Committee on Military Affairs, made by Mr. Wolfe, yesterday afternoon, recommending the substitution of his independent company bill S. No. 21, for the Home Guard bill H. R. 37; the question being on concurring in the committee report.
Mr. MURRAY moved to concur in the report of the committee, with an amendment striking out all in regard to attaching said independent companies to the active militia of the State for battalion and regimental drill.
Mr. DeHART moved to amend so as to prohibit persons afflicted with gout, and weighing under three hundred pounds avordupois, from be coming members thereof, and impose a fine upon any member of said company for over exertion on hot days.
Mr. MURRAY. The object of my amendment can be attained by striking out the 8th section of the bill. The only objection I have to the bill is that, while it gives these independent companies the benefit of brigade and regimental drills, when troops are called into active service it excuses them from the service. If they are not going into active service it is not necessary for them to understand the regimental or battalion drill, and they should not be allowed to interfere with the active militia by attaching them to the regiments for battalion drills.
Mr. WOLFE. I am glad that is the only objection the gentleman has. If this 8th section was imperative, I should be opposed to it myself, but it is left discretionary with the colonel. These companies may be or may not be attached to the militia regiments for drill purposes. I believe there are 270,000 persons in the State between 18 and 45 years of age. It is not desirable that any considerable amount of that number should be organized, but it would be well enough to have called out about 200 companies. If organized into regiments, of ten companies each, they would form 30 regiments, which would be a sufficient number. This would connect together, on an average, for regimental drill purposes, three counties. My view is this: let the Governor establish this as his basis, and appoint thirty colonels in the State, one for each regiment. The requisition of the law would be amply filled by a regimental muster in each of the counties once a year. These independent companies would not belong to the regiment proper, but be used simply to fill up the regiment, thereby avoiding the trouble of calling companies from distant points. If this section be objectionable to any colonel, he would not receive these companies, of course; but in sparse-ly settled counties they would unquestionably be a great convenience in the ready organization of regiments. These companies will be as efficient organizations, in many cases, as any others, and, when a call Is made for active service, I apprehend they would be as ready to enlist as the other military organizations. I apprehend the bill would be much better with this section in it. If the Senate will not agree to let it remain, why, of course it must be struck out, but I hope it will be allowed to remain.
Mr. CLAYPOOL. I am opposed to the whole system, not from the fact that the bill is introduced by the Senator from Harrison, very far from it, but I take it that this bill is perhaps no better than the one that came from the other end of the capitol. If our military law is defective, I am willing to vote to amend it, but I am opposed to creating a system that may be said to be a system within a system. The idea of having two military systems in one State is not right. The principal effect of this bill will be to draw the fire from the other militia bill, now a law. When I voted to appropriate $70,000 under the militia bill, it was with the idea that the men drilled under it should obey the call of the State. I am tired of this thing of child's play, and I will not vote money to put epaulettes upon any man's shoulder for mere display. A home guard! What home will you protect? I say that term, in its broadest acceptation, means all the homes in this broad confederacy. I have no particular objections to this bill over Mr. Gresham's, introduced in the other end of the capitol. The only object in this bill seems to be to suck the life-blood out of our present military law, and, when the country calls, these independent companies may not respond. I don't say they will not. If it is for the protection of our homes, let us act under the system already adopted, or, if it be for military instruction, let us authorize military schools. I shall be unwilling to vote for this bill, in any shape or form, and should like to see a motion made to lay the report and amendments on the table. I am in favor of the proposition of the page: 198[View Page 198]Senator from Elkhart, [Mr. Murray] as far as it goes.
Mr. MURRAY. I think this Legislature ought to adopt some bill to permit men over 45 years of age to organize themselves into companies. We don't want any of these home guards in the northern part of the State, but we have acted upon the supposition that we ought to have a perfect military organization on the frontier, and I want them disconnected from the active militia. For that reason I have offered this amendment. I think it way wrong to exclude from the military bill men over 45 years of age, and I must say so here in my place. These old men have three times more interest at stake than the younger men, and I am for permitting a bill to be passed which will organize these into home guards.
