The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-25
BILL QUICKLY HANDLED
APPROPRIATION BILL Is ADVANCED
IN THE HOUSE.
Democrats Had Fun with the Amend
ments-The Items in
Detail.

he handled the general appropriation bill,
which was yesterday afternoon advanced
to engrossment in the House after a con-
sideration lasting but little over two hours,
including the consideration in the morning
and afternoon both. The changes made
were not great, and the bill, as engrossed,
is reduced from that introduced by about
S27. 600, of which 1880 is covered by special
bills. In round numbers the bill will go to
the Senate calling for specific appropria-
tons in 1899 Of $226.OO, in 1900 of $265,OOO, in
1901 Of 1924, 600, general appropriations in 1900
of S1,e00,000 and the same amount for the
next year, or a total of about $4,015,00.
There was mush amusement during the
consideration of the bill in the afternoon.
Some Republicans had carefully noted in
one Of the printed bills all changes agreed
upon in the caucus Tuesday evening and
had then left the caucus with the bill on
Mr.. O'Bannon's desk. 1t was found by that
gentleman during the morning, and in the
noon recess the Democrats wrote out all
the amendments agreed upon by the Repub-
lican caucus. and for a time it looked as if
they would take entire possession of the
bill. The Republicans were some time wax
ing up to the fact, and then it was a race
between the two sides as to which could
~ AhA0 Il NHCi CtA lACDA va
read. There was no opposition to any of
the amendments by the Democrats, and
they made no attempt whatever to OBJ
struct the bill.
In the morning, on motion of Mr.. Shideler,
the House went into the committee of the
whole to consider the bill and Mr.. Canada
was placed in the chair. The bill was on
consideration on it's second reading, and it
was taken up section by section. The first
change made was merely to substitute the
date 1900 for 1901, which had been inserted
by clerical error. No change was made in
the item relating to the Governors depart
ment, although Mr.. Eichhorn made an earn
est effort to have the salary of the Gov
ernorS clerk increased from $3.50 to 81 900.
S1e stated that the salary was formerly
$l,VW and it should be restored, but the Re-
publlcans voted down the amendment and
the section was adopted as read. In the
secretary, of states department the amount
LOT u~iStrlDutlon or reports OF the supreme
Eng appellate courts was cut from 81 200 to
S9OV. In all other respects the section
stands as reported. In the section on the
auditor or state an error was made in
arithmetic and the bill provided that 81, 200
should be appropriated for back salary for
the assistant clerk of the insurance depart
ment: The salary of this clerk is $l25 a
month, and the back salary is for seven
months; The amount inserted in the bill
was Sl,2g. and this was amended so as to
De 1915. The Increase in the salary of the
clerk to the treasurer of state was placed
at $1,000 as the bill was reported, an in
10 cut out the increase, and the salary will
remain at 500. The specific appropriation
OF $3.50 which was intended as back salary
Tor the increase expected was stricken out.
me attorney generals department, the
superlntenden or public instruction, the
state librarian and the reporter of the SUI
preme Court were not changed, although
Mr.. James tried to have a night Waterman
appolnted for the treasurer of state at a
MS efforts. Mr.. Hedgecock opposed the
amendment and it was lost.
Mr.. Cravens, of Washington, tried to have
the salary OF the deputy superintendent of
pubic instruction increased from 81. 200 to
$780,, but the amendment to that effect was
| lost. When the section relating to the re-
| porter of the Supreme Court was read, Mr..
Elchhorn asked if any deduction had been
made from his salary for time spent in the
House during the last few days. Mr.. Shide-
Ter said it had not, as this section had been
agreed on by the committee before the act
i've lobbying commenced.
The bill provided for an increase of the
salary of the chief of the bureau of statis-
tics from $1,000 to 81, $50, but this increase
was cut out and the salary remains as it
was. Similar increase in the salary of the
deputy chief was cut out, and his salary
Will be $l,2OO. The allowance for clerk hire
In this office was Increased from $1,000 a
year to 81 ,5OO, and Mr.. Eichhorn caused
much amusement by a vigorous objection to
increasing the expenditures. The committee
rose, reported to the House and an adjourn
ment was taken for noon.
AS soon as the House met in the after
noon 1t at once went into the committee of
the whole. with Mr.. Willoughby in the
chair, and the consideration of the appropri-
alton bill was resumed at the place where 1t
was left off in the morning. The first de-
partment taken up, geology, was read, and
Mr.. O'Bannon was on his feet first and
moved that 1t be adopted as read. Mr..
Shideler looked a little puzzled, but the mo-
ton was carried. No change was made in
the department of health and when the
Statehouse section was reached, Mr.. Som
ers and Mr.. Eichhorn were on their feet at
the same time. Mr.. Somers was recognized
limiting the use of state money for long,
distance telephone charges. Mr.. Eichhorn
said he had the same amendment and as 1t
was agreed upon in caucus, he would sec
ond Mr.. Somers'S amendment. Mr.. Eich-
horn was first on his feet to make an
amendment in the wording of one line which
had been agreed upon by the Republican
caucus, and Mr.. Shide1er bowed and said he
thought the amendment ought TO prevail.
Mr.. Brown and Mr.. Altman both Jumped
up at the same time, and Mr.. Artman was
recognized and stated that he merely
wished to second Mr.. Browns motion to
approve the item. That is just what 1 in
tended to do" replied Mr.. Brown. The sal
airy of the sheriff of the Supreme Court was
raised from $500 to 5000 and the question was
raised as to whether or not this was fixed
by statute, but the amendment was allowed
to go in. Mr.. Caraway beat Mr.. Brown in
getting in the amendment to make the sala-
ries of prosecuting attorneys $500 a year
each and appropriating $4,000 for this pur-
pose. Mr.. Eichhorn won the race between
Mr.. Manifold and himself to present the
caucus amendment to appropriate SIS, 600 to
pay the Superior Court judges, instead of
So, 500, as the bill provided. Mr.. Galley
moved to dispense with the reading of the
bill and to readopt that which had been
agreed upon by the Republican caucus This
was ruled out of order on the grounds that
could not be readopted. Mr.. Shideler him
Self took a hand in the race and won in the
motion to adopt the section as amended.
Mr.. O'Bannon beat Mr.. Baker. of Martin,
I'm the motion to adopt the next section i'm
accordance with the Republican caucus
seconding the motion.
Mr.. O'Bannon then moved to adopt the
section relating to the Central Hospital for
the Insane without change, and this was
done. Mr.. Shideler told the Republicans
that If they did not wake up the Demo-
Gratis would soon have entire charge of the
bill. The next few sections were not
changed and the race was on the motion
to adopt them. Mr.. Shideler won on that
one regarding the Northern Hospital. Mr..
Noel won on that regarding the eastern,
and Mr.. O'Bannon seconded, and Mr.. Noel
again won out on the southern. The al
lowance to the blind asylum for repairs was
increased from $500 TO $3.50, and the al
lcwance for $1.OI for a new fence was
stricken out. The section on the orphans
home was adopted on motion by Mr.. Noel,
who won out from Mr.. O'Bannon, and Mr..
Noel beat Mr.. Eichhorn on the next Sec
ton.
PRISON MAINTENANCE.
The State Prison suffered more than any
other institution. The maintenance was
cut from 10000 to $1,000: the parole dis
charge of prisoners appropriation of $500
was stricken out, al appropriation Of $1,000