IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, April 21, 1869.The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR called the Senate to order at 9 o'clock A. M.
The Secretary's minutes of yesterday's proceedings were, being read, when-
On motion by Mr. BEARDSLEY, the further reading thereof was dispensed with.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES
were received, and concurred in, declaring further legislation inexpedient on the vagrant bill H. R 36; the descent-law-amendment-bill S. 39, and the spring balances bill S. 63.
STAMPS AND STATIONERY.
Mr. GIFFORD offered a resolution that each Senator and officer be allowed $3 worth of stamps.
Mr. ROBINSON, of Decatur, offered a substitute that the Librarian furnish each Senator with what stationery he may order.
On motion by Mr. FISHER the substitute was laid on the table.
An amendment proposed by Mr. RICE to allow but 50 cents worth, was laid on the table by yeas 30, nays 14.
Mr. CARSON proposed an amendment for $15 worth of stamps and stationery.
Mr. CHURCH offered a substitute allowing the Lieutenant Governor and each Senator $30 worth of stationery and stamps.
Mr. CARSON withdrew his amendment.
Mr. RICE made an ineffectual motion to reduce the amount to $10.
The substitute was agreed to.
RESOLUTIONS.
Mr. SHERROD offered a resolution that the Committee on Finance be required to report the Appropriation bill at the earliest possible day.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr. CAVIN offered a resolution, allowing the Judiciary Committee a clerk.
Mr. RICE offered a resolution allowing a clerk to the Committee on Corporations.
Mr. FISHER offered a resolution allowing a clerk to the Committee on Finance.
These resolutions were severally adopted.
Mr. GRAY offered a resolution that leaves of absence shall not be granted whereby more than ten Senators at a time shall be absent.
On motion of Mr. CARSON it was referred to the Committee on Rights and Privileges of the Inhabitants of the State.
THE GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr. HANNA offered a resolution requesting the Committee on Finance to report the General Appropriation bill.
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR stated that a similar resolution had just been adopted.
Mr. WOLCOTT asked and obtained leave to report from the Finance Committee the bill [H. R. 309] making general appropriations for the years 1869 and 1870.
On motion by Mr. CARSON the Senate resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole [Mr. Gray in the chair] for the consideration of this bill. [H. R. 309.]
On motion by Mr. CRAVENS it was ordered that this General Appropriation bill be considered by sections.In section 6 the Governor's contingent fund was raised from $2,000 to $5,000.In section 13 an error of the enrolling clerk was corrected, making the appropriation $10,000 instead of $2,000 for furnishing the new wing of the Insane Asylum.
Section 16 appropriating $3,000 for miscellaneous purposes was stricken out; and the section making an appropriation for the pay of Judges and Prosecuting Attorneys was numbered 16 instead.
When section 23 had been read-
Mr. HOOPER stated that it was understood that a proposition was now before the House of Representatives from the National Soldiers' Home at Dayton to take care of the inmates in the Home at Knightstown, and suggested that action on this appropriation be suspended for the present.
Mr. HADLEY saw no reason for delay. He had no hope that an arrangement could be made with the Home at Dayton, by which all could be taken care of.
Mr. WOLCOTT understood that the Dayton Home proposed to take care of those only that we had no room for. Nor did he understand it to be a permanent arrangement proposed. It is too indefinite to constitute a basis for our action in this matter, The Finance Committee propose an amendment to this section, increasing the appropriation in such a way as to alter the section almost entirely. The Committee propose to make an appropriation of $30,000 to increase the facilities of the Homes grateful acknowledgement of the obligation of the State to the parents of the children now in its charge, and $5,000 for the purchase of more ground; they have not as much as they can till. The Committee's substitute retains the appropriation of $15,000 to pay the indebtedness of the instution.
Mr. BELLAMY sent to the Clerk's desk page: 84[View Page 84] a letter from the Secretary of the Dayton Home, and asked that it be read for the information of Senators.
It is as follows:
THE NATIONAL ASYLUM FOR DISABLED VOLUNTEEERS, DAYTON, O., April, 19, 1869.
HON. A. P. STANTON- Dear Sir:Yours has just been received, and I hasten to answer. The reports you have heard are unfounded. True, we have now 1,100 men on our rolls, but we are not full. We can easily take all their men, and care for them better than it is possible for you to do at your Knightstown Home, well conducted as I know it is. And to prove this I would much like to have your body send over a committee to see what we are doing, and propose to do in the future.
