IN SENATE.
THURSDAY. January 15, 1863.Mr. MARCH offered a resolution, which was adopted, that the Secretary and Auditor of State and the President of the Board of Sinking Fund Commissioners report to the Senate the amount of all fees received by them, and what proportions had been paid into the State Treasury.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Mr. BROWN, of Randolph, offered a resolution that the committee on Organizations of Courts report on the expediency of reducing Boards of County Commissioners to one member, and that his pay be $5 per day.
On motion by Mr WILLIAMS the resolution was amended by striking out 5$.
The resolution as amended was adopted.
AGENT OF STATE.
Mr. MOORE offered a resolution, which was adopted, that the Judiciary Commit tee inquire into the expediency of abolishing the office of Agent of State, and report by bill or otherwise.
Mr. GRAVES offered the following which was rejected:
Resolved, That the Committee on County and Township Business be instructed to inquire into the into the expediency of allowing and requiring Boards of County Commissioners to make a suitable allowance to County Recorders for keeping up the general index to Deed Records in their respective offices.
On motion by Mr. HARTLEY, it was--
Resolved, That the Committee on County and Township Business inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill transferring the location, vacation or change of all public highways within the respective Townships, from the Board of County Commissioners to the township Trustees.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following bills were introduced, read the first time and severally passed to the second reading:
By Mr. DICKINSON. [10] to amend section nine of an act of amendment, approved March 9, 1861 of an act approved February 12, 1855, amending section second of an act concerning the organization of voluntary associations, and repealing former laws in reference thereto.
By Mr. BROWNE, of Randolph, [11] repealing the sixth section of the practice act, approved June 18. 1852.
WORK FOR COMMITTEES.
Senate bills were read the second time and referred to appropriate committees, to-wit:
Mr. Dickinson's, [2] volunteer's families.
Mr. Browne, of Randolph's, [8] amending section 103 of the Practice Act.
Mr. Blair's [4] amending sections 1 and 3 of the District Attorney's docket fee Act.
Mr. Dickinson's, [5] amending section 6 of the act vacating towns, streets, alleys, &c.
Mr. New's, [6] ceding to the United States certain lands.
Mr Wilson's, [7] amending sections 83 and 85 of Common School act.
Mr. Browne, of Randolph's, [3] abolishing the office of Attorney General.
Mr. Browne, of Randolph's, [9] abolishing courts of conciliation.
Mr. MELLETT offered the following, which was laid on the table.
That the committee are hereby instructed to place said bill [9] carefully in a pigeon hole and not return it to the Senate.
Mr. MARCH suggested that the Senator from Henry, [Mr. Mellett] be directed to watch the pigeon holes. [Laughter.]
Mr. March's joint resolutions proposing amendments to the Constitution [1] so that cities and towns may levy a special school tax and [2] guarding against fraudulent voting, were severally read the second time and referred to appropriate committees.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. MURRAY, from the committee on Military Affairs, reported back the House concurrent resolution recommending an increase of the pay of soldiers and a reduction of the pay of officers of the army, with a recommendation that its passage was inexpedient.
Mr. WILLIAMS hoped the report would not be adopted, if the private soldiers continued in the army it was only an act of justice to increase their pay.
Mr. RAY hoped the resolution would be sent back to the committee. He did not think there were five members of the Sen- page: 48[View Page 48] ate who would vote against increasing the pay of private soldiers. There might be a difference of opinion in regard to reducing pay of officers. He moved to recommit with instructions to strike out all that relates to the reduction of the pay of officers.
Mr. MANSFIELD argued against the resolution on the ground that the country could not bear the increased expense.
Mr. CLAYPOOL would not fairly represent his constituent's if he did not support the resolution. The people of his section taxed themselves heavily to, in effect, increase the pay of soldiers, by making provision for the families of soldiers. The expense should be borne equally, and the increase of pay would do this.
Mr. SHOULDERS heartily approved the resolution. He came here to do all he could to increase the pay and the comforts of soldiers.
Mr. COBB argued in favor of the resolution, cost what it might to meet the increased expense. The men should be paid something near the value of their services, and it this generation could not pay it the next must. While he was in favor of this he was opposed to destroying property by proclamations and edicts.
Mr. MURRAY would favor the recommittal, with instructions. He was in favor of the increase to soldiers and opposed to reducing the pay of officers. He would go further, and vote for a till taxing the people of the State for the additional pay. He did not think the action here would effect any good, because it would be disregarded by Congress.
Mr. WOLFE did not think this Senate should stop to ask what would be the action in Congress. We should do right.-- He feared there were men in Congress who would disregard the instructions of the people, but we should do here as we would do if we were there, he was in favor of the resolution as it came from the House. The pay of officers was out of all proportion to that of privates. In the army corps the pay of the officers would amount to as much as that of the privates. By adopting the resolution of the House you did not increase the expense, but merely took from the pockets of one class and gave it to another and harder working class of the army. He moved to amend the amendment by instructing the committee to report the resolution back as it came from the House.
Mr. MELLETT favored the increase to noncommissioned officers and privates, and opposed the reduction of the pay of officers. The argument that the reduction in the value of the currency demanded an increase of the pay of privates applied with equal force to officers.
Mr. LANDERS as a member of the Military committee, thought it but right that he should say that he was in favor of the resolution precisely as it came from the House.
Mr. MARCH was in favor of the resolutions as they came from the Committee.-- The rates of pay is wrong and always be been, It was the offspring of aristocrat, governments, and not suitable to the genius of our institutions.
Mr. RAY favored increase of the pay of privates on the ground of the reduction currency. The pay of officers had already been reduced by an act passed last July. and which took effect in October, and they were also taxed 3 per cent, on their salaries by the income tax bill. The induction in the value of the currency also affected them as well as it did the privates.
On motion by Mr. WILLIAMS pending motions were laid on the table 18, nays 17.
The Senate refused to concur in the committee report by years 11, nays 35.
Mr. RAY moved to strike out in the original resolution all that relates to pay officers.
Mr. WOLFE made an ineffectual motion to lay that motion on the table.
Mr. BROWN, of Wells, moved to amend the amendment by inserting in its proper place the words "twenty per cent" as applied to officers.
On motion by Mr. MURRAY the amendment was laid on the table.
Mr. BLAIR moved to strike out the words "at least 25 per cent." and insert "not exceeding 25 per cent."
On motion by Mr. RAY the amendment was laid on the table by years 32, nays 13.
The pending motion [Mr. Ray's] to strike out was rejected by yeas 22, nays 23.
Mr. BROWNE of Randolph, moved to amend by striking out all that relates to the pay of officers, and by instructing our Representatives in Congress to inquire into the expediency of reducing the pay of Commissioned Officers, so as to more nearly equalize the pay of officers and soldiers.
Mr. COBB moved to lay the amendment on the table.
