The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-20
The Measure Gives Promise Of Taking
the Center Of the stage i'm Leg
isIative Matters.
THE SENATE LONG ON QUAIL
MIR. COATS'S BILL FOR CLOSED
SEASON CALLS FORTH ORAToRY.
Ii Adds the Only Touch of Liveliness
to the Sennte's Proceedingr-Af-
fairs of the House.

&
The interest in legislative affairs rs CEN
tered at present in the bill for the reor-
ganization OF the Indiana Reformstory.
The opposition has at last shown its hand
and aggressive fight has been started
that may last for the next two weeks. The
members OF the present board Of managers
of the Reformatory have issued statements
in which they challenge an investigation OF
the affairs OF the institution. and several
senators and representatives have rallied
TO their support and announced that
they will fight Senator Goodwine's bill.
The first battle will probably take place in
the Senate to-day when the bill may be
handed down on third reading and placed
on its passage If the programme outlined
by the supporters of the bill is followed
out.
The bill came up on second reading I'm the
Senate yesterday and was advanced TO
engrossment without word being said for
or against it. The second reading of a bill
is the time for amendments. but the opposi-
tion to the Reformatory measure apparently
has no desire TO amend it-it will confine its
efforts to defeating il, either by striking
out the enacting clause or on the vote when
it is placed on its passage. A fight. or at
least preliminary skirmish, in which the
opposing forces would measure strength.
was anticipated yesterday and a motion TO
strike out the enacting clause would have
been in order. but TO the surprise of those on
the outside of the contest such move
was made.
OPPOSITION GATHERS STRENGTH.
1t was conceded even by its friends and
was Saturday and that the opposition has
gathered material strength within the past
tWenty-four hours Until yesterday IL was
claimed by the administration forces that
the bill would go through the Senate with
out any difficulty. but one of the senator's
who leans toward the bill said last night
that il would probably take fight TO get
ii through the upper house and that in the
event there a free and prolonged dis
cussion of the bill to-day. or when IL comes
I'D for passage, il might fail. Senator
Crumbaker and Senator Barcus have indi-
Gated that they will fight the bill and the
members of the Marion county delegation
i'm the Senate are undecided and 10 GER
tain extent hostile to it, Senator Barcus
indicated yesterday that his opposition 10
the bill had nothing 10 do with Its political
aspects and that he WAS not considering
whether il would be good or bad politics
to pass il. He said that he looked at II
from the standpoint OF what was best for
the institution and for the State and also
in the light of the effect the passage OF his
bill and subsequent reorganization OF the
Reformatory would have on the other insti-
tutions.
II is believed that the opposition is build
ing its hopes on defeating the bill In the
House. when il reaches that body after pas
sage in the Senate. and 10 that end Is con-
centrating its efforts on lining up as many
of the representatives against the bill as
can be influenced 10 take such stand.
Several OF the members of the House have
already announced their determination TO
fight the bill. Booth Harrington. of this
f.f he first m
the opposition and he said yesterday that he
would do all i'm his power TO defeat the Dill.
He said that he believed that the attempt
to reorganize the MANAGEMENT Of the in
siitution was wrong and that he would
fight 1t early and late. Joseph X Morgan:
OF this city Is s also against s,a the p,li snd a
Beckman. of Brunswick, have taken SIM
liar positions.
ATTITUDE OF DEMOCRATS.
The attitude of the Democrats toward the
bill is a matter of interest as the situa-
tion may become such that they will hold
the balance of power and be able TO defeat
or pass the bill. IL is understood that they
will take the position which in their judg-
ment will most embarrass the Republicans.
The Senate minority held a caucus last
evening in Senator Fleming's room at the
Grand Hotel TO discuss the bill. but the
result of the caucus could not be learned.
!
man. stated after the meeting that the
senators had decided 10 keep their position
the hill "A secret until IL was brought out
on the floor Of the Senate. ana that every
man at the caucus had been pledged 10
secrecy. Senator Fleming said that no
caucus action had been taken on the bill
He said that IL was freely discussed. but
that nothing was done 10 bind the minority
for or against IT.
II is believed that the Democrats will
vote for the bill in the Senate. as. from tho
outside that seems the logical position for
them to take il they are merely playing at
politics. The action OF the minority In the
House later may be entirely different. IL
was suggested last night. however. that the
Democrats would not take position until
the bill was placed on its passage and that
then they would be governed by the situa-
tion on the atority side. IL was also re-
ported that the friends Of the bill had made
a deal with the minority by which the latter
would vote for the bill and later be re-
wardsd with support from the majority
side on some bill in which they are deeply
senator Goodwine who stands sponsor
for the bill gave out a statement yester-
day i'm which the first definite charge
against the present management OF the
Reformatory is made. He said:
'One of the Objectionable business meth
ods OF the present board Is that IL permits
one man 20 open all the bids and award
the contracts The board concurs I'm this
members action without study OF the
bids. In the matter OF clothing there are
no competitive bids. and recent fnvestiea-
tion disclosed the fact that much OF the
clothing used at the Reformatory Was
bought OF a firm in which Tobe' Hert. for
mer superintendent. was interested"
NONPARTISAN IN THEORY.
Senator Goodwine also said that only I,
| theory is the present management OF the
/ institution nonpartisan. The theory is aii
right. he said. but there is and always has
been more politics injected into the
management OF the Reformatory than In
all of the other institutions
Senator Barlow. OF Plaindeld. Is one e