The Indianapolis journal., 1899-01-17
WASTE OF GAS IS ONE OF THEM
MIR. KNOTS, OF HAMMOND, SPEAKS
AGAINST THE RoBY FEATURE.
Unique Motion of Mr.. O'BannOn-ParI1
Commission Bill IntrOduced-Gen-
eraI House Proceedings.


Of the afternoon came over the second read
ing of the innocent-looking bill by Mr.. Bar
low, of Hendricks.
The bill declares that, in addition to such
public nuisances as are now recognized by
law, any repeated, successive continued or
continuous violation of a penal or criminal
statute of Indiana by any persons partner
ship, association OF persons, corporation or
corporations shall be pubic nuisance. The
bill further says that in addition to the
remedies already provided for the abate
ment of public nuisances. any nuisance may
be abated by an action for injunction
brought by the attorney general in the
name of the State or by any citizen of the
State on the relation of the State and in
proceedings of this character no bond shall
be required. Mr.. Knots, of Hammond as
soon as the bill was read the second time,
sent UP an amendment striking out those
sections regarding the injunction feature and
made an impassioned speech against the ap-
plicatiOn of injunctions to such cases He
was interrupted by Mr.. Roose of Eikhart
who asked if this law did not apply to the
Roby race track Mr. Knots admitted that
it did, but he said he was opposed to a gov
ernment by injunction, and he stood as
good Republican. This sentiment was loud
ly applauded by the Democrats, and Mr..
Knots further said that this bill was the
most radical step which has ever been
taken in the direction of government by in
junction. Nearly every member had some
thing to say on it, and it developed that the
bill was aimed at the Roby track and at the
waste of natural gas. Those who were op-
posed to the bill were given free leeway in
their remarks and then the House almost
unanimously voted to lay Mr.. Knottss
amendment on the table. Mr.. Huff, of
Daviess county, next sent in an amendment
striking out the emergency clause on the
grounds that it should not apply to pending
litigation, as the bill provides. Mr.. Eichhorn
opposed this amendment and declared that
about the only concern in the State which
repeatedly violates the law is the Roby race
track. He also spoke of the constant waste
of natural gas. Mr.. Knots replied that the
Roby race track is permitted by law to run
forty-tive days in the year. and the last
year it only ran thirty. Mr. Blankenship
did not understand the question before the
House and commenced to speak on an ir-
relevant subject when. Mr. Huff insisted
that he be called to order. Mr.. Blankenship
quickly grasped the point and said that "a
motion to strike out the emergency clause
is always the agency of the tricksters" He,
therefore, moved to lay the amendment on
the table and this was done by a vote of 55
ayes to II noes. Mr.. Knots made the last
attempt by moving to strike out the enact
ing clause, but this motion was promptly
laid on the table by motion of Mr.. Artman,
and the bill was ordered engrossed for
third reading and final passage. 1t can only
be amended by unanimous consent when it
comes up for passage.
FOR PAROLED PRISONERS
The bill by Mr.. Furness, providing for
the giving of clothing and money to pa
rolled prisoners was so amended as to bar
prisoners who receive clothing when pa
rolled, and they shall not receive the legal
allowance when finally discharged The
bill to require county commissioners to have
specifications of bridge contracts on file and
to let the contracts by competitive bidding
was so amended as to require commissions
ers to advertise in two papers for three
weeks, instead of in one for six weeks
Mr.. Glossbrenner, of this city, presented
resolution which provides that the House
ShaH nominate and vote for the United
States senator at II o'clock noon to-day.
Speaker Littleton said that his ruling of a
similar resolution the other day to be out
of order was an error, and he had since
looked up the question, The resolution was
adopted and Mr.. GloSsbrenner then ex-
planned that the Senate has fixed 1890 this
morning as the hour when the vote for SEN
ator will be taken there, and he moved that
a committee be appointed to invite the Sen
ate to attend the House at noon to-day and
witness the casting of the vote. Mr.. Eich-
horn objected, and said that such a resou-
tion is unnecessary, as the members of the
Senate are at liberty to attend any session
of the House they please. and he moved to
lay the motion on the table. Mr.. EichhOrns
motion was lost by a vote of 38 noes to 27
ayes and the resolution of invitation was
adopted. Mr.. Glossbrenner and Mr.. Cra-
Vens, of Monroe, were named as the COM
mittee.
THE STATE OF THE UNION"
Mr.. OBannon, of Harrison, electrified the
members by q unique motion. 1t was to
the effect that on Saturday next the House
should resolve itself into a committee of
the whole to consider the "State of the
Union" Mr.. Littleton said he did not un-
derstand such a resolution, and he did not
know whether or not it was in order Mr..
OBannon said that the national House of
Representatives frequently resolves itself
into a committee of the whole to consider
the state of the Union, and that as there
are important questions now before the
country such as expansion, Imperialism
and like questions he thought it would be
eminently fitting that the House should
resolve itself into q committee OF the whole
Tor a discussion of these questions. Mr..
Blankenship first recovered his breath, and
rose to say that in his opinion this country
had President and a Cabinet who are
amply able to take care of the country and
to settle such questions without any assist
anCe from the House of Representatives OF
the State of Indiana, and ne moved that the
resolution be laid on the table. This was
promptly done Mr.. Scott of Montgomery,
tried a plan to get more work out of the
House, and presented a resolution which
provides that the House shall remain in
session from $3.50 to 12 o'clock each morning,
and from 2;39 to ) o'clock each afternoon.
Sundays excepted. MIR. Scott's idea was
that the hour before each session and the
evenings could be devoted to committee
meetings but the speaker said that the
adoption of this resolution would abrogate
one Of the rules of the House. Mr. Compton
moved to table the resolution, and this was
done.
Mr.. Noel. Of this city introduced the bill
of the Commercial Club providing for the
creation of a park commission for Indian
apolis. The changes from the present law
are numerous. The first amendment pro-
vides for a commission of six members two
OF whom shall be women and not more than
three of whom shall be of the same pclit-
ical party. Section : provides for a term
OF four years instead of the longer term,
on account Of which the old law was de-
Clared unconstitutional All the meetings
OF the commission are to be open to the
public and the board shall have no power
10 contract debts beyond the amount appro-
priated. No change is made to Sec
tion IL, and in the present bill the
board Is empowered 10 beautify streams
and their banks within four miles
of the city limits Section ~ provides spe-
cifcally that no assessments shall be made
for benefits arising from the location OF