The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-13
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The Bills that We're Passed on the Last
Legislative Day.
The States Creditors Again Bilked by the
Defeat ofthe Specific Appropriation Bill
A Resume Of Saturdays Proceedings.

The indecorous and unseemly conduct of the
members of the Legislature during the closing
proceedings on he last legislative day, ending in
the Senate by the presiding officer declaring an
adjournment without vote, because he could
not enforce order, was fitting climax to a bad
record Although there was much disorder and
confusion in the House during
THE LAST DAYS LEGI STATION.
there WERE in all. sixteen bills finally passed on
the night session).t was not allowed to interrupt
the proceedings; and while there is little to be
praised, it is something to the credit OF the
House, in comparing the results of the work by
the two bodies, that it succeeded in dsposing Of
all the bills before it which had reached the
threshold of enactment. The unkind feeling
between the two bodies made this achievement
an object on the part of the
House. and it is facilitating itself over
having succeeded, as the Speaker re-
marked, in getting the Senate in the hole
the last daylight by the Senate and eight by
the Housewife the latter also defeated eleven.
The telephone bill ard the Martin claim occu-
pied all bat three hours Of the time that the
Senate was in session. The telephone bill was
finally passed, and will doubtless become law;
but it is believed by many good lawyers that the
Supreme Court will decide it unconstitutional,
because it restricts the proprietary rights upon
patented invention. The act provides that the
rental of telephones shall be limited to SO per
month, and where any one person or company
uses more than one instrument, the charge shall
not be more than 81 80 for each. The claim of
rfi for pf of briel 1.-Two on
the Insane Hospital, has been before the Gen
eral Assembly at every session since 1881.
There a strong fight both for and
against the bill authorizing the payment of the
gated the matter, being divided on the question
of its merits. The bill, however, was finally
passed, by vote of % ito 10. A measure of
general Importance, which was rushed through
at the night session, was the bill allowing
county treasurers per cent of their delinquent
tax collections. The bill which extends me-
chanics' liens to bridges and railroads. intended
for the benefit of the laborers who construct
them, was finally passed. A bill of some
Importance, which was enacted, was the one
introduced by Representative Jameson, author
iZing the acceptance of surety companies on
official bonds, which will release trustees, ad-
ministrators guardians and others from the
necessity of securing freehold bondsmen.
Among the other more important bills
that were passed was Senator Ensley's, providing
for the enrolment of surviving soldiers of the
late war; and Senator Wers, exempting State
officers and prosecuting attorneys from liability
for costs in suits brought in the interest of the
State. Senator Campbells bill providing that
persons having claims against the State may
bring suit in the Superior Courts was defeated in
the House. and creditors will have to continue
depending upon the Legislature for their pay.
THE STATES CREDITORS.
The defeat of the specific appropriation bill by
the Senate again leaves number of the States
creditors unpaid, and without any prospect of
receiving their money within at least two years
longer Many of the claims which were included
in the proposed appropriations have been before
the Legislature since 1879. when the last specific
bill was passed, and number of them are small
debts, of from $40 to 5000, due mechanics for
work done for the, State There were
sums, and the majority of them were
reported upon by the committees which in
quired into their merits as just Among others
was an item for the payment of So 600 to Marion
county for the of the courthouse by the
General Assembly during 1883 and 1885, The
defeat of the bill virtually makes the State a
'dead-beat," and proves the truthfulness of
Senator Magees remark, that Indiana cannot be
trusted for ten cents
Senator Willard, in commenting on the efforts
to defeat the measure, said that the LegIsla-
lures refusal to pay the States honest debts had
become disgrace
IMPORTANT IF TRUE.
An hour of the afternoon session of the House
on Saturday was occupied with personal ex-
plantations, and some very harsh things were
said about unmentioned persons. Colonel Tay
lor, the representative from Daviess, read an
article from an obscure paper regarding his
course relative TO the bill prohibiting the en-
ployment of children. He said that the infor-
nation upon which the article had been written
had been furnished by a member of the House,
for a.malicious purpose, and he denounced the
suspected member as ''sneaking scoundrel a
poltroon and a coward" He stated that he was
not opposed to the principle of the child labor
bill. but he desired that it should be referred to
committee in order that essential amendments
might be made. He said that he
had been friend to the laboring
element wherever they had needed his
friendship 1t is understood that the represen-
tative TO whom he alluded is from county in
the Second district. who intends to oppose Col.
Tayior's candidacy for the Democratic nomina
ton for Congress. Representative Gordon arose
TO question of privilege, upon a similar provo
cation and denounced the same unmentioned, but
despised, member in language equally AS strong
as that used by Colonel Taylor.
Representative Helms also claimed the floor
for a question of privilege, and answered an
abusive article which had appeared in Franklin
paper, published by NJ Il. Slater, whose claim
for 81 254 on account of the destruction of his
printing office by Union soldiers was opposed by
Mr. Helms last week. In concluding few feic-
itous remarks, Mr.. Helms alluded to Mr.. Slater
as "a rebel, a liar and a coward"
MINOR MENTION.
As there can be no legislation to-day, it is in
timated that the Senate will devote the last hour
Of the session to expressing its opinion of the
House. and the House viii probably have some
thing to say about the Senate, but there will be
no exchange Of compliments.
The bill Introduced by Senator Hilligass
which was PASSED on Saturday, providing for
the publication 5iennally of the official reports
from the officers of the benevolent institutions
and authorizing the Bureau of Printing to elimi-
nate unimportant matter, will save annual
expenditure, it is estimated, Of about $1,000