The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-10
SENATE PASSES BILLS.
COntributory Negligence and County
Accounts.

Rev. DIR. Sims pastor of the Meridian
street NJ Il. Church, made the invocation
in the Senate yesterday morning. on the
call for bills on third reading a number
were passed.
Senator Goodwine's bill providing for the
release of invalid tax deeds was the first.
Senator Hawkins's bill appropriating
money to pay the claim of the Indiana
Bermudez Asphalt Company on account of
the Improvement of streets at the Institute
for the Deaf and Dumb was next passed.
Senator Horner's bill providing that coal
mines shall be equipped with shafts and
stairways as means of escape in case
the mines get afire. was not passed.
Senator Mul's bill requiring railroad COM
panieS to take greater precautions in
crossing public highways was passed.
Senator Hugg called up his contributory
negligence bill. A few days ago it was dis
cussed at length. but failed for want of
a constitutional majority. The bill
provides that thereafter in all ac-
count OF the negligence of any
person, copartnership or corporation
for causing personal injuries the death
of any person, IL shall not be necessary for
the plaintiff in such cases TO allege or prove
the want of contributory negligence on the
part of the plaintiff or on the part of the
ton may be brought, but contributory neg
lgence on the part of the plaintiff such
other person shall be matter of affirma-
tive defense. and such defense may be
proved under the answer of general denial
Section ?. Whereas, an emergency ex-
lists for the immediate taking effect of this
act, the same shall be in force from and
after its passage.
The bill passed by vote of % ayes and
Senator Hugg. i'm order to prevent any
future attacks on the bill. moved that the
vote by which it was passed by reconsid-
on the floor in a moment moving TO table
the vote to reconsider. The motion to Ia BILE
prevailed. Senator Hugg said that he had
been assured that The bill had been adj
versely acted on in the House because it
was not understood. and that he had rea-
son to believe IL would pass when il reached
the House.
COUNTY BUSINESS.
Senator Nusbaum's bill regulating the du-
ties of county commissioners was special
order at 1880 O'Clock. 1t was up for con-
sideration on a motion to reconsider the
vote by which it had been defeated the
day before After couple of amendments,
one by Senator Hugg providing that the
bill should not apply 10 counties Of 100,0 900
or more population, were adopted, the bill
was passed by vote of IL TO 4.
The bill provides that the boards of COM
missoners of counties containing a popula-
ton of $1,000 or more shall meet on the first
Monday of each month and in all other
counties on the first Monday of March,
June. September and December of each
year.
Section provides that the commissioners
shall audit the books of the treasurer and
county auditor at the beginning OF each
regular session and compare the allow
ances made by said board at the preceding
session with the stubs of the warrants
drawn by the auditor in payment of such
allowances. and shall also examine all war
rants redeemed by the county treasurer
and turned over TO the county auditor, and
for which he claims credit, with the CORE
spending stubs, and see that such war
rants properly Cancelled. they can
not again be put in circulation"
The next section makes Ii unlawful for
| the commissioners to allow claims and is
| sue warrants except at a regular session.
! No auditor is permitted to draw a warrant
| for any claim not allowed in a regular ses-
| sion or by a court having jurisdiction.
Section reads: mo claim shall be
| allowed by the board of commission
| ers of any county in this State
| unless such claim, duly itemized and
| verified by the claimant some one in his
| behalf. shall have been filed in the audi
l tors office of the proper county. and by