AFTERNOON SESSION.
The SPEAKER announced the following committees:
To be added to the Committee on Printing - Messrs. Stackhouse and Hartman.
Joint Committee on the Organisation of Courts - Messrs. Woods, Ross and Griggs.
Special Committee on Mr. Woods' Fourteenth Judicial Circuit bill [H. R. 12] Messrs. Woods, Funk, Smith of Lagrange, Geisendorff, Hartman and Sabin.
In the orders of the day -
The bill of the Senate No. 26 appropriating $75,000 for expenses of the General Assembly, was passed to the second reading.
The bill [S. 21] supplemental to the act of March 5, 1859, authorizing the purchase of railroads, plank roads and turnpike roads under mortgage sale, &c., was read and referred to the Committee on Railroads.
Mr. Crain's joint resolution [H. R. 2] in relation to the interest bearing debt of the United States, coming up on the second reading
Mr. CRAIN was assured that it was the wish of the people that the United States' interest bearing debt should be first paid. There was no reason for taking in the greenbacks. He saw that the recommendation of the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. McCulloch, had already reduced the price of pork, and induced the present dread of a money crisis. He was opposed to paying off the national debt on a gold basis. Gold was now about 36, and he thought its price should, not be reduced much below that whilst paying this debt. Our views at home should be known to the country and our representatives in Congress.
Mr. KIZER said Hugh McCulloch was once his neighbor, and from what he knew of him, and what he had already done for the finances of the country, he advised the House to be slow how it run against the opinion of the United States Secretary of the Treasury. He was in favor of the Secretary having his way in removing our fictitious money as fast as may be.
[A. message from the Senate announced the vote of that body in the election of one Trustee for each of the Benevolent Institutions ]
Mr. MATTHIS. The only question was whether or not we are willing to trust with Congress this question of a return to specie payments. He was in favor of the return; and therefore, he was opposed to the gentleman's resolution.
Mr. GREER. His constituents were opposed to any contraction of the currency at this time, and in favor of the resolution.
Mr. STAFFORD. Just so much as we reduce the volume of the currency, just so much is our ability reduced to pay the national debt. The agitation of this question had already come nigh to producing a panic.
Mr. KIZER. Would the gentleman tell us in what kind of currency they propose to pay their bonded debt? [Cries of "Order."]
Here under the pressure of the previous question, demanded by Mr. HIGGINS, the joint resolution was passed to the engrossment.
TRUSTEES OF THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
On motion of Mr. NEWCOMB the Senate message in relation to the election of these three trustees was taken up and read by the Clerk, and then -
On motion of Mr. NEWCOMB it was passed over the Senate having taken no notice of the resolution of the House and the law for a simultaneous vote.
EXPENSES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Mr. McFADDEN moved to suspend the order of business for the consideration of the bill [S. 26] appropriating $75,000 for expenses of the 45th session of the General Assembly.
The yeas and nays being demanded thereon, the vote resulted - yeas, 65; nays, 29.
So the bill was taken up.
Mr. McFADDEN then moved a suspension of the constitutional restriction requiring bills to be read once on three separate days.
After debate thereon, in which Messes. Crain, McFadden, Hughes, and Shuey participated, touching the propriety of legislating to prevent men from "bolting," or otherwise violating the law, the votes thereon which is required by the Constitution to be taken by yeas and nays, resulted - yeas 77, nays 17.
So, two-thirds voting in the affirmative, the bill was read the second time.
Mr. SHULL proposed to amend, by striking out "$3" and inserting "$2," wherever it occurs in relation to pages.
Mr. HIGGINS. At the last session we passed a law on this subject, giving what is allowed in the bill in most cases. But in that law we pay but two dollars a day to the pages. Therefore he was in favor of the amendment.
Mr. BAKER thought the provision of the law for compensation of pages expired by limitation with that session. And a reference to the statute sustained him.
page: 65[View Page 65]Mr. NEWCOMB gave notice of an amendment to add an appropriation for the Benevolent Institutions, which were now shinning along for money as best they could.
Mr. THACHER moved to lay Mr. Shull's amendment on the table.
The motion was rejected - yeas 12, nays 80.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr. CRAIN moved to refer the bill to the Committee on Ways and Means. It showed some inequity in the bill - such as $5 a day to room cleaners, &c., and $4 a day for the clerks, which could not be well amended here now.
Mr. McFADDEN offered considerations against the motion to commit.
Mr. McLEAN demanded the previous question on the motion, and under its force the "bill was referred to the Committee - affirmative 47, negative 34.
Mr. NEWCOMB moved to send to the committee with the bill an amendment, by way of additional section, appropriating for expenses of the benevolent institutions from the first of October, 1866, to the first of March, 1867, for the Hospital of the Insane, $20,000; for the Blind Institution, $15,000, and for the Institution far the Deaf and Dumb, $12,500.
It was so ordered.
Mr. McLEAN moved that the House go now into the election of one trustee for each of the benevolent institutions.
Mr. NEWCOMB and Mr. HUGHES opposed, because the Senate has already adjourned, and there can not be now a compliance with the joint rules for the government of the two Houses of the General Assembly.
The SPEAKER held that it was incompetent for the House to go now into said elections.
U. S. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
On motion of Mr. SHUEY, the House now again took up the consideration of the joint resolution [S. No. 1] ratifying the pending U. S. Constitutional amendment, and the same was read and passed to the second reading.
