The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-01
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
The Agnew Ship Canal Bill Is killed
Other Business.

Prayer was offered by Representative
Carmichael I'm the House at the opening
session yesterday morning. A bill amend
ing Terre Haute's city charter was passed
under a suspension of rules. This was a
Senate measure. Senate bill No. l26. by Mr..
Thompson, known as the banking bin. was
passed by a vote OF g. TO q. The bill re-
ouires an assessor before examining n
bank account to ascertain II a depositor
has sequestered taxes TO make an sfidavit
In the Circuit Court. declaring his belief
that the depositor has sequestered taxes.
Senate bill No. 80. by Mr.. Guthrie, re-
curing that telegraph. telephone and cleo
trio light wires where they cross railroad
tracks be kept at least twenty-five feet
from the ground, was passed by a vote Of
IL TO 3. The bill is intended TO benefit train
men who are compelled to be on top or
cars when they are in motion.
Senator Guthries bill creating the office
or state veterinarian was also passed. The
Republicans made the bill a caucus meas
ure, and 1t went drought by a vote of IS
10 80. Representative Marshall, of Tippe-
canoe county, being opposed to the bill
and a Republican, asked TO be excused from
voting and the House granted his request.
Senator BrookS's express bill" which is
intended TO aid the Southern Indiana Ex-
press Company in its trouble with other
express companies. was passed by a vote
OF 90 TO p. Mr.. Whitcomb fought the bill,
contending that Ii provided for the raising
or revenue and that all bills of this char
acter should originate in the House. Mr..
WhitcCmb brought out this point by ris-
ing to a point of order. The measure pro-
vfdes that a certain amount shall be paid
TO the secretary of state by express COM
panies under certain conditions and Mr..
Whitcomb based his contention that this
was a revenue-raiSing bill on this point.
The chair declined to sustain the point
of order. Mr.. Adamson made a speech in
favor of the bill and it was then placed on
its passage.
Senate bill No. 157, by Mr.. Parks, increas-
ing the appropriation for the conduct of
farmers Institutes from 5000 to $4,000 was
passed.
SHIP IN BILL.
Senator Agnew's bill providing for a ship
canal I'm Lake county was taken up on
second reading, and a motion was made
by Mr.. Van Fleet that the e~nacting clause
be stricken out. This would kill the bill
and the friends Of the measure fought the
motion hard. Representative Davis. OF
Greene county, a member of the minority,
spoke for the bill. Representative James,
also of the minority. fought IL, declar-
ing ii TO be "a vicious measure Repre-
sentative Louttit was for the bill, and
made a speech in its favor. He declared
that Representative Erdlitz, who opposed
the measure, asked last week TO have fur
Their consideration of the bill postponed
SO he could go to his home at Whiting
on Sunday and consult with his constit-
uents.
Why didn't you go home shouted
Louttit, turning to Erdlitz, who sat near
him, why did you stay here over Sun
day?'
phone" coolly replied Erdlitz.
The House was in the midst OF the dis
cussion OF the bill when the noon ad-
jcurnment was taken. AT 1880 o'clock the
argument was resumed again. Representa-
tive Sellers, of the minority, spoke I'm favor
OF the bill and became very vehement.
Two or three yielded their time 10 MIN,
and finally the chair indicated that time
was about up. "Oh, let him go on, he's
making votes for u.s. remarked Repre-
OF the bill. Representative Murphy made
n motion to table the Van Fleet motion,
but Mr.. Murphy's motion was lost, and
the argument continued; representative
the bill. He said IL had been charged that
his pockets were buiging with money re-
ceived from the STANDARD on company
for his efforts against the bill. There Is
not as much In my pocket coming from
the Standard oil Company" said he. "as
there Is in the pockets OF the author OF
the bill. coming from the promoters OF
this nefarious scheme"
STATESMAN AGAINST 1T.
Representative Statesman spoke against
the bill, declaring 1t to be a private enter
prise. and under the provisions of the bill
he could see where there would be no limit
10 such enterprises in Lake, Porter and
Laporte counties. He doubted II the Legis-
lature had a right TO grant authority 10 a
private concern to tax peoples property In
order to construct this canal. Mr.. Slack
spoke enthusiastically for the bill, but
MIR. Roberts, a member OF the minority.
bitterly opposed il. He declared the State
OF Indiana should not become sponsor for
this mammoth fraud" Mr.. Neal favored
the bill and Mr.. Stookey spoke against 1t.
Representatives Whitcomb and Bonham
were for IL. Tn latter produced a long
petition, which he said was from Whiting,
favoring the canal. Mr.. Bonham suggested
that II the bill was defective II could be
amended. Representative Johnson. who.
with Mr.. Erdlitz, signed a minority report
against the bill. made n speech against IL.
At length the motion to strike out the en-
acting clause was voted on, and the meas
ure was killed by n vote of So TO 80. Repre-
sentative Harris, "A member OF the commit
tee on cities and towns and one OF those
who signed the majority report I'm favor
of the bill. voted against Il. Following is
the way the members voted on the mo-
ton to strike out tho e%nacting clause:
HOW VOTE WAS CAST.
Ayes-Adamson. Bishop. Burrier. Clarke,
Cox. Cooper, Cruson. Culley, Davis of
Wayne. Dilley. Dirkson. Dudley. tcrdlitz.
! Gauntt. Glllett. Haines. Harris. Jackman,
Jakways, James Johnson. Kirkman. LAIR.
Madden. Marshall of Fountain. Matthews,
! Maxam. May. Metsker. Miller of Kosciusko,
Miller OF Ohio. Morgan. Morton, Muller,
Mummert. Ostermeyer. Parker, perrett,
pritchard. Reagan, Reeves. Roberts OF
Dearborn. Robertson, Schroeder, Scott.
short, Sparks, Stookey, statesman. Thorn
as, Van Fleet, Vestal. Waugh, Wesiihg.
Iullman-bb.
N~oes-Airhart. Allen, Beckman, Bell.
Bonham, Burkhart, Carmichael. Galley,
elem. coble. cotner. CravenH. Davis of
Greene, Gerber, Hopping. fiorHfeld. Jack.
John. Kelley, King, Lawrence. bopp. bout-
ut. Mccafty, Marshall OF Tippecanoo, Min
turn. Murphy. Myicr, Neal, Iarkn, fhanage,
Roberts of Jefferson. Settlers, Slack, Small.
Stout. Trout. Tucker. Whitoomb-@
There was another hot light over the two
bills tina amend the Fort Wayne city char
the Republicans OF the House made them
caucus measures, They came up on second
reading on the motion or MI, Marshall, OF
Tippcchnoe county, and over the protest or
the Democrats. and especially Representa-
tive Louttit, who objected To- their being
hurried through, a. he desired TO amend
them. The Democrats have all along op-
posed the bills. Mr., Louttit made a rather
violent speech. IA which he declared. ~
am opposed 10 peanut politics, am OPP
posed 90 gag rule. may have stopped to
peanut politics. hut have never stopped to
the political game that II being played
here" Representative Sellers said he hoped
there was n Republican in the House hon
eat enough 60 try 20 prevent this das-
tardly, mean method or legislation" The
bills were passed Co third reading. the Re.
publicans STANDING by the caucus agree
ment. one OF the bills was a very lone
sisted on having IL read. This, with rou-
time work kent the House in aesalon until