Mr. MILLER. The main objection to this bill is, that, in its practical operations, it will use up a portion of the military fund, and that it is entirely unnecessary. Even if the State is attacked I don't think we will need any of these home guards. It but enables men to play military, without ever expecting to go into the service. If it cost nothing I would not care anything about it. I don't see why a very effective militia cannot be organized under our present laws, for I believe the bill is ample in its provisions, though I think it has not money enough in it. I believe this bill is a sort of sheep in Wolfe's clothing. I don't believe it will hurt anybody, and I move to recommit with the following instructions:
Amend in the proper place as follows:
Nothing in this act contained shall be so construed as to prevent "Independent Sedentary Guards," provided for in this act, from disbanding in case of war; and that they shall not be required to leave the State, except in case of invasion; and that said "Home Guards" shall not be prevented from placing women and children in the front ranks for means of protection, if such militia be attacked and decide not to run.
Mr. ANTHONY. I am willing to treat this bill seriously, though I regard it in the same light as gentlemen who are disposed to ridicule it. Under existing circumstances we ought to examine it earnestly and candidly. Most young men, and older men, have diverse inducements for joining military organizations. Some join with a desire to fight for the State, others for mere ostentation, and these latter would probably join the organization under the present military system, but if they can make the same display without incurring the liabilities of the soldier they would organize under this bill. The most, serious objection to this bill is that, under the color of law, it inaugurates a wholly irresponsible system. It would be getting up an organization that could be controlled by no one, and that might be used for the purpose of inflicting a great deal of evil upon the State. I am not going to attribute bad motives to any one, but suppose we should find our State in the same position the people of the United States found Maryland and Missouri. These independent companies could be independent of all control, for no one would have the right to disorganize them, and they might become an engine of destruction to the interests of the State. They don't take even an oath to support the Constitution of the United States. The officers are required to take an oath, and that is all there is of it. Now in the military organization we have passed, each man swears as follows: [See page 123 of these reports.] Now if men, under our military system, are disposed to act improperly, they can be made ameanable to law under this oath. But under the system proposed by the Senator from Harrison [Mr. Wolfe] they are under obligations to no one - are setf operating institutions, and might be used under certain circumstances for very bad purposes. It would be creating two military systems in the State - one having the power to interfere with and deter the other. I know nothing about the merits of the bill from the House, but I do not like the plan of getting up outside institutions.
Mr. COBB. Whilst this bill does not come up to all I desire, yet the principle in it is good, and I doubt not it will have a beneficial effect upon the people of the State. We have a class of men who do not desire to go into active service, but who would be willing to stand as sentinels upon the house tops of their own towns or counties. However slightly it may be considered by some gentlemen, I believe this bill should pass with a few amendments which I shall offer at the proper time. It has been drawn with a great deal of care, and comes nearer meeting the wants of the people, I think, than any one yet offered. I will propose to amend by requiring these independent companies to take the prescribed oath, exempting them from uniforming, and preventing them from being attached to any regular regiment organized under the bill we have already passed.
On motion by Mr. JOHNSTON, the motion to recommit and Mr. Miller's amendment were laid on the table.
On motion by Mr. CONLEY, the amendments of Messrs. Murray and DeHart were also laid on the table.
Mr. CLAYPOOL moved to indefinitely postpone the further consideration of the bills and report.
Mr. COBB made an ineffectual motion - yeas 16, nays 22 - to lay this motion to postpone on the table.
Mr. COBB. The people desire some such bill as this, and we ought to give it to them. Senators are mistaken if they think the object of this bill is to weaken the military law. This is a measure of necessity and ought to be adopted because of its intrinsic merits.
