AFTERNOON SESSION.
On motion of Mr. WELBORN, the Senate amendment to his bill [H. R. 90] creating the Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit, (establishing a Criminal Court for the county of Vanderburgh,) proposing to include a provision for a Criminal Court for Jefferson county, and amending the title so as to read Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Circuits, was taken up.
Mr. JOHNSON, of Marshall, opposed the amendment and the bill, on the score of the expensiveness of the multiplication of these courts. He desired that the proposition should go to the Committee on the Organization of Courts.
Mr. OVERMYER proposed to amend the Senate's amendment by requirement the Prosecuting Attorney of the Civil Court for Jefferson county the serve as Prosecuting Attorney for the Criminal Court for aid county; which was adopted.
And then the Senate's amendment was non-concurred in - yeas 36, nays 37.
Ordered that the Clerk inform the Senate.
On motion of Mr. RUDDELL, the Senate amendments to his bill [H. R. 72], defining what counties shall constitute the Fifth Judicial Circuit, and fixing the time of holding court therein, were taken up and concurred in. [This bill respects what is called the Marion Circuit.]
JUSTICES' JURISDICTION.
Mr. Williams' (of Knox) bill [H. R. 31] to amend the 9th section of the Justices' act, now amended so as to authorize suits to be brought in townships where the debt is contracted, to the amount of $25, was taken up as the special order - the pending question being on Mr. Odell's amendment to strike out "25," and insert "50" in lieu.
page: 118[View Page 118]Mr. WILLIAMS, of Knox, moved that (he subject be indefinitely postponed.
On motion of Mr. OSBORN, Mr. Williams' motion was laid on the table-yeas 13, nays 37-and the question recurred on Mr. Odell s amendment.
Mr. STEWART, of Rush, moved ineffectually to lay Mr. Odell's amendment on the table-yeas 32, nays 43; and the question recurred again on Mr. Odell's amendment, which was adopted without a division; and the question recurred on the amendment oi the committee as amended.
Mr. WILLIAMS, of Knox, spoke against the bill, as now amended, as a proposition that must work great hardships-as legislation to favor the few at the expense of the many. It was asked for by no petition; and he hoped vet that it would be rejected.
Mr. RATLIFF concurred with Mr. Williams, as a proposition to change a law that has so long worked well. It would work oppressively against the poorer classes.
Mr. VATER considered, on the contrary, that it would work for the advantage of the poor man, by procuring for him, perchance, a denial of credit. Then he argued, that the bill was a proposition to compel the fulfillment of contracts in these cases of credits for small amounts.
And then, under the force of the previous question, the reported amendment as amended, was rejected-yeas 33, nays 42, as follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Barrett, Beatty, Beeler, Bowen, Chittenden, Coffroth, Davis of Floyd, Dunn, Fairchild, Field, of Lagrange, Hamilton, Higbee, Higgins, Johnson, of Marshall, Long, Miles, Mitchell, Osborn, Palmer, Pierce, of Porter, Pierce, of Vigo, Ruddell, Sabin, Stephenson, Stewart, of Ohio, Taber, Underwood, Vater, Williams, of Hamilton, Williams, of Union, Wilson, Zollars, Mr. Speaker-33.
NAYS-Addison, Admire, Baker, Barnett, Bates, Bobo, Britton, Breckinridge, Carnahan, Gory, Cotton, Cox, Davidson, Field, of Lake, Fuller, Greene, Hall, Hyatt, Johnson, of Montgomery, Jump, Lawler, Logan, Mason, McBride, McDonald, Miller, Montgomery, Odell, Overmeyer, Ratliff, Shoaff, Skidmore, Sleeth, Smith, Stewart, of Rush, Sunman, Tebbs Vardeman, Wile, Williams, of Knox, Williams, of St. Joseph, Zenor-42.
Mr. WILLIAMS, of Knox, then desired to move indefinite postponement; but the motion was ruled out, because it had been just passed upon.
On motion of Mr. COTTON the bill was then laid upon the table, by yeas, 43, nays 32.
THE STATE PRISONS.
Mr. RUDDELL (by a dispensation) introduced a bill [H. R. 387] to provide for the government and discipline of the State prisons, and for the oversight of the county jails, and to repeal all laws in conflict therewith.
It proposes to place the State prisons and county jails under the supervision of a Board of Managers, to be appointed by the Governor, of whom the Governor, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the United States District Judge for the District of the State of Indiana, are to members ex-officio, etc.
It was read and referred to the Committee on State Prisons.
DIVORCE LAWS.
On the motion of Mr. OSBORN the bill [S. 316] for amendment of the divorce laws was taken up and read-the bill [S. 317] to prevent divorce frauds, was taken up read; and they were both referred to Committee on the Judiciary.
