IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, February 13, 1867.The Senate met at 8 o'clock A. M.
On motion by Mr. OYLER, the reading of the minutes of yesterday's proceedings was dispensed with.
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.
Mr. OYLER presented a petition praying for the enactment of a law prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors except upon petition of a majority of the legal voters of the town, township or ward.
Mr. BENNETT presented a similar petition with 500 or 600 names attached; and Mr. RICE page: 214[View Page 214] presented one with 2,000 subscribers; which were severally referred to the Committee on Temperance.
Mr. BROWN and Mr. ROBINSON presented petitions from colored persons praying for repeal of all laws making distinctions between race an color; which were referred to the Committee on Rights and Privileges.
Mr. BENNETT presented a petition praying for a repeal of the dog tax law, which was referred to the same Committee.
REGISTRY LAW.
On motion by Mr. OYLER, the Senate resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, (Mr. Bennett in the Chair,) and proceeded to the consideration of the Registry bill, [S. 2] the question being on the motion made last evening by Mr. Stein, to strike out the first section.
Mr. BONHAM submitted the following:
Amend section 1st as follows: Strike out all after the enacting clause, and insert the following: That no person shall be deemed to have acquired a residence in any township, city, or ward, so as to entitle him to vote therein, until he shall have been a bona fide resident of the State six months immediately preceding such election ; or, if he be a white male of foreign birth, shall have resided in the State at least six months preceding such election, and in the United States one year, and shall have declared his intention to become a citizen, conformably to the laws of the United States on the subject of naturalization, and shall have been a bona fide citizen of the township, city or ward at least twenty days before the day of election at which such person shall offer to vote.
Mr. BONHAM was sure this amendment would obviate the constitutional objection raised last evening; and some such section should be adopted, else there was nothing in this bill by which the Registry Board could be governed.
Mr. CUMBACK did not see that this amendment would obviate the constitutional objection, for the question will still come up whether this legislature has the right tc determine what length of time shall constitute a legal residence. The same objection would lie against this amendment that lies against the original section.
Mr. ROBINSON. Though the 1st section may be held unconstitutional, there was still a good and effectual registry law embraced in the other provisions of the bill. But as it is a matter of doubt, he preferred to leave the Supreme Court to decide the question; he held that the Legislature has the right to prescribe what a legal residence is.
Mr. HUMPHREYS hoped this Legislature would pass some stringent law of this kind; and was willing to vote for the bill as it stands. All parties are in favor of some such law, but he had not the confidence in the good results to follow the enactment of this bill, that some, gentlemen have. It is not the fault of the present laws that illegal voting has been carried to such a great extent in this State, but it has been because our laws were not enforced.
Mr. OYLER. This amendment does not place us in any better position than the section as it stands in the bill. He was of opinion there was enough of a good registry law in this bill without the first section.
Mr. CULLEN. The Supreme Court have declared under the Constitutional provision what a residence is, and as we can not affect that decision it matters not whether this section is in the bill or not.
Mr. BONHAM. If the Constitution prescribes what shall constitute a legal voter, and this bill prescribes 20 days, there might be a conflict. This amendment will but make the bill conform to the Constitution itself; and he thought it perfectly competent for the Legislature to prescribe what shall constitute a residence in the State. He undertook to say that the Supreme Court has never settled that matter definitely, and if it is not done this registry law will amount to nothing.
Mr. CRAVENS was decidedly in favor of the section as it stands in the original bill. The Supreme Court has intimated that the question of residence is a question of intention and fact; now let us declare what that is. There can be and is no valid objection to such a declaration.
Mr. THOMPSON. If we pass a registry aw that does not specify what shall consti tute a residence, beyond 20 days, it will be a failure. We ought to pass a law that will )e effectual in protecting the ballot; and the Supreme Court would be sure to look with enity on this first section, which he hoped would be retained.
Mr. CARSON. Waiving the constitutionality of the section, could see its bad effect in its operation in cities especially - and cited instances. This section may be so construed as to deprive many bona fide voters of their just rights; and the bill is coupled with a good deal of paraphranalia and expense that might be avoided.
Mr. BONHAM. Senators are not speaking to the amendment. He did not think from present appearances that we would get a registry law anyhow, and as the discussion was directed to the section only, ignoring the amendment, he withdrew it.
Mr. CULLEN read the decision of the Supreme Court to which he referred but a few minutes ago.
Mr. STEIN regarded this question (whether his motion to strike out shall or not) as embracing the vitality of the bill.
