NIGHT SESSION.
Mr. McFADIN moved a call of the House; but withdrew it upon an understanding that the House would take up routine business, as bills on the second reading till a quorum should appear.
THE CALENDAR.
Mr. Belford's bill [H. R. 243] prescribing the manner in which railroad corporations in the State may be consolidated with other railroads, within or without the State, coming up, on the second reading - it was ordered to the engrossment.
Mr. Spencer's Morgan Raid indemnity joint resolution [H. R. 13] coming up, it was referred to the Committee on Federal Relations.
Mr. Higgin's criminal information bill [H. R. 75] coming up, it was indefinitely postponed.
Mr. Hopkins' electric telegraph company bill [H. R. 121] coming up, it was laid on table, to give place to a similar Senate bill.
Mr. Sabin's justice's act amendment bill [H. R. 151] coming up, it was laid on the table to make room for a similar Senate bill.
Mr. Wood's justices attachment bill [H. R. 231] coming up, with the Judiciary Committee's recommendation - it was ordered to engrossment.
Mr. Higgin's towns and cities annexation bill [H. R. 235] coming up - to authorize cities to sell the public square -
Mr. HIGGINS proposed to amend by adding appropriately these words: "and the money arising from the sale of said public square to be expended in purging another public square and for the improvement of the same."
The amendment was concurred in; and the bill was ordered to the engrossment.
Mr. Peelle's false pretenses felony bill [H. R. 259] coming upMr. PEELLE explained that it includes the word "accounts" with "instruments of writing," &c.
The bill was passed to the engrossment.
Mr. Woods' railroad freight bill [H. R. 19] coming up, with the committee's amendment, making "fifteen" instead of "five per cent" above the through freight tariff.
After debate by Messrs. Crain, Wolfe, Belford and McFadin, the amendment was adopted.
Mr. STAFFORD proposed to amend further, by a clause allowing three and one quarter cents per mile for passengers.
Mr. CRAIN opposed the amendment.
Mr. STAFFORD was for equalizing rights in this matter - as well amongst those who built the roads as those who own them.
Mr. BELFORD made an ineffectual motion that the amendment be laid on the table, yeas 34, nays 47.
Mr. PRATHER had suggested that the railroads should be allowed to charge ten cents for short distances, as one and a half miles, which is the distance between some stations.
Mr. CRAIN said the amendment would destroy the bill; and then there is no law which compels railroads to stop at every station.
Mr. STEWART suggested a recommitment.
Mr. CRAIN thought there was hardly time.
Mr. STEWART moved to recommit the bill with the amendment.
Mr. CHAMBERS opposed recommitment, hoping that both these propositions may be permitted to stand alone on their respective merits.
Mr. BELFORD. Both the standing and special Committees acted in concert on this bill. The bill now will get through the Senate but "by the skin of its teeth." It would not be possible to pass it in that body with the proposed amendment.
Mr. CAMPBELL submitted that these were hardly kindred subjects. He was in favor of the bill. This seemed to him a clog to defeat it.
Mr. STAFFORD withdrew his amendment.
The bill was then passed to the engrossment.
NORTHERN PRISON.
On motion of Mr. MILLER, the House took up the consideration of his Northern Prison Kirkpatrick and Robinson lease bill [H. R. 126]the question being on Mr. Higgins' motion to recommit.
Mr. HUGHES moved to take up the three prison bills reported by the Judiciary Committee, recommending them as correct in form - Mr. Miller's and the two bills for the lease of the Southern prison. But he did not press the motion.
Mr. MILLER-desired that the bill be considered now.
Mr. HIGGINS urged the recommitment, without any disposition to delay action, but to perfect the bill.
Mr. MILLER might be willing for it to page: 330[View Page 330] go to that prison committee again, if he did not know from the records of the House that every member of that committee voted for the indefinite postponement of the bill. If the committee could report their bill back by Thursday, he would not press this bill to the vote.
