The Indianapolis journal., 1903-02-12
ForcefuI Speeches Made by the SEM
atOrs for and Against the
Measure.
SENATOR THRALLs's NEW BILL
1T Is DESIGNED TO REPEAL THE
PRESENT BASEBALL LAW.
Referred to n Committee That Will
Unanimously Report IN Favor
of It-LegisIative News.

The Senate killed the Sunday baseball bill
yesterday by the narrow margin of one
vote; but the action, accompanied as 1t was
by the most intense excitement on the floor
of the chamber, is but the beginning of the
fight for Sunday ball in Indiana. Hard on
the heels OF the defeated measure came
another, reincarnation in more vigorous
shape of the bill which was done to death.
Late in the afternoon Senator Thralls. OF
Knox and Sullivan counties, one OF the
members who had cast a vote against the
bill limiting Sunday baseball to the larger
cities, introduced a measure to repeal the
statute forbidding playing baseball on Sun
day when admission fees are charged. Sem
ator Thralls is the representative of a group
of senators. who. while opposing the pas
sage of a bill which would limit the playing
of baseball on Sunday to the big cities, are
unqualifiedly in favor of legalizing Sunday
baseball for the whole State. They voted
against the original bin because it legaiized
Sunday ball in some communities and made
it felony i'm others. These senators take
the stand that the people are demanding
Sunday amusement of that character. and
if one city is to be granted the privilege
all should be.
The Introduction of the bill TO repeal the
present statute met with general favor. A
number of senators who had voted against
the House bill Immediately signified their
intention of supporting the new measure.
1t is believed that TIE Thralis bill will have
the support not only OF those senators who
voted for the bill applying TO the larger
cities, but that il will be backed by senators
who voted against the House bill because it
did not apply to their own particular cities
towns. A careful poll of the Senate in
dicates that the bill will pass by a respecta-
bile majority If no Unforeseen opposition
arises.
The Thralls bill was referred by Acting
President Wood 20 the committee on ju-
dietary No. 2. The committee gave the bill
its consideration last night. and the MEM
bers are unanimously in favor of its pas
sage AS a result the committee will bring
in a unanimous report this morning recon-
mending that the bill pass.
GREETED WITH PLEASURE.
Many members of the House were pres
ent in the Senate when the Thralls bill was
introduced. They greeted its advent with
pleasure and a number declared that the
new measure will have more votes in the
House If it pass the Senate than the orig
inal measure. One of the principal objec-
tions to the bill which was killed was that
it limited Sunday ball to Indianapolis. After
it was amended i'm the Senate to include
cities of 5000 and over more representa-
tiyes came over TO its support. and II IL
had passed the Senate and gone to the
House there would have been comparative
ly few votes cast against It, The Thralls
bill is even more popular in the lower house
since it removes the principal objections TO
House Bill 222
Probably there was never a more exciting
yesterday morning when the baseball bill
was called up for third reading. In antiei-
patton of the Senate action hundreds OK
visitors had crowded into the chamber. The
Governor, a number of State officials and
dozens of members of the House were pres
ent There was electricity In the air and
a pleasureable feeling of excitement which
touched friends and enemies of the bill
alike.
The Senate did not get to a consideration
of the bill until nearly noon. flnally 'las the
was reached and Senator Walter l.. Ball
arose to call up House bill No. z22, the Sun
day baseball bill. Even the sharp rap or
Senator Dausman, who was the temporary
presiding officer, failed TO still the murmur
that arose in all parts OF the chamber.
Senators were sitting cooked and primed
with speeches which they were anxious 10
deliver and supporters or opponents OF the
bill were trying to get IN maj word
with senators who were considered 10 be
on the fence before debate became warm.
senator Ogborn, of New Castle. who had
come out a short time previously In favor
OF the bill started hostilities- He arose
with little rule book In his hand and de-
clared that the bill was unconstitutional
on the face OF IL for the reason that the
Legislature cannot grant special privileges
or immunities; nor, he said. can IL pass
local or special laws for the punishment or
crimes or misdemeanors- II am opposed
he declared, Ito bill which VIII bar the
bows on the Irish hills of every small town
from playing bail wniie IL gives that saiu-
"i move" he said, that consideration OF
House bill No. 222 be indefinitely post
poned."
SPEECHES CAME HOT AND FAST
Then the speeches came hot and fast for
and against the bin. Senator Lindiey. OF
Noblesville, girded up his loins as an ex-
ponent of morality and declared that. 1T
was old men for counsel; young men for
war" He rather hinted that the young
men in the Senate who favored the passage
of the bill had not given IL mature con-
sideration: that there was a disposition on
their part to act hastily and unwisely. IL
was a bill, he said, advocated by people
who do not take things seriously, even
things which. like the Sabbath days. should
be held sacred. They have not come TO
the time of life, he said. when they realize
what the Sabbath means. Senator Lindley
said he had heard IL asserted that conces-
sions had been granted TO the church and
temperance people i'm the defeat OF the
I.uhring bill and that consequently these
forces were not deserving of consideration
in their attempts TO defeat the baseball
hill II deny" he said. that concessions
of any kind were granted 10 the church and
temperance people. They did not need con-
cessions granted them. They had the other
siae whipped all the time" He concluded
with an earnest appeal for the defeat or the
bill.
Senator Wood, chairman or the Senate