THE UNION RAILWAY
Among the bills of local Importance which
will be introduced soon is one specially in the
interest of the Union Railway Company, which
embodies the legislation that is necessary, it is
claimed to enable the company to build the pro-
posed new Union Depot The bill gives to the
company the power Ito take conveyances and
releases in fee simple or otherwise, of rights
Of way, and of such real estate as it may deem
necessary for the purposes aforesaid, and may
condemn in fee simple or otherwise, so much
real estate and such rights of way as it may
deem necessary for the purposes afore
said any of them" It is
known among railroad men as 'the Malott bill"
because it has been prepared by Mr. Malott and
others interested in the building Of the Union
Depot. 1t gives to the company the requisite
authority for the issuing of bonds and explicitly
defines the powers, duties and liabilities of the
Union corporation and the proprietary compa
MES The bin will be introduced in the Senate
soon.