The Indianapolis journal., 1897-03-09
DUNCAN BILL PASSED
HOUSE ROUNDS OUT THE RECORD BIZ
PASSING THIS MEASURE.
Received and Approved by the Gov
ernOr--Ba ker and the Rest of the
Lobby Made Conspicuous.

The House yesterday morning rounded up
the excellent record of the Legislature by
passing the Duncan bill providing for the
auditing Of township warrants by a board
Of three. Though the bill was passed yes
terday the Governor received it, examined
it and approved it by signing 1t last even
ing. An effort had been made to suspend
the rules and pass this bill on Saturday
and the leaders on both sides of the House
were anxious to get it through because it
was the only measure left restricting the
expenditures of trustees. The lobby of
school supply men had succeeded in killing
off every other measure for this purpose.
They were all on hand yesterday morning
in the final effort to kill the Duncan bill
The boldest one of the lot, Baker, of Baker
& Thornton, was on the floer occupying the
seat of Representative Eichhorn most Of
the time and whispering a word to every
member that he could get hold of. When
the bill was handed down Mr.. Blankenship
spoke i'm it's favor and called attention to
the operations of Baker the floor. He
declared it was high time this man who
had been so bold in attempting to control
the work of the House were out of there.
Mr.. Thomas arose to a point of order. de-
claring that Mr.. Blankenship had no right
to take cogniZance of any person by name.
Speaker Petit declared that the chair held
a very different opinion and that If this
man was found upon the floor again he
would be promptly elected. Baker had at
the first word from Blankenship slipped out
back of the railing and stood there among
the other school-supply men watching the
proceedings. Mr.. Roots spoke in behalf of
the bill, devoting most of his time 10
history of how his own bill intended to
correct this same trouble, had been killed.
The vote was then taken. resulting in the
passage of the bill. as follows:
Ayes-Barlow. Berry Blankenship. Can
ada. Downey. East, Elliott OF Henry. Elliott
OF Marion. FOrnshell, Furness Gibson God
dard Graham, Harris, Hart. Henderson,
Kell, Knepper Lambert. Linck. Littleton,
McCrea, Marsh. Medsker. Miller. Morgan
Morris. Newton, Nicholson, Packard. Pat
terson of Fulton. Record. Remington
noe, SpOoner. Stetler. Sutton, Swope, Titus
WOOdruff-A.
comb. Engle, Eichhorn. Elliott of Washing
ton. Feist. Geisel. Haifley. Hall. Hedge
cock. kayser. Kelley, KratZ, McCart, Nc
Geath, Mann. Patterson of Daviess. Pat
terson OF Franklin. Peckinpaugh. Pinnick,
Purvis. Randolph. Reynolds. Rhodes. Ryan.
Schaal. SchOonOVer. Sence. Smith of Allen,
Sullivan. Thomas, WAR. Wallrath, Wiener.
The Journal printed the bill as IL passed
the Senate last week. Ii constitutes the
county commissioners a board 10 audit the
warrants OF the township trustees of the
county. 1t requires them 10 meet the first
Tuesday in each month and audit these
warrants. examining them and satisfying
themselves that they are for legitimate and
proper expenditures. and that the goods
thus purchased have been delivered and
are as represented.
The commissioners are required to re-
port to the Circuit Court. and all disputed
warrants are tried by the court.
The law permits any taxpayer to recover
for Tho county twice the amount of Il
II .uGulent warrant and attorneys fees
and expenses for himself in addition from
the bondsmen of the trustee.