HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House met at 9 o'clock A M.
On motion of Mr VATER Mr. Stewart, of Rush, was called to the chair: and the journal of yesterday was read, corrected and approved
The SPEAKER resumed the Chair, and announced the order of
PETITIONS
Mr. VATER presented a "demand" for a change of the law in relation to the pay of certain county officers
Mr HIGBEE and Mr WILE presented petitions on the subject of Homeopathic College
Mr WELBORN presented a petition on temperance
Mr. STANTON presented two claims.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Mr. OSBORN, from the Special Committee on Employes, submitted a report in that matter, continuing the same force that was required for the regular session with an additional messenger for the Door keeper
Mr DITTEMORE proposed to amend by striking out "two firement" and inserting "one," which was laid on the table and the report was concurred in
Mr LONG, from the special committee on stationery, reported an allowance of $15 to each member for stationery - including postage stamps - and the same allowance as heretofore for newspapers; two copies of the statues; and $5 for stamps for each of the two principal Clerks.
Mr. CARNAHAN proposed $10 each for stationery, &c.
Mr VATER proposed $5, which was laid on the table.
Mr. WELBORN As this is but a continuation of the business of the regular session, proposed to strike out from the report all that relates to stamps and stationery, which was laid on the table - yeas, 57, nays - 29
Mr. PIERCE, of Vigo, proposed to strike out all in relation to newspapers, and insert "one copy each of the Indianapolis JOURNAL and the Indianapolis Sentinel," unwrapped and unstamped.
He gave reasons for this amendment - the chief, on account of irregularity in the mails
Mr. HYATT proposed to amend the amendment, by saving "Three copies of the JOURNAL and Sentinel - two of each to be wrapped and stamped," which was laid on the table.
Mr. McFADIN supported Mr. Pierce's amendement.
Mr VATER proposed to amend the amendment by giving each member two papers daily as he may select for himself, which was laid on the table.
Mr DITTEMORE proposed to amend the amendment by striking it out; which was laid on the table.
And then, under the force of the previous question, Mr Pierce's amendment was agreed to.
Mr. OSBORNE made an ineffectual motion [?] the Evening Mirror.
Mr RATLIFF submitted the following:
Resolved, That each member be required to close up his stationery account with the Librarian within five days.
Which was objected to, and ruled out of order, because resolutions are not now in order.
Mr. COFFROTH moved that the Doorkeepr be required to procure one copy for each member of the Daily Telegraph and sic copies of the Volksblatt
Mr PIERCE, of Porter, proposed to add six copies of the weekly Zukunft [?]
On motion of Mr BARRETT, it was laid on the table - yeas 51 nays 37.
And then the report as amended was adopted, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Mr OSBORN said we can no longer look to the committees of the last session for reports, and it became the House to act on the alleged frauds and enormities in the management of the prisons, and the Governor's recommendations in regard to this matter, with special earnestness and [promptitude?]
Mr BARRITT said the former committee were ready to report. Their report was ready now to be submitted, and be alleged that the committee has probed these matters to the bottom.
RESOLUTIONS - MANAGEMENT OF THE PRISONS.
Mr. HAMILTON submitted the following:
Resolved, That a Special Committee on Prisons be appointed by the Speaker, whose duty it shall be to inquire into the manner in which the management of the prisons have been carried on - to report as soon as possible.
He gave reason for the proposition.
Mr. STEWARD, of Ohio, supported the resolution, on the ground of the popular demand for investigation.
page: 55[View Page 55]Mr. WELBORN thought it premature; proposing to await the investigations and reports of the Standing Committees, whose examinations, he understood, were very through.
Mr. STEWART, of Rush, also considered that the matter was premature. He would not multiply committees till we found a pressing occasion to do so.
Mr. RUDDELL said, while it was the desire of the former committee to report earlier, it became impossible for them to do so. Inf fact, the committee was ready to report, and he failed to obtain leave to submit it, on the third of March. He said the feeling of some officers in the management of the prison toward the committee was not the most pleasant, which was accounted for by the searching nature of the investigation by the committee. He said that a new investigation could but corroborate the existing report, adding that the extra expense of the existing report is not far from $200
Mr. WILDMAN desired the consent of the House to hear the report of the old committee, but was not unwilling to appoint another special committee.