It is understood that our present election laws are rotten to the core; and the difficulty in passing a registry law so generally demanded by the people of the State has been this Constitutional objection. He proceeded to prove the unconstitutionality of the section and, as a consequence, the page: 215[View Page 215] necessity of agreeing to his motion in order to save the bi
The motion to strike out was agreed to - affirmative 20, negative 18.
Mr. STEIN moved to strike out all this bill after the enacting clause and insert in lieu the House bill No. 25 as amended.
Mr. OYLER submitted that there was no comparison as to completeness between these two bills. This bill, upon which a Committee of the Senate has spent so much time, should not be treated so lightly.
Mr. STEIN withdrew his motion for the time, in order that the Committee may further consider this bill without being embarrassed by the motion to strike it all out.
Section 2 being read -
Mr. CUMBACK offered a substitute for sections 2 and 3, which provides that the Board of Commissioners shall appoint two resident freeholders - one from each political partywho, with the trustee, shall constitute a Board of Registry from each township who shall meet, &c.
Mr. NOYES moved to amend the substitute by providing that the registry boaads shall meet on the first Mondays in February and August.
Mr. CUMBACK accepted.
The substitute was agreed to.
Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 were read and severally adopted by consent.
Section 10 being read -
Mr. OYLER moved to amend by adding after the word "election" where it last occurs, these words: "and prove by the oath of a householder and registered voter of the precinct in which he asks to be registered, that he knows him to be a resident of the precinct, and entitled to be registered, and if in any city, giving the residence of such person within such precinct."
Mr. BELLAMY. This proposes to throw new difficulties in the way of getting names on the registry. A man's oath should be sufficient, previous to the day of election, but on the day of election an additional oath should be required.
Mr. OYLER. When he is challenged this provision does not apply.
Mr. BELLAMY insisted that his point was well taken, notwithstanding.
Mr. NILES preferred to see the bill pretty well guarded.
The amendment was agreed to.
The section, as amended, was adopted.
Sections 11 and 12 were read and adopted by consent.
Section 13 being read -
Mr. CUMBACK. moved to amend by providing that the affidavits referred to in section 11 be attached to the poll lists and returned to the County Clerk's office with them.
It was agreed to.
The section, as amended, was adopted.Sections 14 and 15 were read and adopted by consent.
Section 16 being read -
It was amended, at the suggestion of Mr. MILLIGAN, by making the pay of the Board of Registration and their Clerks $2 per day.
The section, as amended, was adopted.
Section 17 was read and adopted.
Mr. CUMBACK offered a substitute for section 18 providing that any person who by false statement shall cause his name to be put on the registry shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than one hundred nor more than three hundred dollars, to which may be added imprisonment not exceeding ninety days.
Mr. OYLER moved to amend the substitute by including these words: ''all intentional false swearing," etc., "shall be perjury," etc.
Mr. CUMBACK accepted.
Mr. NOYES moved further to amend by including the words "any person causing, aiding or abetting," etc.
Mr. CUMBACK accepted.
The substitute was adopted.
On motion by Mr. BELLAMY the sentence in the 18th section of the bill commencing with these words: "If any member or officer of said Board shall willfully violate," was adopted as a section by itself.
On motion by Mr. CUMBACK another additional section was added, which provides for a record of a contested vote, and for punishment of members of the Board for certain improper conduct in connection therewith.
Sections 19, 20, 21 and 22 were read and adopted.
Mr. HUEY offered an additional section providing that all ballots which may be cast at any election shall be written or printed on plain white paper.
Mr. HANNA favored this section. It would prevent a kind of espionage on every voter. Let it be made as strong as possible, barring the putting on the outside of the ticket any mark by which it can be known when folded.
Mr. BONHAM opposed the amendment, on the principle that no judge or inspector would have the right to refuse a ballot because the voter sees fit to write his ballot on paper of any color. It is a ridiculous amendment.
Mr. OYLER moved to amend the proposed section by adding these words: "Without any mark or embellishment thereon, and all inspectors shall refuse all ballots offered of any other description."
page: 216[View Page 216]Mr. HUEY accepted the amendment.
The section was adopted on a division affirmative 19, negative 18.
Mr. CARSON offered an additional section providing for the punishment of anyone who shall offer a ticket with a false representation, &c.
Mr. RICE read from the present laws similar provisions.
The section was rejected.
On motion by Mr. OYLER, the Committee rose, and the chairman reported the bill to the Senate with the committee amendments thereto, recommending its passage.
