The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-09
The Closing Hours of the Legislature
VIII BE a Mixture of Fun and
Sober Sentiment.
MORE CONFERENCE REPORTS
PROBABLE DISAGREEMENT ON Ell.
EVATED TRACKS BILL.
In Reality, However, There Will Be
Little Work for Either House
to Do To-Day.

The sixty-third General Assembly of In
diana dies at midnight tonight. Under
the constitutional provision adjournment
cine die must be taken on the sixty-frst
day Of the session and in accordance with
the time-honored custom both houses will
wait until the last minute of the last hour
of the day before the gavels fall for the
last time. In point of fact it may be some
hours after midnight before adjournment
is taken, but in event the Governor is de-
layed in passing on bills the hands of the
clocks in the two chambers will be turned
back from time to time in order that the
illusion of adjourning exactly on the stroke
of twelve may be maintained.
The closing hours of the Assembly are
always strange mixtures of fun and sober
sentiment. While the members are always
glad to see the end and their feelings are
not unlike those of schoolboys as they well
come the last day of the spring term, yet
the laying aside of the dignities of office
and parting, officially, from friends who
have been brought into intimate relation
ship through the close associations of two
months within the council halls of the
State, cannot but bring regrets to all. So
it is that while the members indulge in
wild pranks and much funmaking during
the last hours, there are alternating cur
rents of serious thought in which come
farewell speeches, exchanges of express
sions of good will and the singing of many
songs-"Auld Lang Syne." .Auf wiederse-
hen,' God Be with You Till We Meet
Again" and the like.
The majority and minority that have been
at war for sixty days bury the hatchet
smoke the pipe or peace, forget political
differences and ,Isss become good fellows all
other and exchange ecomiums that are In
marked contrast with the caustic and sar-
castle filings that are so frequent in the de-
bates of the session when partisan ques-
tionS are at issue.
LITTLE TO DO TO-DAY.
There is little for either House or Senate
to do to-day. aside from receiving messages
from the Governor as to his action on the
bills that still remain In his hands. The
conference committees report the gen.
eral appropriation bill must be received
and acted upon in both branches. but that
will be largely a matter of ceremony as
in all probability the report will be con-
Cured in without opposition in either
house.
There conference reports on several
other bills to be received, chief in interest
being that on the indianapolis elevated
tracks bill. The conference committee on
this latter measure may be forced to re-
port second disagreement, and In that
event II is generally believed that there
ate and House together and the Legisla-
ture will adjourn without any legislation
on the question of such great Importance
to the capital city. If any agreement is
reached, 1t is foregone conclusion that it
will be to the effect that theSSenate amend
ments be stricken from the Muir bill, but il
such report is made 1t is by no means
assured that the Senate will concur The
House. judged by the overwhelming vote
against the Senate amendments will be
glad to approve such a report and to put the
G,-;~h fha ATtrir n;
Senate adopted the vital amendments by
the almost unanimous vote of 80 to / and
it is difficult to believe that 1t will recede
from it's position.
House Bill 1885, which provides municipal
Improvement law for cities under 10000
not operating under special charter, is
also tied up in conference committee
through the stand taken by Representative
Slack Saturday. However, this mea sure is
not regarded as being of such vital i'm
portance. as the State can worry along
under the Barrett and Artman improve
ment laws for another two years Slack
took the position that as member of the
conference committee he would not agree
to report on this bill unless the speaker
would concede TO his demand that his reso-
luton, offered Saturday and referred to
the committee on federal relations. be put
to a vote of the House His resolution
calls on the United States Senate to pass
bill No. 1106O already passed by the lower
branch of Congress, limiting the meaning
of the word conspiracy. The bill Is one
in which the United Mine Workers organ
ization is deeply interested.
RULES MAY BE SUSPENDED.
If Slack is satisfied in his demand IL is
possible that the rules may be suspended
and s. B. 395, which passed the Senate Sat-
urday under suspension of the rules may
be passed by the House. This bill provides
that the Governor. Lieutenant Governor
and speaker of the House shall be consti-
tuted commission to have improvements
made In the Senate and House chambers
that will enable a better system of ventila-
ton. The death Of Senator Gibson yester-
day which Is believed to be directly ar
tributable TO a cold contracted as a result
of the drafts and poor ventilation i'm the
senate chamber. will bring the members OF
the House to realization of the necessity
of the improvements contemplated There
has been surprising amount of sickness
among the members of both houses during
the present session. and two deaths. any