AUGUST RICHTER AND OTHERS.
Mr. NEWCOMB moved to take up the reports of the Committee on Claims for allowance to certain citizens of Indianapolis for grading and paving opposite the State's grounds. It had been alleged on this floor that the city of Indianapolis, having ordered these improvements for the State, should pay for them. He showed hat it has been the custom heretofore for the State to pay for these improvements. The fact was proved before the Committee on Ways and Means yesterday. And he showed by the law that it was competent for the Common Council to make the order for the improvement, as they did - citing section 66. page 30 of the acts of the special session. Here we have the express declaration that owners of the lands border- page: 371[View Page 371] ing on the street where improvements are made shall be liable for their proper proportion of the expense. The law had been fully complied with, as the committee report shows. These claims amount to something larger than he could wish. But they are held by men who can illy afford to lose or suffer delay of payment. One of these claimants, he knew, has borrowed money lately. But one claim presented by an assignee. The others were presented by the men who did the work. It was unjust for the State to say now that she will not pay for this work. If General Assembly think the State ought to pay, he would vote at once for a law making that declaration. But this work having been done and approved, these claims stand just an any other valid claim against the State - just as meritorious as claims for supplies furnished to this House.
Mr. GEISENDORF was acquainted with the parties who had done this work; and they have not received one cent for it directly or indirectly. They did the work on good faith of the General Assembly. If these claims were denied here, he could raise the money to pay them in two days by subscription of the people of his county.
Mr. CHAMBERS demanded the previous question, and there was a second, and the main question was ordered.
Mr. NEWCOMB, demanding the yeas and nays, they were ordered and taken, resulting - yeas 57, nays 13 - as follows:
YEAS -Messrs Belford, Bischof, Blanch, Brucker, Campball, Chambers, Corey, Crain, Crowe, Daggy, Danaldson, Erwin, Evans, Ferris, Foulke, Geisendorf, Gordon, Green, Greer, Griggs, Hamilton, Hays, Higgins, Hopkins, Hostetter, Hudson, Kiser, Long of Koscuisko, Martin, Mason, McCarthy, McClasky, McLean. McMurray, Moore, Newcomb, O'Neil, North, Peelle, Prather, Sabin, Scarnmahorn, Shanks, Shook, Shuey. Skidmore, Smith of Wabash, Stafford, Stewart, Thrasher, Thomas, Wason, Watson, Wilson, Wolfer, Wolflin, Woods and Mr. Speaker - 57.
NAYS - Messrs. Baker, Bird, Bobo, Carter, Douglass, Fuller, Honneus, Inman.Ross, Tebbs, Thacher, Vawter and Wolfe - 13.
So the reports were taken up.
Mr. NEWCOMB said the largest claim was for bouldering Circle street. He would move that that report be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, with instructions to inquire into the fact of the possession and jurisdiction of the city over the Circle, &c.
The motion was agreed to.Mr. NEWCOMB moved further, that the other claims for this street work, amounting to about $9,000, for which the Committee on Claims have reported allowance, be concurred in.
The report for allowance of the claim of August Richter for $837 90, for grading and bouldering Tennessee street, and curbing the sidewalk in front of the State's grounds, having been read -
Mr. HUGHES stated that in his opposition to these claims he had done his duty. He left it therefore to the House, disclaiming any and all hostility to the city of Indianapolis.
Mr. STAFFORD stated that the Committee on Claims had patiently and fully examined these claims and ii vestigated all the facts bearing on them before reporting for their allowance.
Mr. FOULKE demanded the previous question, and there was a second, and the main question was ordered.
The vote on concurrence on the committee reports resulted - yeas 59, nays 25 - as follows:
YEAS - Messrs. Bischof, Blanch, Brucker, Campbell,Chambers, Corey, Crain, Crowe, Daggy, Danaldson, Dunn, Erwin, Evans, Ferrus, Foulke, Geisendorff, Gordon, Griggs, Hamilton, Hays, Higgins, Hopkins, Hudson, Long of Kosciusko. Lopp, Martin, Mason, McClasky, McLean, Mc-Murray, Miller, Moore, Newcomb, North. Peelle, Prather, Ratliff, Rosser, Sabin, Scammahorn, Shook, Shull, Shuey, Skidmore, Smith of Lagrange, Smith of Wabash, Spencer, Stafford, Stewart, Thrasher, Thomas, Wason. Watson, Wilson, Wolfer, Wolflin, Woods and Wright 59.
NAYS - Messrs. Baker, Bird. Black, Bobo, Carter, Douglass. Green, Greer, Hartman, Honneus, Hostetter, Hughes, Inman, Kiser, McFadin, Morrison, Montgomery, O'Neil, Ross, Shanks, Shields, Stackhouse. Tebbs, Van Valkenburg, Vawter, and Wolf - 25.
So the reports of the Committee on Claims were concurred in.
On motion of Mr. HUGHES, the Governor was requested to return Mr. White's [H. R. 99] to the House for correction of a clerical error.
Subsequently -
Mr. MONTGOMERY (in the absence of Mr. White on leave) submitted the proper correction; and they were authorized by reconsideration and re-enactment by the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
The House now returned to unfinished business of yesterday, viz : the consideration of Mr. Foulke's motion for a resolution to furnish members and officers of the House of Representatives each with two bound copies of the Acts and Journals and the Brevier Reports.
Mr. O'NEIL moved to strike out the Brevier Reports.
Mr. VAN VALKENBURGH moved to lay the motion on the table.
Mr. O'NEIL then withdrew it.
Mr. NEWCOMB moved that the resolution be postponed till Monday week, for this reason: that it's usual, in the last hours of the session, to acton this resolution.
The motion was agreed to by consent.
Mr. CHAMBERS moved to suspend the order of business for the order for the introduction of bills and resolutions.
page: 372[View Page 372]On motion of Mr. PRATHER, this motion was laid on the table - yeas 57, nays 28.
