HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
FRIDAY, January 23,1863.Petitions were presented and referred to appropriate committees, to wit:
By Mr. KILGORE. For the suppression of intemperance, from citizens of Delaware county.
By Mr. PENDLETON. For the enforcement of the 13th Article of the Constitution, from 113 citizens of Johnson county.
By Mr. MILROY. From citizens of Carrol county, for the incorporation of the Indiana College for Agricultural and Mechanical Arts.
By Mr. DONALDSON. From citizens of Miami county, for the amendment of the law for the collection of debts so as to make debts collectible at the place where contracted.
RESOLUTIONS OF INQUIRY.
Addressed to appropriate committees were offered, read and severally adopted, to-wit:
By Mr. KENDRICK, whether any private company has the right to make a toll road of the old Michigan road.
By Mr. LAMB, whether any legislation is necessary to secure the better attendance of pupils at school.
By Mr. HOLCOMB, concerning a fixed rate for advertising delinquent land sales.
By Mr. MUSTARD, into the propriety of fixing the jurisdiction of justices of the peace in certain cases.
By Mr. HARNEY, a concurrent resolution, for the transmission of a memorial of this Legislature to the Legislature of New York against the high rates of toll charged upon the transit of western produce.
By Mr. KENDRICK, as to the legality of the erection of a toll gate at the White river bridge by the Central Plank Road Company.
On motion by Mr. DONALDSON the vote on his resolution proposing a legislative apportionment committee was reconsidered and the resolution amended raising a page: 82[View Page 82] joint committee which the Speaker subsequently made to consist of Messrs. Donaldson, Holcomb, Howard, Cook, Van Buskirk, Moorman, Mason, Puett, Hetfield, Davis and James, on the part of the House.
Mr. SHAFFER made a similar motion in reference to his resolution for a congressional apportionment, which was a-greed to and the Speaker subsequently made the committee to consist of Messrs. Shaffer, Chambers, Harden, of Washington, Abbott, Hall, Perry, Atkison, Abdill, Miller, Shoaff, of Allen, and McGauchey, on the part of the House.
JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Were introduced, read the first time and passed to the second reading, to-wit:
By Mr. RICHARDSON, [16] protesting against the election of members of Congress, in any Congressional District, where the forms of the State laws are not complied with, and denouncing their, admission.
By Mr. ANDERSON.[17] for the increase of pay of non-commissioned officers in the army, and of privates, increasing the pay of the latter to twenty dollars per month.
By Mr. CASON, [18] endorsing the expulsion of Jesse D. Bright from the Senate of the United States.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following bills were introduced, read the first time and severally passed to the second reading:
By Mr. GREGORY, |74] to authorise county Boards to erect suitable monuments for the Indiana volunteers who have fallen in their country's service.
By Mr. MUTZ, [75] to provide for the inspection of petroleum and other burning oils.
SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS.
In pursuance of a resolution--
The House then proceeded to elect two Sinking Fund Commissioners, to serve four years.
Mr. BROWN nominated Samuel P. Mooney of Jackson county.
Mr. HIGGINS nominated Win. Williams, of Kosciusko.
Mr. Mooney received 54 votes, and Mr. Williams 36.
Mr. Mooney was declared elected.
Mr. MUTZ nominated Dillard Ricketts, of Clark county.
Mr. MOORMAN nominated John F. Carr, of Jackson.
Mr. Ricketts received 53 votes, and Mr. Carr 38.
Mr. Ricketts was declared elected.
The House then went into the election of a Sinking Fund Commissioner to serve for two years.
Mr. PACKARD nominated Parmenter M. Parks of Morgan.
Mr. MOORMAN nominated Jefferson Helm, of Rush county.
Mr. Parks received 53 votes, and Mr. Helm 2S votes.
Mr. Parks was declared elected.
BANK DIRECTORS
The House then proceeded to elect two of the Directors, on the part of the State, of the Bank of the State.
Mr. HARVEY nominated Samuel C, Wilson, of Montgomery county.
Mr. JONES nominated James Moorman, of Randolph.
Mr. Wilson received 53 votes, and Mr. Moorman 37.
Mr. Wilson was declared elected.
Mr. HANNA nominated Andrew Humphreys, of Greene.
Mr. ANDERSON nominated John B, Niles of Laporte.
Mr. Humphreys received 53 votes, and Mr. Niles 34.
