IN SENATE.
FRIDAY, May 10, 1861.On motion by Mr. HULL, a resolution was adopted, to-wit:
That the committee appointed under a joint resolution of the two Houses to investigate the Commissary's Department are hereby authorized and empowered to send for persons and papers, and to examine such persons under oath as they may deem necessary in order for a full investigation of the Commissary's Department, and that said committee are hereby further authorized and empowered to inquire into and examine the purchase of provisions and supplies for the troops by said Commissary.
On motion by Mr. HAMILTON, it was
Resolved, That the committee of the Senate now investigating the provisions furnished at Camp Morton, instructed to inquire into the management of the Quarter master's Department, the prices paid for such articles, are furnished under direction of the Quartermaster General, the quality of the same; and whether they are purchased by public or private contract, and such other investors touching the management of that Department as said committee may deem correct.
THE TWO MILLION LOAN BILL.
The PRESIDENT announced the consideration of the unfinished business of yesterday the loan bill, H. R. 22 - the question being on the motion pending at adjournment to reconsider the vote on which the substitute [Mr. Claypool's] for section 2 was adopted.
Mr. MARCH. I voted for this amendment on yesterday, but on further consideration I see no necessity for employing these Commissioners at all, and I shall vote to reconsider with a view to conferring the duties in that section upon the Auditor and Treasurer of State. There was no plausible reason presented to my mind except that their financial position would give credit to the thing. Still I think the credit of Indiana does not depend upon anything of that kind, and that these bonds could be sold by the State officers a great deal better, all things considered, than to appoint a Commissioner for that purpose.
Mr. MURRAY. Upon hearing the explanation of the gentleman, I am willing to vote with him for the reconsideration for the purpose he indicates. I believe that to be the correct policy for this Legislature to pursue.
Mr RAY. My reason for voting for the reconsideration is the same as is given by the gentleman from Delaware and the gentleman from Elkhart. I think there is no propriety in employing other gentlemen outside of the officers of State to do this negotiation. I do not know upon what principle we could justify such a vote here or elsewhere - to employ gentlemen at a per diem of five dollars a day to go abroad and negotiate bonds, and thereby supersede the Agent of State, whose duty it is to do this very thing.
Mr. WAGNER. One single statement ought to convince every man of the peculiar fitness of Mr. James M. Ray for the place assigned him in this bill. He has been identified with the moneyed transactions of the State almost from their very incipiency; he carried through for twenty years the old State bank; and has more information upon the subject of financial matters than any other man in the State, probably. But I am opposed to this whole bond system, for you cannot adopt any rules that will keep a man from stealing if he wants to while negotiating these bonds. And I am opposed to paying these commissioners for their services, for I desire to make it a matter of honor with those gentlemen. And I object to dispensing with their services, because the State officers are not so competent, and I mean page: 113[View Page 113] no disparagement in saying so. How can two of them reside in the city of New York for a month or two, and attend to their duties here? According to their oath of office they cannot do it, even if they possessed the necessary financial abilities.
[A message from the Governor announced his signature and approval of Senator Ferguson's bill No. 10.]
The PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a communication from H. McCulloch, asking that his name may be struck from the bill [H. R. 22] under consideration as one of the proposed Commissioners.
Mr. COBB was glad the gentleman had declined riving his services to us under this bill. He was not in favor of giving to any man such large powers, under such circumstances, without their giving a sufficient bond to indemnify the State, for it would be a bad precedent. He thought the motion to reconsider ought to be carried, for the reason assigned by the Senator from Delaware, [Mr. March ]
The motion to reconsider was agreed to.
Mr. MURRAY (for Mr. Conner) moved to reconsider the vote by which the amendment [Mr. Ray's] to the substitute was adopted.
ADJOURNMENT TO A DAY CERTAIN.
The hour (10 o'clock) for the consideration of the special order having arrived, the PRESIDENT directed the Secretary to read the House resolution, proposing an adjourn merit from to-day till the 21st inst.
Mr. WOLFE proposed to amend by a resolution proposing to adjourn sine die on Monday next.
On motion by Mr. CAMPBELL - yeas 24, nays 20 - the resolution and amendments were laid on the table.
THE LOAN BILL.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the two million loan bill, H. R. 22. Mr. NEW COMB regarded individual bonds as unnecessary, but was willing to vote for it; and you could not require of the Slate officers $600,000 bonds. He hoped the vote would be reconsidered.
Mr. MILLER. Thought too much time was spent upon this subject. Since one of the gentlemen named in the bill seems to think there is a hardship in requiring a bond of these Commissioners, it may be so; but could not be, in fact, a matter of much consequence. Let a compromise of views be made by substituting James M. Ray and the Agent of State in place of the Commissioners named, requiring no bond. When these funds come into the hands of the Treasurer of State his bond should be increased.
