The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-23
SOME HOUSE MEASURES
WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY
THE LEGISLATORS.
Bills that Are Pending-FIOwers and
WOman's suRrage-story About the
Pages-LegisIative Gossip.

duced into the House a total of 3QS bills
This is not including resolutions which have
been referred OF the 30S bills introduced,
the committees have acted on IS and there
are yet in the hands Of the committees I63
bills. OF the 145 acted on, twenty-five have
been passed and five have been defeated.
The committees have buried fifty nine by
recommendations Of indefinite pos,ponenent
In which the House concurred and there
are now pending fifty-three recommended
Tor passage. On bill has been leccmmitted
with instructions TO the committee to bring
in favorable report. One has been with
drawn and one has been made a. special or
der There are now on the desks of the
members forty-four printed bills awaiting
action. Taking into consideration the fact
mat the first fourteen days of the session
We're halliday sessions only and that the
senatorial contest interfered so materially
with the business at the outset, the record
made by the House thus FAR is creditable.
The members evince a disposition to at
tend to the work in hand and the different
attempts towards political displays and
buncombe resolutions have not been well
received by the majority of the members.
The various amendments to the Constitu-
ton meet the same untimely fate for no
amendment can now be considered. This will
be a particularly hard blow to the advocates
of woman's suffrage who have been active
IN advocating their amendment. The ladies
nave been especially kind to Mr.. Blanken-
ship who presented the amendment they
desired incorporated in the Constitution and
there has been scarcely a day but that his
desk has been adorned with handsome
mowers from some of the ladies or organ-
ization friendly to woman suffrage. But
those advocating it have failed to examine
the law on the subject. Their desire for
immediate action cannot be gratifed be-
cause of Section 2, of Article &c. of the Con-
stitution which says: IF two or more
amendments shall be submitted at the same
time, they shall be submitted in such man
ner that the electors shall vote for or
against each Of such amendments sepa-
rately; and while an amendment or amend
ments which shall have been agreed upon
by one General Assembly; shall be awaiting
the action of a succeeding General AS
sembly, or of the electors, no additional
amendment or amendments shall be pro-
posed
MAY STOP DECORATION.
Unfortunately for the further decoration
of Mr.. Blankenships desk by flowers from
the ladies' the last General Assembly passed
two proposed amendments to the Constitu-
ton. These amendments will be submitted
to this Legislature and if a majority of
members vote therefor they shall be submit
ted to a vote of the people, Until the vote
is taken on these amendments in the pres
ent General Assembly no other amendments
can be proposed, according to the Constitu-
tion. If the amendments should be rejected
by the present assembly, other amendments
would be in order, but if the present Gen
eral Assembly ratifies them, which will be
the probable action, no further amendments
can be proposed at this session, as the Con-
stitutiOn forbids further proposals of amend
ments until the people shall have acted on
those approved by two General Assemblies.
Among the pending bills which have
passed the committee is the bill by Mr..
Bonham, which is greatly desired by the
merchants and professional men. 1t pro-
vides that any person who shall purchase
or obtain raiment from any wholesale or re-
tail store or from any firm person or cor
poration, or shall solicit the services of any
professional man or firm with the intent to
defraud The person from whom the bene-
fits shall have been received, shall be sub
Ject to fine not TO exceed $25 and to inn
priSOnment III the county jail or WorkhOuse
not to exceed sixty days or both. 1t also
gives to the person from whom the goods
or services shall have been secured, after
demand for payment and refusal. lien on
the personal property and wages of the per
son securing the goods or services, and the
right to have them sold, after due judgment
shall have been taken in court of law, to
satisfy the claim. number of petitions
have been received from various parts of the
State praying for the passage of this bill,
as the merchants claim the hotel keepers,
mechanics and others are protected against
dead beats by the law, and the mer-
chants and professional men are the only
ones who are at the mercy OF this class
A bill which has caused a vigorous study
of law among the members who are attor-
news is that by Mr. Louttit. which makes
it unlawful for any corporation, company,
firm or person to sell, barter, furnish or
give away, directly or indirectly, any Gig
arctic, cigarette wrappers or any substitute
for either, and providing fine OF from $40
to $50 for the first offense and of from US
To $500 for any subsequent offense, to which
may be added imprisonment in the county
iail for period not to exceed sixty days.
The idea of the bill meets with general APP
prevail and the question which arises is
whether or not absolute prohibition is con-
stitutional in the State. On this point the
members differ. The third section OF the
bill provides for a repeal of all laws in con-
fict with the provisions of this act. A num-
Der Of the members spent Saturday after
noon I'm the law library investigating the
consttutionality of the act and the further
the investigation proceeded the more COM
pick did the question become. No decision
was found having been handed down in this
State bearing directly on the question ana
the decisions in other States are on both
sides OF the question Inc greater nuInDer
of decisions hold that absolute prohibition
is constitutional and Cooley gives to the
legislature the right to prohibit that which
is to the detriment of the health or welfare
of the people. Other authorities We're found
who do not hold to this view and whose rul-
ings are directly opposed to this view. me
members agreed on one point only and that
was that if this bill should become law
and a legal contest would result 1t would
raise an exceedingly fine point of law which
would be open to contest. The next ques-
ton which confronted them was whether
or not the repeating clause would not throw
down all laws restricting the sale of Gig
arettes which are now in force and
whether or not this bill is so
interviewer that should part of
ii be held unconstitutional. the re-
pealing section would be held to be in force.
Yesterday was devoted to a further search
of authorities and decisions, and the ques-
ton of the passage of the bill will prob
ably rest on the constitutionality of Ii. Mr..
I.outtit the author of the bill, could not be
found Saturday evening or yesterday and
il is supposed that he went to his home
for Sunday. What authorities he consulted
and on what the bill as framed is based
could not be learned. When il comes UP
for passage the House will probably re-
semble q court OF law in the legal argu-
ments which viii be made. The great ma
jority of members are opposed to the use
or sale of cigarettes. and the moral ques-
ton will not enter largely into the discus
sion of the bill.
SOME OF THE HOUSE PAGES.
Not the least interesting figures in the
House are the pages. and in particular one
bright little fellow who is the smallest of
the bunch. In his haste to jump from his