The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-18
Indications Point to . Conservative
AID Profitable Session Of the
Legislature.
STATUS OF REFORMATORY BILL
PROGRAMME CALLS FOR FINAL AC-
TION AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.
Five Bills Passed by the House and
Three by the Senate-Leaders
Are Satisfied.

The Sixty-third General Assembly has
been in session seven days, and it's record
in that time has been a very satisfactory
one to the Republican leaders with whom
the responsibility for the legislative pro-
ceedings lies, in a large measure. Both
houses have got down to business in better
shape than in the same length of time in
any preceding session. Both houses are
better organized, some sweeping innova-
tions for betterments have been made,
while the personnel of the Legislature and
the general tendency of procedure up to
date are such as to crafty the leaders,
and in their opinion. to insure a conserva-
tive and profitable session.
So far the amount of legislation pro-
posed is concerned there has been almost
as many bills introduced as there was dur
ing the same period of the session of two
years ago. In the House there have been
five roll calls for bills and 132 meas
ures have been offered, as against 139 for
the first five roll calls of the last session.
In the Senate there have been six roll calls
for the same purpose, and 1876 bills have
been forthcoming, as against 159 for the
same period two years ago. However, it is
indicate that the total number of bills for
the session will be practically as large as it
was two years ago. 1t is pointed out that
practically all the important measures that
are to come before the Legislature have
already been introduced and most of the
members of both houses have indicated
that they have no further legislation to
propose The sentiment has been to get all
the bills in at the earliest possible date in
order that there may be ample time to
consider them carefully, and the word has
gone forth to the members in both branches
that if they want to get their bills through
they must get them all in before the session
is many days older.
IMPORTANT BILLS IN.
OF the bills that have been proposed the
ones of general interest and Importance are
being pushed rapidly. The voting machine
bill is now ready for third reading in the
Senate, and it will be brought up as soon
as the senators have had time to hear from
their constituents in regard to it, The bill
in it's present form makes the adoption of
machines compulsory in all counties having
a city of 10000 or more inhabitants, affect
ing fifteen counties. Two thousand copies
Oh Tile Jill WCic piihtSo dHu OScE OHc-ndIl
that number was sent out Friday and Sat-
urday by senators whose districts will be
especially interested in the bill as it now
stands. The returns from this feeling of
the peoples pulse" as Senator Matson. the
sponsor of the bill, put IL, should be in
by the middle of this week and then the
Senate will take it up on third reading to
pass it in its present form or with amend
ments.
1t is not the desire of any of the MEM
bers to make the bill one of political char
acter. The Democrats are equally inter-
ested with the Republicans in the measure,
and caucus of both the minority and ma
jority will be held early this week to get the
informal expressions of the senators in re-
gard to IL. 1t is believed that the bill will
be amended so as to affect fewer counties.
and In its final shape it may apply only to
Marion county. but ii will go through with
out a fight il is believed.
The primary election bill has not yet been
returned from committee, but 1t has already
been given considerable study by the mem-
bers OF the committee and at an open meet
ing Monday it will be finally considered.
The Indianapolis school bill, which af-
fects only this city. but is Of especial In
terest here, has been passed by the House
and is now up to the Senate. where II will
he pushed through this week.
The convict labor bills have been intro
duced in both houses These bills have been
threshed out before their introduction. they