The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-31
NettIed at Being the Victim, Senator
Lindley Fires Parthian shot at
Parks, OF Plymouth.
HOUSE DALLIEs WITH DECKER
BOY STATESMAN's BIRTHDAY -.
ROARIoUsLY CELEBRATED.
Farce Debate Ended by TabIiug the
Youth-Routine OF Both Houses
-Sidelights.


members Of the Senate, Senator Wampler
fought winning fight yesterday morning
in behalf of his bill to give the small
printers a chance to get a share of county
business, and he had the satisfaction of
seeing the bill pass in the teeth Of a power
full lobby by an overwhelming majority.
The action on the bill was characterized
oy interest of an intense kind. At times
a dozen senators were on their feet at the
same moment eager to put in a word for or
against the bill. A singular feature of the
situation was that while the opposition
seemed to be formidable before the vote
was taken. it melted away TO practically
nothing when IL came to roll call. and only
three votes were cast against the bill.
Senate bill No. 136, the prize of the battle.
was framed by Mr.. Wampler as the result
OF appeals made by small printers and
newspaper publishers of his own section of
the State. They had informed him that
since the present law really prevented them
from getting share of the public printing
it was difficult in many instances to make
living; and they asked that the bill be
passed as a matter of justice. The law now
is that county commissioners shall classify
supplies and shall award contracts to a
person or company making the lowest bid
on the whole of a given class In each
class is placed articles OF common use,
such. as lead pencils. scratch paper and the
like, which could be furnished by anyone;
but in addition there is always some item,
like large ledgers. which small printers
find it impossible to make. Since they must
bid on the whole group or nothing, they are
ct1f ont NJ
always valuable, have gone to some large
concern prepared to furnish big items as
well as insignificant. The wampler bill
provides that all the articles of given
kind used in the different county Offices
shall be placed in one specification and
each particular item of the supplies shall
be open to bids instead of by classes.
MR.. WAMPLER WAS EARNEST.
Senator Wampler. of Owen. in calling up
the bill, declared that he would not have
taken the time of the Senate to explain IL
at length but that he was aware of the ex-
istence Of powerful lobby which had been
working with might and main to create the
impression that his bill sought TO place
vicious legislation on the statute books.
He proposed to show the senators, he said.
that the bill was the exact opposite of
vicious, and that its purpose was to correct
viciousness as IT exists to-day in awarding
contracts for county supplies. The earn
estness of the senator and his powerful
voice compelled the attention OF the cham
Der and his speech did something that few
speeches do-it won not few of the men,
bers to his side.
He desired, he said, that the senators
should gain their understanding of the bill
from source other than the large printers
of the State who have manifested unusual
activity in trying TO have the bill killed.
These large concerns. he said, have se-
cured the contracts for county supplies ar
prices far in excess Of the rates for which
the same supplies could have been obtained
contemplated by his bill The bin simply
means. the senator said. that the county
commissioners shall purchase supplies for
the county in the same way and I'm the
same manner that a private citizen buys
the things he needs in his business, fore
thought and plain common sense being the
moving spirit of the measure.
II know" said Senator Wampler that
the large printing companies of the State
have divided the State among themselves:
each concern taking exclusive Jurisdiction
over a certain district composed of so many
counties. They have arranged things
that absolutely no contract can be award
ed in any county without the firm having
jurisdiction In that particular district be-
ing consulted. The result of this combna-
tion of the big printers" Senator Wampler
informed the Senate. lis that the little fel-
lows are entirely barred out unless they
are willing 10 take subcontracts for small
items at prices that prohibit their making
anything. While usually the big firms
make bids in every county" Senator wamp-
Ter stated, "the bids have been so fixed be-
forehand that the firm having particular
jurisdiction in that county is the one that
always gets the contract.
THE COUNTRY EDITOR.
II take this view," said the senator from
Owen. impressively. that the publisher Of
the county paper. the country editor who
finds il hard I'm many cases 10 make liv-
ing, should be entitled TO have a part OF
the county business. because IL is he who
stands as a menace TO evil-minded and
corrupt officers, and who. almost without
exception, fights untiringly for the inter-
ests of the taxpayer. lie should be given
a chance TO furnish all those items OF coun-
ty supplies that he can furnish"
A little later the senator made this OBJ
servation: Il think that the leading po-
ltical organ of each party should have
a chance at the county advertising busi-
the county may be. Democratic and Re-
publican papers should be- treated alike.
/ respect the Republican party because il
keeps the Democrats from going wrong:
and | love the Democratic party because
IL is a healthful agent in preventing the
Republicans from making serious mis-
takes.
AT the conclusion OF the speech Repub-
Iican senators who had maintained a qui-
escent attitude. arose from their seats and
held informal conferences I'm little knots all
over the chamber Senator wolcott and
senator Goodwine. both OF whom were con-
WINGED that the bill should pass, did ener-
getic missionary work with a number OF
the Republican members who had not read
the measure carefully and who were not
familiar with its intent. Senator Starr
hurried from one desk TO another. earnest
ly requesting the Republicans 10 support
senator Wampler's bill.
senator Wampler. thinking perhaps that
he could not get the bill through at that