PETITIONS.
By Mr. McCLURG: The petition of J. M. Armitage and others, citizens of Clinton Co., asking for a repeal of the new county act of 1857 and 1859.
By Mr, BRETT: The petition of M. Sanford and others, citizens of Daviess Co., for the same object.
By Mr. HENRICKS : The petition of John H. Harper and others, citizens of St. Joseph Co., for the same object; which were severally referred to the Committee on County and Township Business.
By Mr. HEFFREN: The petition of John I. Morrison and others, citizens of Washington Co., asking for an appropriation of $500 in the hands of the Commissioner of that county, to aid in payment of the debt contracted by citizens of that county for draining and removing a dam in the Muscatatack; which was referred to the Committee on Swamp Lands.
By Mr. WOODHULL: The petition of Moses McClanhan and others, citizens of Indiana, asking for a fish protection law similar to that of the State of Ohio ; which was referred to the Committee on Rights and Privileges.
By Mr. PROW: The petition of Wm. Blackburn, late constable of Brown township, in Washington Co., praying for relief by the State's repayment of $25 expense incurred by him in arresting a fugitive from justice.
On motion by Mr. PARRETT, it was laid on the table.
On motion by Mr. BUNDY, (the order of business being suspended for the purpose,) the House took from the table the concurrent resolution of the Senate, proposing that the committees of both Houses appointed to visit the Northern Penitentiary shall proceed together and draw on the Treasury for expenses.
Mr. WOODHULL objected to the proposition, because it did not indicate the amount page: 90[View Page 90] to be drawn. Let them go there and perform their duty, and when the expense should be incurred, he would vote for its payment. It had been intimated that the railroads would carry them free.
Mr. HEFFREN, in his seat. They'll want something to eat.
Mr. STOTSENBERG proposed to amend, by inserting after the word " appoint," these words: " which Committee of the House shall consist of three members of the Select Committee on the Northern Prison, to be selected by said committee."The SPEAKER ruled it out or orderas having been once voted down.
Mr. STOTSENBERG. It was not voted down, but laid on the table.
The SPEAKER. It is then in order.
Mr. FISHER. Should not the House indicate what committee shall go?
Mr. BUNDY. The committee was named in the resolution of the Senate.
On motion by Mr. HEFFREN, the amendment was laid on the table, and the question recurred on the Senate resolution.
Mr. ORR understood this matter was fixed the other day.
Mr. CRAIN. A portion of the Select Committee had had a conference with the Senate Committee, and they were anxious to investigate the Prison jointly, and so save expense to the State. If the committees did not investigate jointly, as a matter of course the witnesses would be brought before both committees. Let us go about it in a business like manner to save expense. There had been enough said-$400 worth of talk was enough.
Mr. FISHER did not understand that the resolution proposed a joint investigatiou any further than the examination of the premises.
Mr. HEFFREN. That was their request now.
The House concurred in the resolution.
