REVENUE BILL.
On motion of Mr. FRASIER, the special order (the apportionment bill) was suspended for the consideration of the revenue bill; whereupon-
Mr. VEATCH, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported a revenue bill in place of that of Mr. Branham, [325] which has been lost from the files, entitled, a bill [345] in relation to the application of certain funds to the payment of the public debt, and raising a revenue for the support of common schools ; and it was passed to the second reading. It levies two cents on the $100 for 1861, and five cents on the $100 (and fifty cents poll) for 1862, and five years thereafter. It also levies ten cents on the $100, and fifty cents poll for school purposes.
Mr. BRANHAM. It levies two cents on the $100 for 1861, as by the act of 1852. For the purpose of liquidating the State debt, after 1861, it provides five cents on the $100 shall be levied. The Commissioners are directed to pay into the general fund the proceeds of the tax this year under the act of 1852. It also provides 10 cents on the $100 for school purposes, and 50 cents poll tax. And $50,000 a year of the general fund are to be appropriated toward the liquidation of the $303,000 which the State owes to the school fund. The Committee think that this payment had better be made gradually. The balance of their proceeds-all the surplus of the general fond-to be invested by the Commissioners in the bonds of the State of Indiana at the end of each year. The $50,000 to be distributed annually for the support of common schools.
He asked the House to suspend the rules and constitutional provision, and allow the bill to be passed now. The rules were suspended-yeas 90, nays 0; and thereupon the bill passed the second reading. It was then considered as engrossed,"and passed the final reading-yeas 91, nays 1-with an amendment of title proposed by Mr. Veatch, viz: "And to repeal all laws in conflict therewith."
Mr. BRANHAM, from the Committee on Ways and Means, returned the General Appropriation bill [336], with sundry amendments , which were concurred in.
Mr. OWENS suggested that there was nothing in the bill for the completion of the northern prison.
Mr. BRANHAM. We had no data before the committee for making that item. We waited as long as we could for the report of the committee. On his motion, the bill was considered as engrossed.
page: 349[View Page 349]Mr. SHERMAN desired to amend by adding a northern prison item.
Mr. BRANHAM. The only item before the committee to base an appropriation upon was the statement of the Auditor of State of the amount overdrawn by the northern prison, which he presented to the House. The sum is over $13,000.
On motion by Mr. CRAIN, the statement was referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. SHERMAN moved that that sum be included in the bill.
Mr. BRANHAM and Mr. CRAIN suggested that the amendment could be as well applied in the Senate, as it might be added to the specific appropriation bill. The Northern Prison Committee had reported there, and 500 copies of their report were ordered to be printed.
Mr. SHERMAN complained that his bill for a specific appropriation to the northern prison had been ignored by the Committee on Ways and Means. He thought this item ought to be in the General Appropriation bill. Not a word of comment had been made in the over draft of twelve or fifteen thousand on account of the Jeffersonville prison.
Mr. BRANHAM explained. The committee had been requested by one of the northern prison men to withhold action, till they should make a proposition to settle the whole question.
Mr. SHERMAN. That proposition was in his bill.
After some conversation between Messrs. Roberts, Branham, Kendrick, and Orr, respecting the $2,000 item for the Governor's House, the bill was passed the third reading : yeas 88, nays 2.
