The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-20
THE NEWTON COUNTY SEAT.
Prominent Woman Headed the MOrOc.
co Delegation.

co Delegation.
The judiciary committee of the House last
evening had a long session, in which repre-
sentatives of Kentland and Morocco, which
are struggling for the county seat of New
ton county, were heard. A large delegation
of citizens from both places was present
Among those here was Mrs. Jennie Conrad
who owns 5000 acres of land near Morocco.
and who manages it herself. Her husband
was at the time of his death cashier of the
Exchange Stock Yards Bank of Chicago,
and since then Mrs. Conrad has devoted her
time to the management of her large farm.
She was here for Morocco, and her com
ments enlivened the proceedings.
Ex-Representative Pierce Archibald made
the opening statement for Morocco. He
had a large map of the county and said
that the county seat war has waged there
for thirty-nine years. He gave an historical
sketch of the organization and growth of
the county and declared that Il per cent. of
the voters must now join in a petition to
change the county seat. The bill now in
the House requires that 400 must petition
and 80 per cent. must vote for it before it
can be done. He said the bill would leave
1t to the people of the county to say where
the county seat should be, and that it was
not in the interest of Morocco alone. He
said that the courthouse at Kentland was
built in 1860, is a frame building and only
cost $1,000 when first built. He said that
the bill provides that two acres of land must
be furnished by the town selected for the
county buildings. Newton county, he said,
Is thirty miles north and south and Kent
land is but two miles from the south border
line; Morocco is thirteen miles from Kent
land. The largest towns of the county are
with 700 GoOdland, with 2)0 and Morocco
with 800. Mr.. Brown asked him if the land
IN the north part of the county was rot
owned by nonresidents, and he said it was,
put 1t was agreed that they should not par
tlclpate in the choice of the county seat.
Patrick Keefe opened for Kentland and
said that If this bill becomes a law,
would suggest a change of title to "a bill to
legalize the theft of one-third of the prop
erty of kentland by the people of Moroc-
CO. ana declare an emergency He
charged that the emergency" lis the greed
Tor the almighty dollar by the people Of
Morocco, who kiss the dollar as serVilely
He charged that this movement was backed
by the nonresident land owners and that it
was a scheme of syndicates. He said the
people OF Morocco have stripped the pull
pit to come here and lobby" He acknowl-
edged that the county seat is not now in
the geographical center of the county and
that the buildings are not fine but he denied
the other claims and said that Kentland is
near the center of wealth and population
center line is $1,700,000 worth of property
while south of it is $6,S00000 worth. North
of the line are $500 people, while south of
1t are 10000. He charged that in the north
part Of the county lies ST. 600 acres of land
which is owned by nonresidents from Chi
cago, land Spectators who bought the land
with their eyes open and now want to start
q land boom. Among the owners he said
were Malcolm Hubley, of Macon, ILL.,, with
10000 acres; the Calf estate of Cincinnati,
with 10000 acres: the Gregory estate of Chi
cagO, with 5000 acres James Hill. of New
Albany, with $500 acres; Leroy Templeton,
with 1000 acres and Nelson Morris of Chi
cagO, with 1000 acres. Mr. Achibald asked
him if the population is not moving north,
and Mr. Keefe said the figures do not
show it.
Continuing he said: Some of the land is
so poor in the north part of the county
that the owners do not dare ask rent. One
of them had a tenant who lived for thirty
some little time ago the owner wrote and
asked him if he did not think he should be-
gin to pay q little rent The tenant replied
that no Christian would ask rent for such
land as that" Mr.. Clements interrupted to
ask why Kentland showed no increase of
vote as did the other places in the county,
and Mr.. Keefe said it was because the town
did not have good politicians to get out the
vote. He said they were, afraid to submit
the question TO the people for a vote be-
cause they fear Chicago political methods.
Mr.. r. A. COmparet, of Kentland, argued
that the proposed Dill is speclal leglslatl2n
and he desired an amendment that II the
election goes for Kentland it shall be man
datory that suitable buildings be erected
MRS. 'CONRAD'S REMARKS
Mrs Conrad next spoke for Morocco and
said she never saw Keefe before and he
has never been up in her part of the coun-
ty She spoke at some length for Morocco
and told all about her business. Mr.. j. b.
Chizum followed for Morocco and Mr. Arch
fbald closed. AS he was sitting down Mrs.
Conrad told him to read a clipping from a
Kentland newspaper which stated that there
was but one train a day in Kentland and
it was very uncertain. The Kentland people
retaliated by reading an extract from a
Morocco paper, which described at some
length the increase in wolves in the north
ern part of the county and the pest which
they were becoming. The committee took
the bill under Amusement
The committee on temperance took up the
bills which are aimed at drug stores and
many druggists from this city and other
points were present Mr.. Kirkpatricks bill
provides that if druggists display the United
prima facie evidence that they are common
sellers of liquor and they shall be required
to take out county and city licenses. Mr..
DOWney'S bill is on the same line and the
druggists have raised the point that to sell
on prescription only they are not required
to pay United States tax. The committee
decided to hold both bills until a ruling is
received from Washington on this point.
ON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
The committee on county and township
business will present two reports on Mr..
Caraway's bill to elect county commission
ers by districts. The majority will recon-
mend postponement. Mr.. Herrold's bill to
exempt certain property from taxation, Mr..
Beardsleys bill for townships to take mort
cages from poor people, Mr. Herod's bill to
regulate the reports of trustees and Mr.
Geisel's bill to regulate the purchase Of
supplies will all be indefinitely postponed.
Mr. Tituss bill concerning taxation was re-
ferred to the judiciary committee and Mr.
Shideiers bill regarding the care of poor
Will receive a majority report for an in
definite postpOnement. Mr. Mayss bill
which requires that two freehOlders shall
make oath TO suspicious circumstances be-
tore coroner can hold an inquest, viii
have majority report favoring it, Mr..
CraVenss bill permitting $500 exemption
from taxation on property which is mort
gagged viii be held until it is found whether
or not railroad company could specify
each piece of property in a county and claim
the exemption on each piece. Mr. Ross 5
bill providing for the stamping of all notes
by the assessor was amended by providing
that the interest on unstamped notes cam
not be collected instead Of the note itself
and, as amended will be favOrably reported.
The committee on rights and privileges
decided to indefinitely postpone Mr.. Null
bill which fOrbids any Judge from accepting
a railroad pass, and the same action was
taken with Mr.. Kirkpatrick's bill. which
makes the same provision, but goes farther
and forbids any member Of the Legislature
from accepting q pass. Mr.. LOuttits bill
absolutely prohibiting the sale or giving
away of cigarettes within the State viii he
bin introduced by Mr.. Noel There will be a
minority report against this last bill signed