The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-27
POLITICS IN THE HOUSE.
Appellate Court Bill Passed and Hart
Unseated.

DIR. Woodruff, one of the Republican
members of the House. was excused yes
terday on account of illness, leaving the
Republicans with a bare constitutional ma
jority of fifty-one members. Some doubts
are expressed by Woodruff's friends as TO
whether he will return during this session.
His absence leaves the Republicans still in
very close quarters in the House when il
comes to political legislation, and the mi
nority members being numerous and Jb-
streperous. are inclined to make a party
question of everything that comes up and
TO make things uncomfortable generally
whenever they can. This was shown i'm
about every question that came W yesser-
day except that on the Poindexter Graham
case.
This contested election case was the first
business that came up in the House. and as
the report OF the committee was favorable
TO Graham. the Democratic Incumbent, il
was adopted without opposition.
An unexpected political division came u2
when the rights and privileges committee
brought in two reports upon hyan's , ner
cent. usury bill, the majority against the
bill and the minority favoring it. A read
ing of the bill was called for ana a lengthy
discussion ensuad. Mr.. Harris declared tina
such a law would Keep investments out of
the State and would cause numerous fore
closures. Mr.. Ryan spoke at some length
i'm defense of his bill and particularly Of
the clause that prevented the loanar frcm
getting any part OF the brokerage. Mr..
Willoughby regretted that the bill was made
a foundation for the minority 30 endsavor
to build political capital. He thought there
should be as few restrictions as possible
on the loaning OF money. Mr.. Linck de-
clared that as a general thing the question
of interest was one that took care OF itself
as the State grew older and that many US
ury laws hindered rather than helped things.
He cited the case of Kansas as a striking
example OF how usury laws did not do a
State any good. The discussion became
very general and Populist ,Haihey seized the
occasion for a free-silver speech. The bill
was finally killed, Marsh voting with the
majority and Reynolds with the minority,
House as he voted.
y few minor measures died upon commit
tee reUort and then the somewhat cele-
brated O'Bannon bill to prohibit the max
ing OF gold contracts came up. and they
were at IL again. The federal relations
committee reported adversely upon the hill
but there was a minority report in favor of
IL Mr.. Bannon started out for the speech
or his life, but ne had not got far from
shore when he was cut off by that bother
some nve-mtnute rule. Before any Other
member of the minority could get started
upon a POpocratic speech Mr.. Willoughbv
moved to table the report and IL was car
ried upon n viva Voce vote. Some members
of the minority raised a question as to the
effectiveness OF the speakers hearing. bu;
they demonstrated his correctness when
they called for the roll on the adoption of
the majority report. and IL vas carried by
a vote of 81 TO ~. The question was raised
! as TO whether members without the bar OF