IN SENATE.
SATURDAY, February 16,1861On motion by Mr. LINE, the reading of yesterday's journal was dispensed with.
Leave of absence was obtained for Sir Williams till Monday, and Mr. Newcomb till Tuesday.
Mr. HAMILTON presented two petitions, praying the Legislature to instruct our Congressmen and State Commissioners to adjust the National troubles on a basis similar to the Crittenden proposition; which was referred to the Committee on Federal Relations.
Mr. TEEGARDEN presented a petition from citizens of the city of Laporte, praying for some law greatly reducing the municipal expenses of small cities.
REPORTS FROM THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Were made, returning the following bills, with the recommendations severally named:
By Mr. MILLER: His bill 88-described on page 105 of the BREVIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTS-passage with amendments. Also: a memorial from the Commissioners of St, Joseph county, and a remonstrance from the brothers of the University of Notre Dame du Lac, in said county, recommending that they lie on the table; and reporting a bill [S. 186] To amend sec. 6 of the assessment act of June 21, 1852, so as to reduce the amount of land exempt from taxation belonging to manual labor schools from 320 to 160 acres; which was passed the first reading, without objection.
By Mr. MARCH: Senator O'Brien's 113-see page 163 of these Reports-passage with amendments.
FROM THE COMMITTEE ON ORGANIZATION OF
COURTS.
- By Mr. CLAYPOOL: Senator O'Brien's 91-see page 122 of these Reports-passage with amendments.
- By Mr. COBB: His bill 93-time of holding common pleas courts in Jackson county-passage.
- By Mr. DICKINSON: His bill 151-see page 194-lie on the table. Also: His bill 152common pleas jury passage with amendment.
- >By Mr. CONNER: Senator Newcomb's 136-see page 184 of these Reports-passage with amendment.
Mr. BEESON, from the Committee on Agriculture, returned a resolution relating to the purchase of Dr. Owen's Cabinet, reporting that, owing to the very embarrassed condition of the finances of the State, they deem it unnecessary to legislate upon the subject.
Which reports were severally concurred in.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following bills were introduced, and severally passed the first reading :
page: 233[View Page 233]By Mr. CONNER: [187] To repeal an act providing for extending the terms of Circuit Courts, &c., approved February 12, 1855; and the act amending section 1 of said act, approved December 24, 1858.
By Mr. DEHART: [188] To amend sec. 9 of an act providing for the appointment of notaries public, approved June 9, 1852; by giving them the same powers conferred upon justices of the peace in certain cases. (To try and determine such suits as are founded on contract or tort, when the debt or damages does not, exceed $300. May confess judgment before them in any sum not exceeding $400. Suits may be instituted before them.)
By Mr. MURRAY : [189] To repeal all laws making appropriations in aid of the colonization of negroes and mulattoes of this or other States.
Mr. CARNAHAN declared this bill unconstitutional, and made an ineffectual motion to reject it.
By Mr. MARCH: [190] To amend section 1 Of an act concerning the interest on money, approved May 27, 1852; so as to declare usurious all greater profits than would be realised from discounting notes or bills of exchange made payable in this State.
By Mr. MELLETT: [191] To create the seventh judicial circuit of the State of Indiana.
By Mr. HULL: [192] To provide for a change in width of State roads.
DELINQUENT TAX LISTS.
Mr. BEARSS offered the following:
Resolved, That the Judiciary Committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of fixing by law a uniform price for publishing the delinquent tax lists of the several counties of this State: also, to require greater accuracy in the description of lands advertised, and that they report by bill or otherwise.
Which was adopted by consent.
AID FOR THE SUFFERING IN KANSAS.
Mr. CONLEY offered the following :
WHEREAS, it is represented that a large portion of northwestern Missouri and parts of the State of Kansas have been affected by drought; and whereas it is represented that vegetation is almost totally cut off; and whereas, we deem it due to the generosity of the great State of Indiana to give aid to suffering humanity; therefore-
Be it Resolved, That the sum of $10,000 be appropriated out of the State Treasury for the relief of our fellow-countrymen in the States of Missouri and Kansas, which sum shall be placed in the hands of trustees for distribution, as they may think the wants of citizens may need such relief.
Which was referred to the Finance Committee.
A MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE
Announced the passage by that body of the bill [H. R. 190] to provide ($30,000) for the expanses of the present Legislature; also, the concurrence of that body in the joint resolution [S. 12] proposing to amend article 8 of the Constitution, so that cities, townships and towns may have power by taxation to raise additional funds for the support of common schools.
WORK FOR COMMITTEES.
Senate bills were read the second time, and referred to Committees as follows:
The Judiciary Committee's 166, and Mr. Cobb's 183-rules suspended, and read by title only-were ordered engrossed.
Messrs. O'Brien's 179, 181, Cobb's' 184, Ray's 185-were referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Slack's 180-Corporations:-182-Finance.
EXPENSES OF THE LEGISLATURE.
The bill [H. R. 190] To provide ($30,000.) for the expenses of the present Legislature, was taken up and read the first time.
OLD LOCAL LAWS.