The Chicago and New Jersey Homes have just been broken up, and all the men transferred to us. The Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Detroit Homes have transferred nearly all their men all I believe but those too sick to be removed. The Albany and Rochester (New York) Homes are also preparing to transfer their men to us. Why should Indiana alone, of all the States, continue to keep up a State institution? Ought she not at least to see whether there really be any occasion for such an expenditure?
But, while the General Government cares for the soldier, she has made no provision for the widows and orphans; and here is the work, as you suggest, which your State ought to do, and can well do at Knightstown. At best, it will not accommodate, if given up wholly to them, one half of those who in your State really need such an asylum.
Truly, but hastily, yours, LEWIS B. GUNCKEL
Mr. HOOPER insisted that the matter should be investigated.
Mr. WOLCOTT took the responsibility of withdrawing the committee substitute for this section.
Mr. HADLEY hoped the committee amendment would not be withdrawn. He was certain our citizen-disabled soldiers would not go to Dayton, no matter what arrangement was made. Are we going to be ungrateful enough to banish them? They could not visit their families as often if sent out of the State; and such an action on our part would be an evidence of ingratitude.
Mr. FISHER concurred in the propriety of withdrawing the committee amendment, there being a bill pending for the current expenses of the Knightstown Home. We may think it best to transfer these men to Dayton, but that was a question that ought to receive earnest consideration-and if they should go we probably have buildings enough for the orphans left at the Knightstown Home, consequently the committee's amendment would not be desirable at this time.
Mr. CHURCH could not see the depth of that patriotism that would lead us, while we are helping support the Dayton Home, to support another in our own State when the former can accommodate the inmates of the latter. So far as the soldiers being convenient to home is concerned, we should not complain of the distance, to Dayton if soldiers from Vermont and New York, and other States far away, do not complain. If the Dayton Home will not take all of them let it take what of them it will, and those that are left or refuse to go, let us take care of them.
Mr. SHERROD opposed the appropriation because the National Government has made ample provision for disabled soldiers and very properly, too.
The section as it came from the House was agreed to, appropriating $25,000 for current expenses and $15,000 to pay outstanding indebtedness.
Section 25, appropriating $1,500 for clerk hire in the State Military Claim Agency, being read-
Mr. HANNA understood that the State was keeping a sort of pensioner here who was of but little benefit to the people. He also regarded the agent as being very inefficient, and such an one should not be paid by the State. He ought to be discharged whether the office was abolished or not.
Mr. JAQUESS testified to the benefits to the soldier-claimants conferred by this Agency within his personal knowledge.
Mr. TURNER opposed the proposition, because the benefits of this agency, if any, operates very unequally, yet all alike are taxed for its support.
Mr. JOHNSON, of Spencer, knew most all of the solders in his county drew their pay through this agency.
Mr. GREEN had found it was a drawback upon the soldier to place his claims in the hands of the agent here, and explained why he looked upon this agency as a useless thing for the past year or two.
Mr. FISHER understood that a large majority of these claims were of an intricate nature; and that this agent had collected thousands of dollars which probably never would have been collected in any other way. He favored the pending section, that the thousand unsettled claims now in the hands of that agent may be closed up properly.
Mr. SHERROD moved to strike out the section.
Mr. FOSDICK insisted that it was not necessary to employ a clerk to close up this agency, as the papers in each case should be at Washington, and not here. His experience was decidedly against the efficiency of this claim agency at Indianapolis. If the agency is abolished, the officials at Washington will correspond at once and directly with the claimant. He favored the motion to strike out.
The motion to strike out was agreed to upon a division-affirmative 31, negative not counted.
Section 26, making an appropriation for the public printing, having been read
page: 85[View Page 85]Mr. WOLCOTT stated that the committee had an amendment pending, making the apportionment for 1869 and 1870 $50,000 instead of $27,000, as in the original section, which was intended to apply for one year only, though the section reads for the years 1869-70.
The committees amendment was agreed to.
Mr. WOLCOTT stated that the Finance Committee had two sections to add to the appropriations of 1869; viz: a-section appropriating $5,000 for the erection of an engine and boiler house for the State's prison north; and a section appropriating $6,660 98 to pay claims on file for services rendered by men of the State militia during the late war.
