GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
On motion of Mr. CARSON, the General Appropriation bill [H. R. 309] was taken up on the second reading.
Mr. HANNA moved to amend by adding; to section 16 (the appropriation for pay of Judges and Prosecuting Attorneys) a provision for pay of $500 or such other sum as the law provides to Prosecutors and Judges in the Civil Criminal Courts.
The amendment was agreed to.
The amendment of the Committee of the Whole increasing the civil contingent fund of the Governor for the year 1869 from $2,000 to $5,000 corning up-
Mr. BRADLEY moved to concur with the amendment, requiring an itemized statement of its expenditure to be reported to the Legislature next session.
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR held that a vote should be taken upon this motion as an independent amendment.
It was agreed to, by yeas 23, nays 21.The amendment as amended was rejected by yeas 15, nays 30.
Mr. BRADLEY moved to amend this section of the bill by adding the requirement for an itemized statement of its expenditure to the next session of the General Assembly.
The amendment was rejected by yeas 23, nays 23, the Lieutenant Governor voting "no."
Mr. BIRD, having voted under a misapprehension, desired to change his vote.
Objection being heard,
On motion by Mr. BIRD the vote was reconsidered.
The question recurring on the amendment,
It was again rejected by a tie vote-yeas 23, nays 23-the Lieutenant Governor voting "no"
page: 92[View Page 92]The amendment of the Committee of the Whole, appropriating $50,000 for the State printing in 1869-70 being read-
Mr. TURNER stated that a bill has been passed the House [H. R. 194] providing for the printing of the Agricultural and Horticultural reports, under the supervision of said societies. He was authorized to say that the societies have tried both ways and can get their reports printed as well by private parties, and about 33 per cent cheaper than by the State Printer. Therefore, he moved to strike from the section such a sum as will cover the printing of these reports.
Mr. FISHER was sure the volume published by the State Printer was far better than the other volume.
Mr. TURNER obtained his statement from a member of the Board of Agriculture and had but ltttle personal knowledge of the matter.
Mr. FISHER was willing to favor the motion, for reasons which he gave.
Mr. TURNER was of opinion that the Society got a book one-third larger than that printed by the State Printer.
Mr. FISHER had reference particularly to the workmanship.
Mr. WOLCOTT regarded the imputations as unjust against the State Printer.
Mr. TURNER did not appreciate the vindication of the State Printer, as made by Mr. Wolcott, and recited figures to show that the statement first made was correct.
The Committee amendment was agreed to by yeas 31, nays 10. Mr. TURNER moved to strike out $16,000 to cover the expense of the Agricultural and Horticultural Reports and all that refers to printing these reports.
Mr. HANNA insisted that if the public printing were all let to the lowest bidder it would be well to make such an amendment, but as we have elected a Public Printer these documents should be printed by him-The amendment was rejected.
The committee amendment, proposing an appropriation for building a boiler room at the Northern State Prison, being read-
Mr. GIFFORD gave reasons which governed him in moving to strike it out.
The motion was rejected.
The amendments of the Committee of the Whole reducing the amount of the contingent expenses for the Secretary of State and Superintendent of Public Instruction, from $1,000 to $500, were rejected, as was also the committee amendment requiring of the Governor an itemized statement of the expenditure of the contingent fund for 1870; and similar amendments to the appropriation for contingent funds of the Attorney General and Judges of the Supreme Court and Auditor of State.
Mr. CARSON saw no necessity of passing a special bill for the purpose, moved to add a section appropriate $60,000 for expenses of the present session of the General Assembly.
Mr. WALCOTT moved to lay the amendment on the table.
The motion was rejected by yeas 21, nays 24.
Mr. BELLAMY opposed the amendment for the reason that it is intimated Senators are desiring to get their mileage and pay and go home without doing the business of the State.
Mr. FISHER suggested that we pass this bill as it is, and then take up the bill from the House making this specific appropriation, and pass it.
Mr. CARSON, with that understanding withdrew his amendment.
Mr. STEIN moved to reconsider the vote striking out the appropriation for continuing the military claim agency.
The motion was rejected by yeas 20, nays 24.
Mr. KINLEY moved to add a section appropriating $1,000 to each of the State Prisons for the purchase of a prison library.
The motion was agreed to.
The bill, as amended, was then read by sections.
Mr. WOLCOTT offered an amendment for incidental expenses of the Auditor of State for 1869 the sum of $1,000.The amendment was agreed to.
The amendments were ordered engrossed.
And then the Senate took a recess till 2 o'clock.
