IN SENATE.
TUESDAY, January 24, 1865.The Senate met at 2 o'clock P. M.
Reports from the Judiciary Committee were concurred in, recommending the passage of Senate bills 5, 28, 34, 44, 61, and 63, (see pages 17, 38, 44, 53 and 63 of these Reports,) and that 48, 57 and 59 (see pages 54 and 63) lie on the table.
NEW PROPOSITlONS.
The following described bills were introduced read the first time, and severally passed to the second reading, except in the case stated.
By Mr. VAN BUSKIRK, [S. 80,] to amend section 18 of an act to repeal all general laws for the incorporation of cities, providing for the incorporation of cities, &c., approved March 9, 1857.
By Mr. CULVER, [S. 81,] to accept the benefits of an act of Congress, approved July 5, 1862 entitled "an act donating public lands to the several States and Territories which may provide colleges for the benefit of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts," and to establish and locate a college for the promotion of general a science and the teaching of such branches of learning as are related to Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts and Military duties, and for the Acceptance of donations for the benefit of such college. [The bill locates the college at Stockwell in Tippecanoe county, on lands proposed to be denoted to the State.] Read the second time by title only and referred to a select committee of one from each Congressional District.
By Mr. NILES, [S. 82,] authorizing cities to prepare, execute, regulate and sell bonds to provide means with which to complete unfinished school buildings and to pay debts therefor, &c.
By Mr. CASON, [S. 83,] providing for the exercise of the elective franchise by legal voters of the State of Indiana, which may be temporarily absent therefrom on military service, making necessary regulations therefor, &c.
By Mr. HORD, [S. 84,] to amend section 2 of an act presenting the power and duties of Justices of the Peace in State prosecutions, approved May 29, 1852, so as to continue the service of a warrant throughout the State.
By Mr. GAFF, [S. 85,] to amend section 23 of an act repealing all general laws for the incorporation of cities, to provide for the incorporation of cities, &c., approved March 9, 1857, and supplementary to said act.
By Mr. VAN BUSKIRK, [S. 86 ] to create the Indiana Institution of Agriculture and Mechanic arts.
By Mr. HORD, [S. 87,] to amend section 17 of an act prescribing who may make a will, &c., approved May 31, 1852.
A FLAG ON THE DOME.
Mr. DUNNING, by request of the Doorkeeper, stated that a flag which could be hoisted upon the dome and hauled down as occasion might require, would cost the sum of $200, and as the resolution of the Senate contained a proviso, that the flag must be procured on reasonable terms or not at all, the Doorkeeper desired some expression on the part of the Senate as to whether $200 was a reasonable sum to pay for the flag.
SEVERAL SENATORS-"no," "no."
The LIEUT. GOVERNOR stated that the Doorkeeper would consider himself exonerated from further action under that resolution, as the sum named is not a reasonable price.
WORK FOR COMMITTEES.
Mr. Culver's bill [69] repealing section 119 of the appraisement act, and Senate bills numbered 71 to 79 inclusive (introduced yesterday) were read by title only and referred to appropriate committees.
APPEALS FROM JUSTICES' JUDGMENTS.
Mr. Cobb's bill, [S. 2,] regulating the practice in Circuit and Common Pleas Courts, on appeals from judgments of Justices of the Peace, coming up in regular order, it was read the second time.
Mr. BROWN, of Wells, moved to amend the bill so as to provide that costs shall follow judgments in all cases.
After a few remarks thereon by Messrs. BROWN, of Wells, McCLURG, OYLER, RICHMOND, NILES, COBB and CASON-
On motion by Mr. RICHMOND the amendment was laid on the table.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed.
PASSED TO THE FINAL READING.
The following Senate bills were ordered to be engrossed for the third reading:
Mr. Corbins' [10,] to amend section 322 of the Practice Act.
Mr. Hord's, [12,] authorizing creditors in certain cases to bring action for their claims before due.
Mr. Brown, of Wells, [165] so that issues in the action in divorce cases shall not be referred on the written consent of both parties.
Mr. Bonham's, [25,] defining an "assault."
Mr. Douglas's, [39,] Whitley county courts.
Mr. Moore's, [42,] Clay and Putnam county Courts.
Mr. Downey's [55,] Fifth Judicial District Courts.
Mr. Beeson's joint" resolutions [2 & 3] proposing to amend the Constitution so that towns may levy taxes to support common schools.
THE MISDEMEANOR ACT.
Mr. OYLER'S bill[S. 23] to amend section 76 of the misdemeanor act by adding the words ''unlawfully and with the intent to appropriate the same to his own use," coming up, it was read the third time and passed the Senate by yeas 42, nays 3.
ADDITIONAL RULES.
Mr. GIFFORD offered the following, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the principal Secretary be instructed to have printed one hundred copies of the amended standing rules and orders, for the government of the Senate, in a suitable form, to be appendend to those already printed.