Mr. FISHER, as ex-paymaster of the State militia, remarked that these were of the same class of claims as have heretofore been paid, and he supposed them to be all right.
The two additional sections were agreed to.
Mr. CARSON moved, ineffectually, to strike out "$1,000"' and insert "$500,*" for incidental expenses of the State Librarian, for 1870.On his further motion, the sum of "$1,000" was reduced to "$500" for incidentals for the offices of Secretary and Auditor of State for 1870; and "$1.500" was stricken out and "$500" substituted for the distribution of laws and public documents for 1870.Then Section 29, as amended, was adopted.
On motion by Mr. GREENE, the Committee rose, reported progress, and asked leave to sit again.
The report was concurred in.
On motion by Mr. BELLAMY, the House concurrent resolution for the appointment of a joint committee of three Representatives and two Senators to visit the National Asylum for disabled soldiers at Dayton, to determine upon the expediency of transferring the inmates of the Soldiers' Home at Knightstown to said Asylum at Dayton, was taken up and concurred in.
And then the Senate took a recess till 2 o'clock p. M.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Bills for acts were introduced, read the first time, and severally passed to the second reading, to-wit:
By Mr. BELLAMY [S. 336] authorizing the Governor of the State to remove prison directors in certain cases. [When guilty of malfeasance in office.]
By Mr. CRAVENS [S. 337] to make appropriations for certain purposes. [When there shall be a failure at any session of the Legislature to make certain appropriations the Governor may issue his warrant upon the Treasurer of State for sums not exceeding the amount appropriated by the General Assembly.
THE GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
On motion of Mr. FISHER, the Senate resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole [Mr. Gray in the chair] to resume the consideration of the General Appropriation bill [H. R. 309].Section 31, appropriating $2,000 for the contingent fund of the Governor, having been read-
Mr. WOLCOTT said the Finance Committee proposed to amend by making the sum $5,000.Mr. CARSON objected to the amendment.
Mr. FISHER explained that this sum was placed at the disposal of the Governor to aid in the faithful execution of the laws, and he thought the safety and good of the State demanded such an appropriation.
Mr. BRADLEY moved to amend the amendment by requiring the Governor to report to the next session of the General Assembly the sums expended, to whom paid, and what for.
Mr. MORGAN believed there was a necessity for the Committee's amendment. Crime is on the increase, and we should have the advantage of every possible means for the detection of crime.
Mr. STEIN. Should we adopt the amendment to the amendment, we would be perpetrating an insult on a co-ordinate department of the Government. It would be, in effect, an insult upon the Governor to compel this appropriation, with a requirement that he should reveal the disposition made of it. What is there in the conduct of the present Executive to distrust that functionary? Neither the history of State nor the history of the nation furnishes any such precedent.
Mr. BRADLEY disclaimed any disposition to distrust the Governor, or reflect upon His Excellency, unfavorably, in this matter.
Mr. STEIN-In order to make this appropriation a weighty engine for the suppression of crime we must trust it to the honesty and honor of the Governor.
Mr. BRADLEY regarded it as a torturing of language to construe this section as an authorization for the Governor to use this appropriation for the detection and suppression of crime. The words of the section are "for the civil contingent fund of the Government."
Mr. GIFFORD saw no impropriety in demanding that the Governor shall report to the Legislature what disposition he may make of the fund.
The amendment to the amendment was agreed to upon a division-affirmative 23, negative 21.
page: 86[View Page 86]Mr. CRAVENS opposed the adoption of the proviso, because it inevitably casts a slur upon the Executive of the State. The fund should be left in the hands of that officer without the casting of an imputation upon the Executive of the State, and rather than do so he would prefer to see the additional appropriation fail.
Mr. GIFFORD could see no necessity for such sensitiveness upon this subject. He thought it no slur upon any one to require the keeping and presentation of vouchers for public monies expended.
Mr. TURNER saw no insult in requiring a public official to give a strict account of public monies entrusted to his hands.
On motion by Mr. CRAVENS, the amendment, as amended, was indefinitely postponed.
Mr. TERNER moved to amend the section as it stands in the bill by adding a clause that the Governor report the amount used, for what purpose expended, and to whom paid.
The amendment was agreed to upon a division-affirmative 22, negative 20.
