The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-23
SHORT HOUSE SESSION.


Committee Report on Spanish-Amer-
lean War Veterans Bill.
The House had an extremely short SEES
sion yesterday morning Rev Mr. Brown,
of the Friends Church, offered prayer at
the opening of the session Among the
more important committee reports was one
recommending the passage of the bill intro
duced in the interests OF Spanish-American
war veterans. This provides that any per-
son who served in. the Spanish American
war shall not be compelled to serve on the
public highways. To use distinctly Hoos-
Ter term, Spanish-American war veterans.
under the provisions of this bill, would not
have to work the roads," Another report
that will no doubt be received with a good
deal of interest was from the monument
committee, in favor of the passage of the
bill to protect the monument from desecra-
tion. Under this measure the monument
could not be again used for street carnival
purposes.
early In the proceedings the speaker an
nounced that he had signed House bin No.
i. This announcement was received with
interest, as House bill No. is the measure
appropriating money for the expenses of
the Legislature. 1t must be signed by the
Governor before it becomes law.
several new bills were introduced when
the clerks called the roll of counties. House
Dill No. 163, by Mr.. Burkhart, provides that
all contracts between employer and en-
rloye releasing the employer from liability
for damages arising out of the negligence
of the employer, by which the employe is
injured, or in case of the employees death.
~ afnof lt,
declared null and void" A measure intro
| duced by Mr.. Roberts, of Jefferson county,
| amends the law regarding the maintenance
| or stands for the sale of articles within
| one mile or religious aSSemblageS, agricul-
| tural fairs, etc. The amendment provides
| that the law shall apply to soldiers re-
unions. Mr.. Erdlitz sent up a bill that re-
lates to the sale of property for delinquent
| taxes. The bill provides that where prop
erty has been advertised in the delinquent
| list for two years the court may foreclose
| on it and give any one who desires to pur-
| chase the property clear title.
MR.. PRITCHARD'S BILL.
Representative Pritchard, of Marion coun-
| ~. sent up bill which affects the office Of
| the state geologist, in that it places the
| power of appointing an oil inspector in the
hands Of the Governor. Mr.. Pritchard as
| serts that this measure, If 1t become a law,
| would be the means of adding from $50 900
| to $4,000 a year to the state treasury He
intimates that the office of oil Inspector is
a fiat" one, and he thinks the State should
| share in it, Mr.. Pritchard's bill would
| place the chief oil inspector on salary Of
| $500 year. His deputies would receive 80
| per cent. Of the commissions paid by oil
| companies for inspections and 65 per cent
OF these commissions would go into the
| state treasury.
Representative Whitcomb introduced two
| bills. One relates to the custody of the
battle flags in the care of the State and
| provides that two of those that were used
| by regiments that fought under Grant be
| sent TO the Grant Monument Association
| The other bill introduced by Mr.. Whitcomb
| regulates the manufacture of linseed and
| flaxseed oils and provides that no oil of
| this kind may be made or sold in the State
| until it is submitted to chemical test for
purity recognized by the United States
| Pharmacopoeia. Under this bill no linseed
| State unless during its manufacture ii shall
| have been put to a temperature of 225 de-
| grees Fahrenheit
| Representative Metsker introduced q bill
| amending the county reform law. 1t pro-
| vides that county printing contracts shall
! be awarded by items instead of class" as
| is now the custom, and that the successful
| bidder must be engaged in business in the
| county in which the contract is awarded.
| A similar bill was introduced by Repre-
| sentative Trout a few days ago, except that
1t does not provide that the printer who
| receives the contract shall conduct bust
| ness in the same county.
| Representative Gully introduced bill for
| the protection of fish. 1t provides that at
| all seasons of the year fish shall be taken
| in no other way except by hook and line.
| II also gives the owner or lessee OF the
land where a violation of the law occurs
| the right to make arrests.
BILLS ON SECOND READING.
Several bills came up for second reading.
| The first was House bill No. 80, by Mr..
Roberts. of Jefferson county, allowing COM
missioners the right to extend the life of
| bonds issued to build free gravel roads
from ten to twenty years. The bill was in
| troduced by Mr. Roberts at the request OF
the Commercial Club of Madison. 1t was
slightly amended by Mr.. Roberts and Mr.
whitcomb. and after being read a second
time was ordered engrossed. House bill
No. s, by Mr.. James. was also up for sec.
! ond reading and passed to engrossment
House bill No. 81, providing for the settle
ment of decedents estates. also passed tc
| engrossment. House bill No. %, to allow
| prosecuting attorneys to administer oaths
| took the same course.
The speaker handed down House bill No
80 for second reading and it was expected
| a sharp fight would result. This is the bill
| introduced by Mr.. Kelley, who represents
| Laporte and Starke counties. II repeals
the Circuit Court ditch law. Many of the
Democrats are opposed TO it. not because OF
| the character of the measure. but because
they claim there is politics behind II. 1T l.
| charged that Mr.. Kelley expects to make
himself so popular by his work I'm the in.
terests of this measure that in two years
he can be elected again. The Democrats
point out that in two years there will be q
| United States senator 10 elect and. as they
feel that they have fighting chance in
Kelley's two counties, they do not want &c
assist in making him too popular with his
constit dents. Mr.. Kelley yesterday asked
that his bill be postponed until nex'
Wednesday. He said he was almost sicl
and was really not In fit condition to ex
| plain the merits of his bill. motion wa:
made and seconded TO lay his motion on the
table but ii was defeated by enough of the
other Republican members coming TO Mr.
Kelley's aid The motion to postpone fur
Their action regarding the bin until mex
Wednesday then prevailed.
The House adjourned to meet at O'Clock
this morning.