Mr. WOLFE moved to lay the motion to recommit on the table.
The motion was rejected - yeas 31, nays 50.
Mr. DAGGY stated his reason for the motion which he made to postpone to Thursday - to give time for members to prepare their amendments.
Mr. MILLER proposed, if the bill was to be recommitted, that it go with instructions to report Thursday morning.
Mr. HUGHES desired to, include the consideration of the other bills before indicated by him.
Mr. HIGGINS and Mr. WRIGHT thought the time rather short.
Mr. MILLER then accepted Friday morning, which was agreed to by consent.
Mr. CRAIN proposed to amend by adding a section to this effect:
That the Governor be authorized and empowered, whenever in his judgment it may be proper to appoint not exceeding three visitors to visit said prison, examine its books, accounts, and expenditures, who shall report to the Governor, making such suggestions as their investigations , may, in their judgment, require; that they shall have power to administer oaths and send for persons and papers: provided that there shall be nothing allowed them by way of compensation.
On motion by Mr. MATTHIS, it was laid on the table.
Mr. SHOAFF proposed an amendment striking out the word "Governor," &c.
Mr. NEWCOMB moved to amend by striking out that provision which requires the State to keep the prison in repair, and inserting a clause requiring that the lessee shall keep the prison in repair, and shall return it in good condition, &c.
Mr. HUGHES now moved to indefinitely - postpone the whole subject of leasing the prisons. He stated his reasons at length. If he could not make the motion so as to embrace them all, he would as to the bill before the House.
Mr. STACKHOUSE moved ineffectually to lay Mr. Hughes' motion on the table yeas 40, nays 42.
Mr. CAMPBELL was in favor of indefinite postponement, and urged the consideration of the absurdity of the General Assembly making a contract to lease the prisons, which would guard the interests of the State and protect the prisoners. The State was to be fleeced if the prisons are leased.
Mr. THACHER moved ineffectually to adjourn - affirmative 31, negative 41.
Mr. McFADDIN stated the cost of running the two prisons - forty-eight thousand dollars every two years, as an argument in favor of leasing.
Mr. STEWART demanded the previous question, but withdrew it for -
Mr. HUGHES who said he was in favor of leasing, and moved to postpone, because he was disgusted with the scramble amongst competitors for leases. He then renewed Mr. Stewart's demands for the previous question; and there was a second.
Mr. MILLER closed the debate - alleging that the difficulty about leasing existed as well amongst members as amongst outsiders: and that if the bill pass, it ought to be provided, that no member of the House shall be interested or become an officer of the prison.
And then the vote on indefinite postponement resulted - yeas 39, nays 44 - as follows:
YEAS. Messrs. Bischof, Blanch, Campbell, Daggy, Dunn, Evans, Ferris, Foulke, Funk,Geisendorff, Grordon, Hartman, Hamilton, Higgins, Hostetter, Hudson, Hughes, Litson, Martin, Matthis, McCarthy, McMurray, Moore, Newcomb, North, Peelle, Ratliff, Scammahorn, Shields.Shoaff, Shull, Smith of Lagrange, Spencer, Stafford, Stewart, Thrasher, Wason, Wilson, Wright and Mr. Speaker - 39.
NAYS. Messrs. Barritt, Black, Bobo, Brucker, Chambers, Cory, Crain, Crowe, Douglass, Edmonson, Erwin, Fuller, Green, Greer, Griggs, Hopkins, Honneus, Hungate, Inman, Longof J., Lopp, McClasky, McFadin, McLean, Miller, Morrison, Montgomery, Newland, Prather, Ross, Rosser, Shanks, Shook, Skidmore, Smith, of Wabash, Stockbouse. Tebbs, Thacher, Thomas, Vawter, White, Wolfe and Wolfiin- 44.
So the House refused to postpone; and then the bill and amendment were recommitted to the Committee on the State Prison North.
The House then adjourned.
