The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-03-16
WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE.


forcement of law. If law is good
it is almost automatic that it should
be enforced. If it is bad the enforce
ment of it will the sooner bring about
its repeal. So, good or bad, the thing
to do is to make the laws operative.
The bills passed have been with per-
haps some few exceptions good, and
many of them are of very great inn
portance. Five or six bills prepared by
the codihcation commission have become
laws, and one was rejected. The cities
and towns bill was carefully considered.
and, as a result, it was much improved
and strengthened.
The legislature passed a railroad COM
mission bill and gave the city of Indian
apolis tie needed power to provide for
the elevation of railroad tracks. A new
insane hospital, which was greatly need
ed, was provided for. An adequate APP
preparation was made for the Girls In
dustrial School. The law authorizing
the construction of new deaf and dumb
school also seems satisfactory. The leg
islature made an appropriation for the
creation of an epileptic hospital, and or
dered that attention be first given to the
epileptics who could be helped or cured
by treatment. 1t also enacted a bill for
the regulation and control of private
banking, which, though deemed made
quate, is nevertheless to be commended
as recognizing a principle, and as
first step in the direction toward efficient
control. A bill providing for the pun
ishment of the vote-buyer was also
passed. The Nicholson law was strength
ened, and the sinking fund, which we
shall not need for several years, was
temporarily turned into the general fund
traordinary and much needed expendi-
lures.
Of course, there is something to be
said on the other side. The defeat of
the antitrust bill is to be regretted.
The legislature also refused to pass
Senator Hugg's primary election bill.
That is probably the most important
piece of work left undone. The weak
ening of the private banking bill and
the failure of the machine voting bill
are to be deplored. But the general
judgment of the session seems to be ia
vorable. To accomplish all this work,
to do it intelligently, and to get through
in sixty days, is something of an achieve
ment.
For State Institutions.
An unusually good record was made in
the line of legislation for the penal, benev-
olent and educational institutions. Among
the laws Of this kind was the one to estab-
lish a State village for epileptics, class
of dependents that has received State care
only when the epileptics were insane. Sane
epileptics have been poorly and often miser-
ably cared for In poor farms and sometimes
in jails, although they have committed no
crimes. Other new laws for State institu-
lions were: One to establish a southeastern
hospital for the insane to relieve over.
crowded conditions In insane hospitals and
to relieve jails and poor farms and homes;
one to separate the Girls Industrial School
from the Women's Prison; one to establish
practical schools for the teaching Of trades
at the Indiana Reformatory at Jefferson
Vile; one providing for the cultivation Of
State lands near the State prison at Mich
igan City, and one for the relocation Of the
School for the Deaf.
Codification Commissions Bills.
Five of the six bills drawn by the cod
ifcation commission created by the General
Assembly OF 1903 passed both branches.
The private corporations bill drawn by the
commission was killed In the Senate and
was never considered In the House except
in committee. The Senate feared that the
theory of the bill involved serious depar-
ture in the direction of the laws of New
Jersey and other State that give corpora
lions wide latitude.
The codifcation bills were all greatly
amended excepting the bill on criminal
code. and 1t will take time to ascertain
their effects. The cities and towns bill Is
important feature Is a Capitalization Of
power In the hands Of the mayor, but a
limitation was placed upon 1t somewhat by
an amendment which preserved the metro
lfnn oft hAfxr
10000 and 5000 population. The effect Of
this is to put the police In these cities In
the hands of boards appointed by the Gov
ernor. Another feature Is thai there will
be elections In all cities and towns Of the
State in November this year and every four
years thereafter.
In order to meet the expenses that the
construction of new State institutions will
entail, a law was passed transferring for
1905 1906 and 1907 the Scent sinking fund
levy to the general fund. This will bring
into the general fund IN three years nearly
81, 100000.
Act Relating to Schools.
There win be an increase Of three-ifths
Of a cent on the 500 In the total State levy,
as the result Of the Kean law, designed to
help the schools In poor townships that can
not now maintain the legal six months
minimum term and pay legal wages to
teachers, even with the maximum local levy
and with their share of the proceeds Of the
11-cent common school State levy. Another
law of interest to schools and to parents
that buy school-books Is the Batman-Mn-
burn law, under which the State Board Of
School Book Commissioners Is required to
make contracts for ten years, except in
cases Of Biographies, histories and copy
books, and unless two-thirds of the board
votes for a change after five years Advo-
Gates Of this law said the people were pro-
testing against the necessity Of buying new
books frequently.
Although the House defeated the Senate
bill creating a new deputy for the State
Superintendent of Public Instruction, whose
business, among other things, was to be to
look after the teaching Of agriculture In
the high schools and after the township
high schools, the general appropriation bill
this purpose, and there win be such dep
uty. There was another law authorizing
the transfer Of the special school fund sur
plus to the tuition fund, and another In
creasing the salary OF county superinten-
dents to $3.50 4 day and raising Qualifica-
lions to at least thirty-six months State
license.
The Farmer Fared Well.
The farmer Jared very we'll A law was
passed appropriating $25,00O year an
nually for an agricultural experiment sta
ton at Purdue University. Another law
that may please the farmer provides punish
that do not produce the kind Of fruit which
the agent represented they would produce.
For instance, an agent will hesitate hence
forth to sell a Ben Davis for a winesap.
A law was passed authorizing the State
Board Of Agriculture to Issue non-taxable
bonds to raise money with which to obtain
THE AMERICAN INVASION.