IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, January 11, 1865The Senate met at 9 o'clock A. M.
OFFICIAL HARDSHIPS.
Mr. HORD presented a petition from the officers of Bartholomew county, and Mr. ENGLISH from the officers of Clark county, praying for the enactment of a law granting them additional compensation.
These petitions, together with others of a similar character heretofore presented, were referred to the Committee on Finance, and it was ordered that those coming in hereafter shall be so referred without reading.
$100 FOR EACH SENATOR IN LIEU OF STATIONERY.
Mr. HORD, from the Special Committee thereon, submitted the following:
Mr. President-The Select Committee appointed under a resolution of the Senate to devise and report a suitable mode of providing stationery for the members and officers thereof, have instructed me to report that, believing in the exercise of a rigid economy, and the use of a frugal and sparing hand in our dealings with the public money, we have used some effort to find the amount of expenditures heretofore page: 43[View Page 43] required for purposes of stationery, that a convenient and just system might be devised for an equal and conscionable distribution of the same. The committee have inquired of the Secretary of State, who distributed a portion of the stationery to the members o the preceding session of the Legislature, as to the cost of the stationery thus provided, and he reports that he has no data upon which to estimate the cost of the same, inasmuch as such stationery as was dispensed by him was purchased prior to his entry into office, but he is satisfied that the stationery furnished would exceed, upon an average, one hundred dollars to each member, at the low rates at which stationery was then purchased; and since that time stationery has increased almost three-fold in value,and would economise the finances of the State to pay each member $100, and require the members to furnish their own stationery. Such a measure would avoid the necessity of a stationery clerk and a stationery doorkeeper, at a cost of $12 per day, thereby saving to the State the sum of $732 in these items alone ; and it will secure an equal and just distribution of stationery among the members. The committee therefore recommended to the Senate that each member of the Senate shall be paid the sum of one hundred dollars and the president of the Senate $150, for stationery purposes to be paid by the treasurer of State to the members, on the certificate of the president, and to the president upon his own order ; and that the State librarian shall furnish to the principal and assistant secretaries of the Senate all stationery required by them, upon their own order, and to the chairman of the committees upon their order, on a vote of their respective committees. The committee believing that this arrangement would shut off the sluices of a wasteful extravagance, recommend it to the consideration of the Senate.
Mr. BROWN, of Wells, opposed increasing the pay of members in this manner. There is & bill before the Senate, providing that the pay of legislators shall be in gold or silver or its equivalent; and this he took to be the proper way, if an increase of per diem is desired. In good old Democratic times three dollars a day was drawn in paper equivalent to gold; and, in addition, members were allowed to draw such stationery as they might find necessary for their use, be that either much or little. If $100 be voted to each member it cannot but operate unequally, for a working member might expend one-half of that sum in stationery, while a member having but little to do might go home with ail the money in his pocket. He took, it the State Constitution contemplated that members shall receive three dollars per day, not in such paper as is called by the name of "green-backs," but Constitutional currency known as gold and silver, or its equivalent; and therefore the bill referred to ought not to meet with taft disapproval of any person upon this floor.
Mr. OYLER thought it might some time be proper to inquire who is engaged in this system of public plunder. If he mistook not, this idea of paying members in gold will meet with sore defeat. This is a covert way to increase our pay, and he was opposed to doing that indirectly which we cannot do directly.
Mr. RICHMOND repelled the charge made by implication, that the committee regarded their own pockets more particularly than the weal of the State.
Mr. BENNETT favored the adoption of the report of the committee, not for the purpose of increasing his pay, but because he believed the facts set forth in the report, and was sure the plan therein proposed would prove a saving to the State.
Mr. NILES remarked that it had been his. intention, and he had so expressed himself, to vote against the principle of the report, but on reading in the morning papers the statement of a gentleman [Mr. Branham, of the House,] who is probably better acquainted than any other with the disbursements and financial affairs of the State, that the expenditures for stationery have generally been more than one hundred dollars for each member, he had concluded that it was proper to favor the report.
Mr. VAN BUSKIRK demanded the previous question.
The demand was seconded by a majority of the Senators elect, and the report of the committee was concurred in by yeas 30, nays 19--as follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Allison, Barker, Bennett. Bonham, Brown, of Hamilton, Cason, Chapman, Cobb, Corbin, Cullen, Davis, Douglas, Dunning, Gaff, Gifford, Hord, Hyatt, Milligan, McClurg, Niles, Noyes, Peden, Richmond, Staggs, Terry, Thompson, Van Buskirk, Ward, Woods and Wright-30.
NAYS-Messrs. Beeson, Bowman, Bradley, Brown of Wells, Carson, Culver, Dykes, English, Finch, Fuller, Hanna, Jenkins, Marshall, Mason, Moore, Newlin, Oyler, Vawter and Williams-10.
INVESTMENT OF THE SCHOOL FUND.
Mr. HORD, from the special committee thereof, returned his bill [S. 17] authorizing the buying of county bonds with unloaned school money, recommending its passage.
The report was concurred in.
Mr. HORD made an ineffectual motion--yeas 9, nays 40--to suspend the rules that the bill may be put on its passage.
On motion by Mr. BENNETT, the bill and report were referred to the Committee on Education.
ROOMS FOR COMMITTEES.
Mr. VAN BUSKIRK offered the following, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Door-keeper be authorized to-procure one room for each of the following standing committees, viz: Committee on Finance, Commitee on the Judiciary, Committee on Elections, and ; Committee on Education.
