IN SENATE.
TUESDAY, March 5, 1861.On motion by Mr. MURRAY, the reading of yesterday's journal was dispensed with.
PETITIONS, MEMORIALS, &C.
By Mr. DEHART : In behalf of citizens of Cass county, raying an adjustment of our national difficulties upon the basis set forth in President Lincoln's Inaugural Address.
By Mr. WILLIAMS :From 70 citizens of Knox county, without respect to party, praying for an adjustment of our national troubles upon the basis of the Crittenden amendments, or some other basis equally fair and honorable.
Which were referred to the Committee on Federal Relations under the Rules.
By Mr. RAY: From the late Attorney General, objecting to some words in debate having a personal reflection upon him: which was laid upon the table, and ordered not to be spread upon the journals.
By Mr. GRUBB: Praying the Legislature to make a liberal appropriation in aid of the suffering in Kansas; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.
On motion by Mr. WAGNER, the Senate proceeded to the consideration of Senate bills on the last reading.
Senator O'Brien's bill 85-see page 104 of these Reports-was read, (he said the only object of the bill is to legalize assessment lists where they are not returned in the time prescribed by law) and finally passed by yeas 37, nays 1.
Senator Cobb's bill 119-see page 163-was read, (he said there was but one change in the present law made, viz: striking out the word "incorporated") and finally passed by yeas 40, nays 1.
Senator March's bill 111 was read.
Mr. MARCH. I desire only to say that this bill was introduced at the request of those who have the University in charge. It is an amendment to the 23d section of a law passed at the last session Of the Legislature. The bill authorizes the appropriation of $20,000 of the fund arising from the sale of University lands for the payment of its debts. The University is in debt nearly that much, the interest is becoming due, and is harrassing and obstructing the operation of the institution; so that it is thought best to pay off the debt at once.
The bill finally passed-yeas 42, nays 0.
Senator Beeson's bill 169-described on page 212 of these Reports-was read the third time.
Mr. BEESON. This bill simply alters the old law incorporating companies for manufacturing purposes, by giving them the power to increase their capital stock.
Mr. CRAVEN, by unanimous consent, amended the bill by a provision authorizing the consolidation of certain offices of said companies, &c.
The bill finally passed: yeas 38, nays 1.
The Committee on Roads' bill 129-described on page 184 of these Reports-was read the third time.
Mr. WHITE. This bill is certainly proposing to amend a law that has been repealed. I have a bill on the files which ean be amended so as to cover the object of this bill, and I move to lay this bill on the table.
The motion was agreed to.
Senator Culver's bill 108 was read the third time.
Mr. CULVER. This bill proposes that a certain number of property holders may petition county commissioners to organize turnpike companies. If the county commissioners deem the road of public utility, they may grant the petitioners power to organize a company. It takes a majority of the property holders within three quarters of a mile on each side of the road, with the consent of the county commissioners, who shall appoint an assessor who shall assess the cost of the road. It provides that the road after a certain length of time shall be free, thus avoiding any constitutional objection. I think the law proposed page: 338[View Page 338] by the bill is a good one. It does not tax any property inside of any incorporated town or village.
The bill finally passed : yeas 26, nays 13.
Senator Newcomb's bill 144-see page 185 of these Reports-was read.
Mr. CLAYPOOL, by consent, amended the bill, by providing that all lands owned by any county for a poorhouse be situate in the county owning the same.
Mr. JOHNSON made an ineffectual motion to recommit the bill, with instructions to amend as follows:
Section -. Every building used for the purpose of raising a family, in compliance with the commands of Heaven, that man should be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and the land whereon such building may be situate, not exceeding 160 acres.
Mr. MILLER. A bill has passed the Senate amending this same section, in which the amount of land exempt to manual labor-schools was 160 acres. This bill leaves it as in the present law, 320 acres. I move to amend this bill in that particular, that it may not repeal my bill which has already passed.
No objection being made, the bill was amended, and then finally passed, by yeas 27, nays 16.Senator Conner's 187see page 233was read and finally passed by yeas 37, nays 2.
The Judiciary Committee's bill 166-see page 212 of these Reports-was read the third time.
Mr. CLAYPOOL moved to recommit the bill with instructions, viz.: "if he be a married man, save and except his household goods to the amount of $300." Unless this amendment be adopted, the bill would be as inhuman as imprisonment for debt.
Mr. MILLER thought the bill good enough as it is, and objected to the amendment.
The motion to recommit was agreed to.
Senator Anthonys' bill 146-described on page 185 of these Reports-was read.
Mr. ANTHONY. This bill can be explained in a few words. It is to prevent hangers on about, court-houses to be eternally put upon juries. If they have served upon a jury within the past year, it makes that a good ground for challenge.
Mr. WOLFE thought the law would operate badly.
The bill finally passed: yeas 27, nays 12. .Senator March's bill [206] to amend section 99 of the Practice act, was read the third time.
Mr. MARCH. The Supreme Court have recently decided that unless the court act upon a motion to correct judgment within one year it cannot be acted upon at all. The object of this amendment is that if this proceeding is applied for within the year, then the court can act at any time when it comes in order upon the docket.
The bill finally passed: yeas 38, nays 0.
Senator Bearss' [214] to raise the salary of common pleas judge from $1,000 to $1,200, was read the third time, and on motion by Mr. MURRAY-yeas 27, nays 11-laid on the table.
On motion by Mr. LINE, the bill S. 210, appropriating $500 annually in aid of the Indiana Historical Society was read.
Mr. LINE. Minnesota appropriates annually $1,000, Iowa $500, and it does seem to me Indiana can be as liberal as they.
Mr. RAY. The bankrupt condition of those States is a poor commentary upon their liberality. This Historical Society is a mere sinecure to support one or two literary gentlemen to enable them to get along without much exertion mentally or physically. He should have to vote against the bill.
Mr. HAMILTON was in favor of the passage of the bill.
Mr. CARNAHAN had visited the rooms of this association since the subject was last before the Senate; was gratified at what he saw, and thought he should now vote for the pass- age of this bill.
Mr. MARCH, in a matter of this kind, was willing to follow the venerable gentleman from Posey, (Mr. Carnahan.)The bill finally passed; yeas 26, nays 12.
On motion by Mr. MARCH, his bill 245, for the relief of Joseph Moore, was read and finally passed by yeas 39, nays 0.
On motion by Mr. WHITE, his bill 193-described on page 237 of these Reports-was taken up and read the third time, and finally passed by yeas 37, nays 1.
THE END OF THE SESSION-LEGALLY.
Mr. CONLEY offered the following:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be requested to report to this General Assembly, at an early day, their opinion as to the length of time that this Legislature may legally and constitutionally pass bills and present them to the Governor for his signature.
Which was adopted by consent.
THE BREVIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTS.
Mr. LINE offered the following:
Resolved, That the number of copies of the BREVIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTS which the Senate has agreed to take, shall be held subject to the written directions of each Senator, without any additional expense of the publishers.
Which was adopted, nem. con.
Senator Conley's bill 55, appropating $30 to each Senator and Representative of future legislatures for the purpose of furnishing newspapers, stationary and postage was finally passed by yeas 33, nays 8.Senator Bearss' 233-see page 272 of these reports-was read the third time and finally passed by yeas 29, nays 6.
Mr. MILLER, from the Judiciary Committee, returned the bill H. R. 64-see page 71 of these reports-recommending passage with amendment.
Mr. DEHART, from the Judiciary Committee, returned a resolution of inquiry concerning a law fixing a uniform price for publishing the delinquent tax list, with a report recommending the passage of Senator Bearss 8 bill 233 just passed.
