The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-01

u. OF |. TAX BILL KILLED
SOME OF THE ANTI-REFORMERS
.EvENED ON THIS

matter on winch any OTdlCIy was DroNO"tO
being the Roots bill for a state fee and sal
airy commission The matter was pretty
generally discussed before the bill was final
ly passed, and the principal objection
seemed TO come from the senators who
feared that IL would open a way not only to
favoritism to certain county officers but also
to bribery by county and township officers
to an unheard OF extent.
The indianapolis street-railway bill was
the first business to engage the attention
OF the Senate. and, while 1T finally passed
with only three opposing votes being re-
corded, the discussion of IL was warm and
consumed over an hour. Senator Corr
moved to have the bill made IA special or
der of business for this morning.. and this
precipitated the trouble. The Monroe coun-
ty man displayed considerable antipathy
toward the bill. and Senators Winfield and
Inman ranged themselves alongside of him.
fighting it alone to the end. although Sena-
tor Inman said that he did so not because
he was against the bill itself but because he
wanted to have it given more careful con-
sideration. All three professed a deep con-
Germ for the welfare of the people of Indian
apolis and expressed the belief that most
of the people of the city were not In favor
of the bill as it stood. Senator's Hawkins.
Newly and Nusbaum defended the bill and
held that the committee had carefully in
vestigated the situation and the public press
had given the bill the widest possible pub
licity. so that no senator could claim that
the bill was being railroaded through i'm the
dark. Speeches on both sides were made by
Senators Corr, New. Drummond and Hugg.
the latter three of whom supported the bill
vigorously.
Senator New said he realized that he had
to live the rest of his life in Indianapolis
and would he compelled TO bear the direct
consequences of his vote on the bill. He
said he had been intimately acquainted
since the first cars were operated here by
William II: English and AIr. C~atherwood,
and to his knowledge there had always been
dissatisfaction with the system. He said he
felt certain that no bill could be drafted
MhkSh NOusu sa'sIy every one, pul ne vas
IN favor or the present bill, because Ii left
the matter to be settled by the city author
tiles with certain proper limitations within
which they must make the contract with the
railway company. He denied that the COM
mercial Cub had held any meeting at which
adverse resolutions had been adopted re-
garding the bill. He said that the repre-
sentatives of the people who had to go be-
fore them on the strength OF their record
in the. present difficulty had given the bill
careful attention and approved il as the best
measure. all things considered. which had
been suggested.
CORR'S WILD CHARGES.
Senator Corr replied by a vigorous speech
against the passage of the bill. charging
that there was a gigantic job in the deal,
by which the alleged new company Is to be
given the franchise for the streets of the
city. He alleged that the new company
was in reality but a consolidation of the
two old companies, and it's purpose was to
bleed the city. He went to the length of
charging that members of the General AS
- --.~- .1-.r - " -
company. at which Senator HugS jumped
TO his feet. and with his voice quivering.
denied the charge, saying that he, In com
mon with the other Marion county senators
earnest thought, fully expecting To have TO
bear the penalty of their action. He said
that the bill was only designed to unite the
hands or the city so its officials could make
such a contract as would end the trouble
and litigation over the street car question.
He repudiated the charge made by Senator
Corr that he was interested in the deal by
saying that his only interest was I'm trying
to do the best thing for his home city. ac-
cordlng TO the light which God gave him.
Senator Drumrnond's defense OF the bill
and the Marion county delegation was a
mastery one. He said that it had become
quite the proper thing for some senators
TO cry Job" at everyone who supported a
measure and that the attitude assumed by
the Democratic senator's reminded him of
James Whitcomb Riley's poem about the
COLLINS who would catch everyone If they
didn't watch odt. He said that. as a member
of the committee on the affairs of the city
OF Indianapolis, he had studied the bill care
fully and If there was any job in Il he had
been unable TO find ii. He said the Marion
county senators were ready to stake their
regulations on II and probably knew what
was best for this city and the people who
were doing most Of the bowling had selfish
ends to gain in doing so. He said the peo-
pie of Indianapolis owed a debt of graft
tude to Senator Hugg which could never be
paid for his work in killing the claim made
by the street-railway companies that they
nTAEa n-nffn NnIar n 81.
Senator Hawkins called attention to the
fact that while the bill was receiving the
united support of the Republican representa-
tivcS and senators from Marion county, It's
purpose was TO give the power TO a Demo-
cratic city administration to make a con-
tract for the people and that therefore,
member. In connection with the bill. must
reflect directly on the Democratic city Off
Gals who must eventually make the real
contract with the company.
ONLY THREE NEGATIVE VOTES.
When the vote was taken Senators Corr,
Inman and Winfield opposed the passage of
the bill while the following supported it:
Agnew. Ball. Binkiey, Burns. Charles. Cul-
bert. Cregor. Drummond. Early. Gilbert,
Goar. Goehenour, Goodwine. Guthrie. Gill.
Gwin, Hawkins. Hogate. Hubbell. Hugg.
Heller, Horner, Johnson of Madison. Joss,
Reyes. Keeney. Kell. Lambert. LEIGH. Mil
Ter. Minor. New. Newly. Nusbaum. Os-
horne, O'Connor. Patten, Purcell. Ryan.
Shea. Stroup and Wood. The absentees
were Brooks, Campbell, Johnson OF JAY,
Legeman and Stilwell.
The special order on the Hammond har-
Dor bill took up the rest of the morning
session and went over until afternoon.
Senator Agnew asked to have the matter
held open until this morning I'm order that
he might advise with the people of HAM
mond as 10 what their opinion was as TO the
method of assessing damage and benefits
for tho harhaF Ono FaIpFf Of tho commit
tee specifies that the damages shall be paid
by the benehciaries. while another fixes it
on the county at large. Senator Gilbert
| called attention TO the fact that the Council
of Hammond. with Mayor Kelley, had
passed resolutions against the narDor and
said that in his opinion the most OF the peo-
pie were against the measure. He said IL
would cost nearly a million and "a half Of
dollars to build the harbor and the people OF
the county and city were alike against pay
ing the money required.
FEATURES OF HAMMOND BILL
Senator Wood. on the contrary. said tina:
the Hammond people wanted II.
After dinner Senator Drummond took NJ
the matter and called II one Of the most
"monstrous things ever before the Senate.
Tie called attention TO Section :. which speci-
lied that The benefits assessed shall be a
complete and valid lien upon all real estate,
highways. railroads and street railways de.
scribed as assessed. from and after the time
the aforesaid resolution is adopted. accept.
ing such a report and fling a copy thereof
IN the office OF the recorder or the county