The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-11
LEGISLATIVE GOSSIP.
Good Stories About Members of Both
Houses.

Good Stories About mi of Both
Harry Adams has attained considerable
prominence on account Of his fondness for
rerpetrating funny. but usually harmless
jokes upon his friends. One Of his best
known jokes is based upon his ownership
CT a little railroad extending from st. Paul.
Ind, to his stone quarries, four or five
miles distant. In furtherance CT his scheme
Mr.. Adams had this railroad christened
9TH st. Paul & Southeastern Railway
He then ordered a lot of handsomely
printed annual passes, containing many
humorous provisions, which he mailed to
all of his friends. This he has repeated
at the beginning Of each year since ne
began the practice. One Of the inscriptions
on the passes is 1.-THE Big Four and other
great trunk lines are tributaries of this
road" Saturday Mr.. Adams visited the
Legislature for the purpose of fixing" the
senator's and representatives with the Gus
tcmary "annualS" over his famous "sys-
tenn" When he approached a certain rep
rssentative. however, who does not I'VE a
ast0nished at the rebuff which was ad-
miristered to him by the angry Scion who
did not catch on 20 the joke at once. When
Mr.. Adams explained matters, the repre-
sentative laughed heartily and said, Say.
Mr.. Adams, / wish you would make out
that pass In my wires name: Sne Is Ior,
not accept passes from railroad companies.
and I want to give this to her and have a
little fun with her over It," The bit OF gor-
geous yellow pasteboard providing free
transportation for one year ever the fa-
nous 'strAtiied limestone railroad" was
accordingly filled up in the name of the
said, Il would give 50 to witness the scene
when your wife finds out how you have
hoaxed her"
A great many of the senators and rep
resentatives are inclined to forego their
| personal preferences In the matter of such
measures as the primary election bill and
the women's suffrage amendment to the
State Constitution and allow them to be
submitted to the choice of the people. This
is particularly true of the wornen's suffrage
resolution which was reported favoraDly
by the House judiciary committee. Many
members of the committee are personally
opposed to the idea, but they think the
people ought to be allowed to express their
| preference at the polls. This cannot, of
course, be accomplished until the amend
| ment has been ratified by both branches OF
the present and succeeding Legislatures.
| XXX
One of the interesting results Of the cam
| paign of 1900 in Indiana has been the bring
ing into unusual prominence of Nathan
Il I'll u OaA IA a1A1CA 1A0~
Until the recent campaign Mr.. Powell was
merely a well-liked young man Of great
wealth, culture and refinement, who was
| content to live a life of dignifed ease. The
exigencies of the congressional situation in
tho Fourth district demanded a man of
undoubtedly popularity n strength of
| character to make the race on the Repub-
lean ticket in that district. Ordinarily, one
would expect a man Of wealth and refine
ment to be distasteful to the great mass OF
4 the nQ0nla Instead hnUaVer nf this he
ing true in Mr.. Powell's case, the mention
Of bis name as a candidate for Congress
against Francis Marion Griffith. Democrat,
created great enthusiasm in the nominat-
ing convention and afterwards the canvass
Mr.. Powell made was unusual. Previously
unknown as a speaker or deoater. he sud-
denly. developed surprising qualities in potn
directions.
Very often he is requested by senator's
and representative from southern Indiana
to call on. them in this city in order that
they may avail themselves of his counsel in
perplexing matters. Particularly is this
Representative Edward 8. Roberts, both
from Jefferson county, who hold Mr.. Pow
ell in the highest esteem. He has never
been known to manifest the slightest dis
INCLINATION TO refuse to respond to these
calls. For this reason, Mr.. Powell is 4
frequent visitor to the States legislative
halls.
Samuel r. Bell. who represents Randolph
county in the House of Representatives,
figured in a humorous incident one day
last week. Representative Davis, leader of
the House minority, was debating with
much visor one of Mr.. Bells bills when
he paused suddenly and fred plump al
Mr.. Bell this question, "Have you, sir,
taken the precaution to submit this bill &c
a competent attorney before introducing IT
into the LEGISLATURE" There was a roar
OF laughter from all parts of the chamber
most of the members being aware of Mr.
Bells reputation as a lawyer or ability,
When Mr.. Davis discovered the blunder
he had made he said, 20 we'll, a fellow
can't be expected to get everybody in this
House correctly placed as to occupation
and everything else in a few days time. =
One of the members of the House had ar
accession of information from Governo,
Durbin Saturday. He took a constituent OF
his TO call OF the Governor and press AT
application for the position of messenge,
In the executive department. Both tn,
young man and his legislative hacker wer,
rudely surprised and shocked to discove,
that the Governors messenger is required
by the exigencies OF the executive depart
ment, to be an expert stenographer. This
applicant is said to De a young man Of fin,
personal appearance and to possess al
excellent education. but he does not un
Gerstand how to make the dots and dashe.
and hooks" with which shorthand writer.
are enabled TO catch and hold thought a.
they drop from their employers lips. A:
the disappointed pair left the office tn,
representative remarked to his constituent
Well. L think il is an outrage that tn.
Governor has so much TO attend TO that h,
has to convert his messenger into a stem
ographer. The Legislature ought to pro
vide MIN with enough men to do his worl
comfortably. No wonder lndiana's Gov
ernors die off so steadily"
XXX
81 am opposed TO the bill killing buildin!
and loan associations" said Representative
Cyrus E. Davis, last night. why, 1 know
OF many little homes in Greene county
" where 1 live. that would never have bee
made possible If ii had not been for tn
bcneficent operations Of these organize
tons. However, L would be heart and sou
W favor of a bill TO restrict the bushes
? of building and loan associations With
the limits of the counties i'm which they ar
organiaei and in which they have thei