GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
On motion by Mr. MENZEES, the report of the Conference Committee on the bill H. R. 422 was read.
Mr. GRAHAM moved to reject this report and that a new Committee on Free Conference be appointed. He had hoped the Committee would strike at one abuse of the Appropriation Bill, viz.: appropriating a large sum to certain officers--notably Prosecuting Attorneys; and for other abuses.
Mr. BROWN opposed the motion. It is a plain duty owing to ourselves and our constituents to press this bill; $700 is not too much for Prosecuting Attorneys. Pass this bill and if other contingencies arise calling for an extra session, let it come.
Mr. GRAbAM would not do anything knowingly to defeat the passage of this bill at the present session. There are items in that bill that should not be in the law and for that reason, the bill should be amended. He desired it stripped of its infirmities and its wrongs.
Mr. WILSON said this Conferance Committee tried to do it duty. In twenty minutes every member can advise himself fully of all the charges proposed by the Committee. He regarded the vote increasing the appropriation to Prosecuting Attorneys some $9,000 or $10,000 as one of the most unfortunate of the season; but should this report be rejected because of this, certainly the passage of the bill this session should not be defeated because of that item.
Mr. MENZIES did not think all the wisdom of the State would go out in darkness when this Legislature adjourns. If there is pernicious legislation in this bill such action can be modified by a succeeding session. He did not think an extra session should be called, rather than pay Prosecuting Attorneys some $9,800. He did not like the system of legislation referred to and carried out in this bill, though custom has sanctioned its practice.
Mr. GARRIGUS thought it strange so small a thing should provoke such earnest contention. Why don't some Senator refer to the $25,000 appropriated to the State University? There is no more reason why the State shold give $25,000 to the Bloomington University than it should give that amount to Butler University, or Asbury, or others in the State which do as much and more to advance intelligence than that one-horse Institution in Monroe County
Mr. FOSTER believed the Senator from Hamilton (Mr. Graham) had set himself right on the record and before the people, and should not further obstruct the passage of this bill
Mr. BENZ had the utmost confidence in this Conference Committee, and should vote against the motion to reject its report.
The motion to reject was lost, and the report of the Conference Committee was concurred in.
