IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, January 28, 1863.Mr. DOUGLASS, from the select committee thereon, reported back the concurrent resolution (see page 60) authorizing a contract to be made with ARIEL & W. H. DRAPIER for 1500 copies of their Brevier Legislative Reports, recommending its passage with an amendment reducing the price to one-half cent per page,
Mr. CLAYPOOL I find at the extra session that these Brevier Reports made 281 pages and there will not be lens than 350 or 400 pages this session. At the price the committee proposes to allow, we would be paying $1,75 or 2$ for each book; and I take it that would be paying a pretty large price for so small a book. I am not prepared to say that I am not in favor of printing this work in book form at a reasonable and fair rate, but I cannot consent to it at that rate.
Mr. BROWN, of Wells. The explanation given by the Senator from Fayette (Mr. Claypool) will answer my purpose. I am in favor of continuing these Reports, but at the same time I feel like being cautions as to the amount of money we ex- page: 097[View Page 097] pend for them. I shall be willing to give the Reporters that which will be remunerative, but until I am satisfied we cannot get them for less than half a cent a page I shall have to vote against them.
Mr. BEARSS moved to lay the report on the table.
Mr. RAY demanded a division of the question.
The Senate refused to lay on the table the amendment proposed by the committee--yeas 10, nays 36.
The question recurring on laying the original resolution on the table, the yeas and nays were demanded by Messrs. Beeson and Claypool, and being ordered and taken resulted--yeas 25, nays 21as follows:
YEAS--Messrs. Bearss, Beeson, Berry, Blair, Browne, of Randolph, Brown, of Wells, Campbell, Claypool, Culver, Davis, of Parke, Dickinson, Downey, Fuller, Gifford, Grubb, Jenkins, Mansfield, March, Mellett, Moore, New, Pleak, Teegarden, White, and Wright--25.
NAYS--Messrs. Cobb, Corbin, Davis, of Cass, Douglass, Dunning, Ferguson, Finch, Gaff, Hartley, Hoagland, Hord, Johnston, Landers, McClurg, Marshall, Murray, Kay, Shields, Williams, Wilson, and Wolfe--21.
So the resolution was laid on the table.
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
Mr. BROWN, of Wells, offered the following, which was adopted:
WHEREAS, It is especially due to the people, while the burdens and sacrifices of a dire civil war are fearfully taxing their energies, that rigid investigations should be made of the official conduct of their public servants, to whom the control of public moneys may have been entrusted, and
WHEREAS, The people of the State of Indiana demand of this Legislature a faithful and fearless discharge of such duty; therefore
Resolved, That a special committee of five be appointed by the President of the Senate to investigate th expenditures in the State Quartermaster's Department, the purchase of arms by the State, and the management of the State Arsenal; and that said committee be authorized to send for persons and papers, and report the result of their investigations.
RESOLUTIONS OF INQUIRY
Addressed to appropriate committees were offered, read and severally adopted, to-wit:
By Mr. DOWNEY, "whether a general law can be enacted, under which the Circuit and Common Pleas Courts, in their respective circuits and districts, may fix the times of holding the regular as well as special terms of said Courts."
By Mr. WILLIAMS, "whether the one hundred thousand dollars appropriation to the Governor as a military contingent fund has been expended in accordance with the intent and meaning of the law waking said appropriation."
By Mr. MURRAY, "what additional legislation may be necessary to insure the support of destitute families at the public expense, of such volunteers as are now in the military service of the country."
Mr. MOORE. "as to amending the school law so as to compel the directors of each school house to take the enumeration of the children within their respective districts in the place of the township trustee; " so that it shall be the duty of the Boards of County Commissioners of the several counties to appoint a school examiner at the county seat, and also to inquire into the expediency of reducing his pay not to exceed twenty-five dollars.
BREVIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTS.
On motion by Mr. BROWN, of Wells, it was--
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate enquire of ARIEL & W. H. DRAPIER, Reporters, at what price they will furnish, ready for binding, 5 copies of their Brevier Legislative reports to each member of the Senate, and report as early us possible.
THE $1,100.000 APPROPRIATION.
Mr. CORBIN offered the following,which was adopted:
WHEREAS, All Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the people governed, and no people can give that consent, without a just knowledge of their acts of their agents.