Mr. WOLFE. If the independent military company system will dilute the law already passed, as has been suggested by gentlemen here, then that law ought to be strengthened. For the page: 199[View Page 199] purpose of keeping a military spirit, these companies should be organized, and thus aid the military system of the State. I know the necessities of the people of the border, and I know that desire such a bill as this. I have no further interest in it than any other man residing there. You may kill this bill if you will, but these companies will be organized with or without law. I do hope the report of the committee will be concurred in.
Messrs. Miller and Cobb here indulged in some rather personal remarks.
The question being on the motion to indefinitely postpone, it was agreed to by yeas 21, nays 19-as follows:
YEAS - Messrs. Anthony, Bearss, Beeson, Berry, Blair, Claypool, Conner, Cravens of Jefferson, DeHart, Hull, March, Mellett, Miller, Murray, Odell, Robinson, Steele, Stone, Teegarden, Turner and White - 21.
NAYS - Messrs. Carnahan, Cobb, Conley, Craven of Madison, Dickinson, Ferguson, Hamilton, Johnston, Jones, Line, Lomax, Ray, Shoulders, Slack, Studabaker, Williams, Wilson and Wolfe - 19.
So the bills and report were indefinitely postponed.
Mr. CONLEY made an ineffectual attempt to offer for the consideration of the Senate a joint resolution authorizing the Auditor of State to draw his warrant on the Treasurer to-day for the ditching of swamp lands.
And then came the recess till two o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. BEESON offered the following:
Resolved, That no Senator shall speak longer than five minutes on any proposition before the Senate without the unanimous consent of this honorable body.
Mr. WOLFE opposed and Mr. BEESON favored its passage.
Mr. WOLFE made an ineffectual motion yeas 8 to nays 26 - to lay the resolution on the table.
On motion by Mr. SLACK, the resolution was amended by striking out "five" and inserting "ten."
Mr. TARKINGTON moved to further amend by providing that no bill shall be introduced after this day for the consideration of the Senate; but immediately withdrew it.
SESSION HOURS.
Mr. STONE offered the following resolution:
That the standing rule of the Senate numbered "one" be so amended as to require the morning session of the Senate to commence at eight o'clock A. M., and the afternoon session to commence at one and one half o'clock P. M. during the remainder of the session.
The resolution lies on the table for one day under the rules of the Senate.
THE STANDING SWAMP LAND INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE.
On motion by Mr. SLACK, it was -
Resolved, That the committee appointed by this Senate at the last meeting thereof for the purpose of investigating the swamp land frauds be requested to report to this Senate on to-morrow morning what progress has been made in the investigation of said frauds; what progress they have made in said investigation; what length of time they have been engaged, and how many persons are and have been employed in said service.
PAY FOR DITCHING SWAMP LANDS.
Mr. CONLEY offered the following joint resolution [S. No. 9], entitled:
A joint resolution instructing the Auditor of State to draw his warrant on the treasurer to pay the ditching of lands swamp, and instructing the Treasurer of State to pay the same.
WHEREAS, the Legislature of this State, at its session in the year of our Lord, A. D. 1857, did pass an act to enable the different counties in the State having a swamp land fund to ascertain and use the amount thereof for the purpose of ditching the swamp lands therein.
AND WHEREAS, in compliance with the provisions of the act above named certain persons have performed labor in ditching swamp lands in their respective counties.
AND WHEREAS, the Auditor of State has refused to audit the claims of persons who have performed labor in compliance with the law.
Therefore be it Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That the Auditor of State be requested, and he is hereby instructed to draw his warrant on the Treasurer of State for the payment of said claims if he shall be satisfied by the filing of vouchers and the certificate of the Swamp Land Commissioner that the claims are right and just.
And be it further Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the Treasurer of State to pay, when presented by the person holding the claim, or his agent, any sum which may be audited for ditching of swamp lands, out of the fund belonging to the county in which the ditching was done.
After remarks by Messrs. Conley, Blair, Studabaker and Newcomb -
On motion by Mr. STUDABAKER, the resolutions was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE.
On motion by Mr. JOHNSTON, it was -
Resolved, That the Senate will, the House concurring therein, adjourn sine die on Saturday the 1st day of June next.