On motion by Mr. OYLER, the report was laid on the table.
Mr. STEIN obtained leave of absence for Mr. Humphreys till Tuesday.
Then came a recess till two o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. THOMPSON presented a temperance petition, with 450 names, which was referred to the Committee on Temperance.
Mr. TERRY presented a petition on the same subject, which took the same reference.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Senate bills numbered 14, 116, 148, 171 and 174; and House bills numbered 93, 144 and 185 were reported from Committees with favorable recommendations.
Senate bills numbered 79, 140 and 176, and the bill H. R. 83, were returned with amendments which were concurred in.
The bill S. 133, was reported back with a recommendation that it be indefinitely postponed. The report was concurred in.
The bill S. 71, was returned with a recommendation that it pass; but on motion by Mr. HANNA it was laid on the table.
Mr. BENNETT called for the special order, being his Congressional apportionment bill [S. 1]; and he also demanded a call of the Senate.
The roll-call was ordered and 42 Senators answered to their names.
On motion of Mr. OYLER the absentees were sent for.
Pending which - by unanimous consent -
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
Bills for Acts of the General Assembly, numbered and titled to the following effect, were introduced and read the first time:
By Mr. CULLEN, in behalf of the Committee on Canals and Internal Improvement, [S. 184] for the relief of Louis Huckelberger, Darr & Jackson, Peter Helliler and Abraham Briggs. [Providing for the appointment by the Governor of Commissioners to assess damages sustained by those parties because of the State's failure to perform her contract in the lease of certain water power over the White Water Canal.
By Mr. NILES, [S. 185] to authorize judges of Circuit and Common Pleas Courts to appoint receivers in vacation, and make all orders in relation thereto, &c.
By Mr. CASON, [S. 186] supplemental to the act to provide for the settlement of decedents' estates, &c. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
By Mr. BELLAMY, [S. 187] to provide for keeping a county pauper record, and defining the duty of certain officers in relation thereto. It was referred to the Committee on County and Township Business.
On motion by Mr. OYLER further proceedings under the call were dispensed with.
By Mr. HUFFMAN, [S. 188] to amend the second paragraph of the sixth section of theau for the appraisement of real estate, approved December 21, 1858. It was referred to the Committee on Corporations.
CONGRESSIONAL APPORTIONMENT.
The PRESIDENT now announced the consideration of the special order - the bill [S. 1] to apportion the State into Congressional districts, (printed on pages 183 and 184 of the BREVIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTS,) the question being on concurring in the report of the special committee on that subject, recommending its passage.
Mr. SHERROD moved to strike out Dubois county from the second, and place it in the first district.
On motion of Mr. BENNETT, it was laid on the table, by yeas 25, nays 15.
Mr. GIFFORD moved to strike out Dearborn, county from the third district, and place it in the fourth. The fourth district is entirely too small - only 24,000 inhabitants - the smallest in the bill.
On motion of Mr. BENNETT, It was laid on the table, by yeas 27, nays 17.
Mr. TURNER moved to amend by striking Perry county from the first, putting it in the second, and adding Martin county to the first district. The first and second are two of the largest districts in the bill, and this would nearly equalize them.
Mr. HOUGHTON favored the motion to put Martin county in the first district.
Mr. JOHNSON was satisfied the people were opposed to the change.
Mr. BARKER thought this statement incorrect; he felt sure a majority of the pe pie would favor the proposed change.
On motion of Mr. BENNETT, the amendment was laid on the table, by yeas 23, nays 15.
Mr. TURNER moved to strike out county from the first district and add it to the second.
On motion by Mr. BENNETT it was laid on the table.
Mr. SHERROD moved to Jackson county from the second district and add it to the third. He looked upon this bill as a great outrage because it ostracised a great portion of the people of the State.
On motion of Mr. BENNETT it was laid on the table by yeas 27, nays 15.
Mr. TURNER moved to amend by striking Daviess county from the first and adding it to the second district.
On motion of Mr. BONHAM it was laid on the table by yeas 28, nays 15. page: 217[View Page 217] The report of the Committee was then adopted without a division.
Mr. BENNETT moved that the Committee amendment be adopted.
The motion was agreed to without a division.
Mr. BENNETT moved that the bill be considered as engrossed and read the third time now.
Mr. SHERROD made an ineffectual motion - yeas 15, nays 29to lay this motion on the table.
Mr. BENNETT was willing the minority should make all motions necessary to put themselves on the record, but when it comes to mere dilitory motions, such as was just made, he demanded the previous question.
