The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-11
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
A Big Batch of Them Poured in Upon
the Senate.

Reports from committees were received
and concurred in by the Senate yesterday
on about fifty bills of minor interest. There
were several of considerable Importance,
however. The committee on railroads had
divided reports on two bills. The majority
recommended that Senate bill No. 1853 Hub
belD be indefinitely postponed. 1t is a bill
providing that all railroad companies shall
station watchmen at crossings with other
railroads unless the crossings are equipped
with interlocking switches. The minority
report favoring its passage was signed by
the author of the bill. He said that the
only argument against the bill was the ex-
pense that it would entail on the companies.
This was question that ought not to be
consider ed when human life was concerned.
Senator Watson. chairman of the commit
tee said that the committee had decided
that there was no good reason for the pas
sage of the bill. 1t would subject the rail-
road companies to great expense. There
were twenty-Seven votes against the sub
stitution of the minority report against
fourteen in its favor. Just before adjourn
ment Senator Phares moved to reconsider
the vote by which the majority report was
adopted. A great many senators had left
the chamber and Senator Hubbell moved
that the question be postponed until this
morning.
Another bill, opposed by the railroad in
terests. was one introduced by Senator
Wood tNo. S6) Ii provides that no railroad
without there is light on the rear end as
large as a headlight. There were two re-
ports on this bill also. the majority favor
ing its indefinite postponement. Senator
Wood said that he knew OF at least three
cases in his own city where men had been
run down in the darkness by trains backing
down NIL without rear light The bill
was intended to save human life. Senator
Watson said that the majority of the com
mittee regarded the bill as impracticable
For instance. If it were adopted.
keep a number of extra lights
as large as headlights on hand
necessary for the companies to have forty
such lamps in their yards in case a train
were cut up in backing. That was pre-
ciSely true, Senator Watson replied. After
considerable discussion the minority report
was substituted for the majority.
The committee on fees and salaries re-
ported favorably the bills of Senators
Houghton and Watson amending the fee
and salary law in certain particulars. 1t is
understood that they were reported faVora-
bly, in order TO bring UP the discussion of
Hawkins fee and salary bill is reported on.
1t was printed and yesterday distributed
Gilberts bill increasing the salary of the
adJutant general and quartermaster general
and providing for a stenographer in the
office
A big batch of bills was reported on by
the judiciary committee. Several of them
of not much Importance were indefinitely
postponed.
The committee county and township
business reported the substitute for the
State Board OF Commerce bill providing for
a commission to revise and codify the laws
of the State relative TO municipal corpora
lions, reference 10 which was made yester-
day. The substitute provides that the COM
missioners shall be hold-over senators and
that they shall be appointed by the Senate
and not the Governor.