The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-16
PROPOSED LEGISLATION.

Bills Concerning Soldiers Homes, Gambling,
the Census Once and Pensions
special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15-ln the House to-
day Mr.. Martin introduced bill providing
that the officers of the national soldiers
homes shall consist cf q governor, deputy
governor, secretary. treasurer. and such
other officers as the MANAGERS may deem
necessary to be appointed from honorably
discharged soldiers to hold during the
pleasure of the board of managers. In ap-
pointmeEts made. or hereafter to be made,
such appointees who had not been commits
stoned officers in the United States army
are declared lawful. and any bonds exc
cuted by them are declared valid.
Representative Alexander of North Caro-
lima introduced bill relating to gam
bling in agricultural products" This gam
bling. according to the bill. 10 defined TO be
a contract to sell for future delivery corn.
wheat, oats, rye, barley. etc.. the contractor
or seller not being the owner or agent OF
the owner at the time Of the making OF the
contract The bill excludes from the mails
any letters. postal cards or circulars con-
corning gambling in agricultural products
and checks, drafts, bills, money postal
notes. or money orders for use for such pur-
poses. 1t also excludes from the mails
newspapers, circulars. pamphlets or publi-
cations of any kind containing advertise
ments, teIegraphic reports or other articles
giving quotations of any market relating
to gambling in agricultural products A
tax of 81 per word is levied on each inter
state telegraph or telephone message used
In aid of the gambling referred to In the act.
Representative Anderson of w est Virginia
introduced q resolution to appoint COM
mittee of seven members toInvestigate cer-
tain charges brought against the manage
mont of the Census Office. preamble to
the resolution recites that it has been
charged through the columns of the public
journals of the country that the Census
Bureau had been wrongfully conducted un-
der superintendent Porter. in the State of
New York and else here. in the interest of
partisan politics. and not with the view of
obtaining correct enumerations and other
data. and that funds appropriated therefor
were wantonly wasted, and that said bu-
reau has been grossly mismanaged.
A bill introduced by Representative New
berry of Illinois has for its object the re-
lief of the heirs and legal representatives
of certain soldiers. 1t provides that " hen
ever the records of the War Department
show that any soldier properly IN service
in the late war was captured by the enemy,
missing in action or sent to confederate
prison or hospital. such record, sustained
by satisfactory proof that the soldier has
not since the record was maGo been heard
denCe that the soldier was killed OF died
during the war in performance of his duty.
Delegate Smith of Arizona introduced q
bill providing for the admission of the Ter
ritory OF Arizona into the Union, in ac-
cordance with the Constitution heretofore
ratified and adopted by the people of the
Territory. The sotis TO take effect on Jan.
!. 1898.
Representative Parrett of Indiana intro
duced Lill appropriating sl0O. 900 TO i'm
prove the Ohio river between the mouth of
Green river and Evansville, Iud.