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.