Mr. TARKINGTON was fully convinced that the best men to negotiate this loan are the ones indicated in the bill - at least two of them. The State officers are not the men to negotiate this loan; it must be done by some well known gentlemen in whose capacities we have implicit confidence. The compromise proposed by the gentleman from St. Joseph should include the Auditor and Treasurer of State instead of the Agent of State. It would be best to make a compromise without any feeling upon the question of of the principal shall simply maturing this bill. He favored the reconsideration of the bill.
Mr. BLAIR demanded the previous question and there being a second (26 Senators) the motion to reconsider was agreed to.
On motion by Mr. CONNER, the amendment (Mr. Ray's) was laid on the table.
Mr. MILLER moved to amend by substituting James M. Ray and the Agent of State for the persons named in the bill, no bond required and no compensation above necessary expenses.
On motion by Mr. STUDABAKER, the amendment was laid on the table.
Mr. RAY proposed to amend by striking out the Commissioners named in the bill and inserting in lieu thereof the Auditor, Treasurer and Agent of State.
On motion by Mr. STUDABAKER - yeas 21, nays 19 - the amendment was laid on the table.
On motion of Mr. MELLETT, the amendment was amended, with the consent of the author, so as to make the Commissioners' bonds $200,000 each instead of $100,000.
Mr. RAY proposed to amend section 2 by adding thereto these words, "together with all exchange and any premium which may accrue or may be received by said Commissioners, except so much thereof as the Treasurer of State may require for payments in the city of New York.
The amendment to the amendment was adopted and the amendment as amended was adopted.
Mr. MARCH added to the section by consent, these words: "Such appointees shall give like bond with the original commission."
Mr. MARCH offered the following additional section:
In case it becomes unnecessary to sell all of said bonds such unsold bonds shall be returned to the Auditor of State, who shall register their number and denomination, and they shall be destroyed in the presence of the Auditor, Treasurer, and Secretary of State, and the fact shall be recorded by the Auditor and signed by him and the Secretary and Treasurer of State.
Which was adopted.
Mr. CRAVENS offered the following:
SEC. - The tax herein provided for the payment of the interest and the gradual liquidation of the principal shall not be diminished, but the same shall be levied and collected annually until the bonds herein authorized to be issued shall have been paid or redeemed.
Which was adopted.
Mr. ANTHONY offered the following amendment:
Amend by inserting in the second line of the fourth section, between the words "of " and "is" these words: "or in case any of said commissioners shall refuse to serve as such."
Which was adopted.
On motion by Mr. STUDABAKER, the bill was considered as engrossed, and read the third time.
Mr. CLAYPOOL by consent added to section eight these words:
Provided, That notice of the person and place in said city be given by the Governor of the State of Indiana immediately, in one or more daily papers in the city of New York, by thirty days publication thereof.
page: 114[View Page 114]The bill as amended was passed by yeas 42, nays 0.
RAILROADS AND OUR TROOPS.
Mr. MILLER offered the following concurrent resolution:
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That in consideration of the liberal franchise heretofore grained by the State to the several railroad companies within her limits and the ample protection to property at all times received to such corporations by the power of the State, it is declared to be the opinion of the Legislature of Indiana that such railroad companies as have carried, or may during this year carry, volunteer troops of the State to the Capital or any other place of rendezvous, and the discharged men from thence to their homes, should not require payment from the State for such service, It being no more than the proper share of such companies of the burden imposed upon the people of Indiana by the exigencies of the times; but for the transportation of the organized forces of the State, or of the Unified States, from place to place over their roads, such railroad companies should be paid a reasonable compensation for their service, not exceeding two cents per mile for passengers, and for freight not exceeding two-thirds the usual rates.
Mr. LINE moved to amend by adding the following:
"And that a copy of these concurrent resolutions be forwarded to the President of each railroad in this State, or passing through the same."
Mr. MURRAY moved to strike out all in the resolution having reference to pay, the words "two-thirds," and insert in lieu thereof the words "one-half."
And then came the recess till 2 o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
On motion by Mr. CLAYPOOL, the Senate took from the table the concurrent resolution for a recess from this day to the 21st inst., with the pending amendment (Mr. Wolfe's) proposing to adjourn the session sine die next Monday.
On the further motion of Mr. CLAYPOOL, the amendment was laid on the table.
Mr. BEESON moved to reconsider the vote just taken.
On motion by Mr. STUDABAKER - yeas 23, nays 17 - his motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
On motion by Mr. NEWCOMB, the resolution was amended by striking out the "19th" and inserting the "11th" inst.
The amendment as amended was then adopted.
DEFINING TREASON.
The House amendments to Senator Beeson's treason bill [2] was read.
Mr. MARCH proposed to amend by striking from the third section the words "arrested" and "he may be found."
On motion by Mr. WAGNER, the bill and pending amendments were referred to a select committee, which the President makes to consist of Messrs. Ray and Newcomb.
