The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-21
May Recommend the Use Of Exclusive
Type Faces for Printing of
the Bills.
TO MAKE SESSION ECONOMICAL
APPROPRIATION BILLS TO BE CARE
FULLY sCRUTINIZED.
The Conference May Also Consider
Reducing the Number of Senate
EmplOyes-POlitical News.

The Republican members of the State
Senate will hold a conference in this city
to-day, convenng at 10 o'clock this fore
noon. The meeting was called by Lieutenant
Governor Gilbert and the object is to dis
cuss prospective legislation and outline
policy to be followed by the majority dur
ing the approaching session of the General
Assembly
The conference was originally called for
yesterday, but on account of the death Of
Senator c. c. Binkley of Richmond, it was
postponed until to-day.
Several important matters will be con-
sidered at the meeting Three questions Of
legislation are to be disposed of at the
approaching session that are of more than
ordinary interest and the Republican sem
ators are desirous of discussing them in
formally before they are called on to dis
pose of them officially. These questions are
the reapportionment of the State for legis-
lative purposes, the separation of the
Woman's Prison and the Industrial School
for Girls, and the adoption Of voting ma
chimes. 1t is believed that the adoption Of
a bill for the separation of the Womans
Prison and the Industrial School for Girls
is assured, as a majority of the senators
and a large number of members of the
lower house have expressed themselves as
favoring such a measure. AS to voting
machines, the sentiment is divided, but
many of the legislators have gone on record
for the adoption of machines provided a
suitable machine can be secured at a rea-
sonable price.
RULES OF THE SENATE.
Another matter that will be considered
to-day is the advisability of making some
changes in the rules of the Senate. There
is a growing sentiment that in some re-
spects the present rules are too loose and
ineffective, particularly In regard to the
handling of bills after they have been
passed by both branches of the Legislature
and before they are sent to the Governor
for his signature. Under the present sys-
TEN 1T is possible for changes to be made in
the wording of the bills such as to affect
radically the scope and intent of the meas
ures with the chances that the changes
will escape the attention of the Governor
and the bills become laws wholly different
from the bills originally passed. spe-
cific instance of such change having been
made is cited in the baking powder bill
passed by the last Legislature. A change
was made in that bill after it had been
signed by both the speaker of the House
and the lieutenant governor and before it
went to the Governor, two words being
erased and others inserted. The Governor
signed the bill without discovering the
change and the law was directly opposite
in effect to the intent of the bill. 1t was
never discovered who changed the bill, al
though suspicion was narrowed down to
xl-z
The Senate this winter will probably make
a change in the rules that will make such
a fraud impossible. Several means to this
end have been suggested among others one
to the effect that the Legislature adopt
special kind of type of peculiar face have
ii copyrighted and then have all bills
printed in this type after passage by both
branches At present the bills are copied in
script by the clerks after adoption and
sent to the Governor in bulky documents
that are afterward filed in the Office of
1t is easy to make an erasure or addition
with little chance that the guilty man will
be discovered.
AN ECONOMICAL SESSION.
1t was also learned last night, through
a conversation with several senator's who
had arrived in the city for to-day's meet
ing that there Is a disposition on the part
of large number of them to make this
session of the Assembly an economical one
Bills carrying new appropriations will be
rigidly scrutinized and unless there appear
an absolute necessity for their enactment
they will be summarily rejected. For this
reason II is believed that the proposed bill
creating a new normal school will have a
rocky road to travel and will probably be
defeated.
In line with this economical policy the
conference to-day will consider the wisdom
of reducing the number of employees of the
hc in 4 ba
upper branch of the Legislature is a long
one and some Of the senators believe that
it can be materially cut down without af-
fecting the dispatch of business. Such
procedure will not meet with unqualified
approval on every side, especially among
those who are looking forward to receiving
a generous slice of pastry at the pie counter
this winter.
Governor Durbin is endeavoring to make
a strictly business administration" said
a senator last night. and the Legislature
should adopt a policy consistent with his
There will be disposition TO be parsi-
monious. but we shall endeavor to keep a
good-siZed weight on the lid of the States 8
strong box.
MAY CONSIDER LEGISLATION.
Lieutenant Governor Gilbert said last
night that the primary object of to-day's
conference would be to discuss ways and
means of expediting the transaction of
business at the coming session. "A great
deal of time has always been lost in the
Senate and many of the most important
measures have been delayed until the close
OF the session, when they have been rushed
through without sufficient time for proper
consideration Some methods can be adopt
ed TO avoid this and We shall consider the
matter to-day"
The lieutenant governor also said that
some important questions of proposed legis-
lation would be considered.
Among the senator's who arrived I'm the
city last night for the conference to-day
were: Samuel Crumbaker. Evansville; AL
bert NJ. Burns. South Bend; Daniel l..
: Frankfort: J. c. Gochenour. North Man