Mr. THOMPSON offered the following, which was adopted by consent:
Resolved,That the Door-keeper is hereby directed to prepare rooms in the house, now made vacant by the Governor, known as the Governor's Residence, for the use of the committees of the Senate.
JOINT CONVENTION.
Mr. BENNETT offered the following concurrent resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Senate will,the House concurring, go into the election of the following named officers, this day, at 2 1/2 o'clock, P.M., viz: One agent of state, one state printer, one state librarian, one trustee of the Wabash and Eries canal, one director for the southern and three for the northern state prison.
CLAIMS.
Mr. BEESON offered the following, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on Finance be instructed to allow no claim, unless the same be presented at least ten days before the final adjournment of the legislature, unless the same may have accrued within the last ten days of the session.
RAILROAD APPRAISEMENT.
Mr. VAWTER offered the following, which was adopted:
- 1st. Whether any railroad is or has been delinquent as to the payment of its tax.
- 2d. The amount of such delinquency.
- 3d. Why the same has not been paid.
- 4th. Any necessary legislation to correct this abuse; and that they have power to send for persons and papers.
DAILY SESSION HOURS.
Mr. BENNETT offered the following:
Resolved, That the first standing rule of the Senate be so amended as to read as follows: "The President shall take the chair every day at precisely 2 o'clock in the afternoon, unless the Senate shall by resolution have adjourned to some other hour."
The resolution was adopted by yeas 28, nays 21.
CONTESTED ELECTION.
The PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a communication from the Secretary of State transmitting testimony in the case of the Jennings and Jackson county contested election case--Mr. Vawter, the sitting member.
On motion, all the documents in this case were ordered in charge of the committee on elections.
BANK OF THE STATE OF INDIANA.
The PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a communication from the President of the Bank of the State transmitting reports from the several branches thereof, which were referred to the Committee on Banks.
JOINT CONVENTION.
A message from the House announced the passage by that body of the following:
Resolved, By the House of Representatives, (the Senate concurring,) that the two Houses meet in joint convention, in this hall, at 2 1/2 o'clock P.M. of this day, and proceed to the election of State Agent, State Printer, State Librarian, Trustees of the Wabash and Erie Canal, Director of Southern Prison, Directors for Northern Prison.
Mr. BENNETT moved that the Senate concur in the House resolution.
Mr. WILLIAMS moved to amend by striking out of the resolution all that relates to the election of Directors for the Northern State Prison.
Mr. CASON moved to lay the amendment on the table.
The yeas and nays were demanded, and being ordered and taken, resulted yeas 24, nays 24; when the Lieutenant Governor announced that he would vote "aye."
So the amendment was laid on the table.
The House resolution was then concurred in by yeas 27, nays 21.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following bills were introduced, read the first time, and severally passed to the second reading:
By Mr. DUNNING, [S. 29] authorizing the Bank of the State of Indiana to reduce the capital stock of a branch or branches of said bank, and to close up the business of a branch or branches of said bank, under certain regulations; and amending sections 62 and 74 of "An act to establish a bank with branches," passed March 3, 1855.
By Mr.HANNA. [S. 30] to authorize, regulate and confirm the sale of railroads, to enable purchasers to form corporations, &c., to enable corporations to construct connecting branches,&c
By Mr. HORD, [S. 31] an act relating to the insurance of life for the benefit of widows and orphans. Any person may insure his life for the benefit of his widow or children, or of either, exempt from all claims, provided the annual premium does not exceed $150; and any married woman, by herself or in the name of her trustee, from her separate property, may insure the life of her husband for her or her children's use, free from all claims.
And then came the recess for dinner.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The following bills were introduced, read the first time, and severally passed to the second reading:
By Mr. DOUGLAS, [S. 32,] giving County Surveyors power to administer oaths to viewers of roads, and providing that when a Surveyor is one of the viewers, he shall not be required to take an additional oath.
By Mr. CORBIN, [S. 33,] amending sections 1, 7, 9, 10 and 12 of the Northern State Prison act, approved March 5, 1859, and an act supplemental thereto, providing for the election of officers of said prison, &c.
By Mr. GAFF, [S. 34,] authorizing incorporated cities to purchase and hold parks, fair grounds and grounds for public uses outside of their corporate limits, &c., and to prescribe rules and regulations for the government, control and preservation of the same.
By Mr. VAWTER, [S. 35,] to provide for the appraisement of railroads.
By Mr. GAFF, [S. 36,] legalizing the appraisement and assessment in cities, the making out and delivery of their tax duplicates and the assessment of property by their treasurers.
By Mr. WILLIAMS, [S. 37,] dividing the State into eleven Congressional Districts.
By Mr. CORBIN, [S. 38 ] providing for the election and appointment of officers for the Benevolent Institutions of the State.
By Mr. DOUGLAS, [S. 39] changing the time of holding the Common Pleas Courts in Whitley county.
THE HOPELESSLY INSANE.
Mr. BRADLEY offered the following, which was adopted by consent:
Resolved, That the Committee on Benevolent Institutions be instructed to report a bill providing, under proper restrictions, at the expense of the State, for the permanent taking care of the incurable insane of our State.
JOINT CONVENTION.
By a messenger from the House of Representatives the Senate was informed of the passage, by that body, of the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Senate be informed that the House awaits them to meet in joint convention, to elect an agent of state, state librarian, canal trustee, state printer, and state prison directors.
Whereupon, and by unanimous consent, Senators left their seats and repaired to the Hall of the House.
When Senators returned to their places the Senate adjourned.
