The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-01-30
DEMANDS FOR LEGISLATION
Laws That Would Please the Organized
Farmers and Labor Federations.
A Conference in Which Diversity of Views DC.
cur to Disturb a Plan That Had
Once Been Agreed Upon.

The joint committee from the Farmers
Alliance. +. NJ. b. A., Grange and Fedora
ton OF Trades held a four hours conference
with several members of the General As
sembly at Hotel English, last night. to
draft a memorial setting forth the demands
of the organizations. The meeting was not
altogether harmonious, as the views of
those who took part in the discussion were
often very conflicting. A week ago a sort
OF platform. composed of eight points upon
which the organizations were agreed. was
adopted. but exceptions were taken last
night to the section that provides for such
legislation az will allow school-teachers to
take the enumeration of pupils, n it was
stricken out. The proposed bill on the Zee
and salary question, as affecting county
oficers, was then taken MP and the disc1s-
sion upon it occupied over two hours.
representatives Henry. F. Work, of Clark
county. William H. Brown. of Morgan, and
Isaac n. Kester, of Sullivan, spoke in favor
of the bill, as did Senator uobson, of Parke.
+. w. Robinson said that the +. NJ. B. A.
the Grange and the knights of Labor had
demanded q change in the fee aud salary
system, and thought that no delay should
be allowed. For twenty years back" he,
said. both parties have pledge themselves
in their platform to reduce the fees hat
we have been paying to our county officers,
Dut we have waited in vain. There was
more agitation on the subject during the
last campaign than ever before. One party
favored a fee and salary bill to 60 into eff
feet after the terms of the present incum-
as practical That. in my mind. is a very
vague way of putting it. / want some
thing more definite. Why, even the paper
in this city which held that view changed
sout with an editorial opposing any change
unit! the present county officers terms ex-
pire."
What paper do you have reference tor
asked one of the Representatives.
."Irefer, sir, to the Indianapolis Sentinel"
Mr.. Robinson replied, 1.-The paper that. dur
ing the last campaign, supported the Demo
cratic platform. / say to the Democrats of
Indiana that the people of this State lad
no right to construe your platform az mean
ing & change in the fee and salary system
at the end of four years, and they will not
so construe it. The people of this State are
beginning to realize the power of organiza-
ton. They are now on the defensive, but,
if necessary. they will place themselves on
the offensive"
Representative Work, of Clark county,
favored waiting until adetinite plan of ac-
tion could be formed. He could see how
wv A. A " cJotOAh Aaiehe u"
duce county officers to shirk their work.
Representative Watson, of Brown county,
said his people wanted the law to 60
into effect as soon as the Governor can sign
the bill. Elliott w. Bowman. the Repre-
sentative from Fountain county, remarked
that his people were heartily in favor of
the bill. differing only on the time it shoold
90 into effect. Personally" said he, g! be-
Heve that IL we can't get a law to 60 into
effect now, We had better take it at the end
of two or four years. l rave no doubt as
to the passage of such q BILL. While MI.
Bowman was speaking "Fog-horn" Kelley
arose and took off his coat, hung his cuffs
on the back of his chair and unbuttoned
his vest, presumably to lind moro comfort.
IF my speech isto have this effect upon the
gentleman" he said. after the laughter had
ator Mount spoke at length in favor of the
bill, as did Mr.. Haxton, q delegate from the
State Council of the +. NJ. b. A.
Among other topics discussed was the ad-
and the correction Of taxation for building
and loan associations, railroads and other
corporations. Mr.. Kelley objected to spend
ing half the night in "resolutin'. and ia
vored immediate action on the fee and sal
airy bill. On motion of senator Mount, q
committee was appointed to draft . memo
rial. to be presented to the Legislature to-
day. and the following were appointed: 4.
". Ro6inson. Grange; }. 3. Hazel. +. N. y.
A.; ID. L. Thomas. Farmers Alliance; D.. L.
Kennedy, Federation of Trades; G. A. John
son, X. of L.; j. l.. White. Central Labor
Union.
After some discussion the committee was
given full power TO act. In their memo
rial the farmers organization will ask for
legislation on the following points: Fret,
rate of interest; second, fees and salaries;
third, reduction in passenger fares on rail
roads. and freight charges; fourth. taxes
on insurance. railroads, telegrapbs, tele-
phones. gas lines, building associations,
money loaned outside the State. incomes and
mortgages; fifth. apportionment of school
revenues; sixth. Investigation of the Union
Stockyards. The demands of organized
labor will be for. first, abolition of contract
labor and the placing of prisons under one
board of directors; second, union label
statute; third. court of arbitration; fourth,
to give to towns of over 10000 population
the right to vote on franchises. Represen-
tative Brown and Senator Mounts were ap-
pointed to present the matter in their re-
spective branches of the General Assembly.