The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-17
He Says the Bill IL Good One and
Will Bring About a Much
Needed Reform.
FEE AND SALARY BILL PASSES
SENATOR GARD WINS A VICTORY In
THE UPPER HOUSE.
New Sunday Baseball Bill Killed I'm
the Senate-Report on Rail-
road Consolidation Bill.

The Republican members Of the House
held another caucus on the stansbury.
school supply commission bill last evening
in the speakers room at the Statehouse
and again decided that the bill should be
put through the House as caucus meas
ure. The caucus was called at the instance
Of several of the members who were not
satisfied with the action taken last week
and who wished to discuss the bill again.
These members. who had manifested a
slight inclination to bolt the caucus were
given some further information concerning
the bill that brought them back into line
and the Republican leaders said last night
that the bill would be passed by the House
without any negative votes from the ma
jority side.
Representatives Harrington and Morgan.
of the Marion county delegation. were two
OF the members who were not pleased with
the bill after they had examined IL more
carefully. Morgan tried to have action on
the bill postponed when IL was handed
down on second reading and Harrington. in
statement in yesterdays Journal. set
forth his objections to the measure and
insisted that the caucus action had been
secured by misrepresentation of the nature
and effect OF the bill. At the caucus last
evening Harrington objected to the bills
being passed as a caucus measure and
urged at least that il be amended so az TO
exclude from it's provisions cities of over
1000 population. He also asked other
amendments which the friends of the bill
said would completely destroy its purpose,
and his amendments were laid on the table
by an overwhelming vote.
MORGAN WILL NOT BOLT.
Morgan said last night that he would not
bolt the caucus action. He said that he
was not altogether satisfied with the bIll
but as a large majority of the Republican
members wanted 1t passed he would not
vote against it,
1.-The bill will be passed by the House.
said Morgan, land IL its opponents want to
amend or defeat IL they will have TO do
their work over In the Senate. / still be-
lieve that the bill is not one that should
be made a caucus measure. but can't go
against all the rest of the members on our
side of the House"
Representative Muir, of Marion county.
also said last night that the bill would go
through without opposition from any Re-
publican member.
Speaker Marshall said last night in dis
cussing the bill and the caucus action on
II:
''The bill will go through as a caucus
measure, just as was decided at the hrst
meeting OF the Republican members 1t
is a good bill and IL Is exactly the sort OF
bill that should be made a caucus meas
ure in order TO insure its prompt passage.
1.-The opposition to the bill has so far
confined it's objections TO ridiculing the
idea that IL will be the means OF saving
payers of the State. Its opponents seem
to think that IL II will not save a million
dollars year it is a bad bin. 1t is good
bill IL IL will save a dollar TO the tax
payers. OF course. the more IL will save the
better IL will be. We believe that IL will
be one OF the best economical measures
ever passed by the Legislature. We know
exactly how much IL will save because
there is no man In Indiana who has any
means of computing the total amount OF
of the character contemplated by the bill
1--WE do know this. however. large
number of agents are employed by the
plies to travel over the State and place.
contracts To maintain these agents costs
a large amount of money. The contractors.
IL they are able to secure contract cover
ing the entire State. will make price that
does not include the expense OF these
agents. There will be one large item saved
Again. the contracts will. In all probability.
and the State will save the profit and ex-
pense of the wholesale and retail men.
That is another large item.
JOHNSON, OF ANDERSON.
"a few months ago the State was edi-
fed with an exposure OF the methods en-
ployed by this man Johnson. OF Ander-
son, in his dealings with school officers
In selling just such supplies as will be
covered by a contract made by the State
commission. 1t was stated in the news
papers at the time that Johnson had paid
out to township trustees and members
of school boards the sum OF s27.0os In one
year to seoare contracts from them. II he
made largo enough profits his
tracts to be able TO spend $1,000 year
to secure them. the saving to the State
on the business done by this one agent
would be sufficient TO justify the passage
of the bill, but Johnson Is only one OF
There is absolutely nothing in this bill
TO which the honest school officer or
township trustee can object III he Is hon
est il relieves him OF a responsibility which
he is glad TO transfer 10 some one else.
IL he is dishonest. IL takes away from
him the opportunity to graft at the ex-
pense of the taxpayers. ! DO not wish to
school official who has criticised this bill
is dishonest. but | 20 insist that the honest
officers can find no valid objection 10 it
and should not oppose IL.
1T is unfortunate that the available
statistics are not in such form TO show
definitely the exact amount OF money TX
pended I'm Indiana every year Tor school
supplies The reports TO the State SUPER
infendent are not itemized this
feature The trustees and school boards
show I'm their reports various items and
then one omnibus item of amount other
wise expended In this last item the items
are included that the bin will get ct. We
believe that the total viii run into sew
eral hundred thousands OF dollars and may
approach the million mark
"The bin is distinctly a reform meas
ure Ii takes no backward step. IL will
not cost the taxpayers anything, and we
have every reason 10 believe that Ii will
be the means OF saving several hundred
thousand dollars annually IL Is only
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