The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-28
Majority Report Was for an Amended Bill.
Which Gave Rise to Bold Bit Of Jugglery
That Proved 10 Be in Vain.
Street-Car Paving Bill Goes Through the
House with Rules Suspended.
Soldiers Home Seems AssureG-Evansvilie and
Fort Wayne Charters-McHughs Metro
politan Police Scheme.
ITS DEATH STRUGGLE.

Gas Combines Bill BeRten I'm the House
Yesterday ard Killed.
The opponents of the gas combine got its
pet bill In their hands again yesterday.
and did not lot il get away until il was
dead and It's coffin nailed up.
Two reports came from the special CON-
n1ittee. the minority, by MIR. Fariow, for
the indefinite postponement of the bill.
and the majority. by Messrs. Alder and
Erwin, for the passage of the bill, with this
proviso added to Section 2; And provided,
further. that the provisions of this act
shall not be construed to confer upon any
ouch gas company so furnishing gas the
right to shut of any domestic consumer of
gas. or the domestic consumers of any city
or portion thereof where such right
existed prior to the passage of this act"
Whether this provlso meant any thing OF
nothing is matter of little importance
now, but evidently the gas lobby did not
want IL, for after 1t was read q remarkably
bold piece of "skulduggeryp was attempted.
The amended bill as read went back to Mr..
Alder to make q speech tor IL, and while he
was speaking q Journal reporter asked at
the clerks desk for the bill 10 copy the
proviso. Ex-Clerk Newkirk. who is around
tie desk great deal. handed him q bill
from the tile clerks box. lt was made out
just like the other. as a report of this
special COMMITTEES. but the provIso was not
vive and MIR. Newkirk was ques-
toned but had no knowledge of
the bills. The Journal reporter waited
and got the genuine bill from Alder while
another informed McCaskey, of Grant,
who has been one of the most energetic and
watchful of the opponents OF the bill. of
this move. In the meantime this bogus re-
port got back into Erwin's hands. After
while he walked up and handed it TO the
minute clerk who put 1t in the file clerks
box. accompanied by the two reports.
This looked very much as though the in
fentiOn was, If the House voted fnyorably
Oh the amended bill, to let this substitute,
which was nothing more nor less than the
original bill, go to the engrossing clerks.
When Mr.. Alder finished speaking his at
tention was called TO this and he made
sure that the amended bill got into the
House journal.
Mr.. Fariow spoke strongly for his minor
tty report aRainst the bill The men who
were asking for the measure. hs said, were
honorable men. but they were am bitious,
and this was a very dangerous power TO
put IN their hands or In the hands of their
successors in the gas corporations. He had
Investigated the matter thoroughly. and
was convinced that 10 was against the in
terests of the people. Mr.. Ader spoke for
the amended bill, bAsing his argument
mostly upon his belief that pumping with
over three hundred pounds pressure was q
necessity. He declared that the GAS mag
mates were all honorable men and were not
trying TO impose upon the people. He adj
mitted that they had agreements with each
other, and said they ought TO have.
Mr.. SulZer made a strong speech against
the ILL, moGtIy against the first section
pumping clause. The House appiauded
when he declared that as between In
diana and Chicago he was for lis State
end his people, Erwin interrupted TO ask
II ne did not have investments In the gas
belt, and MIR. Sulzer replied that he had
and was glad of it. The money TO make
them had been honestly earned, and he
bad invested 1t on his faith IN Indiana.
Collins asked If he might ask question.
Certainly" replied SulZer. for L know
you are always with the corporations" and
the House again apDlauded.
Mr. Erwin and Mr.. McMullen 10th spoke
for the bill doing the best they cCnld In a
bad cause. the latter demanding the pre-
vious question, which was carried by the
Speaker Mr.. Haggard then spoke for the
Dill. When the question was put on adopt
Ing the minority report persistent demands
for roll call were made, but the Speaker
paid no attention TO them, not caring to
have q record made. He did grant dIvIs-
ion. however. aud 81 stood up for the mi
norlty report. among them the whole Re-
publican side except Heggard and Richter.
whose people have hopes of getting
gas from the Chicago line Harmon
and Deery, of the Marion county
delegation. also voted for the minority re-
port against the bill. The Speaker de-
clared IL carried with 81 ayes. without call
ing the negative. A little later this par
adoption of smotion by MIR. Farlow 10 re-
consider and table. This ends this bill.
but the Smith bill. inst like it. is pending
IN the Senate and the gas lobby still lives