The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-06
NOT IN CREG0R'S FAVOR
SENATE COMMITTEE, 1T IS SAID.
WILL DECIDE AGAINST HIM.
The House Gratihed with the Work
Accomplished Thus Far in the Ses-
sion-LegisIative Gossip.

It has been practically settled, so far as
the Senate elections committee is concerned,
that Senator Cregor is to be unseated, as
at least a majority of the committee Will
report f~avoring such a move on the part of
the Senate. There has as yet been no for
NAL consultation between the member of
the committee as a whole on this PROPOSE
ton, but the opinions expressed by one
senator to another have, when colleced,
proved this result to be inevitable.
AS far as the committee is concerned the
settlement of the rights of the two men
resolves Itself into the mathematical prob
lem OF figuring out the number of votes
proved to have been bought by either po-
itical party and Offsetting them against the
plurality Of thirty claimed by Cregor when
he was elected. This leaves the result in
favor of Stoner from any point Of view, as,
rejecting all the votes claimed to have been
bought. over which any controversy was
raised by the Cregorites, or in which there
was any element Of doubt, the deduction
shows that Stoner has a clean plurality Of
sixteen votes, while, if the shaky votes are
counted, the number will roll up to twenty.
While it is admitted that, in any event,
Cregor will be unseated, it is not, with equal
certainty, claimed that Stoner will be seat
ed in his place, but the inference to be
gathered is that he will be. inasmuch as the
mmit is averse to ordering a new cleo
ton. From reliable sources it is learned
that Stoner's chances ARE pretty even for
getting into a senatorial seat. The report
of the committee will not be filed until the
middle of the week.
Senator Gilbert's bill to reorganize the
National Guard by dividing the State into
regimental districts, practically along the
same lines as the old organization, taking
the first regiment from the southern part of
the State, the second from the center, the
fourth from the northeast and the third
from the extreme north, was suggested by
the senator, as an old guardsman, over the
plan submitted by the state officials.
GOVERNOR MOUNTS PLAN.
The Governors plan was TO take a COM
pany for each regiment from each con-
gressional district, as nearly as possible,
starting at the first district and going over
the list, taking a company each time until
the regiment was filled and beginning the
draft for the next regiment where the first
one left off. The chief objection to this
plan among military men familiar with the
guard of this State was that the system
destroyed regimentaI and sectional pride.
which has been proved TO be the handspring
of the organization. AS an instance of its
workings It was said that the Third Regi-
ment originated and developed in the north
ern part of the State, and the people of
that section feel a personal interest in the
regiment which could not be shared by any
other organization formed to take its place.
Following out this line of reasoning, II was
shown that the people of South Bend could
not be expected to a any active interest
though 1t might be in the same regiment
with a South Bend company, while the pres
ence of possibly four companies, represent
ing as many regiments in one district
would, 1t was thought, kill public interest in
all of them. Moreover. it was felt that it
would be almost impossible to attempt any
thing more than company drill at any time
except once a year when in camp, with the
result that battalion and regimental officers
would not become acquainted with all the
companies in their commands and discipline
would suffer thereby.
WHAT HOUSE HAS ACCOMPLISHED.
With half of the session gone, the MEM
bers of the House feel satisfied over the
amount of work they have done. When the
gavel fell Saturday 494 bills had been intro
duced into the House, not counting the
Senate bills which have come over for ac-
ton. OF the strictly House bills 81 have been
passed and % defeated. Those which nave
been killed number 1870 and six have been
withdrawn. Two are on as a special order
and for one consideration has been post
poned. The committees have favorably re-
ported 106 bills and there are yet in the
hands of the different committees for action
10 bills.
The last week has seen organized labor
recognized in the House and nearly all the
bills it desired passed have been passed. The
bill to require the licensing of engineers
makes it unlawful for any person to have
charge of or operate a steam boiler or en-
gine, except locomotive boilers and engines,
boilers in private residences, boilers used
under the, jurisdiction of the United States,
boilers used for agricultural purposes ex-
c~lusively, boilers of less than twenty horse
power and boilers used for heating purposes
only, provided with a device approved by
the chief inspector, limiting the pressure
carried to forty pounds TO the square inch,
unless he holds q license. Every person who
has been an engineer or fireman for three
years last passed is entitled to a certificate
effect is required from his employer. To Sc
cure a license application must be made to
the chief inspector of the department of in
spection and the license snail be granted
after due examination. This license shall be
in force for two years, when a renewal is
necessary. The fee for the license is fixed at
81 and for the renewal 81. Any person dis
satisfied with the action of the m
shall nave the right of appeal to the chief
inspector and two deputy inspectors who
shall constitute the board of appeal. The
penalty for q violation Of the act is a fine
of 500 and imprisonment of thirty days or
both. A bill on somewhat the same lines is
That providing Tor the Inspection OF al steam
boilers and the issuing of certificates for
those approved by the inspector. These i'm
spections shall not be made oftener than
twice a year and the inspector is given full
powers to make regulations as to the
amount of steam that shall be carried on
any boiler. The bill which was desired by
organized labor as to changes in the exist
ing law was passed by the House as it came
from the joint committee which met with
representative from the labor organizations
and has now gone to the Senate.
The greatest rush is probably over and
it is expected that this week the county and
township bills, the educational bill and the
election bill will come up. These are among
the most important measures that the Legis-
lature will act on and are in accordance
with the pledges of both parties. county
and township reform Will be acted on in the
Senate before they are taken up in the
House and the first battle will be in the
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