The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-03-20
ANOTHER DISCOVERY
Secy. Griffin Again Takes n Whack Mt tn
Constitution.

Constitution.
Secy. Griffin is still making constitutional
discoveries. If he keeps on he will soon rank
with such eminent constitutional lawyers as
Freeman Kelley. His latest discovery is that
two concurrent resolutions are uneonstitu-
tional, because they were not signed by the
presiding officers of the two houses. These
resolutions call for a reduction to $1.75
in the price of supreme court re-
ports, and Tor an accounting by
the Evansville & Terre Haute railroad.
Mr.. Griffin did not find that the resolutions
had not been adopted, but that the enrolled
resolutions had not been signed by the presid-
ing officers, and quotes art 4, 121 OF the
constitution, which says: "All bills and joint
resolutions shall be signed by the presiding
officers OF respective houses" The question
arises, will Mr. Griffin be able to find anything
in the constitution requiring concurrent reso-
lutions 10 be signed?
Evidently Mr.. Griffin has not vet "discov
cred" the difference between a concurrent reso-
luton and joint resolution. ii Mr.. Griffin
will investigate he will discover" that joint
resolutions require the same action as bills;
must be read three times, on three separate
days and are passed" the same as bills on aye
and no votes, requiring constitutional major
ity In each house, while a concurrent resolu-
tiOn requires no more action IN each house
than the adoption of a simple resolution to
thank the speaker for his impartial rulings"
He will discover that joint resolutions are
passed" and concurrent resolutions adopted"
Concurrent resolutions do not require TO be
enrolled and filed with the secretary of state.
The journal is sufficient evidence of their ex-
istence.
As to the reflection cast upon Mr.. Newkirk
for not obtaining the signatures of the presid-
ing officer, in justice to him it should be said
here that the railroad lobby stole the resolu-
ton as soon as II was adopted in the senate; at
least II was never returned to the house. After
the legislature had adi ourned he discovered that
il had been adopted in the senate and made an
enrolled copy from the journals of the two
bOuses-an of which was superhuous. Mr..
Newkirk should have credit for saving a num-
Der of bills from the thieves hired BY the lobby.
Ii 1t had not been for him the high license bill,
the coal screen and weighing bill, the bill to
tax the telephones would not be on the statute
books to-day. The engrossed copies of all
these bills were Stolen" in transit from
the senate 70 the house, but Mr.. Newkirk,
who was always at his post of duty, had them
promptly re-engrossed from the originals. AL
though himself opposed TO the high license
bill, he hurried Its re-engrossment as soon as
the first engrossed copy disappeared before it
reached him. By attending to his duty, Mr..
Newkirk saved the state thousands of dollars
that the telephones and saloons will have to
disgorge in the shape OF taxes, and If Mr.. w.
r. McKeens road is not compelled to dis
gorge thousands of dollars" it will not be
through the neglect or ignorance OF tne clerk
of the house, who did more than his duty when
he filed concurrent resolutions, Nos. - and p,
with the secretary of state.
in one thing Mr.. Griffin is right The copies
fled are worth about half cent for waste paper
and they would be worth no more if they had
the signature of Chase, Niblack HOvey and
every member of the legislature. Let Mr..
Griffin look to the journal for authority and
not use this pretext to keep several thou
sand revised statutes locked up in the base
ment of the capitol.