The demand was seconded by twenty-six Senators.
The main question being ordered -
The motion was agreed to.
Accordingly the bill was read the third time and finally passed the Ssnate by yeas 29, nays 15 as follows :
YEAS - Messrs. Armstrong, Bellamy, Bennett, Bonham, Brown, Cason, Church, Cravens, Cullen, Houghton, Hyatt, Johnson, Lewis, Milligan, Noyes, Niles, Oyler, Parrish, Reagan, Reynolds, Rico, Richmond, Robinson, Stein, Terry, Thompson, Ward, Wolcott, and Mr. President - 29.
NAYS - Messrs, Barker, Bowman, Carson, English Gifford, Hanna, Huey, Huffman, Humphreys, Lee, Newlin, Sherrod, Staggs, Taggart and Turner - 15.
So the bill passed in the following words:
The counties of Posey, Vanderburg, Warrick Spencer, Perry, Pike, Gibson, Knox and Daviess shall constitute the first district.
The counties of Dubois, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Clark, Scott, Washington, Orange, Martin and Jackson, shall constitute the second district.
The counties of Jefferson, Switzerland, Ohio, Dearborn, Ripley, Jennings, Bartholomew and Decatur, shall constitute the third district.
The counties of Shelby, Rush, Franklin, Union, Fayette, Wayne and Hancock, shall constitute the fourth district.
The counties of Brown, Morgan, Johnson, Marion, Hendricks, Monroe and Lawrence, shall constitute the fifth district.
The counties of Sullivan, Green, Owen, Clay, Vigo, Parke, Vermillion and Putnam, shall constitute the sixth district.
The counties of Fountain, Montgomery, Boone, Clinton, Tippecanoe, Warren, Benton and Carroll, shall constitute the seventh district.
The counties of Hamilton, Madison, Grant. Tipton, Howard, Miami. Cass and Wabash, shall constitute the eighth district.
The counties of Henry, Delaware, Randolph, Jay, Blackford, Wells, Adams and Allen, shall constitute the ninth district.
The counties of Kosciusko, Whitley, Huntington, Noble, DeKalb, Steuben, Lagrange and Elkhart, shall constitute the tenth district.
The counties of White, Newton, Jasper. PuIaski, Fulton, Marshall, Starke, St. Joseph, Laporte, Porter and Lake, shall constitute the eleventh district.
Mr. CULLEN, by consent, offered the following :
WHEREAS, A committee of five has been appointed by the Speaker of the House to investigate alleged frauds on the part of the Public Printer, therefore -
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the President, on the part of the Senate, to act in conjunction with the said House committee.
It was adopted, and the President made the committee to consist of Messrs. Cullen, Hanna and Richmond.
Mr. STEIN moved to take up the special order - his bill [S. 166] for legislative apportionment.
The PRESIDENT. It is the first thing in order without a motion, the Senate having ordered heretofore that it should be considered at this hour. The bill has been read the second time.
Mr. HANNA moved to indefinitely postpone the bill.
On motion of Mr. STEIN, the motion to postpone was laid on the table by yeas 28, nays 16.
Mr. BELLAMY moved as follows:
To amend the portion of the bill referring to Senators, by striking out "Ohio and Dearborn one jointly," and inserting in lieu thereof "Dearborn one." Strike out "Ripley and Switzerland one jointly," and insert ''Ripley, Switzerland and Ohio one jointly." Amend that portion referrirg to Representatives, by striking out "Switzerland and Ohio one jointly," and inserting "Switzerland one." Strike out "Ripley and Jefferson one jointly," and insert "Ripley and Ohio one jointly."
On motion by Mr. STEIN, the amendment was laid on the table, by yeas 25, nays 16.
Mr. HOUGHTON moved to amend where it reads "Pike, Dubois and Martin," by striking out "Pike and Dubois," and inserting in lieu ''Lawrence." He gave reasons why this change should be made.
On motion by Mr. BROWN the amendment was laid on the table.
Mr. HOUGHTON moved to strike off the float given Morgan and Johnson and give it to Martin. He showed the inequality of this provision in the bill, and the justice of this amendment: appealing in strong terms to the magnanimity of Senators in favor of his proposition.
Mr. OYLER replied - insisting that the bill is right as it stands.
Mr. HOUGHTON again made his appeal to the Senate, and entered his solemn protest against the apportionment of his district as proposed in the bill.
Mr. OYLER made an ineffectual motion to lay the amendment on the table - yeas 20, nays 22.
The amendment was then rejected by yeas 18, nays 25.
