The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-11
With the Legislative Session Half
Have Been Passed.
WORK OF BOTH BRANCHES
IMPORTANT BILLS THAT WILL BE
Considered THIS WEEK.
Passing of Primary Election Bill n
House, Most Important Action
Congressional Reapportionment.

The State Legislature will begin on the
last half of its session to-day. The Senate
will convene at 10 o'clock, the usual hour,
but the House will have only an afternoon
session. Several matters are down for
special order of business in the House this
week, among which is the antitrust bill
introduced by Mr.. Slack, of Johnson
county, and reported favorably by the COM
mittee which considered it. The anti-trust
bill of Representative Cooper has also been
recommended for passage.
In the House over four hundred bills have
been introduced and numerous measures
are yet to come. Among the more I'M
portant of those that "a been passed is
the primary election bill prepared by a
commission. The bill is now In the hands
of the Senate committee on elections and
the friends Of the measure in the House are
hopeful hat it will be kindly dealt with. In
its present form the I'LL is made compul-
sorry only in this city and county. Other
cities and counties may have the benefit
of the measure If they so desire, but they
are not compelled to use 1t.
Among the important measures KILLED"
last week was the valued policy insurance
bill. 1t was a House measure and it was
throttled in the House. There are som
the House committees which will no doubt
be reported on this week. One is the
James bill which provides for the abolish
ment Of the present board Of managers of
the Industrial School for Girls and
Woman's Prison and the appointment of a
new board. This bill is with the commit
20 on w. 1900
mittee seems to be divided in its views on
this matter. The committee will probably
take up the bill for consideration again to-
morrow. Another of the important meas
ures in the hands of committees is the bill
which is to affect the Indianapolis fire de-
partment. One of the features of the bill
raises the salaries of the Board of Public
Safety. The measure is in the hands of
city or indianapolis. The bill grades the
hremen and slightly increases their wages,
1T is claimed. The police department is
anxious that the measure be made to apply
to them. The committee considered the
bill on Saturday, but took no definite ac-
ton.
WORK OF THE SENATE.
During the past week a number of i'm
portant bills were passed by the Senate,
among them being the one introduced by
Senator Lambert, providing for a village
for epileptics at Columbus. The consid-
Grafton of the committee report has been
made a special order Of business In the
House for next Thursday. A majority of
the committee will report the bill for
passage, after amending it so as to cut
the area Of ground provided for from
1000 to 500 acres, and reducing the appro-
priation for its purchase from $40, 900 to
$4,000. The minority Of the committee is
in favor Of striking out the provision OF
the bill which establishes the institution al
Columbus. Up to the present time 35S bills
have been introduced in the Senate.
| The bill introduced by Senator Layman
prohibiting townships from voting sub.
favorably, was advanced to its second read.
ing without opposition.
Several bills. have been made the subject
of caucus action by the Republicans, amone
them being the reapportionment bill agreed
upon py the Senate committee on congress
sional apportionment. This bill was agreed
upon by a joint Republican caucus helC
last Friday, and probably will be passed
without debate from the Republican mem
bers OF either house.
The Senate Republicans are caucusing OF
Senator Agnew's antitrust bill. and II ii
thought that after a few minor amend
ments 1t will meet with the approva
of the majority members of both houses
in which event all of the other anti-trus
bills that have been introduced will b.
killed.
1t is expected that the primary election
bill, made compulsory in Marion count,
and optional I'm the remainder of the coun
ties of the State. which has been passe,
by the House, will be killed in the Sen
ate. 1t Is said a new bill on the sam,
subject will be introduced by Senator Joss
providing for the election of delegates in
stead of a direct election of candidates.
The remaining fee and salary bills pre-
pared by the State fee and salary com
mission, were killed by the Senate com
mittee during the past week, but il /
thought that other bills increasing tn
salaries OF State officers will be Introduce
within the next few days.
There has been no attempt to pass an,
temperance legislation as yet, and the anti
cigarette legislation seems as far off a
ever. The fish and game bills which hav
been advanced In the House have bee
made a special order of business in tn
Senate for next Wednesday.