The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-24
Measures Including Both Do Not Fare
Well at the Hands of the
Legislators.
BOTH BILLS ARE KILLED
SPARROW BILL PASSED TO THIRD
READING IN THE HOUSE.
Committee Meetings Last Night-Bnr-
MISUNDERSTANDING Matters.

Yesterday afternoon the House promptly
killed the bill presented by Mr.. Bonham
providing for the protection of retail and
wholesale merchants and professional men
against dead beats" During the morning
session the bill was read the second time
and passed to engrossment. 1t provided that
a person purchasing food, raiment or mer-
chandise from any one or procuring the
services of a professional man with intent
to defraud should be subject to a fine of
not more than $50 and imprisoned in the
county Jail or wOrkhouse for not to exceed
sixty days, or both. 1t further provided that
the person from whom the goods or services
were secured should have lien on the per-
sonal property and wages of the person
who secured them and that the property
might be sold. The bill was greatly desired
by many business men and they have
worked faithfully for it's passage
AS soon as the afternoon session COM
menced Mr.. Huff moved to reconsider the
vote by which it was passed to third read
ing He said that the passage of this act
would vitiate all exemption laws. A mer-
chant is not compelled to sell goods on credit
and he does so at his own risk He said
that under the terms of this bin man
might not have one cent of his wages left
and it should be killed at the present stage.
He further said that if this bill passed many
storekeepers would lead men to go into debt
to them and encourage it.
Mr.. Lief said the business men had asked
him not to vote for it. Mr.. Downey claimed
it was contrary to the bill of riEts" and
read Article g. Mr.. Noel said that as re-
CARDS exemption, this bill gives no greater
power than do the present laws, but he
doubted the wisdom of giving a lien on per-
sonal property. Mr.. Knots pronounced the
bill adroitly drawn and dangerous. Mr.
Blankenship said it was the most vicious
bill ever presented to the Legislature and
that lit was brought in the interests of the
wholesale merchants. who form the most
gigantic trust ever in the State" He said
the people should be protected instead of the
classes. Mr.. King said it was drawn like the
hotel law, but that the business was differ
ent and he was opposed to it. Mr.. Brown
moved the previous question and Mr. Bon
ham, the author of the bill, was permitted
to close the debate. He claimed that it was
not unconstitutional and said that it did not
affect the honest man, but was aimed at
the dead beat" The vote was reconsid-
cred with but one or two opposing votes
and the bill was then unanimously killed
Not single vote was cast to save it from
death
THE KILLING OF SPARRoWS.
Mr.. Downey's bill for bounty to be paid
for the killing of English sparrows came up
ON second reading. Mr.. Willoughby sent in
an amendment providing that sparrows
shall not be brought into the State for the
purpose of being killed. This was taken as
a huge joke by the members and was so
treated. After it had been tabled Mr.. Will
loughby arose with another amendment pro-
viding that the birds should not be taken
into county to be killed. Mr.. Willoughby
explained that these amendments were not
jokes but were in good faith. He further
explained that birds might be imported into
the State, and the members accepted his
view of it and adopted his second amend
ment Mr. kirkpatrick tried to Kill the bill
by having the enacting clause stricken out
Mr.. Louttit argued for the bill on the
grounds that the SparroWs have driven out
all other birds. Mr.. Cunningham said they
eat all grain and everything except the bugs
and insects they ought to eat. The motion
to table the attempt to strike out the enact
ing clause was carried. The bill was then
amended so as to strike out the clause pro-
viding that the commissioners should pay
the bounty, and the provision was inserted
that the county auditor should do so. A fine
of from $25 to 500 was provided in case
other heads than sparrow heads were pre-
scented. Mr. Durham wanted to make the
bounty two cents instead of one, but failed
in the attempt. Mr.. Galley again attempted
to kill the bill, but his motion was tabled
and the bill passed to the third reading.
Mr.. Cravens's bill providing that the guar
dian of a person of unsound mind may bring
suit in the name of his ward for divorce
aroused quite storm. Mr.. Wiloughby
tried to kill the BILL and said that he did
not believe in any law which makes divorce
easier. lie claimed that an insane person
cannot tell whether he or she wants a di-
vorce or not. He believed in making it
harder to secure divorces and declared that
the nrpSpnt law is right in not permitting
divorces on account of insanity. He said
that a guardian may abuse such power and
may want to get rid of one of the parties
because of property involved. The laws now
protect the property rights of such persons,
he said. Mr.. Brown advocated the bill ana
Mr.. Clark raised the point that IL would
be possible for dishonest guardian to enter
into collision with the party OF unsound
mind. Mr.. Clements asserted that the Dill Is
intended to correct the abuses now arising
from distribution of rents and incomes from
like sources. He cited a case or a man VINO
sane wife. The husband and his paramour
are living on rents received from the wife's
property. Mr.. Knots suggested bill to fit
cases like that, but which should not be so
open in it's provisions. The motion to kill
the bill was lost by a vote of IL yeas to AZ
nays and the bill was passed to third read
ing by vote of % yeas to 80 nays.
THE BEET SUGAR MEASURE
The bill providing for the payment of
bounty on sugar beets and beet sugar mar
the motion to kill it, and said, in support
of his motion, that it is the business of Pur-
due University to experiment and see if the
sugar beet can be probably raised in this
State If So it will be raised. Mr.. Murphy,
of White, said that sugar is made by
wealthy companies and this would be
bounty to them. Mr. Furness contended
that the bill is not drawn in the interest Of
the farmer or of the manufacturer or of
any particular class of people, but for oil
the people. He said that all surrounding
States pay this bounty. and the only way
that Indiana can get this industry is TO pay
a bounty also. A plant costs $4,000 and it
takes time to learn how to raise these bee.s
The bill provides that no bounty shall be
paid until the sugar is on the market
Mr. Somers said he could see nothing in
the bill of benefit TO the farmers, and he
considered it dangerous proposition for
him. Mr.. Ross was of the opinion that the
bill should pass, but that it should be
amended. Mr.. Glossbrenner advocated it,
and Mr. Barlow favored it because, he said.
| II would bring in people and he wanted them
! belief in taxing the people for the benefit Of
! corporations, and Mr.. Blankenship declared
/ that he could see in this measure the fine
| Italian hand of Nelson Morris who owns
! thousands of acres OF land i'm the Kankakee
! valley" Mr.. Knots favored the BILL but
| Mr.. Whitcomb. of this city. stopped further
| speeches by moving the previous question.
| The motion TO kill was lost by vote OF Al
/ aX es to 49 noes.
| Mr. Clements grew facetious and sent up
/ an amendment which provided that a
/ bounty OF 2 cents a head should be paid for
/ all dead beats raised in Indiana. IL was
| declared out of order By the speaker. Be
1 erre ANY, further 9ptton c0uld be taken the