Mr. GIFFORD moved to amend by striking out the joint representative for Johnson and Morgan, and giving the same to franklin and Dearborn.
Mr. OYLER showed the inconsistency of the amendment.
On motion of Mr. CULLEN, the amend- page: 218[View Page 218] ent was laid on the table by yeas 27, nays 18.
Mr. TAGGART moved to amend by striking out "Jackson" and inserting "Bartholomew and Brown one jointly." He asked this change as a matter of justice and right, not as a matter of favor.
On motion of Mr. STEIN, the amendment was laid on the table by yeas 28, nays 16.
Mr. TAGGART moved to amend by striking out "Jackson" and inserting "Monroe and Brown one."
On motion of Mr. MILLIGAN the amendment was laid on the table by yeas 27, nays 17.
Mr. STEIN moved that the bill be considered as engrossed, and read the third time now.
Mr. RICHMOND moved as follows:
Amend by striking out "Howard and Carroll one, Cass and Fulton one, Kosciusko and Whitley one, Huntington and Wells one, Allen one, and Allen and Adams one jointly, Clinton and Boone one," and inserting "Boone one, Clinton and Carroll one, Howard and Cass one, Pulton and Kosciusko one, Whitley and Huntington one, Wells and Adams one, and Allen one."
On motion of Mr. OYLER it was laid on the table, by yeas 27, nays 17.
Mr. TAGGART moved to strike out "Jackson" and insert "Morgan and Brown one"
On motion of Mr. OYLER, it was laid on the table by yeas 28, nays 17.
Mr. CULLEN moved to amend by striking out "Rush and Decatur one," and inserting "Rush one and Decatur one"
On motion by Mr. RICHMOND, it was laid on the table by yeas 28, nays 17.
Mr. STEIN moved that the bill be considered as engrossed and read the third time now, and upon this motion he demanded the previous question.
The previous question was seconded upon a division of the Senate yeas 22, nays 19.
By unanimous consent Mr. GIFFORD submitted an amendment giving the joint representative for Decatur and Rush counties to Martin county.
Mr. HOUGHTON submitted a amendment giving one of the representatives for Jennings county to Martin county.
Mr. BARKER submitted an amendment striking out "Martin" and adding "Gibson" to "Pike and Dubois."
These amendments were then severally rejected.
The main question was ordered.
The motion to consider the bill as engrossed was agreed to.
The bill was then read the third time and finally passed the Senate by yeas 28, nays follows:
YEAS - Messrs. Armstrong, Bellamy, Bennett, onham, Brown, Cason, Church, Cravens, Cullen, Hyatt, Johnson, Lewis, Milligan, Niles, Noyes, Oyler, Parrish, Reagan, Reynolds. Rush, Richmond, Robinson, Stein, Terry, Thompson, Ward, Wolcott and Mr. President - 28.
NAYS - Messrs. Barker, Bowman, Carson English, Gifford, Hanna, Houghton, Huey, Hoffman, Humphreys, Lee, Newlin, Sherrod, Smith, Staggs, Taggart and Turner - 17.
So the bill passed in the following words:
"A bill to fix the number of Senators and Representatives to the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, and to apportion the same among the several counties of the State."
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, that the General Assembly of the State of Indiana shall consit of fifty Senators and one hundred Representatives."
SEC. 2. The said Senators shall be apportioned among the several counties of the State as follows, viz:
"The counties of Posey and Gibson shall elect one ; Vanderburg one ; Warwick and Spencer one; Knox and Daviess, one ; Pike, Dubois and Martin, one ; Perry, Crawford and Orange, one; Lawrence and Monroe, one; Brown and Jackson, one; Washington and Harrison, one; Floyd and Clarke, one; Scott and Jennings, one; Jefferson one; Switzerland and Ripley one; Ohio and Dearborn one; Franklin one: Fayette and Union one; Rush and Decatur one: Shelby and Bartholomew one; Johnson and Morgan one: Greene and Owen one: Clay and Sullivan one; Vigo one: Putnam and Hendricks one; Park and Vermillion one; Montgomery one ; Fountain and Warren one: Tippecanoe one ; Clinton and Boone one: Marion two; Hancock and Henry one; Wayne one: Randolph one; Delaware and Madison one; Hamilton and Tipton one; Howard and Carroll one; Cass and Fulton one; Pulaski, White, Benion, Jasper and Newton one; Lake and Porter one; Laporte and Starke one; St. Joseph and Marshall one; Elkhart one: Kosciusko and Whitley one; Wabash and Miami one; Grant, Blackford and Jay one; Huntington and Wells one; Allen one; Allen and Adams one ; Noble and Lagrange one ; and DeKalb and Steuben one.