A COMMISSION OF SUBSISTENCE.
The bill [H. R. 33] was read the first time and passed to the second reading.
COUNTY AND LOCAL DEFENSE.
The House amendments to Senator Claypool's bill [67] were read and concurred in.
RETURNING VOLUNTEERS.
The House concurrent resolution authorizing the Governor to return companies of troops coming to this city without orders, was referred to a select committee, which the President makes to consist of Messrs. Conner, Murray and Wilson.
ADJOURNMENT TO A DAY CERTAIN.
A message from the House of Representatives announced the concurrence of that body in the Senate's amendment to the concurrent resolution of the House adjourning the General Assembly from to-morrow, the 11th, till the 21st of May.
THE INSANE HOSPITAL.
The bill H. R. 30, making appropriations f0r the Insane Hospital, was taken up, read the first time, and passed to the second reading.
THE TRUST FUNDS.
The bill H. R. 38, providing for the disbursement of the various State funds was read the first time and passed to the second reading.
COMMON PLEAS COURTS.
The bill H. R. 18, fixing the times of holding Common Pleas Courts in the several counties of the State, was read the first time, and passed to the second reading.
HOUSE BILLS ON THE THIRD READING.
On motion by Mr. ANTHONY, the rules were suspended - yeas 34, nays 3 - (two-thirds of al the members elected voting in the affirmative,) in order that the bills H. R. 18, 30, 33 and 38 might be read the second time by title only.
The trust fund bill H. R. 38 was read the second time by title only, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
The Insane Hospital bill H. R. 30, was also read the second time by title only.
On motion by Mr. NEWCOMB, this bill was read the third time, and finally passed by yeas 37, nays 2.
The commission-of-substance bill H. R. 33, was also read the second time by title only, and referred to the Committee on Finance.
On motion by Mr. WOLFE, the Committee were instructed to amend the bill "by striking out all in regard to the appointment of Commissioners, and confer the powers and duties of said Commissioners on the Commissary General."
The Common Pleas Court bill 18 was also read the second time by title only.
On motion by Mr. MARCH, the bill was amended by changing the times of holding the courts in his distinct; read the third time and finally passed by yeas 37, nays 1.
THE COMMISSARY DEPARTMENT.
Mr. MURRAY offered the following, which was adopted:
Resolved by the Senate (the House concurring), That the joint committee investigating the rations furnished by the Commissary General and other matters pertaining to that Department have leave to sit during the recess of the Legislature, and if necessary to employ a clerk and messenger.
On motion by Mr. CONNER, it was
Resolved, That the Adjutant General be requested to report to the Senate at his earliest convenience whether the six regiments provided to be mustered into the service by the State have been received; and if not, what part thereof have been received; also, what companies com-
page: 115[View Page 115]pose the several regiments that have been received; also, what companies are in camp at Indianapolis subsisted at cost of the State, over and above the six regiments, if any, and by what authority they are kept here.
THE RAILROADS AND THE TROOPS.
On motion by Mr. MILLER, his concurrent resolution (offered this morning) relating to the transportation of troops over railroads in this State, was taken from the files.
Mr. M. accepted the amendment [Mr. Murray's] pending.
Mr. COBB made an ineffectual motion to refer the resolution to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. RAY moved to strike out all of the resolution after the words "exigencies of the times."
On motion by Mr. CLAYPOOL - yeas 25, nays 13 - this motion was laid on the table.
The resolution was then adopted by yeas 32, nays 5.
STATE PRISON INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE REPORT.
Mr. JONES offered the following, which was adopted:
WHEREAS, The Senate at its last session, ordered five thousand copies of the report of the joint committee on State prisons to be printed:
AND WHEREAS, So copies of said report were ordered to be printed by the House of Representatives: Therefore,
Resolved, That one thousand copies of said report be delivered to the Doorkeeper thereof for the use of its members.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
for the balance of the session was granted by the Senate to Messrs. Carnahan, Miller, Turner and Wolfe.
TREASON AND ITS PUNISHMENT.
Mr. MARCH, from the select committee thereon, returned Senator Beeson's bill [2] entitled "An act defining treason and the concealment of treason; and prescribing punishment therefor, with the amendments of the House thereto, recommending that the Senate concur in the amendments of the House, with the following amendment thereto: Strike out the word "arrested" in the seventh line. Strike from the end of the section the words "he may be found," and in their place insert the following: "The treasonable acts charged shall have been commenced or committed."
The report was concurred in and the amendments adopted.
THE LOAN BILL.
A message from the House of Representatives announced the refusal of that body to concur in the Senate amendment [Mr. Cravens's] to the fifth section (see Senate proceedings of yesterday afternoon.)
On motion by Mr. STUDABAKER, the Senate receded from its amendment.
And then the Senate adjourned.