CENSURE OF THE COMMISSARY GENERAL.
Mr. MURRAY offered the following:
WHEREAS, A committee of the Senate were ordered to investigate the affairs of the Commissary department of the Volunteer forces of this State, during the recess of the Legislature; AND WHEREAS, The report of that committee show conclusively, that the Commissary General has been guilty of gross mismanagement and negligence, which has resulted in hardship to our volunteers and loss to the State; therefore
Resolved, That the Governor be, and he is hereby respectfully requested to remove the present Commissary General from office.
Mr. CLAYPOOL spoke for five minutes or more in opposition to the resolution.
Mr. MURRAY. I based this resolution upon the investigating committee's report, and the evidence elicited before that committee, and I am prepared to vote for this resolution if there is not another Senator upon this floor voting with me. It came with an ill grace from a Senator upon this floor in defense of a Commissary General, or any other General, after such reports as we have heard have been made to both branches of the Legislature, and denounce their report as infamous. The position the gentleman from Fayette occupies in regard to this Commissary General is well understood page: 200[View Page 200] on this floor, for at the very incipiency of this investigation he arose and declared that he was personally a warm friend of this Commissary General, that he bad been acquainted with him from his youth up, and his denouncing the two investigating committee's reports as infamous, must be attributed to no other than this warm personal feeling. He stands here as a defender of this Commissary General after these reports have been made, sir, and when this testimony could be doubled and trebled by every volunteer on those grounds where they drank down his rotten beans and parched wheat, and eat his rotten pork, sir, which of itself was enough to turn the stomach of a horse. I have, myself, eat at the table where these things were, sir, and short weight at that. The Senate has authorized the publication of the testimony showing up this imposition upon these troops, our neighbors and friends have sent forth; and it comes with an ill grace, I must say again, for the Senator to denounce this report as "infamous." If he is a friend to this Commissary, and desires to defend him, let him vote against this resolution, and let the evidence go out, and see where the gentleman from Fayette stands. He will be on the side of the Commissary General, with his parched beans and wheat and his stinking meat, and we will be on the side of the volunteers who have been compelled to swallow this or starve, and by which they have been made sick, many of them. I was in the House of Representatives when this evidence was read, and the House unanimously, without a dissenting voice, voted to instruct the Governor to turn that Commissary out of office. Instead of denouncing their proceeding as "infamous," I sanction everything they have done in the verdict they have rendered upon the testimony. And I can inform the Senator further, that the Committee have offered the Commissary every possible facility for exhonorating himself.
Mr. HULL. The committee frequently had the Commissary General before them for the purpose of making explanations.
Mr. MURRAY. Did you deny him any privileges?
Mr. HULL. None sir.
Mr. MURRAY. No, sir. But here is a pet put into office, and kept there in spite of malfeasance in office, the vote of the House and his damnable treatment of the volunteers. Now I want the voice of the Senate, in addition to the sense of the House of Representatives, that he is no longer worthy or fit to be a Commissary General to feed our troops.
Mr. HAMILTON. His answers to the first resolutions I introduced in this body inquiring into the affairs of his office, showed, to my mind, that he was not coming up to what he ought to. My motives in introducing those resolutions was to protect the funds of the State. I was satisfied, from all I heard, and from what I now hear, that the State of Indiana has been filched out of large sums Of money. The Commissary, as soon as the troops came here should have let out the supplies by public contract, and he ought not to have furnished a single pound from his own stores. Every man who knows him will tell you that he is a good business man, but I doubt whether there is a business man, in Indiana that will say that was a business-like transaction. I move to make this the special order for to-morrow at 3 o'clock.
