REPORTS FROM THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
Mr. HEFFREN returned Mr. Knowlton's bill [208,] to amend section 26 of the railroad act of May 11, 1852, recommending its passage.
Mr. BUNDY returned the Ways and Means Committee's bill [237,] to provide for paying Over the proceeds of estates without heirs, to the commissioners of the sinking fund; recommending passage.
Mr. GRESHAM returned Mr. Grover's bill ("207,] to amend section 156 of the practice act; recommending passage.
These bills were severally ordered to be engrossed.
Mr. BUNDY returned Mr. Hurd's bill [203,] for the registration of births, marriages and deaths, with the opinion that legislation thereon is inexpedient.
Mr. JENKINSON returned Mr. Smith of Bartholomew's bill [258,] providing for the service of writs against sheriffs, &c., with a recommendation that it be laid on the table ; which reports were concurred in.
Mr. GRESHAM returned the Senate bill [5,] with amendments striking out the title, and inserting: An act to amend the first section of the practice act, and to provide that county auditors and treasurers shall be competent witnesses in suits now pending relative to the surplus revenue and the school and trust funds, under the act of Feb. 27, 755; and then striking out all after the enacting clause, and inserting new matter, [amendatory of the 38th section of the practice act, with reference to &c.]
Mr. GRESHAM. It provides that where a claim is assigned, and suit is brought, and the assignor is introduced as a witness, that then the adverse party may offer himself as a witness. This same section was amended in 1855, and it became necessary to recite that , amendment in the bill; hence the amendment to the Senate bill.
The amendment was ordered to be engrossed.
Mr. CASON returned Mr. Roberts's bill [206,] supplemental to article 9 of the practice act, to provide for the hearing of witnesses in attachment, &c., with a recommendation that it be laid on the table; which was concurred in.
Mr. WOODHULL returned Mr. Veatch's bill [227,] supplemental to the pratice act, recommending its passage.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed.
Mr. HEFFREN returned the bill to amend section 238 of the practice act, so as to admit parties in civil actions to testify on their own behalf, with certain restrictions ; recommending its indefinite postponement.
Mr. WOODHULL returned Mr. Hurd's bill [214,] to regulate marriages, &c., recommending that it be laid on the table.
Mr. BINGHAM returned Mr. Campbell's bill [210,] to abolish the death penalty; recommending that it be laid on the table.
Which reports were severally concurred in.
He also returned the resolution instructing the Judiciary Committee to inquire into the constitutionality of taxing banks on their capital stock, and reported a bill [317,] regulating the assessment and collection of taxes on the capital stock of the Bank of the State and branches, and the stock banks; which was passed to the second reading.
Mr. GRESHAM returned Mr. Bryant's bill [291,] supplemental to and to amend the first section of the act to enable trustees to receive lands and donate and convey the same for the benefit of schools, churches, Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges, &c., and for the construction of churches, school houses, &c., approved June 15, '52; recommending its passage.
Mr. VEATCH returned Mr. Jones of Tippecanoe's bill [256,] to authorize the judges of the circuit and common pleas courts to hear and determine all demurrers, motions and applications for the production of books or papers, and for the appointment of receivers, in vacation; recommending its passage.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed.
Mr. VEATCH returned Mr. Hopkins' bill [280] to repeal the act for voluntary assignments, recommending indefinite postponement; which was concurred in.
