BILLS ON THE SECOND READING.
Mr. Kinley's bill [S. 36] prohibiting the retail of intoxicating liquors to be used as a beverage coming up in regular order, it was read with the committee amendments thereto, which was agreed to.
Mr. KINLEY said that as this bill was unadopted and recommended by the State Temperance Alliance and one upon which the temperance people of the State proposed to make their fight. He would move that it be laid on the table and two hundred copies be printed.
Mr. CARSON thought they were printing a good many bills and supposed they were all costing some money. He thought this bill could be readily understood by all without printing it.
Mr. KINLEY responded that he was not asking too much in behalf of the large number of temperance men in the State, and insisted on his motion.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. Hadley's bill [S. 111] to amend section sixteen of the supervisors' act, of March 9, 1859, coming up in order, it was read the second time.
Mr. ROBINSON of Decatur, said this bill was laid on the table upon the recommendation of the Committee on Roads, but subsequently placed on the files of the Senate on motion of its author. The objection that the Committee had to it was that it proposed to substitute the supervisor for the township trustee in making assessments for damages for entering upon land to obtain material for repairing highways.
Mr. HADLEY explained the operations of the bill. It would annually save many thousand dollars to the State, and work injustice to no one. Under the present law, the expense is heavy, and he showed how it would cost about nine dollars and fifty cents to condemn a tree worth probably two dollars. Under the proposed amendment, viewers could be appointed by the Supervisor on the spot, without delay and with but little expense. It certainly is a wholesome law and should prevail.
Mr. GREEN proposed to amend by appropriately inserting the words "uninclosed lands." He wanted to limit the power of the supervisor of highways.
Mr. HADLEY objected to the amendment, because in some counties there may ne no uninclose lands.
Mr. ARMSTRONG moved to amend the amendment by providing that no material shall be used without first contracting therefore with the owner.
The amendment to the amendment agreed to.
The amendment as amended was also agreed to. The bill was then ordered engrossed for the third reading.
page: 293[View Page 293]Mr. Craven's bill [S. 114] to amend section nineteen of the officers fee bill of March 2, 1855, was read the second time, concerning the fees of Notaries Public, and ordered engrossed for the third reading.
Mr. HUGHES, (by request,) presented a petition from Lieut. Bedee Johnson and others, praying for indemnity, because of law suits had against them as soldiers in the militia, etc. It was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs--Mr. Hughes calling the attention of the committee to laws heretofore passed, appropriated moneys under similar circumstances.
Mr. Howk's bill [S. 135] to amend section two of the redemption of real property sold on execution, etc., approved June 4, 1861, was read the second time.
Mr. BRADLEY moved to amend so as to require the execution debtor to give a bond and security that he will pay the debt.
Mr. HOWK said the bill only proposed to so change the law as to give the purchaser a speedier remedy than now. He was not in favor of the amendment proposed, and spoke of the law as about the only one now on the statute book which was in favor of the debtor.
Mr. STEIN opposed the amendment and was in favor of the redemption law as it stood.
Mr. SCOTT was satisfied that if the amendment prevailed, it must result in the repeal of the law. The purchaser, as it is, usually gets the property for half price, and if it is redeemed, he gets ten per cent. on the money.
The bill was recommitted to the Judiciary Committee, with the instructions proposed in Mr. Bradley's motion.
Mr. Lasselle's bill [S. 142] to amend section five of the County Surveyor's act, was read the second time, with the committee's amendment thereto, which were agreed to.
The bill was ordered engrossed.
Mr. Johnston of Montgomery's bill [S. 152] to ameud section two of the wild game law, was read the second time, with the committee's amendment thereto, which was agreed to.
The bill was ordered engrossed.
Mr. Denbo's bill [S. 165] to authorize Boards of Commissioners to relieve sureties on county officers bonds, on petition of a majority of the voters of the county, was read the second time.
Mr. WOLCOTT saw many dangers connected with such a bill. It provided for relief to be granted upon the petition of a majority of voters. A party vote can nearly always be commanded. He moved to strike out "majority" and insert "two-thirds."
Mr. BRADLEY regarded the bill as radically wrong, as probably affecting vested rights.
Mr. FISHER also regarded the bill as a dangerous opening, and moved its indefinite postponement.
Mr. DENBO explained that there was no provision for County Boards to relieve securities of an officer who had been unfortunately the victim of theft, for instance, and argued that this might safely be left to the discretion of County Boards.
Mr. FISHER thought the reins could not be held too closely in such matters, and it is well not to allow any loopholes for escape. Some times, where treasurers are robbed, it is quite probable they rob themselves.
Mr. ROBINSON of Madison, had a case in point. In his county it would release securities on the official bond of the treasurer, who was a defaulter to the amount of twenty-three thousand dollars. He believed they should be held to a strict accountability.
The bill was indefinitely postponed.
And then--
The Senate adjourned till ten o'clock a. m. to-morrow.