Mr. Humphreys was declared elected.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The following bills were introduced read the first time, and severally passed to the second reading, to-wit:
By Mr. MASON, [76] to compel the railroads to carry freight in certain cases.
By Mr. GRIFFITH, [77] to erect the 16th Judicial Circuit.
By Mr. McGAUCHEY, [78] to enable other persons than corporations--to reclaim wet lands.
By Mr. LEEDS, [79] to prohibit the Clerks of Circuit and Common Pleas Courts from acting as attorneys in their respective Courts.
By Mr. FERRIS, [80] to exempt the vendors of real or personal property selling the same on the first of the year, from assessment on the same.
By Mr. BROWN, [81] to amend the 1st section of the Supreme Court Act and to re-district the State into five districts, and to provide for the election of officer; and Judges.
By Mr. SPENCER, [82] to amend the first section of the act regulating County Boards--changing the time of meeting and the term of sessions.
By Mr. HIGGINS, [83] to amend the twenty-first section of the Justice's act.
By Mr. MILLER, [84] to repeal the 18th section of the Decedent's Law.
By Mr. FERRIS, [85] to amend the License Law---fixing 25$ as the License fee.
THANKS TO OUR SOLDIERS.
The following Senate concurrent resolution of thanks to Major General Rosecrans and his army for services at Murfreesboro (introduced on page 60 of these Reports) was taken up and adopted:
Resolved, by the Senate, the House concurring. That the thanks of this General Assembly are hereby tendered to Major General Rosecrans and the officers and soldiers under his command for the well earned victory of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. That they, one and all, merit the lasting gratitude of the nation and the admiration of the world.
page: 83[View Page 83]Resolved, That the patriotic earnestness skill, sleepless vigilance and pertinacity displayed by the commanding General in his advance upon the enemy, his plan of battle, and especially in promptly meeting the exigencies of its varying fortunes, prove that he was the right man in the place; that the hearty and prompt co-operation, the gallantry and skill of his division and other commanders, the ready obedience unyielding and hardy courage or the soldiers are worthy of the highest commendation.
Resolved, That the Army of the Cumberland, Murfreesboro, and the name of each fallen and surviving patriot who took part in that perilous struggle, are forever linked together in historic renown; and Indiana will forever and gratefully cherish their memory to the latest generation, as among the brightest jewels of an undivided republic.
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to forward a copy of these resolutions to Major General Rosecrans, with the request that they be read at the head of each regiment taking part in the battle, if consistent with the rules of military propriety and discipline,
THANKS TO GOVERNOR MORTON.
The Senate concurrent resolution commending Governor O. P. Morton (printed on page 58 of these Reports) was taken up.
Mr. BROWN moved to strike out the word "that" in the phrase "that solicitude,'' and insert the word "whatever" in its stead. He was willing to compliment his Excellency, (and he was a gentleman who needed compliment, assuredly.) according to his deserts, but not for what he had left undone. Every gentleman, whether Democrat or Republican, who should do any thing for our soldiers, well, sick or wounded, certainly deserves praise, but at the same time he did no more than his duty. The qualifying word "whatever" was, therefore, applicable in this resolution. Render unto Morton the things that are Morton's.
On motion by Mr. PERRY the amendment was laid on the table--yeas 52, nays 28.
Mr. PACKARD thought that there were others who ought to be associated with his Excellency in this matter. Many private citizens including ladies had far exceeded his Excellency, according to common report, in personal sacrifices in behalf of our brave and gallant soldiers. If they were mentioned along with his Excellency in the resolution he would vote for it. Otherwise not.
On motion by Mr. HOLCOMB the resolution was referred to a select committee of five, by yeas 41, nays 40.
The SPEAKER appointed Messrs. Holcomb, Tarkington, Hanna, O'Brien, of Hamilton, and Spencer.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
The Joint Resolution [S. 1.] to amend the Constitution to enable incorporated cities and towns to levy taxes for school purposes; and [S.2] proposing amendments to the Constitution to prevent fraudulent voting, were read the first time and severally passed to the second reading.
ARSENAL AND ARMORY
The bill [S.6] ceding to the United States jurisdiction of lands purchased for Armory and Arsenal, and exempting them from taxation, was read the first time and passed to the second reading.
The House concurred in the action of the Senate electing Sinking Fund Commissioners and Bank Directors by yeas 65, nays 13.
WORK FOR COMMITTEES.
House bills numbered 36 to 44 inclusive (for a description of which see page 54 of these Reports) were read the second time and severally referred to appropriate committees.