Mr. TEEGARDEN offered a joint resolution [S. 14] directing that the Sec. of State shall employ some competent person to index the local laws of this State from 1830, to the formation of the new Constitution in 1838, and have the same printed for the use of the General Assembly of the State; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.
DUELLING BY ASSEMBLYMEN.
Mr. CONLEY offered the following:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of so amending the law for the prevention of duelling in this State as to expel any member of the State Legislature who shall give or accept a challenge to fight a duel, and after giving or accepting of such challenge, shall suffer himeslf or themselves to be arrested; or shall in any manner countenance any obstruction to such fight; or in any case either of the parties back down from such fight for any cause whatever, he shall be sentenced to the Northern State Prison for a term of years, to be fixed by this Legislature, Provided, however, that if such parties shall fight, they shall in no wise be amenable to law; and said Committee is requested to report by bill or otherwise as soon as it is convenient for them to do so, as the law in relation to duelling is deemed inefficient to prevent that desperate mode of adjusting difficulties between members of the Legislature.
Which was laid en the table.
[Mr. LINE offered a resolution, which was adopted by consent, authorizing a Committee [Senators Line, Conner and Turner] to inquire whether there may not be a more convenient arrangement of the desks of Senators.]
INTEREST ON MONEY.
Mr. LANDERS offered the following:
Resolved, That the Committee on Banks be required to examine the law on the subject of interest, and report to the Senate by what law banks are allowed to take the enormous rate of interest they now take; and if they find the law gives to incorporations privileges denied to private individuals, they are required to introduce a bill to repeal the same, so that all persons may have the same right.
Which was adopted by consent.
BREVIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTS.
Mr. MILLER offered the following:
Resolved, That the Doorkeeper be directed to contract with ARIEL & W. H. DRAPIER for 600 copies of their Brevier Reports of the Proceedings and Debates of the present session of the General Assembly-one copy to be laid on the desk of each member of the Senate as printed, and the remainder to be bound and distributed as the Laws and Journals-Provided the said reports, except the binding, shall not cost more than one dollar per copy.
page: 234[View Page 234]Which was referred to the Committee on Finance.
GUARDIANS AND ADMINISTRATORS.
Mr. MURRAY offered the following:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary inquire into the expediency of so amending the law on that subject as that petitions for the removal of guardians and administrators shall be entitled to an appeal from the court of common pleas the same as in all other appeal cases.
Which was adopted by consent.
LIQUIDATION OF THE STATE DEBT.
Mr. LOMAX offered the following:
Resolved, by the Senate (the House concurring,) That a joint committee of three on the part of the Senate and five on the part of the House be raised to consider as to the propriety of reporting a bill to provide for the gradual and certain liquidation of the State debt within a reasonable time.
Which was adopted by consent, and the Senate committee is made to consist of Messrs. Lomax, Wagner and Mellett.
OYSTERS ALL AROUND.
Mr. Claypool offered the following:
Resolved, That if any Senator does not hereafter offer a resolution when the same is in order, he shall be declared to be in contempt of the Senate, and be required to furnish oysters for members and officers of the Senate.
Which was laid on the table.
THE COLONIZATION FUND.
Mr. NEWCOMB offered the following:
Resolved, That the Auditor of State be requested to report to the Senate the amount of warrants issued on the Colonization Fund since the passage of the act providing for the colonization of negroes and mulattoes, approved April 28, 1852, and for what purposes the expenditures have been made; distinguishing between the expenditures for transporting negroes and mulattoes out of the State and other expenditures.
Which was adopted by consent.
THE UNIVERSITY AND THE SINKING FUND.
Mr. JOHNSON offered the following:
WHEREAS, It is understood that the State University Fund is indebted to the Sinking Fund; and WHEREAS the State University Fund has large amounts of moneys loaned on mortgage, therefore-
Be it Resolved, That the Committee on Education be instructed to inquire into the expediency of the passage of some law by which said mortgages may be transferred to the Sinking Fund Commissioners in payment of said debt; and report by bill or otherwise.
Which was adopted by consent.
LIMIT TO SPEECHES.
Mr. BEESON offered the following:
Resolved, That no member of the Senate be allowed to speak upon any subject longer than twenty minutes.
Which was adopted.
PUBLISH THE LAWS IN EACH COUNTY.
Mr. TURNER offered the following:
Resolved, That the Committee on Public Printing be instructed to inquire into the propriety of having the laws published in one weekly newspaper in each county where one is printed.
Which was adopted by consent.
JURISDICTION OVER HIGHWAYS.
Mr. MURRAY offered the following:
Resolved, That the Committee on County and Township Business inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill transferring the location, vacation or change of highways within the respective townships from the Board of County Commissioners to the township trustees.
Which was adopted by consent.
COUNTY ASSESSOR.
Mr. MILLER offered the following:
Resolved, That the Committee on County and Township Business inquire into the expediency of abolishing the office of township assessor, and creating the office of county assessor as it existed prior to the passage present laws, and report by bill or otherwise.
Which was adopted by consent.
And then the Senate adjourned.
