The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-29
AGNEW ANTITRUST BILL
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
WILL MAKE FAVORABLE REPORT.
senator Layman's Anti-Subsidy Bill
and other Important Measures
Considered.

The Senate judiciary committee at a
meeting yesterday afternoon decided to
make favorable report on Senator
Agnew's antitrust bill. The bill, which
has been published in detail heretofore,
provides for an act defining and prohibiting
trusts and certain combinations, and pro-
vides a means of procedure for the en-
forcement of the provisions of the act,
and certain penalties for its violations.
The committee was unanimously in favor
of reporting the bill for passage and 1t is
believed it will have no difficulty in passing
both branches of the Legislature. 1t was
also the first bill introduced in the Senate.
Another important bill which will be
recommended to the Senate for passage
this morning is that of Senator Layman,
which provides for the repeal of all laws
authorizing aid in the construction of rail-
roads by counties and townships. The bill
came up for consideration yesterday at
meeting of the Senate committee on county
and township business, and a favorable
recommendation was agreed upon almost
Immediately
The bill of Senator Charles which was adj
vanced to engrossment yesterday reduces
the amount of aid which may be voted to
railroads under the present law one-half
and the bill introduced by Senator Layman
goes a step further and takes away the
other half so that in the event that the
latter becomes a law 1t will not only nullify
the bill introduced by Senator Charles.
but will estop any subsidy whatever from
being voted to railroads by counties or
townships 1t is said that Senator Charles,
If the chances seem favorable for the pas
sage Of Senator Layman's bill. will not only
give it his support but will withdraw his
own bill. The bill carried an emergency
clause with it and its early passage might
prevent the citizens of Grant county from
voting subsidy to the Cincinnati Rich
nnod & Muncie railroad, which is row
in the course of construction.
The Senate committee on fees and sal
aries, to which the bill introduced by Sen
for an increase of $1,000 in the salary of
the state superintendent of public instruc-
ton. was referred, met yesterday afternoon
and after amending the bill so it provides
for salary of $1,000 instead of $500 per
apnum decided to report it favorably this
morning. The committee did not take up
the question of the fee and salary bill pre-
pared by the state commission because
of the absence of a number of the men,
berS of the committee.
OTHER BILLS CONSIDERED.
Besides the antitrust bill referred to in
the opening paragraph the Senate commit
tee on Judiciary disposed of a number of
other bills at the meeting yesterday aft
ernoon. Senator Joss's bill (No. 16O, which
provides that the terms of office of the at
torney general, clerk Of the Supreme Court.
state geologist and state statistician shall
commence on the LIST of January, will be
reported for passage. Another bill by the
same senator ono. 1861, providing that the
terms of county auditor, clerk sheriff and
recorder shall begin the list of Janu-
airy, will also be reported for passage A
dill introduced by Senator Binkley (No
1873, requiring county surveyors to be
rerintendentS of county work and proviG-
ing for consulting engineer, will be re-
ported unfavorably, and the bill of Senator
Wood (No. 1881, which provides that a
county surveyor shall be county engineer
and superintendent of county work, will be
reported unfavorably with minority re-
pert for passage. Senator Wampler's bill
Qs2) to amend the general justices act,
will be recommended for indefinite post
tenement, and the bill of Senator Minor
(No. 172), to fix the time of holding court
ir Perry, Warrick and Spencer counties,
will be recommended for passage.
The committee On county and township
business will recommend that Senator Kit
fingers bill. which makes it unlawful for
county officers to close their Offices during
business hours, be passed, and the bill in
trcduced by Senator Ball amending GER
tain sections of the act concerning town
ship business, will be reported upon like
Wise after an amendment.
The committee or elections will favorably
recommend the bill changing the time of
the appointment of election inspectors from
June TO September, and will report unfa-
vorably on the bill to establish commits
sion composed of the Governor, auditor of
STATE and secretary of state for the pur
pose of examining the merits of different
voting machines.