The section, as amended, was adopted, upon a division-affirmative 23, negative 18.
Section 34, appropriating $1,000 for office rent, traveling and other expenses of the Attorney General, having been read-
Mr. STEIN offered an amendment, identical with Mr. Turner's, for a report to the Legislature of the sums expended, to whom paid, &c.
The amendment was agreed to, upon a division-affirmative 26, negative not announced.
Mr. JOHNSON, of Montgomery, moved to reduce the amount from $1,000 to $500.
Mr. WOLCOTT thought it unnecessary to defend the propriety of appropriating the amount in the section as it comes from the House. We are doing such ridiculous things here, however, he hardly knew what to expect. He gave reasons why the amount should not be cut down.
After a humorous conversational debate-
The amendment was rejected.
The section, 36, as amended, was adopted.
Section 36, appropriating $2,000 for incidental expenses of the Supreme Court, having been read-
Mr. STEIN moved to amend by requiring an itemized report to be made by the Judges and Sheriff to the General Assembly of the amount expended, to whom paid, &c.
Mr. TURNER made an ineffectual motion to strike from the amentment the word "Judges."
The amendment was agreed to.
The section, as amended, was adopted.
Section 38, making $30,000 appropriation to the Asylum for the Blind, having been read-
Mr. STEIN moved to amend by adding a requirement for an itemized statement of the expenditures to be made to the General Assembly.
The amendment was rejected.
Section 43 appropriating $3,000 for miscellaneous expenses was stricken out.
Section 44 appropriating $1,000 for incidental expenses of the Auditor of State's office, being read-
Mr. CARSON moved to reduce the amount to $500.
Mr. STEIN moved an amendment to the amendment, requiring an itemized statement to be reported to the General Assembly.
Mr. CARSON accepted the amendment
On motion of Mr. BRADLEY, the amendment, as amended, was indefinitely postponed.
Mr. STEIN renewed his amendment as an amendment to the section as it stands in the bill, and it was agreed to.
The section forty-four, as amended, was agreed to.
The Finance Committee amendment to section forty-five, increasing the appropriation for the House of Refuge from $20,000 to $40,000 for the year ending March 30, 1870, was agreed to-
Mr. TURNER desiaed to reduce the amount from $40,000 to $30,000, and he made that motion.
The amendment was rejected upon a division-affirmative 16, negative 17.
After debate-
Mr. TURNER moved to strike out $40,000 and insert in lieu $39,000.
Mr. BELLAMY raised the point of order that the Committee's amendment, having been agreed to, the amendment was not in order.
The CHAIRMAN so ruled.
Mr. BRADLEY moved to reconsider the vote last taken.
On motion of Mr. HANNA the vote adopting the Committee's amendment was reconsidered.
Mr. TURNER renewed his amendment as an amendment to the Finance Committee's amendment, to strike out $40,000 and insert $30,000.
It was agreed to.
Section 45, as amended, was adopted.
Section 47, appropriating $79,000 for the State Normal School, being read-
Mr. CARSON made an ineffectual motion to reduce the amount to $50,000.
The section was adopted upon a division affirmative 24, negative 14.
On motion, by Mr. WOLCOTT, this section was placed among the appropriations for 1869.
Mr. RICE moved to reconsider the vote cutting down the contingent or incidental page: 87[View Page 87] expenses of the Superintendent of Public Institutions, from $1,000 to $500.
The CHAIRMAN ruled the motion to reconsider out of order, though he entertained a few minutes before a similar motion, in order to get the committees out of an entanglement.
On motion, the committee rose, reported the bill, with the committee amendments, to the Senate, and asked to be discharged from its further consideration.
The report was concurred in.
Mr. BEARDSLEY offered a resolution, which was adopted, that when the Senate adjourn it adjourn to meet at 9 o'clock tomorrow.
Mr. BELLAMY gave notice of his intention to move, to-morrow, for an amendment to rule 37, by striking out all after the word "introduced," in the third line and inserting the following:
On first reading in the order in which they were reported by committees, on second reading; and in the order in which they were ordered to be engrossed on the third reading, unless in case of urgency.
Mr. BRADLEY offered a resolution requesting the return from the Governor of the bill [S. 90] that it might be correctly enrolled.
The resolution was adopted
And then the Senate Adjourned.
