The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-03-15

The legislators have nearly all returned
to their homes. Probably a dozen re-
msined in the city Tuesday night, but most
of them left Wednesday. The doors Of the
house chamber were open yesterday, but
only TO admit the horde of clerks who are
fnishingup the work on the journal TO
pass in and out. None of the members,
except Lindemuth, showed IN during the
day and be only long enough TO secure
some papers he had left in his desk.
Since the legislature adjourned there IL
great amount of tax concerning its work,
and little of it is complimentary. Its ac-
tions are generally condemned, but of the
two houses the senate IS blamed more. II
was there that the corporation lobbyists
accomplished what they wanted. Bills
that passed the house with little Opposi-
ton were stranGled BY committees of the
senate, undoubtedly ct the request and on
the demand OF the lobby. That there
were corrupt men in both houses Is unde-
niable, and that the smaller body had
the greater percentage OF them
Is fact. This wac plainly proven dur
ing the closing DAYS of the session when
certain senators showed their hands by
corporations. The oO-employes' bill should
have passed the senate without much OPP
position II went through the house
senate the railroad lobby got in it's work
and won over enough members OF the
committee to which it was referred
to smother it. 1t was only by
the most desperate work and
concessions on the part OF the
lsboring people that it was resurrected
and passed. Other measures affecting the
interests of corporations. but demanded
by the people, were treated in the same
way. Three or four senators controlled
the senate. The same cannot be said OF
the house. although there is little doubt
but what that body had a mum Der OF mem
bers who had their price" on all matters
coming up. During the fight in the house
over the appropriation for the q. A. K
encampment il was common TO hear such
remarks as: "If this e.. A. r. COM
miitee OF citizens would use $1,000 or
5000 il could secure what it wants with
out trouble" And it is highly probable
that the persons making the remarks knew
what they were talking about Their were
members of the house who were as cor
rupt a. could be, and they we're not con-
fined to either of the political parties rep
resented They were on both sides OF the
chamber and the lobby knew everyone Of
them, and that it used them is pretty GER
tain. But the house did the best work.
Every important measure affecting the
interests OF the people introduced in
the house and upon which fight WAS
made passed. Everything asked by the
laboring interests went through the house
with little trouble but most of 1t met its
death in the senate. The committees OF
the senate did the work They were rot
ten to the core. and seemingly under the
immediate control of the third house.
Measures That Failed to Pass.
1t will be interesting to the people Of
the state to know of some of the bills that
were introduced during the session that
for various reasons failed to become
laws. There were several hundred.
A portion of them passed the
lower body, but most of these were throt-
tied In the senate by McHugh of Tippe-
canoe and his crowd. Among some Of
those that failed to pass was Harkins'
railway commissioners bill. which failed
twice in the house for want OF a constii u
tional majority. The bill provided Tor the
appointment of the commissioners by the
governor at $4,000 salary for each. with a
secretary at II 800. The bill empowered
them TO hear grievances against railway
companies, TO fix rates. make schedules
and empowered the courts to enforce its
orders Ii was fought bitterly by the rail-
road lobbyists and by them defeated
The bill introduced by Representative
Erwin, which would have abolished the
insurance system of the Pennsylvania
railroad company, was killed by the SEN
ate after having passed the house. 1t was
also bitterly fought by the lobbyists. The
bill asked by labor, creating state board
OF bOi er inspectors, passed the house and
was killed in the senate by the committee
to which it was referred.
Road Legislation.
During the session there were forty
road bills introduced by different mem
bers of the house. All road legislation
started there and all met it's death there.
Probably tbs most meritorious
measure was one introduced by Represent
alive DALEY OF Clark county. II provided
for building roads on the install ment p an.
The bill IVES printed in full in THE SENTI-
MEL when offered. IL passed the house
and was quisted in the senate. Repre-
EtnlutiAc A1NHkga NAhAl Alhu VI hho NOth
tee on roads. stated Yesterday to a repre-
sentative of The SENTINEL that during the
session he had received petitions signed
by 10000 taxpayers of the state demand
ing that the road laws be left az they are.
He thinks the people are not yet ready
for any radical changes in the law.
Harkins bill making 6 per cent. the
legal rate Of interest was killed and
Barnes bill making insanity good cause
for divorce was defeated in the house.
Johnson of Marion county early in the
session introduced q bill providing for
salary ing justices of the peace, but It was
not thought TO be good scheme by the
house. Duncan's bill requiring all holders
of promissory notes TO list them and have
them stamped by the township assessor
was killed early. Haggsrd's bill to turn
the natural gas district over to the
gas companies caused a big fight
but was defeated. The bill, if il
bad become law. would have taken all
the rights away from the consumer.
Rodabaugh's bill creaiing a state board of
dentists, to be appointed by the Indiana
dental association. was queer thing and
il was shown little mercy. Hord's bill
abolishing capital punishment failed TO
reach a third reading in the house, and
his bill giving protection to non-union