The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-12
PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
Bills That Arc Now i'm the Hands of
Senator's.

Senator's.
Senator William r. Wood. of LAFAYETTE.
president pro tenn. of the Senate. has a num-
Der of bills in course f preparation which he
will introduce shortly after Lieutenant Gov
ernor Gilbert's inauguration. The first
bill which the senator will introduce con-
templates protection for those engaged in
any business In which, from its nature.
they are obliged to give credit. 1t provides
that it shall be a felony for any one to
make a false written statement Of his
property qualifications, either real or per-
sonal. in order to secure credit. There are
instances every day in which those engaged
in wholesale or retail mercantile business
are swindled by giving credit on a false
property statement by the debtor, and the
bill is designed to remedy as far as pos
sible the existing evil. Its passage Will
be hailed with delight by business men OF
the State.
Another bill which Senator Wood will in
troduce is somewhat akin to the first and
provides that WhoSOever, as a wholesaler
or jobber, takes a lien on any stock or
goods sold to a retailer for the purpose Oh
securing q deferred payment shall nave ms
lien reduced TO writing and recorded WITH
the county recorder in his chattel mortgage
record. This bill is designed for the special
protection of those who extend credit TO
a retail dealer on the preSuInptloh lHdt hc
owns his stock of goods. 1T often occurs,
said Senator Woods, that a representative
of some big wholesale firm extends credit
to a customer believing him TO be the
owner OF a large stock of goods. When IL
becomes necessary for him to collect his
bill in q suit at law he nnds, 10 MS cnagrHi.
that his debtors goods are the property OF
the original consignor. or that mere Is d
which takes precedence over his claim, ana
he is left with the bag to hold me pass
age of the bill is earnestly hoped Tor ny
all commercial travellers doing business IN
the State.
Senator w. w. Lambert, of Columbus,
will introduce a bill early in the present
session providing for the purchase OF BOOKS
for school children by the trustees OF the
township in which they reside. Under the
present law the State Board of Education
contracts with the publishers of school
books for the purchase of the books at a
stipulated price. The books are forwarded
TO the county superintendent anu by them
parceled out to the township trustees, VINO
in turn place them in stores, where they are
sold to the school children, the township
trustees being responsible for the money
TO the county superintendent. The amend
ment TO the law which Senator Lambert IS
preparing provides that the county super
intendents shall, as under the present law,
parcel the books out to the trustees, but the
trustees are 10 turn the DOCKS over, uliOCi
the contemplated new law, to the teachers,
and the teachers are to distribute them to
the children free of charge. The books are
to be paid for by the township according 10
the number received, the money to be raised
by an additional levy. The books will re-
main the property of the township and VIII
be continued in use as long as they last, or
until a change is made. The change pro-
posed would, il is said, be a gerat boon to
hundreds of poor children throughout the
State who sometimes find it difficult to ac-
qufre all that they need during the whole
term of school.
introduce contemplates a $500 allowance for
expense money TO circuit judges whose cir
cults are comDosed~of two or more coun-
ties, in cases where the salary of the judge
is not advanced above $500 by The acs of
1899. The act of 1899 provides that in cases
where the population of a county exceeds a
certain maximum and where its wealth OK
ceedS a certain amount, the salaries of The
circuit judges in those counties shall be
advanced not to exceed s3,000 In speaking
of the bill last night, Senator lambert said
there were several instances where the cir
cult judges had to travel over two or three
counties in neither of which did the popu-
lation or the wealth of the county justify
an advance in the salary of the judge under
the act of 1899. In those cases, Senator
Lambert said he thought ii proper that the
judges should receive at least $500 addition
al expense money.
The senator is also at work on his bill for
the establishment of a hospital for the In
sane at Columbus. The bill was presented
TO the Legislature two years ago. but failed
TO pass, and the senator is now busy in re-
constructing it. He has not yet determined
on its exact character. however, and at
present has nothing to say about 1t.
<
Senator John w. Parks, of Plymouth, is
preparing a bill which provides for the sup
port Of county historical societies after they
have been in existence five years. The bill
ontemplates an allowance by the county
commissioners in amounts to be governed
by their discretion, the money to be used
by the county society for the collection OF
data, the maintenance of a room. etc. The
time limit of five years is to insure against
the Incorporation of societies for the ex-
press purpose of securing the support.