PREACHERS' AID SOCIETY.
Mr. Miller s Preachers' Aid Society bill was considered on the third and last reading thereof.
Mr.. MILLER explained that the object of the bill, which is to distribute the funds equally between the four conferences of the State, the whole of it, was dictated at a late meeting of the original Preachers' Aid Society held in Roberts Chapel, in this city.
The bill passed the House of Representatives - yeas 81, nays 5.
Mr. NEWCOMB obtained leave to introduce the following:
Resolved, That the State Librarian be directed to cause the Hall of the House to be ventilated in the manner which the Senate has provided for the ventilation of the Senate Chamber, or in such manner as will best subserve the purpose.
It was adopted.
Mr. McFadden's Coroner's Mileage bill [H. R. 4] coming up -
Mr. McFADDEN explained that its sole object was to add mileage to the Coroner's fees when he is called out for a distance more than five miles.
The bill was passed the third and last reading in the House of Representatives yeas - 77, nays 6 -
Mr. PRATHER and Mr. VAWTER explaining that they voted against the bill, believing that it does not provide sufficient compensation for the Coroner.
Mr. HUGHES moved ineffectually to reconsider the vote just taken, with the object to re-commit for amendment.
Mr. Higgins' Election bill [H. R. 18] coming up - it was read the third time.
Mr. HIGGINS explained its provisions, as heretofore given in these reports.
The bill then finally passed the House of Representatives - yeas 82, nays 1.
Mr. Prather's Congressional Apportionment bill [H. R. 32] was taken up and referred to the Special Committee on Apportionment.
Mr. GREER obtained leave of absence till Tuesday.
Mr. DUNN obtained leave and introduced a bill [H. R. 63] for an act to amend section 11 of the act defining misdemeanors, &c., approved June 14, 1852.
Mr. BAKER, Mr. GREEN and Mr. TEBBS obtained leave of absence till Tuesday.
Mr. Miller's stamp bill [H. R. 47] coming up -
Mr. MILLER, having learned that the existing law provides for the matter contemplated in the bill, moved that it be laid on the table.
It was so ordered.
Mr. WOODS, from the Committee on the Judiciary, returned his Procedure Relief bill [H. R. 8], recommending its passage.
On the motion of Mr. WOODS, the bill was taken up for consideration, and read the second time.
Mr. WOODS moved to amend by striking out the words "the time herein limited," and insert "one year" in lieu, at the end of the second section," which was adopted.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed.
Mr. HARTMAN introduced a bill [H. R. 64] to amend section 35 of the Common School act, approved December 20, 1865. It was referred to the Committee on Education.
A message in writing was now received from the Governor with reference to the page: 66[View Page 66] murder of Lieutenant J. Y. Hampton, on the 25th of July, and the arrest and trial of his murderers, stating that His Excellency will communicate further in the matter.
On the motion of Mr. PRATHER, it was referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. SHIELDS introduced a bill [H. R. 65] for an act to provide for the protection of fur bearing animals, the mink, the raccoon and the musk rat, defining the time when they may be taken, &c. [It shall be unlawful to take them between the 15th of April and the 15th of October in each year.] It was referred to the Committee on Rights and Privileges.
Mr. WHITE introduced a bill [H. R. 66] for an act amending the 9th and 19th sections of the act defining misdemeanors, &c. It was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. PEELLE introduced a bill [H. R. 67] for an act authorizing Judges of the Circuit and Common Pleas Court to fill vacancies in the offices of said courts [clerks]. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. STEWART introduced a bill [H. R. 68] for an act to amend section 3 of the act to authorize County Commissioners to organize turnpike companies where two-thirds of the district interested petition, and to provide that the same shall be free. [It provides that lands shall not be taxed more than once for road construction without the consent of the owner.]
It was referred to the Committee on Corporations.
Mr. DAGGY introduced a bill [H. R. 69] on the same subject, which was referred to the same committee without reading.
On motion by Mr. WOODS, it was
Resolved, That the Committee on Ways and Means be instructed to consider the propriety of an act to subject to taxation the stock of National banks and other banking associations in this State, and report by bill or otherwise.
On motion by Mr. GRIGGS, it was
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to employ a clerk.
On motion by Mr. WRIGHT, it was
Resolved, That the Committee on Claims be allowed to employ a clerk.
Mr. STEWART in view of the additional labor imposed on the State Librarian by furnishing stamps and stationery to members of the House, submitted an order that he be allowed to employ an additional clerk.
It was referred to the Committee on Employees.
Mr. THACHER said he was requested to introduce a bill [H. R. 70] to regulate the docket fees ot district and common pleas prosecutors, to increase their compensation, &c. Which being read the first time -
On motion by Mr. HUGHES the bill was rejected.
Mr. HAMILTON introduced a bill [H. R. 71] for an act to amend the 19th section of the Practice Act of June 17, 1852, relative to filing information in criminal cases, It was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The SPEAKER announced the special committee on Mr. Hartman's Tenth Circuit Court bill [H. R. 38], namely: Messrs, Hartman, Geisendorff, Sabin, Smith of Lagrange, Woods, Long of Kosciusko, Kizer, Bobo, Shull and Douglass.
On motion by Mr. ROSS, it was -
Ordered, That when the House adjourns it shall be till Monday 2 o'clock P. M.
The House then adjourned.
