The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-23
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
A Question Suggested by Senator YOuche
Leads to an Important Discovery.
Over 100000 Unlawfully Appropriated from
the School Fund and the Financial Com
plications 1t Involves-Notes.

The question suggested by Senator Youche
regarding the eonstitutionality of the PROPOSE
ton to appropriate $25, 900 annually from the
school fund for the benefit of the State Normal
School at Terre Haute proves to be of extra
ordinary Importance After carefully consider
ing the question the Senate judiciary committee
unanimously came to the conclusion that
1t would be contrary to the Constitution to
IN any way divert the school fund from the sole
purpose for which it was created, and that in
consequence, the appropriation to the Normal
School could not be lawfully made in the man
ner proposed. The discovery which the ques-
4ion involves entails the unlawful appropriation
of upwards of 800, 900 made by previous legs-
satures, and, in consequence, the matter is OF
more than passing Importance The
adjustment of the difficulties and com
plications which involved in the
question are likely to give considerable trouble
Since the Normal School was instituted eight
years ago. the appropriations for its maintenance
hsve been made from the school fund; and as
Che amount has been from $4,000 to $4,000 a
scar, it will aggregate something over 800, 600.
The discovery that this money has been unlaw-
fully used makes it necessary for the Legisla-
ture to reimburse the school fund, which will
doubtless be done by an appropriation from the
general fund. Senator Schloss has introduced
bill which also provides for an APP
$50, 900 for the expenses of the Normal School
during the next two years. and for the reim-
bursement of w. r. McKeen, Who in the alb
sence of an appropriation by the last General
Assembly, furnished the money which was
needed to maintain the institution during 1884.
The discovery which Senator Youche's question
has brought about will, therefore, probably
necessitate adding to the general fund an extra.
ordinary and uncontemplated expenditure of
about $3.50 000 This will inevitably entail the
further necessity of another temporary loan,
or greater increase of the proposed special
tax levy, the extraordinary appropriations
which have already been made aggregate sum
IN excess of the available amount of the general
fund 1t seems altogether likely, from present
indications that the next General Assembly of
Indiana will find the finances of the State be-
wilderngy complicated in consequence of the
absorbing attention which has been by the last
Democratic legislatures to political knavery, to
the exclusion of legislation in the interests OF the
people.
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
The appellate court bill has been made a
special order for consideration in the House to-
morrow afternoon.
The union depot bill will be reported favora-
bly, by the House judiciary committee which
has it under consideration.
A motion to make the metropolitan police bill
q special order for tomorrow evening was de-
feated in the House Saturday afternoon.
The bill of Representative Schley, to place the
fire department under the regulations Of the
metropolitan system, will be reported upon
adversely by the judiciary committee
The Senate adjourned at noon on Saturday
sin consideration of the fact that Friday was
the Birthday of Lieutenantgovernor Manson,
and Sunday was the anniversary of the birth of
George Washington"
The House judiciary committee in its report
on the bill authorizing the city to build hall
and market-hou on the East market square,
gives the opinion that ''the city is tho absolute
cwner of the Tomlinson fund, and possesses the
right to use it for general purposes"
Speaker Jewett has given notice to the mem
bers of the House that hereafter no leave of alb
sence will be given except upon majority vote.
1t has been the practice thus far during the
session to grant any member leave of absense
by consent, if no objection is made. and in con-
sequence there has hardly been day during
the session that there has not been a dozen or
more absent.