Mr. CLAYPOOL. I would not lend myself to break down the character of any man without hearing the evidence. I was opposed to acting on this resolution now, from the reason that I knew nothing about it. I was informed by the Commissary General that he had desired, but was refused, to have witnesses brought before the committee; but I am formed by the Senator from Ripley [Mr. Hull] that is not the fact. I do not know whether it is or not. Both are honorable men; but I have no doubt the committee was right. While I am, and ever have been, a personal friend of Mr. Mansur I would not go too far in defense; and I say my record is not in that direction. I was one of the first to join the Senate in ferreting out the matter The remarks I made then [see pages 23, 30, 36 and 63 of these reports,] indicate that I was not desirous of screening that gentleman. I introduced a resolution, a printed copy of which I hold in my hand, that was not intended to screen him, and he responded to it to the entire satisfaction of the select committee. If Mr. Mansur has been guilty of these charges I would be as willing to vote a censure as any other man upon this floor. Some Senators who may have read that report may be ready to vote upon the resolution, but to press this matter now is placing us in a false light. If the evidence shows that Mr. Mansur has done a disreputable act I shall be one among the first to vote a vote of censure. I do not understand, from the hurried reading of the report at the Secretary's desk, that the committee so censure him. If half is true I will vote to request the Governor to discharge him.
Mr. COBB. I am with the Senator from Fayette [Mr. Claypool] as far as preparation is concerned. If, however, the vote should be pressed now, with the evidence I have before me, I should be bound to vote for the resolution, but I do not feel willing that the vote should be taken with the information I have now. I understand from the journals of the House that the report of this joint committee was made to that end of the Capitol, and they had it read there with the testimony. The journal says [see page of these reports,] that it took up an hour's time to read it, and I see that seventy votes were cast for the resolution of censure, and none against it. I am in favor of the motion to postpone the matter till to-morrow.
Mr. LINE. I hope this subject will be post- page: 201[View Page 201] poned. I am not prepared now to vote upon the resolution, and as the Senator from Fayette has said,I will not vote upon a question censuring a man unless I see the evidence. I will take occasion to exculpate my friend [Mr. Claypool] although he is amply able to do it himself, from any undue personal feelings in case. He got up in his seat and said [see page 36 of these Reports] that such a report was not satisfactory to him, and insisted upon a thorough investigation of the affair. Subsequently this committee was raised to investigate this whole affair.
Mr. CRAVEN. I would like to know whether we can have the evidence so we can read it before 3 o'clock to-morrow.
Mr. COBB. I understand it can be laid on our desks by to-morrow morning.
Mr. TARKINGTON. I am willing to vote with the Senator from Allen [Mr. Hamilton] in having this matter postponed. As far as coffee being mixed and the meat not being good, that could be without the knowledge of his officer, but when it comes to paying out money and not attempting to account for it, that amounts to another thing. But I say let us postpone this thing, and not condemn the man without evidence.
Mr. HULL. I would state that when we went o the Auditor's office to obtain the vouchers re found the Commissary had them in his possession. We summoned him before us and he made such explanations as he thought proper. We had his assistant and the Inspector General before us, and these men were witnesses n his favor. He requested us to send for the inspector General and we did it. Every request was readily and cheerfully granted to aim.
The motion to make the subject a special order for three o'clock, to-morrow afternoon, was agreed to.
OUR BRAVE VOLUNTEERS.
Mr. DEHART offered the following concurrent resolutions expressive of the sentiments entertained by the General Assembly for the volunteers of the State of Indiana, for their prompt and patriotic response to their country's call:
Resolved, That the Senate (the House concurring) contemplate with mingled feelings of pride and gratitude the prompt and patriotic action of the volunteers of Indiana, in coming forward, without distinction of party, to stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our country's flag.
Further Resolved, That while we are deeply sensible of the magnitude of the issue to be decided in the struggle already begun in our country, and before the civilized world, we have full confidence that the gallant sons of Indiana will meet this shock of battle like veterans, and perform fully the part of our loyal State in crushing out rebellion, and preserving intact the government bequeathed to us by our fathers.
Further Resolved, That whenever our gallant troops may march under our country's flag, they shall be the object of our care - and it shall be our cheerful duty as legislators to make every provision for their wants as soldiers and patriots. The resolutions were adopted nem. con.
