HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SATURDAY, December 4, 1858.A call of the House was ordered, to assure the presence of a quorum, and that fact being ascertained, and Messrs. Murray and Dougherty having obtained leave of absence til Monday
The Journal of yesterday was read.
DOMESTIC STATE DEBT.
The SPEAKER laid before the House a communication from the Auditor of State relative to the entire indebtedness of the State, other than the foreign debt, and the funds to which it is due, which was read by the Clerk as follows:
OFFICE OF AUDITOR OF STATE, Indianapolis, Tuesday, November 30, 1858.
HON. JONATHAN W. GORDON,Speaker of the House of Representatives:
SIRIn reply to the resolution of the House of this date, (see resolution) I have the honor to refer you to my published report, which you did me the honor to lay before the House on yesterday.
On pages 72 and 73 of said report will be found a statement of the entire indebtedness of the State, other than the foreign debt, and the funds to which it is due, except the amount due to the "Common School Fund derived from the Sinking Fund," as shown upon page 15 of the reportthe latter bearing interest, and payable at the pleasure of the State.
The State is paying seven per cent. interest upon the sum of $165,000 shown to be due to the Board of Sinking Fund Commissioners; and six per cent. interest upon the sum of $2,076,53, paid by the Treasurer of Shelby county on acount of revenue of 1857 collected without authority of law.
No interest accrues on any other indebtedness of the State.
I am, sir, very respectfuly,
Your ob't
serv't,
JOHN DODD,Auditor of
State.
On motion by Mr. HUNTER the communication was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
CHURCH PROPERTY.
Mr. HUNTER presented the memorial of sundry members of the Associate and Associate Reformed Churches of Monroe county, desirous of effecting a union, and asking for a general law to enable them to transfer their church property to the proper officers of the United Churches so to be formed.
On motion by Mr. HUNTER it was referred to a select committee of five, which the Speaker made to consist of Messrs. Hunter, Stanfield, Prosser, Shields and Sherman.
INTEREST ON THE STATE DEBT.
Mr. ROBINSON, from the Committee on the Sinking Fund, returned Mr. Lawhead's bill, (H. R. 1) and asked that the same be, referred again to the Committee on Ways and Means.
The report was concurred in.
COMMITTEE ON COURT TIME IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT.
On motion by Mr. HAMILTON, of Boone, and Hendricks, Mr. Johnston, of Park, and Mr. Nebeker, of Vermillion, were added to the Committee to consider Mr. Newton's bill, No. 29, fixing Court time in the Eighth Judicial Circuit.
COMMITTEE ON SWAMP LANDS.
On motion by Mr. HUNTER, Mr. Whetzel was added to the Committee on Swamp Lands.
Mr. GRIFFIN submitted the following, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on Swamp Lands, to whom was referred the bill in relation to the Calumet Feeder Dam, be taken from said committee and referred to a select committee of five.
Mr. DOBBINS. The proper course would be to require the Committee on Swamp Lands first to return the bill to the House.
Mr GRIFFIN accepted the modification.
Mr. THOMPSON, of Madison, made an ineffectual motion to lay the resolution on the table.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr. RITTER, submitted the following, which was adopted by consent:
Resolved, That the Committee on Agriculture be instructed to inquire into the propriety of authorizing managers of Camp Meetings and Agricultural Societies; to prohibit or regulate all huckstering, side-shows. &c., within some specified limits, and report by bill or otherwise.
Mr. WATERMAN submitted the following, which was adopted:
Resolved. That the Committee on County and Township Business be instructed to inquire whether the expense of assessing the personal property of this State could not be much lessened by having but one assessor in each county, with a deputy or denuties in case of necessity, and whether the assesment could not be more equal?
And be it further resolved, That said committee be instructed to inquire into and report to this House, at as early a day as possible, whether the real estate could not be appraised by such assessor with much less expense than by having an appraiser expressly for that purpose and whether said appraisement would not probably be done as well?
Mr. HARRISON submitted a resolution, (which was rejected,) to the following effect:
Resolved, That the Committee on the organization of Courts be instructed to inquire into the expediency of redistricting the State, and changing the number of the Supreme Judges to three or five, and report by bill or otherwise.
TRUST FUNDS.
Mr. HARNEY submitted the following, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into and report at their earliest convenience -
- Under the provisions of article 2, sections 2 and 3 of the Constitution, has the State the right to make use of the common school fund, or any of the proceeds thereof, for the purposes of paying the ordinary expenses of the Government?
- Under the provisions of Article 8 of the Constitution, has the State the implied right to become a preferred borrower of the trust funds, fixing its own time for payment, and the rate of interest, and what should be the nature of the obligation on the part of the State, for the payment of these funds, with interest?
- Should the Superintendent of Public Instruction become fully convinced that the money raised under the provisions of the second section of an act entitled An Act to provide for a general and uniform system of common schools, and school libraries, and matters properly connected therewith, approved June 14, 1852, is not being applied to the purposes specified in the law, would it be his or any other person's duty to resort to process in law to compel the payment of the money to the purposes for which it was raised?
- Under the provisions of section 5 of an act entitled An Act prescribing the duties of Governor, approved May 27, 1852, is the Governor, Auditor and Treasurer of Stafe authorized to make loans of money, extending payment two, three or four years, and should the Legislature determine to borrow money for the times above mentioned, would it not be necessary to enact a new loan bill, defining the nature of the obligation issued, the amount to be borrowed, the time of payment, and the rate of interest? And if such a law is necessary, in order to make the loan, would it comport with section 5, article 10, of the Constitution of the State?
CHANGE OF VOTE.
Mr. COLLIER asked and obtained leave to
