Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-12
Of Doubtful Validity.
The Political Enactments OF the
Indiana Solons.
AN ERROR DISCOVERED TOO LATE

Much NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. work or the
LegisIature-High License Bill Passed
The Insane Asylum Inquiry-Unusual
Agreement of Legislative Committee
The Fight for Control of Indianapolis
Illinois Assembly.
INDIANAPOLIS, March l2.-The last day of
the present session of the general assembly
was characterized by an interesting fight in
the senate between the advocates and the OPP
ponents of high license. Though the consti-
| tuition provides that no bills shall be present
ed to the governor for two days before the
legislature expires by Limitation of law, it
has been held that this is provision made to
protect tue executive in the exercise of his
| veto power, and he could waive it if he so de-
sired. On Saturday an effort was made to
get the high license bill considered in the
senate, and though a majority favored it,
the necessary two-thirds could not be OBJ
tanned, and the bill could not be taken
up out of the order When this became known
the governor notified the friends of the
measure that he would waive his constitu-
tional privilege and sign the bill if 1t were
passed yesterday. Early yesterday morning
1T was called up and an attempt made to pass
it. Several attempts were made to adjourn
Dilatory motions followed, but enough DEM
ocrats voted with the Republicans to prevent
any other business from being considered,
and the high license measure was finally
passed by vote of 81 TO 20. Later in the
day the governor signed the bill, and it is a
law. II permits town and city boards to
charge license fee of $3.50 the former law
limiting the charge to SlQ0 All of the ap-
preparation bills and the loan bill were
signed by the governor yesterday, and at
o'clock last evening the senate adjourned sine
die
Late Saturday night the senate passed bills
for the taxation of the telegraph and tele-
phone companies operating in the state and
sent them to the house. Somehow the tele-
phone bin did not reach the house, which
was ready to pass it under a suspension of
the rules
After adjournment the astonishing infor-
nation was permitted to leak out that all the
bills vetoed by the governor and repassed by
the Democratic majority were in such shape
that they are bound to fail The constitu-
ton requires that all bills and Joint resolu-
tions passed by the legislature shall bear the
signatures of the speaker of the house and
president of the senate. These bills when
first presented to the governor were duly au-
thentlcated as prescribed by the constitution
but after being vetoed and repassed they
were simply signed by the clerk of the house
and secretary of the senate, and in this form
deposited with the secretary of state instead
OF going through the hands of the gov
ernor, as the statutes require. 1t is main
tanned by opponents of the vetoed legislation
that these are fatal defects and that all the
m assures among which are the law creating
l.,a 1rP liz, al
city of indianapolis. fire and police boards
for Indianapolis and Evansville, the bill de-
priving the governor of his appointing
power, etc, ace null and void. n
The joint committee of the two branches of
the legislature appointed to investigate the
affairs Of the insane hospital made a report
yesterday severely condemntng the manage
ment. The committee was composed equally
of Democrats and Republicans and for the
first time unanimous report was submitted
A defalcation OF s., GOO was discovered and
the committee recommends that Treasurer
Gapen be proceeded against for embezzle-
ment deficiency of 81, 964, bills allowed
and unpaid, Is found. The removal of Store
keeper Hall is recommended on account
OF bis ineftclency. Superintendent
Galbraith it is alleged has shown himself not
TO be qualified TO discharge the duties of his
position. Large sums of hospital money
were loaned monthly by Treasurer Gapen to
John E. Sullivan without security and in
violation of law, while persons holding checks
were compelled TO await payment Other
irregularities were discovered. The report
was approved and spread upon the records
of the two houses, and 5000 copies of it were
ordered printed for distribution.
The police and fire commissioners selected
by the legislature for Indianapolis met yes
terday morning and filed their bonds They
held commissions signed by the speaker of
the house and the secretary of the senate.
the governor having declined to commission
them. After formally organizing they Sc
lected a secretary, and Capt. Colbert of the
present force, as superintendent OF police
Colbert appeared at poles headquarters last
night and demanded that Superintendent
Travis surrender to him the control of the DO
lice officers, but the latter declined Colbert
then read a list of officers appointed by
the new board, who were instructed to ap-
pear at the court house to-day and be sworn
in. The list of appointments of the new
board includes number Of officers now on
the force. Whether they will report, as or
dered by the new board, is doubtful
The new commissioners also selected new
fire chief, but for some reason failed to make
a demand for possession.