IN SENATE.
MONDAY, February 11,1861.The Senate was not in session before noon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
On motion by Mr. WILLIAMS, further proceedings in the call pending at the last adjournment, were dispensed with.
Mr. MILLER presented a communication from Mr. Fletcher; the Superintendent of Public Instruction elect, stating as a reason why he had not entered upon his duties, that the present incumbent refuses to give up the office till the 14th.
On motion by Mr. WAGNER, the communication was referred to the Judiciary Committee, with instructions to inquire into and report upon the matter as soon as may be.
Mr. TARKINGTON presented a petition from citizens of Bloomington against the licensing of liquor sellers, but if such a be persisted in, praying that the dealers may be made responsible for any damage that be sustained thereby. Referred to the Committee on Temperance.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Mr. RAY. from the Judiciary Committee returned Senator Carnahan's bill [153] for the relief of Catharine P. Whittlesly,recommending passage.
Mr. WOLFE, from the Judiciary Committee returned Senator Landers' bill [46]-see page 69 of these Reports-with amendments, recommending passage ; also, returning his bill [57]-see page 69-recommending that the amendment limiting the poll tax for county purposes to 50 cents on the $100, be laid on the table.
[A message from the House announced the passage by that body of a resolution authorizing the exchange of state papers with the State of Wisconsin; the Committee on the part of the House on apportionment; and the passage of a resolution making the swamp land Standing Committee of each House a Committee of Conference to determine the best plan to be adopted for investigation cf swamp land frauds &c.]
Mr. WOLFE, from the Committee on the Organization of Courts, returned a resolution and reported in accordance therewith a bill [S. 159] declaring that the several common pleas districts shall be known and designated by respective numbers, and providing what counties shall compose such districts by appropriate numbers, which was passed the 1st reading.
Mr. BEESON, from the Committee on Agriculture, returned his bill [133] licensing dogs, &c., recommending passage.
These reports were severally concurred in.
THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
Mr. TARKINGTON introduced a bill [S. 160] providing for the opening of a normal department in the State University, making an appropriation therefor &c., which was passed the first reading.
RE-ORGANIZATION OF THE MILITIA.
The PRESIDENT announced the order to be the consideration of the unfinished business of yesterday being the motion to lay on the table the majority report from the Military Committee.
The motion was agreed to by yeas 18, nays 13.
The question recurring on laying the minority report on the table, that motion was rejected by yeas 16, nays 19.
The question recurring on concurring in the report-
Mr. CARNAHAN. I will just state that I am a member of that Committee, and we have had half a dozen different meetings, at least, and spent all the evening in the investigation of this bill, [S. 28] but that the bill of the gen page: 205[View Page 205]tleman from Shelby [S. 72] has not had the examination the other bill has.
Mr. MURRAY substantiated these facts.
Mr. CLAYPOOL. I think it right and proper that this bill should be referred to a Select Committee, for I am satisfied the Military Committee will never agree upon a bill. I am satisfied it is the will of this Senate to pass a proper military bill, and it is likely that neither of these bills will satisfy the Senate. The Senate is not prepared to say, under the present emergency, that we do not want a military system, but is opposed to the present system. The bill before the Senate [S. 28] is too ponderous, too expensive ; there is too much machinery about it.
Mr. WAGNER. It looks discourteous to dispose of this bill in the absence of the Senator [Mr. Anthony] who introduced it.
Mr. TARKINGTON. I am opposed to referring this matter to a Select Committee, and taking it out of the hands of the regular Committee. I think the Standing Committee should report a bill on this subject, if no one else does.
Mr. NEWCOMB. The idea of referring these bills back to the same Committee is an idle waste of time. If we have a military bill at all, we must have a Special Committee, and therefore, I am in favor of this minority report.
Mr. SHOULDERS. The only objection to this bill in Committee that I remember was, that it would create a high tax upon the people. I think the gentleman from Madison counted up what the tax would be, and that he stated it at $235,000, to the best of his recollection.
On motion by Mr. RAY, the report was concurred in, and both bills were included in the order to refer.
THE PRESIDENT ELECT.
Mr. TURNER offered a resolution, which was adopted, inviting joint committees of the Legislature of Ohio and the City Council of Columbus to visit the Senate Chamber; and appointing a committee of three to inform them of the adoption of the resolution.
The PRESIDENT made the committee to consist of Senators Turner, Wagner and Ray.
Subsequently Mr. WAGNER appeared at the head of the Lincoln escort committee from Ohio, and said: Mr. President, I have the honor to introduce to you, and through you to the Senate, the committee of reception of the Ohio Legislature and of the City Council of Columbus, and a portion of the staff of the Governor of Ohio.
PERSONAL EFFECTS OF THE LATE DR. OWEN.
Mr. CARNAHAN offered a resolution, which was adopted, directing the Committee on Agriculture to inquire into the expediency of purchasing the geological and mineralogical cabinet and philosophical apparatus of the late David Dale Owen.
THE STATE BORROWING MONEY.
On motion by Mr. TARKINGTON, the bill [H. R. 104] was taken up.
Mr. MURRAY opposed its passage.
On motion by Mr. WAGNER, the bill was made the special order for to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock.
WORK FOR COMMITTEES.
The following Senate bills were read the second time, and disposed of as recited:
Messrs. Johnson's 81, and Wagner's 53 to the Finance Committee.
Mr. Johnson's 83 was ordered to be engrossed.
Mr. Wagner's 84 to the Committee on County and Township Business.
Mr. O'Brien's 85 to the Committee on Corporations.
Mr. Shield's 87 to the Committee on Swamp Lands.
Messrs. Miller's 88 and 90, Wilson's 92, and Slack's 104 to the Judiciary Committee.
Messrs. O'Brien's 91, and Cobb's 93 to the Committee on Organization of Courts.
Mr. O'Brien's 94 to the Committee on Education.
And then the Senate adjourned.
