PETITIONS, MEMORIALS, &C.
Were presented, read or described and referred in order as follows:
Mr. UNDERWOOD presented a petition for increasing fees of jurors.
Mr. OVERMYER two petitions on the subject of railroad monopolies.
Mr. Stephenson, Mr. Coffroth, Mr. Furnas, Mr. Odell, Mr. Pierce, of Vigo, Mr. Chapman, Mr. McGregor, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Williams, of Knox, Mr. Ratliff, Mr. Shoemaker, Mr. Higgins, Mr. Sleeth, Mr. Hutson, Mr. Mitchell,Mr. Addison and Mr. Williams, of Union, presented petitions on the same subject.
Mr. HALL presented the petition of Alexander Gregory and others, for a law against the "Spanish fever," introduced by Texan and Cherokee cattle.
Mr. FURNAS, from citizens of Indianapolis for a prison for females.
Mr. STEPHENSON, from the Trustee, of Nobles ville, for legalization of corporation acts.
Mr. HIGGINS, a petition on the subject of gravel roads.
The SPEAKER laid before the House a communication from the Secretary of the Normal School Board of Trustees, inviting members to visit that institution on the 4th day of February.
Mr. JOHNSON, of Parke, would lay it on the table; but withheld the motion. The General Assembly was not a traveling institution. The Legislature could not afford to waste its time traveling about over the State to visit all the institutions of the State.
Mr. RATLIFF explained the propriety of the paper, and the concurrence therein of the Committee on Education. He stated that the invitation was extended in the first place, to the Committee on Education of the House and Senate. It was well known that a large sum of money had been expended by the State and friends of the School, in the erection of the buildings which are yet unfinished, and as it was likely that the Legislature would be asked to make additional appropriations for its completion, the committee advised that the invitation be extended to the House, that the members might vote intelligently when that subject is broached.
Mr. Johnson's motion was rejected.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Knox, and Mr. ZENOR suggested the 6th of February as the time.
Mr. PIERCE of Vigo, stating the importance of the Normal School as a State institution, and the interest taken therein by the people of Terre Haute, left the response to this ingenious communication wholly to the judgment of the House. He claimed that the building was one of the finest in the State, or in the country. The State had contributed fifty thousand dollars; the people of Terre Haute had added seventy-five thousand dollars, and the building erected was one of which the State may well feel proud. The people would be glad to have the Legislature come and examine, each member for himself, as to the manner in which the funds have been employed, and the visit he believed would prove satisfactory to all.
Mr. DAVIDSON thought the Legislature had too much work to do? to justify its travel- page: 192[View Page 192] ing about on pleasure excursions, and opposed the motion.
Mr. STEWART of Rush, said that the building was located in the wrong place, and would fail of the good intended to result from the establishing of such a school. He had voted against the location and appropriations; and would continue to vote against appropriations in its interest. He opposed the motion.
Mr. JOHNSON of Marshall, proposed to amend.
The SPEAKER ruled amendments to the invitation out of order.
Mr. McFADIN was opposed to the whole affair. His experience was that such visits usually culminated in grand suppers, the expense of which eventually came out of the State Treasury, and he was opposed to leaving the legitimate work of the session to go down to Terre Haute, to be feasted by the Trustees of the Normal School.
Mr. VATER hoped the invitation would be accepted. There would be no expense attending the visit, and he thought it should be made, if for no other reason than for the information t be gained, with a view to intelligent action in the future.
Mr. WELBORN said that as the House had fallen into the habit of running home every Saturday and leaving him in the city alone, to wait their return, he would vote to make the visit to Terre Haute, for the purpose of enjoying their company. The institution, he had heard, was a big thing, and if so, he wanted to see it.
Mr. BOWEN thought the Legislature not a traveling body necessarily, but he thought it should be an investigating body, with a view to intelligent legislation, and should vote for the motion. He believed it not best to consume more time in debating the subject than it would take to make the visit. The Normal School demanded the care of the State, and information in regard to it was important.
Mr. GORDON moved an indefinite postponement.
Mr. COFFROTH vouched so far for the good intentions of the trustees as to assure the House, and the member from Cass especially, that the trustees had no unworthy design upon the House. He thought every member going would be proof against temptation, and come out with clean skirts. He was loth to believe that the gentleman from Cass who had successfully withstood the smiles and blandishments of the most beautiful women of the Wabash, could feel any apprehension for the safety of his integrity, when brought in contact with the seductive influences of suppers and feasts tendered by the Trustees of the Normal School. [Laughter.]
Mr. UNDERWOOD demanded the previous question, which was seconded and ordered, whereupon--
Mr. GORDON'S motion for indefinite postponement was rejected.
The question recurring on the motion of Mr. Williams of Knox, to accept the invitation--
Mr. McFADIN demanded the yeas and nays, which being ordered and taken, resulted--yeas 60, nays 25--so the invitation was accepted.
Mr. RATLIFF then moved an order, which was adopted, that the day of the visit be fixed for Saturday week.
The SPEAKER laid before the House a message from the Governor with reference to the compensation of Otho Harrison and others of Pike couuty, [nine hundred and fourteen dollars and ninety-five cents,] for services on account of relieving D. Harrison from a Mississippi prison, suggesting specific mention of each man's compensation.
Also a message communicating the report of the Trustees of the State University to the House.
On motion of Mr. BUSKIRK, the report was read, and it was referred to the Committee on Education.
