The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-14
HOLD APRIL TERM OPEN
GOVERNOR LIKE SPEAKERS sUG-
GEsTION AS TO TOWNSHIP LAW.
Another Serious Error Discovered,
This Time I'm the New Trust
Company Law.

No action of any kind was taken yester-
day TO expedite the publication Of the re-
Gently enacted laws other than the meas
ures which had already been adopted by the
secretary of state. The questions which
may arise in the event the acts are not pub
lished before the close of the April terms
of Circuit Courts in so far as the appoint
ments Of the members of the first advisory
councils for the townships are concerned are
still unsettled and the attorney generals
department is not yet prepared 10 render an
opinion.
Secretary Of State Hunt said yesterday
he thought the construction Of the law as
made by Speaker Littleton was the correct
one. This was to the effect that the circuit
judge could make the appointment during
the April term if the law should go into
effect while the term was in session He
further stated that he expected the procla-
nation would be issued between the middle
of April and the LIST of May, and he could
see no reason to make more extraordinary
efforts than the office is now putting forth.
The force in the office is now working at
night, and Mr.. Hunt says the greatest de-
lay will come in the mechanical part of the
work and in the reading of the proof. He,
Mr. Conner and Mr.. Burrier are all eX-
perienced in reading proof, and he thinks
they can get the laws out in ample time.
He Is satisfied the law will be tested in the
courts, anyhow, and does not believe any
court Will seek for q reason to overthrow
law of that kind. He will not put on any
additional force unless otherwise advised,
and as yet he can see no reason 10 do so.
The force in the secretary of states office
is greatly handicapped by the many requests
for certified copies of bills. The office is
nearly flooded with these requests, and the
bills most in demand are those relating TO
commissioners having plans and speciica-
tons on file for all public contracts, which
was introduced by Mr.. Roose; the bill con-
corning shorthand reporters. which was in
troduced by Mr.. Willoughby, and Senator
Hugg's bill on contributory negligence. The
demand for these bills IS greater than the
demand for all others combined, and the
stenographer in the office is kept busy MAX
ing the copies desired.
Governor Mount deems the construction
of the township bill by MIR. Littleton the
correct one. and he considers his suggestion
that the circuit judges hold the April term
open until the proclamation is issued the
best one made. Auditor Hart is still of the
opinion that the work should be pushed and
possible. Secretary Of State Hunt does not
think ii possible to get them out by that
time. Mr.. Hart and Mr.. Brown, clerk of
the Supreme Court, are both experienced
newspaper men and accustomed to reading
proof, and both OF them stated yesterday
that they would be willing to go to work
reading the proof of the bills in order to
get them out.
This year there are 25S bills and five joint
and concurrent resolutions to go in the ses-
sion acts. A large number of these have
already been set up and are in type. W. b.
Burford, public printer, said last evening
he could not say how long il would take
him to get the acts out until he had con-
suited with the secretary of state, and he
mad not talked with him since the questions
The greatest delay, he said, will be in the
reading, of the proof and the marginal notes
times In the secretary's office and the mar
ginal notes and the indexing are both pre-
pared there. Mr.. Burford was unable TO
make any surmise as TO when the laws
would be out.