COUNTY SEATS-RE-LOCATION.
On motion of Mr. RATLIFF, Mr. Bobo's bill [H. R. 325] to provide for the relocation of county seats and the erection public buildings, in case of such relocation etc. [when two-thirds of the tax payers shall petition-procure the conveyance of 2 acres for the Court House, one-fourth of an acre for the jail, and deposit $100 to pay architect, etc.,] was taken up-yeas nays 36and it was read the second time and ordered to the engrossment.
THE CALENDAR.
Mr. Odell's married woman bill [H. 208]; Mr. Cory's county R. R. bill latter being amended by the committee porting thereon so so as to provide that i more than $10,000 shall be appropriated any one railroad, were ordered to the engrossment.
Mr. Ruddell's bill [H. R. 157] to regulate the publication of legal advertisements was taken up and failed on the motion i an order to engross.
The House of Refuge appropriation bill [H. R. 261] was laid on the table, as the matter was superceded by an item in the general appropriation bill.
The Supervisors' Election bill (makin the election at the general biennial election) was taken up and read the second time.
Mr. ODELL proposed to amend by making the compensation $1.50, instead of $1 which was adopted.
Mr. BOBO proposed to add a penalty five dollars for voting for a Supervisor out of the voter's road district.
Mr. STEWART, of Rush, moved ineffectually to lay this amendment on the table.
The amendment was then adopted.
Mr. WILLIAMS, of Knox, proposed recommit the bill, with instructions amend by requiring the supervisors to appointed by the township trustees.
Mr. Higgins and Mr. Davidson opposed and Mr. Ruddell supported the proposition and then it was rejected.
The bill was then ordered to be engrossed.
page: 119[View Page 119]Mr. Fairchild's Fish bill [H. R. 259], prohibiting seining and trapping two years, &c., was taken up.
On motion of Mr. BARRETT, it was indefinitely postponed.
Mr. Mitchell's bill [H. R. 159], to amend section ten of the act to authorize and limit allowances of courts and boards for drafts on County Treasurers, with the committee's amendment thereto, was taken up and read.
Mr. STEPHENSON explained that it was a provision to avoid the expense of two suits for the same claim.
It was ordered to be engrossed.
Mr. Coffroth's bill [H. R. 33], for relief of the widow and heirs of John P. Dunn, deceased, was taken up.
Mr. VATER explained the justice of the bill.
Mr. OSBORN moved that the bill be refered to a special committee of three, to inquire and report on the facts.
Mr. Welborn's bill, [H. R. 246,] to authorize Railroads to issue bonds and sell them to cities and towns, and authorizing cities and towns to issue bonds and purchase such railroad bonds, etc., was taken op and laid on the table, because the author is not in his place.
Mr. Neff's bill, [268,] for the preservation of Indiana battle flags, military trophies, and relics, was ordered to the engrossment.
Mr. Palmer's bill [H. R. 258] to amend section 20 of the Supervisor's act of March 5, 1859, was taken up, read the second time and laid on the table.
Mr. Dunn's bill [H. R. 125] to amend the 45th section of the road laws, approved March 5, 1867, with the pending amendment in regard to notice-striking out: serving copy, and inserting, by posting written notices along the road for twenty days, etc.
Mr. DUNN explained; and the amendment was concurred in, and the bill was ordered to be engrossed.
Mr. Stewart of Rush's, drainage bill [H. R. 216] was ordered to the engrossment.
Mr. Breckenridge's bill [H. R. 145] to amend sections 1, 6 and 9 of the charter ofa Lafayette Insurance Company was taken up.
Mr. Breckenridge rehearsed the proposed amendment to the said charter-to give Perpetual succession-to increase the capital stock, and to compel them to pay, &c
It was ordered to the engrossment.
Mr. Mason's 18th Judicial Circuit Court bill [H. R. 28] (adding the county of Green to the old circuit) was taken up, with a Committee substitute so as to include but the counties of Green, Sullivan and Vigo.
On motion of Mr. MASON, it was laid on the table, as superceeded by another bill.
The House then took a recess till 7 o'clock P. M.
EVENING SESSION.
The House took up the special order, to-wit: the consideration of Mr. Dunn'a bill [H. R. 347] to establish an Indiana Agricultural College in connection with the State University, &c., with the report of the Special Committee thereon, proposing an amendment merely clerical, by inserting these words, "and the act of Congress in relation to said Agricultural College" the question being on the adoption of said amendment.
Mr. OSBORN proposed further to amend the bill by striking out the words "Bloomington, Monroe County," and "State University," wherever they occur.
Speeches were made by Mr. Osborn and Mr. Buskirk. When the latter had concluded-
Mr. VATER took the floor, but gave way for a motion to adjourn.
And, accordingly, the House adjourned.
