HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SATURDAY, February 12, 1859.PETITIONS.
By Mr. WOODS: of sundry citizens of Francisco, Gibson county, for some legislation to authorize the keeping open of the Southern Division of the Wabash and Erie Canal; which was referred to the Committee on Canals and Internal Improvements.
By the SPEAKER: a number of petitions in relation to the University Square, in the town of Indianapolis, which, with a petition presented by Mr. Kempf, were referred without reading to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. COMSTOCK: of William Ryner and others, of Stockdale and vicinity, on the subject of temperance, which was referred to the Committee on Temperance.
By Mr. CLEMENTS: of A. Martin, appraiser of Daviess county, with reference to the Wabash and Erie Canal interest, as connected with the value of property in said county, which was referred to the Committee on Canals and Internal Improvements.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
By Mr. COLGROVE - Judiciary - returning Mr. Hunter's bill (122) authorizing the holders of bad paper currency to sue and recover on the same, without making previous holders liable, &c., recommending passage.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed.
By Mr. MELLETT - Judiciary - returning his bill (209) to amend the 38th section of the felony act of June 10, 1852(professional gambling) recommending passage with a substitute for the first section, to this effect:
Said section 38 shall prescribe, that any person who shall be found wandering about from place to place, gambling for a livelihood, shall be deemed a professional gambler, and upon conviction shall be imprisoned in the Penitentiary, not less than one nor more than three years, or in the county jail not less than three nor more than six months, and be disfranchised for any determinate period.
The amendment was adopted, and the bill ordered to be engrossed.
By Mr. DAVIS - Judiciary - returning Mr. Colgrove's bill (127) for the conveyancing of real estate by any person claiming a right thereto, and recommending indefinite postponement; which was concurred in.
By same - returning his bill (160) to amend the first section of an act providing for extending terms of the Circuit Courts by adjournment, approved February 12; 1855, and to authorize the Judge to hold special terms, recommending passage.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed.
Mr. COLGROVE, from the Committee on the Organization of Courts of Justice, returned his bill (47) re-organizing the Circuit Courts, &c., with an amendment in the 5th section, inserting the words "and jurisdiction of all other cases civil or criminal, not otherwise provided for by law." The amendment was adopted and the bill made the special order for Monday 2 o'clock.
By same - returning his bill (55) giving Clerk of Circuit Courts probate jurisdiction, and recommending passage. On motion by Mr. Stanfield it was made the special order as above.
By same - returning his bill (56) repealing Common Pleas - it was made the same special order.
Mr. DOUGHERTY moved ineffectually to reconsider these three votes.
On motion by Mr. EDWARDS (under a dispensation) Mr. Speaker Gordon's motion to rescind the rule of adjournment from 11 o'clock Saturday till 2 o'clock Monday was taken up and the rule was reconsidered - yeas 62, nays 10.Messrs. Claypool, Shields, Kempf and Parks had leave of absence till Tuesday.
Mr. JONES moved ineffectually to take up his resolution granting leave of absence, after the 15th instant, except in case of sickness, &c.
Mr. COTTON said he had observed an error in the published reports, in which he was placed in the negative in the vote on the engrossment of Mr. Sherman's bill (168) to amend the title and first section of the act of February 5th, 1852,authorizing road companies to borrow money and secure the repayment thereof by mortgage. He observed the same error in the Journal, and desired its correction. It was so ordered.
The House now resumed the unfinished business of yesterday, viz: Mr. Boyd's bill (157) securing personal property to married women - the question being on the motion to recommit to a select committee with instructions to amend, by confining its provisions to cases where property has been set off under our exemption laws.
Mr. BOYD showed that the act of 1857 did not meet the cases of relief sought by this bill. Its object was simply to carry out and perfect the provisions of existing laws to prevent, pauperism, &c., and he explained the provisions and the effect of the bill, replied to the objections of the committee reporting on the bill, and the arguments in opposition.
The bill was then recommitted with the instructions to Messrs. Murray, Dougherty, Hall, of Rush, Firestone and Parks.