CAVALRY.
On motion by Mr. TARKINGTON, Mr. Cravens' cavalry joint resolution S. No. 6, introduced yesterday afternoon, was taken up.
Mr. President CRAVENS. [Mr. Tarkington in the Chair.] Mr. President: On yesterday some Senators said they would be ready to vote upon this proposition when they had certain information which was called for by a resolution of the Senate. That resolution we have, and I have it before me now. It is not substantially what I stated to the Senate on yesterday, and that was although we had been here so long a time and had done all the emergency required of us to do, we are now about as defenceless as when we first came here. We have called twelve regiments into-the field and ten or at least eight of them have been handed over to the Federal service, and we have now barely two regiments. The Senator from Knox [Mr. Williams] introduced an amendment requiring the Governor to organize one of the six organized under the six regiment bill into a regiment of cavalry; but by this information from His Excellency we see that is wholly impracticable. It is said that all the regiments organized, with the exception of the one of eight companies, have been sworn into the service for a period of three years. [Mr. C. read the communication from the Governor, printed in the first of this day's proceedings.] Now it may be said that if the Governor proceeds to organize these thirteen companies of cavalry we will not need the regiment we are now asking for by this joint resolution. I do not propose now to criticize the language of the Governor, for I apprehend that this communication was written in haste, and without so much regard to, its meaning. Under the provisions of the general militia law I apprehend the Governor has no more right to organize a company of cavalry than the Muscat of Turkey. Companies may organize themselves. The Governor has power to group companies into a regiment, and by that means he can organize a regiment; but he has no more power to organize a company than I have. He proposes to organize thirteen companies. That I apprehend is more than we want. It will cost the State $500,000 every year, and the question is do we want it for the purpose contemplated by the resolution? Then the Governor goes on to say that he will equip these companies with arms, provided they furnish horses. Now there is no such provision us that in the militia law. If they are organized strictly under that, the probability is they will have their horses furnished them. We are simply proposing that "eight companies shall come into the field, and furnish their own horses, but the government shall pay a per diem for the risk and use of these horses.
Mr. RAY (interposing.) Does this resolution contemplate that the Governor shall or- page: 202[View Page 202] ganize these companies under the present militia law or the six regiment bill?
Mr CRAVENS. The militia law.
Mr. RAY. Then, the Governor has no authority to organize such cavalry under the militia law, and how can he get such authority by a joint resolution?
Mr. CRAVENS. We are simply requesting the Governor to call them in and organize them under the law, with a provision that they furnish their own horses, and otherwise be organized under the law. We wish it an efficient force. We ask that they have just such arms and equipments as the service may require. It is a small force, therefore we want it properly armed. We have everything we want except the carbines, and they can be had at twenty day's notice. Eight companies equipped as provided for by this resolution are worth twenty companies equipped with the old fashioned horse pistol, sabre and rifle. I do not propose to discuss the matter any further, for I apprehend there is not a Senator upon this floor whose mind is not made up. If the evidence in their minds is that we do not need this force, the resolution will fail and we will remain as we have been, without defense and without protection. When we passed the six regiment bill it was almost the unanimous voice of this Legislature that we wanted a home army. It-was said on this floor that that looked like a small army when looking the crisis in the face, and it was a small army. But we now have left a very small portion of that, and we don't know but that when the sun goes down that we will have a shadow of an army or a ghost of a regiment.
Mr. STUDABAKER. I can't see that the State of Indiana is without defense. With martial music still sounding in our ears, and eight or ten thousand troops in the field. I voted for this six regiment bill with the understanding that, as events shaped themselves, the Governor would have the power to turn them over to the General Government or send them home. I believe in the idea of having a man to manage the affairs of State, and the action of the Governor in turning over to the United States service these four regiments I approbate to the fullest extent, as also his action with reference to the employment of cavalry. I move to refer the resolution to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. RAY did not see any propriety in adopting the resolution at this time. The Governor ought to have organized a full regiment of cavalry under the six regiment bill in the first place, and he ought to do it yet.
