IN SENATE.
MONDAY, November, 27 1865.The PRESIDENT pro tem, called the Senate to order at 2 o'clock P. M.
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.
The PRESIDENT pro tem, laid before the Senate two petitions - one from Princeton, and the other from Franklin, Indiana - praying a change in the law licensing the sale of spirituous liquors, so as to require the applicant for license to procure the signatures of a majority of the legal voters of any city or township before license shall be granted; or to so change the law as that no license snail be granted in any city or township where a majority of the legal voters remonstrate against it, which were referred to the Committee on Temperance.
Mr. CULVER presented a petition from the Board of Commissioners of Tippecanoe county, praying for the repeal of " An Act for the relief of the families of soldiers, seamen and marines," etc., which was referred to the Committee on County and Township Business.
ILLUMINATING GAS, ETC.
Mr. BROWN, of Wells, during the last session of the Legislature introduced a bill S. No. 137, prescribing the quality of illuminating gas, providing for the inspection thereof, declaring a forfeiture of bills therefor in certain cases, &c., which was referred to a special Committee of three, who were unable to prepare a report before adjournment. He now desired that Committee to be enlarged by the addition of at least four other members, so as to make it a Committee of seven.
The motion was agreed to.
The PRESIDENT pro tem, adds the following members, viz: Messrs. Barker, Davis, Wright, and Jinkens.
STATE TAXES.
Mr. HANNA introduced a joint resolution [S. No. 21] on the subject of State taxation.
It is as follows:
WHEREAS, By certain acts of Congress, approved March 3, 1864, June 30, 1864, and other enactments, certain bonds and certificates of indebtedness (meaning National currency, treasury notes, etc.) issued by the authority of the Government of the United States, are declared exempt from State, county and municipal taxation, to the great injury and oppression of those who have nu such bonds and certificates for non-taxatior; and, whereas, the said class of bonds and certificates, not being taxed, throws upon ether property the whole
page: 108[View Page 108]burthen of taxation, and reoders it unjust and oppressive to the great majority of our citizens; and, whereas, these bonds and certificates ammount to many millions, from which neither the State, the counties, nor the incorporated cities or towns of the State derive any revenue whatever; and, whereas, in the opinion of this General Assembly, it is lawful and proper that all of its citizens should be taxed for the support of the State and Federal Governments according to the means which they possess, whether their wealth consists of farming lands, houses, factories, shops, mercantile establishments, money on hand or at interest, bonds or securities of the Federal or State Governments, shares of stock in the National Banks, or other banks, or whatever else of permanent value they own or control, and from which they receive support or income; and, whereas, it is the bounden duty of this General Assembly to secure to all classes of its constituency exemption from opression in the payment of an undue share of taxes, and to provide against the existence of privileged classes in our midst, who seek, by specious and artful laws, to be exempted from a fair share of the public burthens, but that all shall bear these burthens according to their actual ability, without refererce to the kind or nature of the wealth which they possess; and whereas, in times like the present, at the close of a bloody and expensive war, when the people of the nation, the States, the counties, and the municipalities are straggling with large and crushing pubic debts, and never-ending taxes, it is the duty of every man to exhibit his patriotism and love of country by voluntarily coming forward, and placing his weath, of whatever kind, on the tax-duplicate of his State, county, or municipality, and bear his honest share of the public burthen;
AND WHEREAS, The people of Indiana, always anxious to maintain the National and State credit, and to bear all fair and honest burthens which may be laid upon them for that purpose, are yet firmly of the opinion that these taxes should be equal, and that all property and wealth within the State shouId he taxed, without reference to its quality or kind and that all our citizens should pay in proportion to the wealth which they possess ; and as we regard the solemn duty of this General Assembly to supply, by appropriate legislature, a remedy for the evils entaded upon by the unwise enactments of the Medeval Congress. therefore,
Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That the Auditor of State be directed to place in the hands of the Auditors of the various counties of the State, properly prepared blank forms, to be used by the Assessors in their respective town-ships whose duty shall be to place upon the tax duplicate the income received by residents or citizens of Indiana, from all United States' bonds, coupons, certificates of indebtedness from the same, and all and every description of income from the various classes of United States bonds, namely: five-twenties, seven-thrirties, ten-forties, treasury notes, certificates of deposit with the United States, and all other income derived from the Government, except the income paid to officers, or soldiers of the regular or volunteer army and navy of the United States, and all such incomes shall be taxed 25 per cent. for State and county purposes.
And be it further Resolved, That the Auditor of State shall also prepare and furnish to County Auditers, at the same time, and on the same paper, blank forms to be used in assesing the value of all shares of stock held by residents and citizens (and non-resident holders, if there be such) In any of the National Banks of this State. and all these shares of stock and surplus earnings on board shall pay a tax equal to that levied on other property for State, county, township and school purposes, and no more.
Mr. OYLER desired the resolution to be treated with all due respect, and to receive due consideration ; and therefore, moved that it be read again by title, and referred to a committee of one from each Congressional District.
The motion was agreed to.
NEW PROPOSITIONS - VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS.
Mr. CASON introduced a bill [S. No. 261] for An Act to amend sections 2 and 5 of An Act entitled An Act concerning the organization of voluntary Associations and repealing former laws in relation thereto, approved Feb. 12, 1855; which was read the lirst timeagain by its title and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
GETTYSBURG CEMETERY.
Mr. CHAPMAN introduced a bill [S. No. 262] for An Act to make an appropriation to pay the balance of the quota of this State of the expenses of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as assessed by the Board of Managers of said Association, $3,469 83,] which was read the first time - again by its title and referred to the Committee on Finance.
SHEEP-KILLING DOGS.
Mr. DUNNING, [Mr. Moore in the chair,] ntroduced a bill, [S. No. 263,] for An Act to repeal An Act, entitled "An Act to discourage the keeping of useless or sheep-killing clogs, and providing penalties for the violation of any of the provisions of said Act by officers and others, and also repealing An Act to lisence dogs, approved March 11, 1861, and providing that nothing in this Act shall be so construed as to conflict with the provisions of An Act entitled 'An Act for the protection of sheep.' approved June 15, 1862, approved March 2, 1865;" which was read the first time - again by title, and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
SWINGING GATES.
Mr. CASON introduced a bill [S. No. 264,] for An Act to authorize County Commissioners to grant the right to swing gates on County and private roads, and prescribing penalties; which was read the first time - again by title, and referred to the Committee on Roads.
WELLS COUNTY COURTS.
Mr. BROWN, of Wells, introduced a bill, [S. No. 265], for An Act fixing the times of the terms of the Wells Circuit Court, &c.; which was read the first time - again by title, and referred to the Committee on Roads.
MISDEMEANORS.
On motion by Mr. GIFFORD, the Senate proceeded to the consideration of House Bills on the first reading.
The bill H. R. No. 21, to amend sec, 32 of An Act defining misdemeanors, and prescribing punishment therefor, approved June 14, 1852; was read the first time.
Mr. BROWN, of Wells, moved to read the bill by title for the purpose of reference.
Mr. VAWTER raised the point of order that such procedure was in direct violation of the rules of the Senate.
This question of order was discussed by Messrs. OYLER, VAWTER and BROWN, of Wells, -
when Mr. BROWN withdrew his motion.
And then the Senate adjourned till to-morrow morning 9 o'clock.
