The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-23
CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPONS.
Proposed Penalty Subject of a Lively
Senate Discussion

Senate Discussion.
The subject that occupied most attention
in the Senate yesterday was the report of
the committee on judiciary, on Senator Nc
Cutchan's bill providing more stringent
penalties for carrying concealed weapons.
The McCutchan measure provides a fine
of not less than $500 and Imprisonment in
the county Jail for not less than ten days
nor more than six months for the offense
The majority report of the COMMITTEES
recommended the indefinite postponement
Of the bill. and minority report signed
by Senator Parker, recommended its pas
sage. Senator McCutchan- entered an en-
phatic protest against sending his pet meas
ure to the waste basket, and made an
earnest plea for the adoption of the mi-
nority report. He argued in its favor that
the mildness of the concealed weapons
law and the iaxity of it's enforcement were
the cause of two-thirds of the murders in
the state There were. in his county, he
said, three red-handed murderers awaiting
trial, whose offenses would never have
been committed II there had been rigor-
GUS law against the fashion of carrying
concealed weapons. Senator Newly, speak
ing for the majority report, SAID the pres
emf law was sufficient ii it was properly
enforced, and he opposed to encunloel-
ing the statute books with any more laws
that would be dead letters. Nearly every
one took turn at the bill, and the Ken
lucky method and the Texas method were
exploited and dissected. AS favoring the
enforcement of a comparatively mid meas
ure and showing how a stringent measure,
Is ignored, 1t was cited that the State of
Kentucky has one of the severest con-
cealed weapons laws in the country, and
yet the fact was that in no State in the
Union did as many people carry dirks and
revOlverS as in Kentucky. Senator Nc
Cutchan defended his Kentucky neighbors
from the aspersions cast upon them and de-
scribed them as a hosptable and delightful
people, but always ready to shoot A mo-
ton was made to recommit the bill for
the purpose of making certain amendments
suggested but the motion was voted down
and the minority report was adopted
Another measure that provoked discus
sion of great length and vast range was
Senator Shiveley's bill providing for the
appointment of humane inspectors by coun-
ty commissioners. There was a majority
report from the judiciary committee recon-
mending the indefinite posrponement of this
bill and minority report in its favor.
Senator Shiveley, speaking in favor of his
bill. said there were numerous instances
of cruelty inflicted on the helpless confined
in the county jails and infirmaries,. the
punishment of which, through the efforts
of humane officer. would have a tend
ency to check similar acts in others.
Senator Newly spoke against the bill;
their duty, cruelty would be prevented, and
acts of cruelty would be punished, but he
the creation of what to him. seemed to be
useless office. If there must be humane
an sd horse ne WHY ef s oen md
lynching inspectors? He was as much OPP
posed to cruelty any one else, but there
were already officers sworn to protect the
weak and helpless. and he did not believe
that the appointment of any more officials
would have the tendency to decrease the
amount of cruelty and wickedness in the
world. The bill was finally yrecommitted to
a special committee composed of Senator'S
Shiveey. Ellison, LaFollett, Clifford and
Holler.
After prayer had been offered in the SEN
ate, yesterday morning, Senator Ellison
was recognized and introduced resolution
which was referred to the committee on
corporations. The resolution recites that,
during the last year, there has been a bit
ter conflict between labor and capital, and
that the issue between the two elements
was enlisting the best thought of tka
country. Congress was looking around for
laws Of the State of Indiana, far
they bear on the labor question. were de-
clarel to be abreast of those of any other
State, but still additional legislation might
he needed. 1t was, therefore, asked that
the committee on corporations make an in
vestigation and report whether 1t was adj
visable to appoint State board of arbi,
tration, or whether there was any other
legislation necessary to secure to the labor
ing classes their rights, or to give to capital
greater security.
Senator Newly introduced a resolution
which was adopted. providing for the print
ing of two hundred copies of each bill, ex-
cent in such cases as otherwise provided.
Senator Houghton presented a resolution
hold sessions at the cities of Huntington
and Bluffton for the purpose of taking evil
dence in the election contest case of Foust
against Rinear; also authorizing the COM
mittee to summon witnesses and administer
oaths. The resolution was adopted