The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-30
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Two Busy Sessions and Considerable
New Business.

The session of the House opened with
prayer by Rev. d. r. Lucas yesterday
morning. During the early part of the
session there was considerable discussion
over committee reports. Mr. Minturns
patent right bill was indefinitely post
poned in a report by the judiciary COM
mittee, despite Mr. Minturns protest The
judiciary committee reported unfavorably
on Mr.. Meals bill providing that the stat
utes of the State be revised, recommend
ing that the measure be indefinitely post
poned. The report was concurred in, but
later in the session a motion was intro
duced by Mr.. King asking that the Houses
action in accepting the report OF the COM
mittee be reconsidered
The motion aroused vigorous protest
Mr.. Bonham wanted it laid on the table
Several of the members spoke on Mr.
Kings motion to reconsider Those who
opposed 1t said they did so because of
an unwillingness to tax the State with
SO great an expense. 1t was said that
when the statutes were revised in 1880 the
work cost over $4,000. Mr. Kings mo-
ton to reconsider was finally lost by
vote of AZ to 40. Mr.. Neal, the author of
the bill providing for a revision of the
statutes, thinks the State was "held up
in 1880.
THE NEW BILLS
One of the principal measures intro
duced in the morning was a bill by Mr.
James, of Putnam county. to make radi-
cal changes in the management Of the Re-
form School for Girls and woman's Pris-
on. Representative Trout, who seems to
have an unlimited supply of bills. intro
duced two measures. One gives a poor
man who seeks to appeal from a decision
where he has been defeated in trial by
justice of the peace an opportunity of
lying in jail in the event that he has
not the money with which to take his
case to the higher court. If he chooses
to go to jail the State will have to take
care of his appeal
Mr.: Neal presented several petitions in
the interests of the forestry bill, and Mr.
Whitcomb sent up bill in the interests
of the free kindergartens of the city The
bill provides for a tax of l cent on each
500 for the maintenance Of the free kinder
Eartens.
Mr.. Morgan introduced measure fixing
the time when the term of office of all
county officials shall begin The bill was
prepared by the attorney general. 1t says
that county officers shall begin their duties
on Jan. l after the election. Representa-
tive Scott, of Montgomery county sent
up measure which is particularly local
In its character. 1t gives the alumni of
member Of the board of trustees of the col
lege every four years. The alumni has
been doing this for some time it is said
and this act will legalize such action here
after.
Representative Muller, of Evansville. in
troduced a bill providing for a police pen
sion fund in that city and was success
full in getting the rules suspended and
the measure passed Mr.. Bell objected
to such hasty action and thought the bill
should take the regular course but his
objection was voted down. 1t is understood
that the bill is similar to the one now
in force in this city. The bill passed
by vote of 81 to 5.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.
measure introduced by Mr.. Maxim
provides for the election of county super
intendents by popular vote. Mr. Jack
man had no bill yesterday, but he sent
up a petition from Butler, Ind. in ref
erence to improvements at the LAFAYETTE
Soldiers Home. The petitioners ask the
Legislature to make an appropriation of
100000 for the purpose of charging the
home SO that the widows of veterans NAV
be cared for.
A bill by Mr.. Davis, of Wayne county.
provides for the fencing and keeping In re-
pair all public cemeteries. This is to he
done by a special tax not to exceed
cents on the 500 to be levied by the town.
ship.
number of bills were handed down by
the speaker for second reading and en-
grossment Mr. Burrier's bill providing
for an Increase in the State Bureau Of In
spection passed TO engrossment Another
bill by Mr. Burrier providing for the bet
ter sanitation Of all food producing es-
Establishments passed TO engrossment Both
or these bills are supported by the State
Federation of Labor. Mr.. Whitcomb's hill
to prevent the adulteration of flaxseed and
linseed oil passed to engrossment after
being amended so as to apply to fiaxseed
or linseed meal and oil cakes. The emer-
| gency clause was also stricken out
/ Before the noon adjournment the report
| of the committee appointed by the late
| Governor Mount to investigate the finan-
cial needs Of state institutions was filed
| In the House.
PRIMARY ELECTION BILL.
| Immediately after the House recon.
vened in the afternoon the primary cleo
| ton bill came up for a second reading. /,
was amended in many material ways be-
| fore it was finally allowed to pass 10 en-
| grossment. The bill is No. 140. and is the
| one prepared by a commission appointed
| for the purpose some time ago. 1t was
reported on favorably by the election com.
! mittee several days ago, and its further
! consideration was made special order oI
| business for yesterday. The friends OF fhs
| bin say they are fairly well satisfied They
| say the fact that those who opposed the
| bill offered and secured the most amend
ments is evidence that they are now salts