The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-02
Review Of Action Taken by General
Assembly ON Important Bills
During Past Week.
FIGHT ON THE LUHRING BILL
TEMPERANCE PEOPLE MAY INTRO
DUCE COUNTER MEASURE.
MIR. Stechhan's Plan to Investigate
Convict Labor PrOblem-New Lead
ers of Debate-Gossip.

Strenuous days were those of the past
week for the legislators. The ordinary
routine business was varied by action on
bills of the utmost Importance; by debates
which reused interest to high pitch and
which brought into prominence in both
houses new members.
The week saw the enactment into law of
the amended Goodwine bill to reorganize
the government of the Jeffersonville Re-
formatory after a compromise satisfactory,
1T is believed. to all concerned. 1t saw
the bill to give Indianapolis Sunday base
ball passed in the House by an emphatic
majority and reported to the Senate In
the upper branch of the General Assembly
interest was drawn principally to the con-
sideration of two measures-Senator Ask
ren's plan to legalize jury verdicts by
three-fourths majority. and Senator wamp-
ler's bill to give the country printers
chance to bid on contracts for county SUD-
plies.
The first bill was defeated decisively, ow-
ing partly to energetic speeches by Senator
Ball, Republican. of Muncie. and Senator Ul-
rey. Democrat, of FIT. Wayne. In carefully
prepared arguments, covering the rise and
growth of the jury system, backed by
numerous citations of court opinions, the
senators convinced their colleagues that
such an innovation as the one proposed
was dangerous and subversive of the peo-
pies rights. Senator Wampler carried to
a successful conclusion his fight for the
small printers of the State. Backed by
Republicans. he pushed through the SEN
ate his bill providing that county commits
sioners shall advertise for bids on each
a nf frex
tising for groups of items, as the present
law specifies. A lobby, said to represent
the big printing companies of the State
worked hard 10 defeat the measure, but il
dashed itself to pieces against a wall of
public opinion.
DECKS ALWAYS CLEARED
With its decks always cleared for action
the Senate kept up it's record for doing
things out of the ordinary run. More bills
were introduced, fought over and passed
than in the House and the debates were
more numerous and sharper So far out
side of the Reformatory BILL the baseball
bill and one or two other measures there
has been little of interest in the House
The lower branch will probably occupy in
the near future a greater share of public
attention since it's committees are begin
ming TO grind out reports. The only scrim-
mage in the House that smelled of gum
powder was the debate on Mr. BOulden' 8
bill to establish a State inebriate asylum.
Despite the belief at the beginning of
the session that there would be little of
general interest in the business of the Gem
eral Assembly this year. something out of
the ordinary has arisen every week Now
that the Reformatory bill has been disposed
of, interest centers in the fate of the Luhr-
ing bill to repeal the blanket remonstrance
provision OF the Nicholson law The brew
ers on the one hand. spported its is said.
by many conservative members of both
houses. are working valiantly to have the
bill passed. They do not object so much
to the Nicholson law itself. IL is asserted
as TO the section relating 10 blanket re-
monstrances. The fight In the House for
the bill will be led by Mr.. Luhring of
Evansville. On the other hand are the
temperance people, whose cause will be
championed by Representative Otho VIII
liams, of New Castle. a new member. The
bill will probably be reported favorably to-
day in the House, and its fate will be set
tied by the end OF the week In the Senate
Mr. Lindley, of Hamilton county, is mar
shaling the opponents OF the bill.
VOTING MACHINE BILL.
The Senate is expected to take action this
week on Mr.. Matson's voting machine bill.
On account of the illness OF the senator.
consideration has been delayed The bill
is said TO be pretty generally favored. al
though there is some sentiment that IL
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