The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-11

might have been accomplished with a
longer session. but II is within the bounds
OF truth TO say that in the time allotted it
mas succeeded In passing more important
and needed Jaws than any of its predeces-
bcaies are regarded will compare faVorabiy
with any previous Legislature in the his
tory of the State.-Muncie Times.
The session accomplished much more
than an average Of salutary legislation.
Most of the good work was done. 80 far as
outward appearances go, in the last two
weeks OF the session. though OF course all
this was considered and matured in com
mittees earlier. The general impression two
weeks ago was that the Legislature would
adjourn with little done. By the eXtraor-
binary activity of the last two weeks good
record has been made.-Kokomo Tribune.
The building and loan law enacted by the
| Legislature that has just adjourned is of it,
self sufficient glory for the General Assem-
bly,. to say nothing of the other beneficial
and bengnant acts that were passed. This
| law Will work "a great saving TO the people.
and Will restore the building and loan bust
ness 70 its original purpose and drive out
the 'Skin-Same' concerns organized pri-
| marily to make money for the incorpora-
| tors regardless of the epositors.-Middie-
| town News.
| The Legislature is entitled to much praise
because of the important work done in be-
half of the State an : the people. No former
Legislature has acc lnplished more impor-
| or general Importance received careful and
| conscientious attention. While some bills
were passed possessing very little merit. a
very much larger number of such measures
| were promptly killed. Some of the laws
| enacted by the Sixtieth General Assembly
| help to place Indiana in the first rank of
| States. By far the greater part of the
| work of this Legislature i'm accordance
with the demands of the people.-Seymonr
| Republican.
Upon the whole the Legislature which has
4 ahi Of
industries bodies which the State has had
for many years. Unlike several of its pre-
decessors. 1t can pass into history with
| blessings, not curses, on its head. 1t enact
| ed many good and wholesome laws, and
| prevented the enactment of several bad
measures. A legislature should sometimes
| be measured by what il does not do as well
| as by what il does. 1t is largely TO the
| credit of the body which has Just expired
| that IL killed many needless, freakish and
| some of them vicious bills No positively
| bad bill was enacted into law, although a
| few came dangerously near II. a few might
| just as we'll have been indefinitely post
poned. The positively good largely over
| balances the mildly harmless, and. there
fore. the SiXtieth General Assembly passes
| out of existence with the encomium, We'll
| done. '-Crawfordsville Journal.
| The Legislature was business body, and
enacted some good. wholesome bust
| ness legislation. Criticisms early in
| the session We're many to the eff
| feet that this was a "do-nothing'
Legislature. However. the work was going
| on and the bills were being carefully con-
| sidered and worked over in the committees
| where the most effective work is always
| accomplished. The final roundup is salts
| factory, and will meet the approval of the
people OF the State. There has been less
| partisan legislation than ever in the history
of the state; the Democrats have assisted
the Republicans in many ways, and no OBJ
| structivc tactics have been used by the mi
| nority party. The trusts and Hobbies have
| received well-merited rebuke, and have
| failed TO influence any legislation i'm their
| terest of the people at heart, and the laws
| passed have been upon Tires of economy
| and better business government. Many re-
| strictions have been thrown around the
| officials OF the State, and retrenchment I'm
| public expenditures has been constantly
| kept in view.-Noblesville Ledger.
| As whole, the session has been good
and profitable one. Complaint is made OF
the lobby. which began operations early in
the session. and threatened to seriously in
terfere with legislation. But the third
house was rebuked in more than one in
stance. and its influence reflects upon a
| minority that displayed friendiness to it.
| and not upon the whole body. There was :,
| lobby present to defeat legislation looking
| 10 an investigation of the Nandalia Rail
! road claim but the lobby's wish was ig-
| nored There was lobby present to defeat
! the repeal OF the special verdict law, but
the repeal was made nevertheless. There
was lobby present that said Scent street
| car fares should not be granted to the peo-
| pie of Indianapolis. but in defiance of the
demand the reduced fares were allowed A
| lobby said there should be no revision of
| the building and loan laws. but i'm spite OF
! the threats and warnings the Legislature
| passed laws which are admittedly lust
| both to honest associations and the public
| When all the legislation is considered. il
| must be said that the lobby welded a small
| Influence in the work ACCOMPLISHED
| There has been legislation most impor-
| tant subjects and on matters the public de-
manded considered Again. fault NAV be
| found with the legislators for the long dis
cussions which seemingly came to naught.
IL can hardly be said that this time was al
| together wasted. for. by the arguments the
| members and the public are better in
| formed OF the many subjects than they
were before. and results may be expected i'm
! future sessions. The Legislature has worke d
| hard and the majority has worked con-
| scientioGsly. All In all. II has been good
| Observation-Disclosures Courier.