The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-28

A Bill to Curb Their G~reed-Other New
House Bills.

House Bills.
Another important measure introduced in
the House yesterday was a bill by Mr..
Medsker. to do away with the fee scandal
in the shops of the justices OF the peace. Ii
provides that all fees in the justices shops.
as in the higher courts, shall be turned
into the county treasury, and puts justices
on a salary OF $500 per year. II provides
that in cities of from 1900 TO $1,000 popula-
ton there shall be two justices. and in cit
les of over 90. Zoo there shall be four.
The Office of justice of the peace cannot
be abolished. for il is a constitutional
office, but it is believed that with the JUS
tice on a salary instead of receiving fees
his court would be considerably less OF a
travesty upon justice than it is now. At
present IL is the practice of the average
justice, in this city, at least, TO decide
against whichever party to the suit he be-
lieves he can most readily collect from with
out much ieeard to the law or equity of the
case. Most of them follow IL as a profess
sion, and their work consists very largely
or holding up travelling theatrical COM
panies. ousting tenants out of houses and
deciding cases under the celebrated pro-
woke" law. The Journal contained a strik-
ing instance of their work yesterday MORN
ing in the account of the way Walter VIII
mot was held up and relieved OF SAG upon a
questionable claim OF $50.
Among the other measures introduced
yesterday was a concurrent resolution by
Mr.. Thomas for a of five law
yers TO revise the statutes. There has been
two very good private reviSions have been
published, one in 1894 and the other in 1875.
they are very expensive.
Mr.. Hart yesterday introduced a bill pro-
viding for voting by machine. The pro-
motors. of some of the voting. machines
maintain that the construction OF their ma
chimes is such that they will not require
an amendment of the Constitution. which
provides that the voting must be done by
ballot"
New House Bills.
III. B. 36S-By Mr.. Titus: Relating to the
sale of land mortgaged to the school fund.
Judiciary.
IL. b. 369-By Mr.. Hedgcock: To appro-
pirate money for public improvements in
the city of Indianapolis. Claims.
III. b. 37O-By Mr.. Packard: To prohibit
games of sport on Memorial day. Rights
II. b. 3Tl-By Mr.. Packard: Making it
unlawful for township trustees to purchase
supplies, machinery. etc. without having
submitted to the county auditor a list or
articles needed, which list shall be passed
upon by the county commissioners. County
H. B. 372-By Mr.. WiIloughby: To appro-
pirate ~si,OS6.S6 for William III. DRAPER for
services as reporter of the Fffty-fourth
III. b. 373-By Mr.. Shideler: Providing for
the license of transient merchants by COM
II. b. 374-By Mr.. Brown: Providing for
the auditing OF books OF township trustees
by a committee of three. appointed by
county commissioners County and town.
II. b. s75~By Mr.. McGeath: Providing
for the establishment of an inebriate asy-
lum- Ways and means.
II. B. 316-By Mr.. Barlow: To amend the
general tax law: Ways and means:
voting by machine. Elections.
H. b. 37S-By Mr.. Archibald: In relation
to the presentation of claims against coun-
ties. County and township business.
HI. b. 3ag-BV Mr.. Arch1bal0. 10 Qern0
the rights of land owners in the matter OF
drainage. Dykes and drains.
III. Il. 3S9-By Mr.. Herod: Making IL un-
lawful for any person to represent him.
self as the agent of a fictitious insurance
H p. ssiNBy Mr.. Elliott: The Indian
apolis School Board bill prepared by j. L.
II. b. 3S2-By Mr.. McCrea: To amend
the act in relation TO public ofenses.
II. b. $Ss-By Mr.. FornshelI: To prohibit
the collection of a greater sum by railroad
companies than the regular fare Rail-
roads.
III. b. 3S4-By Mr.. Fornshell: To prevent
the sending of flowers to persons under ar
rest. Rights and privileges.
H.. b. 3S5-By Mr.. Monyhan: To fix the
time for holding court in the counties OF
cation of courts.
H.. B. 9se-By Mr.. Downey: To provide
for a special enumeration of voters in lS7-
County and township business.
H. b. SS7-By Mr.. Gibson: Relating to
the keeping OF terrleS Juoiclary-
III. b. 3SS-By Mr.. Thomas Providing for
a revision of the statute laws OF the State.
Judiciary.
II. i. 3S9-By Mr.. Randolph: Concerning
proceedings in civil cases. Judiciary.
III. Il. 390-By Mr.. Randolph: Concerning
recovery of Judgment upon contract. Ju-
dietary.
H.. B. 3sl-By Mr.. Smith. of Tippecanoe:
To prevent spread of contagious diseases
among fruit trees. Agriculture.
H. B. Sg2-By Mr.. Reynolds: To promote
the growth of forests. County and town.
ship business.
II. Il. 393-By Mr.. Medsker: Concerning
justices OF the peace. putting them on
salary. Fees and salaries.
II. L. 394-By Mr.. Medsker: For purchase
of Carthage turnpike.
III. b. 395-By Mr.. Eichhorn: Concerning
drainage. Dykes and drains.
II. ID. 396-By Mr.. Eichhorn: For the
protection of squirrels. Rights and
privileges.
II. b. 3g7-By Mr.. Werner: Regulating
size of fish nets. Rights and privileges.