Mr. MURRAY. I am satisfied that the Senate has gone far enough in voting for men for the State defense. There is no more a necessity, now that we have a superabundant force in the field. We have voted for five thousand stand of arms to be distributed in the Southern counties-
Mr. CRAVENS (interposing.) Have they been distributed?
Mr. MURRAY did not know, but if not let a resolution be adopted over again directing it to be done. A great many reports are being circulated that this additional regiment is being formed for the purpose of giving place to pets; officers have been put over troops against their remonstrance and that were not fit to occupy the places. This is all wrong, &c.
Mr. WOLFE. The councils of our military gentlemen are badly confused. They order a thing to-day and to-morrow come to a different conclusion. A great deal of panic exists throughout this body and the town in regard to military matters. We don't want any men on the border, either cavalry or infantry, under the present state of things, predicted on the idea that Kentucky would remain loyal. I think the resolution will prevent an efficient organization of cavalry on the border, should the time come when such a course would be necessary.
Mr. NEWCOMB entered his protest against this continued disposition of fault finding with public officers. Although we are all military men here, the Governor can get better military advice than we can give him.
Mr. CRAVENS stated that this idea originated with no less a personage than Colonel Wood, of the United States army. A man who has seen twenty years service; and by the figures of that gentleman the cost of these eight companies would not be one dollar more than $325,000 per annum. If the security should only extend to the telegraph and rail-road lines it would be worth the money. Senators say that now there is no necessity for this protection ; but the contrary is the case. To-day there is more necessity for this force than there ever was before. There are now in this city delegations from counties asking for men - the same counties that sent delegates in the early part of this session protesting against the idea of sending them troops. We called out six regiments and now we have but two. There is no necessity for referring this resolution to any committee. Senators can vote upon it now as well as at any other time.
Mr. STUDABAKER withdrew his motion to re-commit.
The joint resolution was then rejected by yeas 17, nays 24 - as follows:
YEAS - Messrs. Anthony, Carnahan, Claypool, Conner, Cravens of Jefferson, DeHart, Dickinson, Ferguson, Grubb, Hamilton, Lomax, Mellett, Miller, O'Brien, Robinson, Shoulders, Stone and Wolfe-17.
NAYS - Messrs. Bearss, Beeson, Berry, Blair, Cobb, Conley, Johnston, Jones, March, Murray, Newcomb, Odell, Bay, Shoemaker, Slack, Steele, Studabaker, Tarkington, Teegarden, Turner, White, Williams, Wilson and Wolfe - 24.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR PRIVATE MURRAY.
Mr. MURRAY. Mr. President - I ask to be excused from attendance on this body for the balance of the session. I have just received intelligence from Camp Morton that the regiment to which I am attached has orders to start to Washington immediately.
page: 203[View Page 203]MANY VOICES"Consent," "consent," "consent."
The PRESIDENT. The Senator has leave of absence.
THE SALARIES OF PUBLIC OFFICERS.
Mr. Johnston's officer's salary bill, [S. No. 23,] -see page 135 of these Reports - coming up in regular order, it was read the third time.
Mr. JOHNSTON. The only change in the law is in reference to the time of payment. The salaries are neither increased nor diminished. The time of payment is changed from quarterly to monthly. I suppose it is desired by many of the officers to have it changed.
The bill was rejected by yeas 22, nays 17.
OWEN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT.
Mr. Conley's bill, [S. No. 24] -see page 135 of these Reports - coming up in order, it was read the third time and finally passed by yeas 38, nays 0.
COMMON PLEAS COURTS IN CLAY AND PUTNAM.
Mr. Johnston's bill, [S. No. 29] see page 136 of these Reports - coming up, it was read the third time and finally passed by yeas 40, nays 0.
DOCKET FEES.
Mr. March's docket fee bill, [S. No. 31] see page 136 of these Reports - coming up it was read the third time and finally passed by yeas 31, nays 10.
And then the Senate adjourned.