AND WHEREAS, an over taxed and heavily burdened people every where, are demanding earnestly o their representatives-and agents in every department, an observance of that rigid economy, which alone can preserve the integrity, vigor and life of any government, or the liberties of her people; therefore, in order to further the accomplishment of said objects,
Be it Resolved, by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring) that a committee of five, two from the Senate and three from the House, be appointed, to wait upon his Excellency Governor Morton, and request him to fix a time at as early a day as possible, when he will report to this Legislature, how much of the one million appropriation, approved May 31, 1861, came to his hands; also, how much of the one hundred thousand dollars appropriated as a contingent for the Governor came into his hands, and what amount, if any, of Bonds were issued by him, under an act approved May 13,1861 to authorize the Governor to issue Bonds &c. And for him to give a detailed statement of the disbursement of said funds; also, for him to report to this Legislature whether the Federal Government has not paid to him for the benefit of the State an amount sufficient to cover all or nearly all advances made by the State on account of the war. Also, to report to this Legislature, what, officers and employees growing out of the present war are now being paid by the Stale, the salaries and other expenditures of said employees and officers charged to the State, and what other expenditures, if any growing out of the same cause is being charged against the State.
BOUNTY TO DISABLED SOLDIERS.
Mr. NEW introduced a joint resolution [5] to instruct our Senators and request our Representatives in Congress to vote for a law to allow bounty to soldiers discharged for disability before the expiration of the term of their enlistment which as passed to the second reading.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following bills were introduced, read the first time and severally passed to the second reading:
By Mr. RAY, [60] to detect and prevent the circulation of counterfeits, altered and worthless paper currency, and prescribing the duties of banks in relation thereto,
page: 98[View Page 98]By Mr. MELLETT, [61] repealing an act in relation to witnesses, and to repeal section 238 of article 13 of the practice act.
By Mr. NEW, [62] to amend the first section of an act for the incorporation and continuance of banking, fund and savings associations, approved March 5, 1857.
By Mr. CORBIN, [63] to amend section 5 of an act to provide for the uniform mode of doing township business, approved February 18, 1859.
By Mr. BERRY, [64] amending section 16 of the act providing for the election of Justices of the Peace, and defining their jurisdiction in civil cases.
By Mr. CORBIN, [65] to amend section 322 of the practice act.
By Mr. WOLFE, [66] to amend section 134 of an act providing for the settlement of decedents' estates, approved June 17, 1862.
By Mr. CORBIN, [671 the better to secure the free passage of fish in the streams and water courses of this State, and to provide a penalty for a violation thereof.
By Mr. CULVER, [68] for the relief of Perry Burgett.
PAY OF SOLDIERS.
The unfinished business of yesterday coming up in regular order The pending motion to lay the amendment on the table was agreed to by yeas 27, nays 18.
Mr. COBB made an ineffectual motion--yeas 16, nays 30--to lay the amendment proposed by the committee on the table.
Mr. LANDERS moved to amend so as to favor the reduction of Chaplains' pay fifty per cent.
Mr. MARCH thought the committee's amendment covered the whole ground embraced in the last amendment offered.
Mr. LANDERS thought a greater reduction should be made in the pay of Chaplains than in that of other officers. Many thought this useless officer ought to be dispensed with.
Mr. BROWNE, of Randolph, said if the mover would change the amendment so as to favor the abolition of the office of Chaplain, he would vote for it.
On motion by Mr. MARCH the amendment to the amendment was laid on the table--yeas 27, nays 18.
On motion by Mr. DOWNEY the amendment was amended so as to favor the passage of an act to secure the payment of all dues to soldiers and more prompt payments hereafter.
Mr. WOLFE made an ineffectual motion--yeas 12, nays 34--to lay on the table the amendment as amended.
The amendment of the committee as amended, was then concurred in, and the resolution adopted by consent.
The hour for dinner having arrived--
The Senate took a recess till 2 o'clock
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Senate bills numbered 48 to 59 inclusive (for a description of which see [page 92 of these Reports) were read the second time and severally referred to appropriate committees.
THE STATE OF THE UNION.
The joint resolution [S. 3] printed at length in pages 91 and 92 of these Reports, was read the second time and referred to the Committee on Federal Relations; alter an ineffectual motion to print--yeas 18, nays 27.
Mr. DUNNING (Mr. Ray in the chair) while discussing the motion to print, said he thought these resolutions contained the most important matter that has boon or would be presented to this body. The Democracy, as a party, should not shrink from an expression of its views, and would not.
BREVIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTS.
The PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a Communication from ARIEL & W.H. DRAPIER. in answer to a resolution of inquiry passed in the morning session, hav- reference to the continuation of their Brevier Reports.
