HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WEDNESDAY, February 11,1863.Mr. WOOLLEN presented a petition from citizens of Johnson and Morgan counties, asking enforcement of the 13th Article of Constitution.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Recommending that House bills 7 (see page 43,) and 90 (p. 85;) be laid on the table were concurred in.
RESOLUTIONS OF INQUIRY.
Addressed to appropriate committees; were offered, read and severally adopted to-wit:
By Mr. NIBLACK, into the expediency of reducing the amount charged by the page: 141[View Page 141] State for license to retail spirituous, vinous and malt liquors, in consequence of the additional tax charged by the United States Government under the recent act of Congress, known as the "Excise Law," and to report by bill or otherwise.
By Mr. MILLER, into the propriety of enclosing the grounds of the Insane Asylum.
By Mr. NEWMAN, in reference to the construction of toll gates.
By Mr. NEWMAN, in reference to the firing of guns across roads, or disturbance of religious meetings by firing them on Sundays.
Mr. FORESTER introduced joint resolution [31] instructing Senators and requesting Representatives, &c., against the passage of a bankrupt law, which was read the first time.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following bills were introduced, read the first time and severally passed to the second reading:
By Mr. HUMPHREYS, [180] fixing printers fees for advertising Sheriffs' sales.
By Mr. WOODRUFF, [181] to amend the act relating to Justices of the Peace.
By Mr. GRIFFITH. [182] to amend the Common School act it reference to the enumeration of children.
By Mr. JONES. [183] to authorize county Commissioners to prohibit hogs from running at large.
By Mr. GRIFFITH, [184] to amend the law regulating the sale of swamp lands.
By Mr. MORGAN, [185] to amend section 8 of the plank road act.
WORK FOR COMMITTEES.
Senate bills 15, 26, (see page 55;) 19, 20, 22, (p. 60;) 24, (p. 61;) 26, 2S, 30, (p. 79;) 32, 33, 39, (p. 80;) and 93, (p. 121:) were read the second time and appropriately referred.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
A report from a committee recommending that the bill H. R. 71 (see p. 68) be laid on the table, was concurred in.
BILLS ON THE THIRD READING.
The following described House bills were read the third time and finally passed, unless otherwise stated:
Mr. Brown's, [40] to amend the act relating to Common Pleas Courts. (It defines their jurisdiction in all cases felony.) Failed--yeas 19, nays 61.
Mr. Spencer's, [48] to prohibit judges of Common Pleas Courts from practicing as attorneys in inferior Courts--yeas 82, nays 1.
Mr. Garvin's, [57] to tax U. S. stamps, used on legal documents in any suit, as costs--yeas 87, nays 1.
Mr. Lasselle's, [58] to amend section 80 of the Practice act. (It provides that a writing purporting to be executed by any one may be admitted as evidence in suits, when not denied by affidavit. The present law confined the admission of such papers to those executed by one of the parties to the suit)--yeas 73, nays 11.
Mr. Packard's. [62] to amend the act prescribing the crime of arson. (It changes the law so that to fire unfinished buildings, as where the doors are not hung, is arson, instead of malicious trespass, as the law now stands--yeas 78, nays 6.
Mr. Spencer's, [82] to amend the 6th section of the act relating to County Boards. (It changes the law so that Commissioners may meet at the Auditor's office in place of the Court House)--yeas 83, nays 2.
Mr. Higgin's, [83] to amend the 21st section of the act relating to Justices of the Peace. (It imposes a penalty for Justices neglecting to pay over fees or fines which come into their hands)-- yeas 83, nays 1.
Mr. Roberts, [110] to regulate weights and measures. (The bill changes the weight of coal mined out of the 8tate at 80 pounds, instead of 70 pounds, leaving Indiana coal at 70 pounds)--yeas 74 nays 4.
