The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-07
SPANISH WAR INSCRIPTION
RESOLUTION FOR ONE on THE SOL
DIERs' AND SAILORS MONUMENT.
House Session Devoted to Unim-
pOrtant MatterS-ApprOpriat ton
for Session Expenses.

were presented. The House wranged over
minor matters, and the only bill presented
was passed. 1t provided for the expense of
the session. Both branches adjourned until
Monday afternoon at o'clock
The senators reported promptly on time
yesterday morning, and, judging from the
speed with which business was conducted,
every one came prepared to dispose of ev-
erything as soon as possible and start for
home. The session lasted only about an
hour, but in that time bills and resolutions
were handed out with such rapidity that
the pages were out of breath from running
up and down the aises carrying the docu-
nents from the senators to the clerk In
almost less time that it requires to tell it
sixteen bills were handed out, read and
signed to committees. The judiciary com
mittee not yet appointed, received all OF
them but one and that went to the commit
tee on prisons.
In order to facilitate the process sof put
ting matters to conclusion. all formalities
which could be dispensed with were ignored,
in accordance with a notion and NO OBJ
struction was offered to getting business be-
fore the Senate and having it disposed of
according to the rules. The first business
came up in the shape of resolution
offered by Senator Hubbell providing for
the placing of a suitable inscription
on the soldiers and sailors monument in
this city in commemoration of the part
taken by Indiana soldiers in the Spanish
war 1t was adopted.
Senator Gochenour moved that when the
Senate adjourn that the time for reassem-
bling be fixed at 10 o'clock Monday morn
ing, but Senator Hubbell offered as an
amendment that the hour be changed to
o'clock, in order to allow members living in
remote localities to spend Sunday at home
and return in time for the opening of the
session. This was agreed to, and then the
bills began to rain into the reading clerk s
hands. Senator Hawkins handed up three
in succession. The first provided that
whenever the office of q justice of the peace
becomes vacant all his dOckets, papers and
books must be turned over to the nearest
active justice in the same township, and in
case there is no other justice In the same
township they must be given to the next
nearest justice in the county, the justice re-
ceiving the property to hold it until the
successor of the justice has been elected
and qualified and in case none such official
has been elected during three years from
the time of the rendition of the last Judg-
ment, the records of the office, together
with all property. shall be turned over to
the clerk of the Circuit Court. This bill is
evidently intended to obViate such situa-
tionS as arose recently in this city, when
Justice Habich refused to give up his office
after his term expired, for the expressed
reason that his successor had not qualified.
Senator Hawkins's next bill was one re-
quiring that the number of justices of the
peace in each township be regulated by the
county commissioners, ana that the num-
Der shall not exceed two in each township
One additional justice will be allowed for
each Incorporated town in townships and
two for cities in addition to those regularly
elected for the township. with the provision
that in no case shall the number in each
or over is located in such township. The
last section of the bill requires that all JUS
tees must keep their offices open every day
i'm the year except Sundays and legal holi-
days.
ONE OF TOWNSHIP BILLS.
The third bill has to do with township
trustees. and provides that trustees shall
examine and settle all accounts against the
township; shall keep an accurate account
with the township, which shall be arranged
so as to show all amounts received and
paid out on account of the different sepa-
rate funds and to whom paid. All accounts
must be filed as vouchers and reported to
the county board, along with the regular
annual settlement. An affidavit shall be
required with each statement. In addition
to this, trustees shall receive from justices
in the township all docket lees collected
during each quarter, the trustee paying
the justices their annual salary from the
funds in his possession.
Senator Horner presented a bill authOriZ-
ing county commissioners to appoint boards
of childrens' guardians, making them bodies
corporate able 10 sue and be sued, III al
dren have been built or acquired. The board
is to consist of twelve people, and women
will be eligible to membership All members
of such boarcs 20 serve without compensa-
ton.
Senator Lambert offered a bill authoriz-
ing the Governor to appoint a commission
or Of hold office
four years, ana whose duties will be to eX
anime al, rivers and lakes, with a view to
ascertaining what may be needed to pro-
tect and propagate the fishes in them, and
10 whatever lna be required to foster the
breeding Of game birds and animals The
bill provides that the commissioner shall be
endowed with all TIC powers of township
trustees and road supervisors and is Vir-
tually an expansion OF the present act
under which the fish commissioner acts, CIV
ing him more power TO act in emergencies.
CITY AND TOWN IMPROVEMENTS
Senator Brooks introduced two bills. One
provides for the improvement of streets in
cities and towns. 1t provides that the coun-
ellis and town trustees are to establish all
grades and specify the kind of sidewalks TO
be laid III front OF property and may ar
range for Jne mani er of the payment for
the walks. IN case Il property owners re-
fuse 10 have tire vCrh done when the coun-
Gil decides it is necessary to improve the
walks of street the Council is TO have the
power to orGer the work done and have the
bill for l. el tered OF the tax duplicate as
ii lieE against the pIOleIty. The other bllI
nroviGtS that z cities OF towns where there
are daily papers printed il may be lawful to
give the municipal or county advertising or
printing To a weekly paper instead Of neCeS-
salhy 10 the daily par ers. The only question
to be C<,nS5OeIet i'll awarding the work IS
that the laper must Lave general crcula-
tiol IN tie district
Senator Burns submitted a bill providing
EFT1t cts INN
ments or repairs TO pubic buildings, the
contractors must taInish to the city, county
or state having the work done, a sattsIac-
tory Gt nd for the payment OF all wages or
other bills contracted in the performance OF
the work. This measure apples 70 subcon-
tractors as well TO those to whom the
| contracts are originally awarded.
Senator Purcell. IL his BILL provides that
| whoever injuries or destroys any property of
any description belonging 10 an electric
| company; who hampers with meters or di-
Verts the current from wire owned by q.
company without consent 10 do so, may be
| imprisoned for not more than one year and
/ be fined $ltO
Senator Lambert asked to have a bill
| adopted providing for the erection of an
| asylum for the iacurable insane to cost $l2O,-
! 00 and to be located within three miles of
| Columbus 1t is to be governed by a board
! of three trustees TO be appointed by the
! Cox ernor. and that TO defray the cost OF
erection, an appropriation Of $4,000 be made
| for 1899 and an equal amount for 1900
Senator Culhert introduced the bill drafted
some time ago by joint action of the prison
board the State Board of Charities and rep
resentatives of the Federation Of Labor. II
provides a method for employing the con-
| victs In the Michigan City prison on State