The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-27
PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
The Insane Hospital Appropriations
New Metropolitan Police Bill.

The Insane Hospital Approprfations-The
New Metropolitan Police Bill.
The bill for the appropriation Of 1888 900 for
the work upon the new insane hospitals during
the next two years occupied the attention of the
Senate during nearly the whole of the session
yesterday. An amendment to the bill was pro-
posed by Senator Fowler, reducing the appropri-
alton OF $275, 600 for this yearto $4,000, and
for 1886 from 1898, 900 to $174, 1864 with the
provision that work should be continued upon
only one of the three buildings and that it
should be left to the commissioners to decide
which hospital should be completed first. Fow-
Ter is posing as the economist of the Senate and
he is very enthusiastic in his champion
ship of the proposition to abandon work
upon two of the buildings which are
now in course of construction, as a great
measure of economy. AS it would be two years.
however, before there could be anything done
toward resuming work, it is ,said with much
apparent truthfulness that the State would lose
much of what has already been expended
amounting to over $780, O00-besides it's liability
for failing to fulfill its part of the contracts
which have been entered into. There are others
in the Senate who view the matter as Fowler
does, but the majority in both branches of the
General Assembly, tits believed, are opposed to
abandoning work upon the buildings The cost
will be greater than it was supposed that it
would be, but it is believed the State cannot now
afford to drop the matter. The debate upon the
bill will be resumed in the Senate this morning
and a vote upon it will probably be reached early
in the day.
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE BILL.
Representative Butz, of Vigo, yesterday after
noon introduced a bill in the House requiring
the metropolitan police system in all cities of
over 10000 population-exactly similar to the
one introduced in theSenate last week by Senator
Schloss. If the bill becomes a law twill require
the adoption Of the metropolitan system in Fort
Wayne sTerre Haute. Lafayette, Richmond and
New Albany. Senator Schloss stated to a Jour
nal reporter yesterday that he did not introduce
the bill by request but it was wholly upon his
personal responsibility. II am sure, he said,
that it will become a law becauseI have been
assured by a majority of the members of the
Legislature that they would vote for it,
Are not the people of Fort Wayne strongly
opposed to it,"
What does it matter if they area Fort Wayne
is not the whole State. The BILLS a good one,
and it ought to become law"
"The Gazette the Democratic paper at Terre
Haute, says that the people do not want met
ropolitan system of police there?' was suggested.
Inc IaZeCJ0 is not AUTHORITY, sMr. CcnOSS
replied. st is Democratic whenever it feels
like being. but it ISM authority The only OPP
position to the metropolitan system in Terre
Haute is from the newspapers The people are
in favor of it. The City Council has already
adopted the metropolitan regulations. l intend
to push my bill Iexpect to be in the Senate
two years from now, and hope to be able to
extend the system even further"
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
The Democratic members of the House held a
caucus last night, but the purpose of itwas Of a.
nature that none of those who were present
cared to disclose. The policy of the party upon
several measures was discussed, and the pro-
posed investigation of the State Treasury came
up it is said for special consideration. Repre-.
sentative Patten declared that the party could
not afford to refuse to order an investigation,
but there was strong opposition to the measure.
Several propositions that are pending were con-
sidered, but nothing could be learned about
what action was taken