The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-10

bouundry Enclosures and requires a posting
of a notice for thirty days.
Mr.. Brown, of De Kalb, looked out for the
protection of those who purchase patent
rights in a measure which provides that
before sale Of a patent right or part of
one can be made an affidavit must be ma~e
and filed with the court OF the county Wnere
such sale is TO be made, certifying that
the patent is a valid one Failure TO comply
with this law involves a fine of not more
than $1,000 and liability to recovery of civil
damages. Mr.. Browns second bill provides
for the appointment of ditch viewers by the
county commissioners, beginning in June,
1899, and to be made each year thereafter.
Mr.. Ross. of Delaware, started his meas
IRE looking to securing a proper return OF
promissory notes to assessors for taxation.
The bill provides that all promssory notes
shall bear on the back the stamp or the
assessor and this stamp must be affixed
each year, else the note is not collecuble.
The penalty provided is fine of from $50
TO $1C0
Mr. Sullivan, of Dubois county. presented
an amendment to the laws relating to the
election of township officers by which they
shall be elected on the first Mondays in
April, beginning in the year 1860 instead or
in the fall, as at present. The officers
elected are required to qualify within ten
days after election.
Mr.. Roose. of Elkhart, interrupted pro-
ceedings just long enough to present reso-
luton instructing the clerk to have the
House directory printed. 1t was adopted and
the grind of bills was resumed.
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Patterson, of Franklin, managed to
get in joint resolution before the call of
counties was resumed, which provided for
an amendment to the Constitution providing
that all county officers shall serve terms
of four years each and no officer shall
serve more than four years out of any
eight, instead of two-year terms and serv-
ing eight out of any twelve as at present.
Mr.. McGary, of Gibson, also gave some
attention to the roads in a bill giving the
fifty taxpayers along any road, to levy a
tax of from % cents to 80 cents on each
$100 worth of property along the road to
improve the highway. The bill also provides
that so per cent. of the contract price shall
be withheld until the work Of Improvement
is accepted.
Mr.. Shideler, of Grant. presented a bill
regarding the work of cOnVictS in the State
prison, which is the same measure intro
duced In the Senate. Mr.. Knots. of Jasper
county, will offer an amendment to this
measure providing that the conVictS shall
be put to work printing the school books
for the State. as he believes that such work
will not only keep them busy, but will have
Il beneficial effect on them and will save a
large amount of money to the State. Mr..
Burrier, of Grant. had his little bill ready
and sent it to the clerks desk. 1t provides
that the limit of taxation for a railroad
subsidy shall hereafter be one-half of l per
cent, instead of per cent, as formerly.
Mr.. Shideler preCipitated a discussion by
presenting a resolution that the Republic
ans. being in the majority, should begin
with the seats on the east side of the cham
per ana occupy al down each aisle unuI
the majority members were seated. This
was offered because Mr.. Shirley and Mr..
Downey, Democrats, are seated with the
Republicans and refuse to give up their
seats. while Mr.. Powers, a Republican, is
forced to sit far back on the Democratic
side. The resolution requested those Demo-
Gratis occupying seats which should be occu-
pied by Republicans to Vacate them by this
morning. Mr. EichhOrn. Democrat, was
on his feet in an instant, and asked ii
a courteous request had been made of those
two Democrats. and protesting against such
a resolution if it had not. Mr.. Eichhorn
said he was satisfied that if such a request
had been made this resolution would not
have been necessary. Mr. Shdeer said that
such a question should have been unneces-
sary, as he would have offered this resolu-
ton only as last resort. lie said that such
a request had been made to the Democratic
members and that they had refused to va
cate their seats. Mr.. Roots al this point sug-
geSted that, as good feeling seemed to be the
order he would move to refer the Tesolu-
ton to the two gentlemen who had just
been talking. Mr.. EichhOrn SaiG that the
matter might as well be settled then as any
tine, and moved TO lay the motion on the
table, but Mr.. Roots withdrew it. Mr..
HcdgecOck added to the extreme hilarity of
the occasion by offering a substitute that
the Republicans occupy the west side and
the Democrats the east side. This only
served to take up time enough to lay it on
the table and Disguised everybody. Mr..
DOWney then rose and made a speech. the
equal of which has probably never been
heard before in a legislative hall. He said
he was made deaf by the protestatons of
loyalty which he had heard from the Repub-
licans last summer and fall, and he expa-
tiated at length on the Golden Rule. From
this he switched to the statutes of Indiana
and claimed that he had a right to his seat
Under the profahe law, and from this he
leaped to the Lords Prayer and told the
Republicans their consciences would trouble
them, if they passed this resolution, when
they repeated that section regarding the
n
county, calmly awaited the end of this
extraordinary exhibition, and then asked
Mr. Downey if he had not selected his seat
before the election was held. Mr.. Downey
was much disconnected, but said that he
had Mr. Noel then said that the House has
the right to regulate the seating of its
members. Mr.. Blankenship then secured
the floor and urged upon Mr.. Downey that
he show some honor and integrity; Mr.:
DoWney then rose on a point of order and
claimed that Mr.. Blankenship had no right
to grow so personal. While Mr. Downey was
speaking Mr.. Blankenship concluded his
scathing remarks, and as his voice was the
more powerful of the two, it was only after
he had concluded that the others in the
House could hear what Mr.. lDowney was
think the remarks were intended as Mr..
Downey had taken them, and he did not
Tnderstand them as impeaching Mr.:
Downey's motives. and then he recognized
Mr.. Brown who suggested that the resolu-
ton adopted on Friday covered the case
Mr. James moved to adjourn and it was
then put on its passage, and. by a strict
party vote, it was adopted. The vote was
90 yeas to "a nays.
TWO CENT FARE BILL.
Mr.. Neal, of Hamilton sent up the usual
two-cent fare bill with a penalty for its
violation of a fine not to exceed $500 and
imprisonment not to exceed six months or
both.
Mr.. Caroway, of Hancock, sent up a bill
to secure purity in elections, both primary
and general. The bill repeats all laws now
in existence for the punishment of the buyer
of votes. 1t provides that a man who sells
his vote shall be disfranchised for from
ten to twenty years. and the one securing
CONVICTION OF such a person shall receive
from the County Commissioners the sum of
SIO0 Mr.. Caroways theory is that it is i'm
possible to secure conviction Of both buyer
ana seller, as they will not tell on each other
when both can be held. Therefore, he makes
an lnducement to get hold of the floating
voter and get him out Of the way for a few
years Mr.. Caroways second bill concerns
the election OF County Commissioners
The last bill Of the afternoon was by Mr.
o Bannon. of Harrison, and provides for the
taxation of inheritances. His bill provides
that where the gift or inheritance comes
from a parent, brother or sister the exenon-
tion shall be $4,000. and on ali above that
sum the tax shall be 2 per cent On an
Inheritance from an uncle. aunt niece
nephew or others of like degree of relation
ship. the exemption shall be 81 900. and above
that the tax shall be per cent. In all other
cases an inheritance of 5000 to $4,000 shall
be taxed per cent, from $4,000 to $50 900
the tax shall be per cent, from 800 COO to
$4,000 the tax shall be . per cent. and on all
over $4,000 the tax shall be per cent. The
bill provides for the appointment of apprais-
erS and other details in connection with the