The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-14

holders, with the result that the favorable
report was adopted
The other bill provided that the amount
Que on life insurance policy should be COL
lectable in event that the insured COM
mitted suicide at any time after the issu-
ance of the policy or died by an involuntary
act Of his own hand and that prohibitive
clauses in life insurance policies, specifying
that in event of suicide the policy shall not
be collectable, be declared void
NEWLY AGAINST IT.
Senator Newly, as chairman of the insur-
ance committee. spoke against the bill. al
leging that it would give man the legal
right to buy a policy in one hour and DELHI
erately commit suicide during the next
hour and enable his heirs to collect the
money. The sentiment of most of the SEN
ators was favorable to the bill, however,
and the report of the committee favoring
its passage was adopted
Senator WinfieId's bill to compel railroad
companies to employ at least one brakeman
on all passenger trains and two on freight
committee. with a majority against its pas
sage. Senator Winfield. in asking that the
minority report be adopted. said the present
tendency among railroad managers was to
take advantage of the safety appliances
with which modern trains are equipped. and
wherever it was found TO be at all possible,
to cut down the number of brakemen en-
ployed on each train He said such a course
would be unsafe, not only for the railway
employees, but for the travelling public as
well. Senator Hawkins opposed the BILL say
ing that the railroads knew better what
number of brakemen We're necessary to
properly handle a train than the senators
possibly could, and that in his opinion, no
serious accidents hat resulted from the en-
ployment of an insufficient number of en-
pIoyeS. The vote of p to ID in favor of the
DILL showed, however, that most of the SEN
ators present did not agree with the Marion
county senator, and the minority report.
recommending the passage of the bill was
adopted
Senator CampbelTs bill to prohibit county
commissioners from granting electric rail-
roads the right of way over public high
ways, was reported unfaVorably by the
committee on railroads, but Senator Ryan
asked and was given permission to send in
a belated minority report recommending the
passage of the bill for the purpose of bring
ing 1t before the Senate for discussion. Sen
ators Ryan, Gill and Drummond favored
the passage of the bill on the ground that
1t would be unjust to allow electric railways
to use the public highways while compell-
ing steam roads to buy rights of way. They
held that the laying of electric tracks would
ruin the roads for driving purposes, and, by
frightening horses would render it practi-
cally impossible for women to drive over
them in safety. Senator Agnew held a con-
rary view. and, with Senator Gilbert, said
that concessions given to electric railways
always worked good to the public by COM
peting with the steam roads. with the re-
suit that III most cases fares between towns
were cut in two. Senator Gilbert asserted
that II the county commissioners were to be
prompted from granting rights of way to
electric companies and these companies
would be compelled to purchase rights of
way. it would mean the abandonment of the
plans for building many roads now con-
templated and in process of construction. 1t
report, which recommended the passage of
the bill.