INDIANAPOLIS AND THE RECRUITING SERVICE
Mr. RICHMOND offered the following, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire by what authority of law the Common Council of the city of Indianapolis, by ordinance thereof, prevents the enlistment of persons into the military service of the United States, within the corporate limits of the city aforesaid, unless the person so enlisted shall credit himself upon the quota required to be raised by said city; and that said committee report by bill or otherwise, at their earliest convenience.
GENERAL MUSTERING OFFICE.
Mr. BENNETT offered the following:
Resolved, By the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That the Adjutant General of the
page: 102[View Page 102]State of Indiana be instructed to use his influence to induce the proper authorities to establish a General Mustering Office in the city of Indianapolis, where recruits can be mustered and credited to any district, county, township, or city, in the State of Indiana, or such other regulations as may produce the effect of giving districts other than the 6th district, an equal right to procure volunteers from among persons who may visit the city where the Military Headquarters of the State are situated.
Mr. BENNETT. The object of this resolution is apparent to every Senator. Heretofore, a General Mastering office was established in this city, where recruits could be mustered into the service, and credited to such county, township, or city, as the recruit might elect. This office has lately been abolished, so that now no recruit can be mustered into the service, unless he consents to be credited to the 6th Congressional District, which arrangement works a great injustice to all the other districts. This city is the capital, and military headquarters o the State. Large numbers of persons, seeking opportunities to enlist come hither in order to have the benefit of such bounties as may be offered. Discharged soldiers and those who have served their time cut, although residing in different parts of the State, pass through this city on their way borne, and large numbers of strangers, not residents of the State, visit here, and are willing to enlist. The absence of a General Mustering office prevents other districts from sharing in the enlistment of such persons as recruits, and permits the 6th District to monopolize all this material, which belongs equally to all parts of the State. It might be said that other districts could enlist men here, and have them mustered in such districts as they were desired to be credited to. But, sir, the authorities of the city of Indianapolis, taking advantage of the absence of a General Mustering office, have passed an ordinance prohibiting the recruiting of men in the city for any other district, and severely punishing persons for attempting to do so. Respectable gentlemen from other parts of the State, have come here and recruited men who are not citizens of this district, and when attempting to take them to some other district to be mustered into the service, have been arrested by the city police. Sir, I consider this attempted monopoly an outrage upon the people of the State. Some of my constituents have been here, and although instructed by the liberal and patriotic people whom I have the honor to represent, to pay bounties of five hundred dollars for recruits, yet they were driven off by this infamous city ordinance which seeks to monopolise the business and prevent a competition from liberal counties, with their illiberal arrangements. The city does not belong to the City Council; it is the property cf the whole State, and exists only by reason of the support it has drawn from the people of the State. Soldiers should be allowed to credit themselves where they please. And an equal right, and fair chance to enlist men in this capital, the common property of us all, is all we ask, and that we intend to have. I believe this resolution a proper step toward such an honorable arrangement.
Mr. RICHMOND. The motive which induced me to offer the resolution which I did a short time ago is this: A friend of mine the other day picked up a recruit belonging to his county and was taking him back on the cars, when two gentlemen of the city police seized upon him and took him off as a prisoner. I consider it to be an outrage upon the citizens of the State at large, and I think legislation is necessary to check this evil. I introduced the resolution to bring the thing before, the Judiciary Committee, in order that it may be handled in proper style.
Mr. THOMPSON. The object of the city ordinance on this subject was to break up the business of bounty brokers who flocked here from all parts of the State. The ordinance, he thought, was gotten up under the advice of certain military officers here, and if wrong he hoped it would be removed. After the city gets clear of these bounty brokers, he thought gentlemen who might come here from different pprtions of the State to obtain recruits in good faith, would be received with kindly feelings.
The resolution was then adopted.
RAILROAD ENGINEERS AND CONDUCTORS.
Mr. DOUGLAS offered the following, which was adopted:
Resolved, That for greater protection of the traveling community, the Committee on Railroads be instructed to examine as to the expediency of fixing the qualifications of engineers and conductors on railroads running within the State of Indiana, and the establishment of a Board of Commissioners, whose business it shall be to examine and license, if qualified, applicants for these positions; prohibiting any person running a train as engineer or conductor, without a certificate of qualification; and the committee be requested to report by bill, or otherwise.
A DOG TAX.
Mr. COBB offered the following, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on Agriculture be requested to inquire into the expediency of passing law levying a tax of fifty cents on each dog in the State of Indiana for the purpose of creating a permanent fund for the reimbursement of the owners of sheep killed by dogs, and the manner of disbursing the same, and report by bill or otherwise.
THE THREE PER CENT. FUND.
On motion by Mr. CORBIN, his bill [S. 9] requiring County Commissioners to make allowances for labor performed or money expended in pursuance of an act providing for the distribution and expenditure of the three per cent fund, was taken up and read the third time, but failed to pass-yeas 24, nays 20-for want of a constitutional majority.
And then the Senate adjourned.
