The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-01
GAS INSPECTOR NO MORE.
House Abolishes the Office by Vote
of 70 to Z.

House Abolislles the ONCE by Vote
of zG to 3.
The House began business yesterday with
further debate upon bill No.. 199. which
would make it unlawful to collect toll on
a road not twelve feet wide and with
twelve inches of gravel on it, A motion was
made by Mr.. Petit to amend the bill so
as to exempt roads now existing and oper-
ating under the present law. This was de-
feated and then Mr.. Petit spoke against
the general terms of the BILL Mr. Bobilya
and Mr.. McBeth participated in the dis
cusson, which ended in a motion prevailing
to strike out the enacting clause of the
BILL
spirited debate developed when the
House took up bill No. 10, which provides
for the appointment of a State boiler in
spector with five assistants. This bill makes
the appointment of the Inspector incumbent
upon the Governor, Auditor of State and
Attorney-general, and that he must be
practical boiler maker of ten years ex-
perience. If the owner of a boiler feels
aggrieved at a report from the State in
spector the bill provides that he may ap-
peal to the State board of inspection, con-
sisting OF the State officials named Boilers
must be inspected at least once a year by
the hammer test or the hydrostatic test.
The bill provides for a fee of SO on boilers
of twelve horse power or less and IS for
boilers exceeding twelve horse power
unless there shall be more than one boiler
when the fee shall be So for each boiler.
Inc salary of the inspector Is made $1,000
year and that of the deputies 81, 30 each
which shall be paid out or the fees col
lected.
Speaker Adams called Mr.. Leedv to tbe
chair and took the floor in support Of the
bill. He said that he had suffered loss in
One of his employees had been killed by a
boiler which had not been properly in
spected. The discussion went only ran
enough to show that the bill would meet
with lively opposition, and on motion of
Mr. Petit it was made the special order
House bill No. 1T to abolish the Office Of
natural-gas inspector was called up, with
the Speaker. still on the floor. He asked
two. but the House refused to po oay oe
action. Mr. Adams said he was in favor
OF the bill the office. he said, was a fifth
wheel and established an inspector who did
not inspect He urged that the office be
abolished. Mr.: Hundley, the author of the
o o VINO y ., Is IS from the gas belt said the
abolished. The last inspector. he said. had
done great deal of harm to the State
by false reports about the supply of gas
Mr.. Ross. of Delaware. also favored the
bill. The inspector, he said. was con-
stantly making false reports about tse sup
ply or gas and yet manufacturers are con-
tinuing to invest in the belt Mr. Harris
of Hamilton county. said he knew that the
lcCSHt Inspector uaQ circulated raise
ports about the gas in his county. Mr.
Cardwill, from the other end OF the State
opposed the bill, saying that it looked to
him as if it would convey an impression
that the people of the gas belt were afraid
to have the supply investigated. Mr.. Ter
hume from the belt also favored the
passage of the bill The reports of the in
spector, he said, We're detriment to the
State. Mr.. McCaskey, of Grant county
spoke, in the same. strain. The bill was
passed by vote of rs to 8.
The Objectionable incumbent Of the Of
flee whose term expired in november was
under appointment by State Geoiogist
Blatchley, who will, il the bill passes the
Senate be out of job.
House bill No. 1874, providing that those
who grow hedge or other live fences must
keep them trimmed to height of five feet
and a width of three feet was passed
without much debate. Mr. Harris spoke in
its favor, saying that If such law had
been in existence in the past 1T might have
prevented quarrel between farmers in
his county which resulted in n murder and
man going to the penitentiary Adj
journment was taken for dinner