The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-22
There Are Measures Pending That
Will Provoke Hard Fights I'm the
General Assembly.
SCHOOL SUPPLY BILLS STATUS
PRIMARY ELECTION BILL WILL BE
Considered IN THE HOUSE.
Opposition to Increase Of School Tax
Levy-Nineteen Bills Have So
Far Been Passed.

The Sixty-third General Assembly Of In
diana is drawing to close but the f1f-
teen days that remain will see high-pres-
sure sessions of both houses Under the
present system of legislation the last two
weeks have crowded into them more busi-
ness than all the rest Of the session, and
this year there is an unusually large num-
Der of bills remaining to be disposed of.
Night sessions will be in order before the
Legislature is many days older If either
branch hopes to clean up it's calendar, and
even by working night and day the legis-
lators could not pass every bill that has
been reported favorably and is now on
second or third reading
Some lively fights are to be expected and
every bill that is debated or contested in
any manner will consume valuable min
utes and imperil the chances of other
measures. Early this week the House will
take final action on House bill No. 313
authorizing the state auditor to seek out
sequestered taxes in every county in the
State and giving him rs per cent. of all
taxes so recovered, and, judging from the
bitterness with which a large number of
representatives fought against the bills
being railroaded to engrossment without
discussion or amendment, one of the hard
est fights of the session will come before
il is passed or defeated.
There is a powerful lobby back of this
bill and it has the support, apparently,
of Speaker Marshall and some of the most
influential members the majority side
of the House. The Democrats are prac-
tically unit in opposition to it, and there
<x74ia ,I1r of De. t.
line with them to guarantee that the bill
will get through by very close vote, il it
passes at all. 1t was advanced to engross-
ment by vote of A to Al. 1t requires
81 votes to pass it. Some Of the members
who voted against advancing 1t last week.
however, explained that they approved of
the bill, but did not approve of its being
pushed through without full and free
discussion. They may vote for it on the
final lineup. and thus insure its passage
SCHOOL SUPPLY BILL.
The lobbies representing the State Asso-
ciation of School Boards and the State
organization of township trustees have
not lessened their opposition to the bill cre-
ating state commission to contract for
supplies for all the schools of the State, and
a fight may be expected on this bill when
il comes before the Senate on committee re-
port and on second and third reading. The
Senate committee on education has the
bill under consideration at present, and it
has been intimated that it will recommend
amendments such that cities of over 5000
population will be exempted from its pro-
Visions Charles w. Moores, of the Indf-
annapolis School Board, is one of the most
active of the opponents of the measure.
The Gard fee and salary bill, which has
ma ssed the Senate and is now in the hands
of the House committee, is another meas
ure that will consume time this week. The
county officials of the State have a power
ful lobby here to work for the bill. but
many prominent members of the majority
side of the House are opposed to 1t and the
minority has caucused against IL, conse-
ouently it will have rocky road TO travel
before IL gets through.
The Senate bin providing that the State
house or considerable part of it. be
tnrned into laboratory for the secretary
of the State Board of Health. is still be-
fore the House on third reading. and it
viii not be permitted to pass without q
Sxht. The original bin has been amended.
hut II still carries an appropriation OF $500
for the equipment and $1,000 annually for