The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-13
COMMITTEES BUSY
BILLS BEING Considered FOR PRE-
LIMINARY ACTION on THEM.
-1-
Favorable Report to BE Made on the
Measure to- Place COnvicts
on Farm.
THE CAPITOL BED CHAMBERS
LOWER BRANCH DISCUSSES THIS
LODGING-HOUsE FEATURE.
A Measure Aimed at determination of
the English SparrOw-BiIIs
Introduced.


The present Legislature seems impressed
with the Importance of proceeding promptly
in the dispatch of the State of Indiana's
business. The first few days found a large
grist of bills. The House and Senate have
not turned attention to the consideration of
these measures and the committees are par
ticularly busy. Yesterday both branches
adjourned, after morning session, for the
day, in order to give the committees OPP
portunity to act
The House committees spent a busy after
noon, although final reports were formu-
lated on but few bills. The county and
township business committee has so many
bills already referred to it that it will be
impossible for all to be considered in full
committee. The committee was divided into
two committees yesterday afternoon, and
on the first subcommittee Mr.. Artman, Mr..
Huff, Mr.. Titus and Mr.. Null will serve.
The second subcommittee consists of Mr..
Reser, AIr. Blankenship, Mr.. Green and Mr..
Somers. A large number of bills relating to
trustees were taken up, but the committee
decided to consider no bill on this and kim
dred topics until after the general bin on
the subject of county and township reform
shall have been presented.
The bill Of Mr.. Burrier, providing for a
reduction in the maximum township tax
levy subsidy to railroads from per cent. to
one-half of l per cent, will be favorably re-
ported. The amount realized will be prac-
tically the same as originally contemplated
by the law, as the increase in the taxable
value of the property has been such that the
aggregate will be the same. The bill by Mr..
40
for payment of taxes from November to
December, will also be favorably reported.
The same bin was passed at the last ses-
sion, but failed to pass the Senate by rea-
son of the rush at the close of the session.
The bill by Mr.. Ross, providing for the af-
fixing of the assessors stamp to all notes,
caused a division in the committee. No
final action was taken on it, as some of the
members desired time to examine it.
CONVICT LABOR BILL.
The committee on state prison had the
most prolonged discussion of the afternoon
over the bill introduced by Mr.. Shideler,
which provides for the adoption of the New
York plan at the state prison in the lease
of lands near the prison and the Warming
of it by portion of the cOnvlcts. The bill
as presented provides that the institution
shall be supplied with the products of the
farm and that any surplus shall be sold in
the open market. This sale of products in
the open market was vigorously opposed by
Mr. Herrold and Mr.. Furness. Their con-
tention was that the farmers should not
come into competition with the farm Of the
prison. This contention was argued at
length The suggestion was made that the
surplus products should be sold to the other
state institutions, but il did not meet ap-
to the bill which provided that the surplus
should not be sold in the markets OF Mich
gau City as it was claimed that ample
market would be found in Chicago. This
solution was not satisfactory in all ways,
and the amendment was reconsidered, and
the majority of the committee decided TO
req ort the bill favorably as it was original
ly drawn. The report was not signed by
Mr.. HeTrold or Mr.. Furness.
The bill of Mr.. Furness for the State to
buy each paroed prisoner suit of cloth
ing ard IN winter an oVercoat, to give him
$40 in money and n ticket to any point not
farther than the point from which he was
received at the prison was considered and
will be favorably reported.
The judiciary committee had a vast
an cunt of work before it. The bill to pre-
velt the construction of bridges by county
commissioners except by competitive bidding
will be faVorably reported. The same action
was taken on the bill to permit the State
to bring injunction proceedings without Civ
ing bond. The bill to increase the pay of
court stenographers was indefinitely post
pOned. All the other matters before the
committee were divided among the members
for personal inspection and report
The committee has set apart next Wednes-
day evening to receive a large delegation
of Newton county people who Will be for
and against the bill to change the county
seat from Kentland to Morocco.
The committee on rights and privileges
took NC final action, but spent its time in
a discussion CT the bills referred TO it. The
bin which forbids the making of any con-
tract or note payable in either gold or sill
yer specifically caused a division in the COM
mittee. and on that the committee was
equally divided. No action was taken and
the bin will be further considered.
The committee on education heard Mr..
Madden on his bill TO abolish the position
of truant officer. No action was taken on
the bill, and the other bills were given out
among the members
The committee on agriculture decided on
but one BILL and that will be favorably re-
ported. 1t is the bill which makes Prof.
Houston of Purdue University. the state
chemist and provides for chemical analysis
of fertilizers in order TO purify commercial
fertilizers in the State.
The committees on printing and on cities
and towns took no action. but merely di-
vided up the work among the members.