"Section 3. That said Representatives shall be apportioned among the several counties of the State in the following manner, to-wit: The county of Posey shall elect one; Vanderburg, two; Warrick, one; Gibson, one; Pike, one; Knox, one; Daviess, one; Martin and Dubois, one; Spencer, one; Perry, one; Crawford and Orange, one; Washington, one; Harrison, one; Floyd, one; Clark, one; Jefferson, one; Clark, Scott, and Jefferson, one; Jefferson and Ripley, one; Switzerland and Ohio, one; Dearborn, one; Ripley, one; Franklin, one; Rush, one; Decatur, one; Rush and Decatur, one; Jennings, one; Bartholomew, one; Jennings and Bartholomew, one; Brown and Jackson, one; Monroe, one; Lawrence, one; Greene, one; Sullivan, one; Vigo, two; Clay, one; Owen one; Putnam, one; Hendricks, one; Putnam and Hendricks, one; Morgan and Johnson, one; Marion, four; Hancock, one; Shelby, one; Henry, one; Fayette and Union, one; Wayne, two; Randolph, one; Delaware, one; Madison, one; Madison and Henry, one; Hamilton, one; Hamilton and tipton, one; Clinton, one; Carroll, one; Boone, one; Boone and Clinton, one; Montgomery, one; Parke, one; Vermillion, one; Fountain, one; Warren, one; Tippecanoe, two; Benton and White, one; Cass, one; Howard, one; Miami, one; Wabash, one; Miami and Wabash, one; Grant, one; Blackford and Jay, one; Wells and Adams, one; Huntington, one; Allen, two; Whitley, one; Kosciusko, one; Kosciusko and Fulton, one; Noble, one; DeKalb, one; Steuben, one; Lagrange, one; Elkhart, one; Elkhart and Noble, one; Marshall, one; St. Joseph, one; St. Joseph and Marshall, page: 219[View Page 219] one; Laporte, one; Laporte and Starke, one; Pulaska, Jasper and Newton, one; Porter, one; and Lake, one."
Pending the vote -
Mr. BELLAMY said: I regard it as aconstitutional duty of this General Assembly to apportion this State, and if I should vote against this measure I would not bedoing my duty as a Senator. While I regard this bill as being unjust to some portions of the State, and while I think the committee have made some mistakes in not giving some portions of the State a fair proportion of representatives, yet as this bill seems to be the best thing that can be done I shall vote "aye"
Mr. HANNA, when his name was called,said: I suppose I can now have the poor privilege of saying a single word. I have made five or six attempts to get the floor to offer amendments and give my reasons therefor, as is well known by gentlemen around me here. I will not now enter into an argument, but I venture to say that if in this gerrymandering process the majority succeed in having a successor to myself brought here, he at least, though a Republican, will have character and courtesy enough to do justice to the minority. I think the conduct of the Senate towards myself and friends is unwarranted, unusual, extraordinarily severe and unjust. Having said this much I cast my vote "no."
The result was then announced as above recorded.
So the bill passed the Senate.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
On motion by Mr. CRAVENS, the report of the majority of the Committee on the Agricultural College bill [S. 139] was taken from the table.
Mr. NILES presented a minority report, favoring the location of the college at Indianapolis, showing no necessity for hurried action, but, on the contrary, much may be gained by delay.
Mr. CASON moved that the bill and reports be made the special order for to morrow morning at 10 o'clock.
Mr. NILES objected to taking this bill up out of its order.
Mr. THOMPSON also objected. He was authorized to state that by next Tuesday the city of Indianapolis would probably be ready to offer $100,000 as an inducement for the location of the Agricultural College at this point.
Mr. CASON was not so wedded to any particular place as to let that influence him in urging early action on the bill.
Mr. HUEY moved to amend by fixing the time at 2 o'clock P. M. on Thursday of next week.
Mr. MILLIGAN moved that the time be fixed for Tuesday, 2 1/2 o'clock P. M.
Mr. Huey's motion was agreed to.
On motion by Mr. CRAVENS the Committee on Agricultural Colleges was requested to return Mr. Reagan's bill proposing a division of the College Fund, by Thursday next.
Mr. THOMPSON obtained leave of absence for the Committee on State Prisons to visit the Penitentiaries on Monday next.
And then the Senate adjourned.
