The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-27
stituents. It is claimed that the measure
now has enough votes to pass the House.
SENATE BILLS ACTED UPON.

Gilman's Ditch Bill Passed-Faiied to Limit
the Township Trustees.
The first thing done in the Senate yestes.
day morning was the suspension of the
rules. on motion OF Senator Vail, for the
rassage of House Ball 24s legalIzing the
town corporation OF Lagrange, Lagrange
county. The roll for bills on third reading
was then continued from the previous day.
Senator Gilman's Bill so. amending certain
sections of an act concerning drainage, was
passed. Senator Gilman is from the Ben
ton, Jasper and Newton district, the north
ern portions OF which are very low and wet.
Senator Gllman's bills all concern drainage,
and are of the legislation most necessary
to the district from which he comes. This
Senator has made no attempt at oratory of
the spread-esgle kind, but has steadily
pushed every bill for his district which he
has introduced, and will accomplish more
for his coun ties thanwere he of the exquisite
Magee stamp. On the other hand, Senator
Chandler, who has for years been politi-
cal pet in Hancock county, has introduced
but one bill, and it Is either for Senator
Chambers own individual benefit or SIM
ply a hint to the railroad companies whose
roads traverse this State, that ne is after
them. Senator Chandler's bill asks that
every passenger train In the State be COM
PEELED to stop at every county seat, bill
that would result dissstrously to every
road In this State that presumes TO COM
pete with other roads In getting rapid transit
from here TO New York.
Senator Gilman's bill provides for q
necessity which has long endured. 1t
makes it possible for man to dig that por-
tiOn of company ditch which crosses his
land or hire it done. The contractors are
forced TO begin on the other side of his
land. skipping the man who desires TO do
the work himself. This avoids the out
rageous profits made by contractors and
ditch commissioners in constructing Pc
titioned bitches.
Senator Chords gravel-road bill. No. g.,
which was go long discussed last Friday,
passed the Senate.
Senator Sweeney's bill, No. 60. called up
by Senator Kopelke, in regard TO the re-
cording of papers by foreigners, especially
in the transfer of real estate. was passed.
WRAPS BILL FAILS.
Senator Wray's bill. No. Al. limiting the
power of trustees in contracting debts in
larger amounts than S25. came up for final
passage. The recent Shelby county steal
where various swIndles were practlced on
the people by the trustees. probably in
fiuenced Senator Wray in making the bill
so radical.
himself by espousing the cause of the trus-
tees in q long, labored speech. claiming that
township trustees, as d class, were lnfalll-
BILE. end declaring that the Board of County
Commissioners was not the proper brake TO
be put upon the trustees.
Senator Wray believed tie bill to be q
good one because the County Commission
ers were forced, under the provisions of his
bill. TO consider one item at a time. and
could thereby know for what expenditures
were made. Senator Wray reviewed the
rottenness of township trustees for years
back, and OK posed the fact that they were
not, as % rule, the kind of officers whom
Senator Parker had appreciated with sweet
sayings and made deserving of more than
S25 worth of the peoples confidence. The
bill failed to pass lacking a constitutional
majority.
Several House bills on third reading were
called and deferred account of the ab-
seDce of Senators who were their pro-
moters. Mr.. McMullen's House bill, No. -.
making 1t possible for ciieut to continue
has case IN court during the session or the
Legislature in the event his attorney was
n Senator OF ReDresentatiye Dasseu