The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.

duty they owed the State and their con-
stituents in attending the sessions.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
House Has Busy Day-Bowers Con-
test Up Again.
The ways and means committee recon-
mended, in the morning, the passage of a
deficiency bill giving Supreme Court Clerk
Hess and deputies salaries which they have
been unable to obtain account of lack
of an appropriation. Spitlers highway bill
and his taxation measure were indefinitely
postponed. These reports were concurred
in but when Mr.. Stakebakes mortgage in
debtedness bill was reached, and indefinite
poSteponement recommended, the author
objected. Mr. Allen. of the committee,
stated the reasons for killing the bill, ex-
planning that a deduction of mortgage in
debtedness would throw down the bars to
all sorts of taxation evils. The House, how
ever, refused to concur in the report and
the report and the bill was held for second
reading. Mr.. Remy's greenback taxation
bill went to the second stage in legislation,
while Bohannon's tax bill and that of Mr..
Ross providing for the stamping Of promis-
sorry notes, were killed. The Soldiers Home
bill, with the amendment cutting the APP
preparation to $75,OOO was filed for second
satisfaction, providing the committee was
to follow the general policy of making cuts.
The judiciary committee had a large batch
of bills to report, one of the most impor-
tant of which was the one to investigate
Greene Smith and the State treasury. Bills
by Mr. Harris, of Hamilton, and Mr.. Mich
olson concerning the powers of justices of
the peace were Indefinitely postponed. The
bill of Mr.. Van Arsde preventing coroners
from holding inquests where there is no
sign Of violence, was recommended for pas
sage and the report was cOncurred in.
The Greene Smith bill, as was expected,
brought out dash of politics from the
Democratic side of the House. The judiciary
committee had an amendment giving the
Democrats representation on the investigat-
ing committee. Mr.. Stotsenburg had a mi
nority report on which he spoke, the report
urging that the investigation of the offices
of Treasurer Auditor, Secretary of State,
from 1856 to 1894 be Included Mr. Petit
said the last General Assembly or the one
of four years ago had the opportunity of
investigating the offices when held by Re-
publicans. Had there been any suspicion,
the Democratic Legislature would certainly
have investigated. He thoeght the minority
inquiry into the administration of Greene
Smith. of which there was SO much public
scandal The minority report requires the
committee on investigation to inform the
General Assembly of what 1t has found be-
fore Feb. - A motion to lay the minority
report on the table was carried by vote
of Sc to H.
Harrison, of Shelby, made the second ats
tempt from the Democratic side to weight
down the proposed inquiry. He had sub
stitute embodying the same points that
were in the Stotsenberg minority report.
Mr.. Robinson expressed the belief that
great deal of buncombe was being INDUCED
in. The Democratic Legislature had ample
opportunity to examine the books of Re-
publican officials.
'I do not charge" continued Mr. Robin
son. that there is anything wrong in the
any law or construction of law that allows
man holding State office for f9.,
r reh shouid be e Changed %hs
COMMITTEES will make recommendations and
we will know officially. of any abuses that
may exist in the State Offices"
GREENE SMITHS CASE.
The roll was called on the amendment of
Mr.. Harris, of Shelby and 1t was lost; 81
ayes. IL noes. The majority report was
finally concurred in and the investigation of
the great fee-grabber is assured
The hour for considering the Miller Bow
ers contest having arrived, the clerk read
the two reports from the committee on
election, and Immediately upon the conclus-
ion thereof. Mr. Merritt arose and spoke
for a half hour, and was apparently just
as fresh ever in his line of argument
when Mr.. L1eedy suggested that the gentle
man was depressing too far from the SUBJ
ject in hand: Several citations were made.
n Mr.. Reynolds spoke in favor Of the nil
nority report.
- Mr.. Crozier chairman of the elections
committee, said he could not answer the
argument of the gentleman from Lagrange
in the same eloquent language, but he
thought he could present few facts
to show that Bowers, the Democrat, should
be seated. on the face of the returns Bow
ers, he urged. claimed not to have had
vote in the contested district had been
looked into cursorily, but it had been in
nate as to take refuge In a county asylum
he should not lose his manhood. his right
to vote. The committee determined not to
act further on the matter of pauper voters.
All the disputed ballots had been brought
to the committee by the clerk of the Dear
born court and passed upon, one by one.
The statement of the committee was unani-
nous when preparation was made to draw
, up the report. Mr.. Crozier had been sur
finding. He detailed the inspection of each
of the disputed ballots and urged that if
be brought before the House ali the ballots
should be so presented.
Mr. Statesman had a substitute referring
the contest back to the full committee on
elections, with instructions 10 report before
Feb. H. After Mr.. Mcintosh spoke for
few minutes. Mr.. Robinson moved the pre-
vious question Mr. Howe, of Morgan, who
is blacksmith and little given to affairs
of the forum. surprised the members of
the House by the speech he made in favor
of seating Bowers. 1t was eloquent and
argumentative; better effort tnan many of
those made de- by s,on Lawyers n OF the House on
called on the Statesman substitute, the vote
was: 40 ayes. % noes This showed lack
of quorum and the House promptly adj
journed till o clock
CONTEST STILL UNSETTLED.
Immediately after the roll call in the
afternoon the presence of seventy-two
members giving quorum, the business of
the morning session was taken up and
the roll called on the Statesman substitute
which was adopted by 4s to % vote
The election committee will begin to r
over the contest.
A resolution OF Mr.. Terhune's. that the