Mr. VATER moved to postpone the consideration of the resolution one week.
Mr PIERCE, of Vigo, held that the former committees report could not be received. And he stated that, perhaps, with effort to get at the bottom of the matter, they went a little below the bottom. It had been insinuated that they have not heard all the testimony and that they heard some that is improper. He simply wanted a new committee, against whom could be laid no charge of unfairness.
Mr. ZOLLARS said these insinuations of unfairness must have come from interested and implicated parties. He would not discard the former committee not their report, being of the opinion, that, instead of being over thorough, that the reports is not thorough enough.
Mr. MILES moved to lay the resolution on the table, and the motion was agreed to - yeas 59, nays 23
The SPEAKER announced the following:
STANDING COMMITTEE ON UNROLLED BILLS.
Messrs Stephenson, Johnston of Parke, Tebbs, Dittemore, Underwood, Field of Lake, and Welborn
Mr. Stephenson submitted a concurrent resolution, which was adopted, for Congressional instructions for the reduction or entire abolishment of the exorbitant tolls now charged on navigation through the canal around the falls at Louisville, Kentucky
Mr. COFFROTH submitted an order, which was adopted, that the Committee on Prisons of the last regular session be requested to report the result of their investigations at 2 o'clock this afternoon.
THE CALENDAR.
The Twenty sixth Judicial Circuit Cort bill [S. 290] was read the first time
Mr. STEWART, of Rush, moved ineffectually for a suspension of the Constitutional restriction
It was referred to a special committee of members interested.
The matter of the Senate's disagreement of House amendments to the Railroad Consolidation bill [S 94] coming up, on the motion of Mr. COFFROTH (author of the amendments) it was referred to a special committee.
Bills from the Senate, numbered respectively 5, 8, 50, 64, 83, 84, 95, 105, 110, 131, 146, 211, 217 270 and 292, were severally read the first time, and appropriately referred.
And then the House took a recess until 2 o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The SPEAKER resumed at 2 o'clock P. M.
The SPEAKER announced (with but a single change from that of the regular session - Mr. Field, of Lake, having been appointed on the Judiciary Committee,) the following
STANDING COMMITTEE ON STATE PRISONS.
Messrs. Ruddell, Lamporn, Barritt, Hamilton, Monroe, Davis of Elkhart, and Cory.
MANAGEMENT AND CONDITION OF THE PRISONS.
Mr. RUDDELL, from the Prison's Committee, in compliance with the resolution of the House adopted this morning, submitted an elaborate report of their investigations of the condition and management of the State Prisons ad Jeffersonville and Michigan City, embracing charges preferred by Colonel Meredith against officials in the management of the prison South, at Jeffersonville; which was read by the Clerk.
Mr RUDDELL made explanatory statements, showing the reasons for the delay of the report, and in behalf of the Committee he submitted a preamble and a resolution, which was adopted, as follows:
WHEREAS, The Senate and the House sub committee on the Affairs of the State Prisons, in their investigations of the charges against certain Directors of the State Prison South, made that investigation jointly and had but one copy of the evidence prepared, believing that to be sufficient for the use of both committees, which copy was submitted by the Chairman of the Senate Committee, together with his report to the Senate; and,
WHEREAS, The Senate refused to allow the said copy to be withdrawn for the use of the House committee; therefore,
Resolved, That the Senate be requested to furnish a copy of the evidence to this House.
page: 56[View Page 56]Mr. RATLIFF moved that the report of the Committee on Prisons be laid on the table for the present, which was agreed to.
After further examination by Mr. HAMILTON and Mr. OSBORN -
Mr. RUDDELL submitted a written explaination and report to the Governor from the Directors of the Southern Prison, dated April 6, 1869, which was read for the information of the House.
Mr. OSBORN said as this paper set forth what pertains to the old Warden, and the report respects the Directors, the matters against the old Warden, he supposed, did not come to light till the coming in of the new Warden
Mr RUDDELL and Mr. PIERCE of Vigo, assented to this. Mr. Ruddell stating that this latter paper presented by him was a document accompanying the Governor's message
The House refused to lay the document on the table and it was referred to the Committee on Prisons.
THE CALENDAR.
Bills from the Senate received and filed in the calendar, during the regular session and numbered respectively as follows: 234, 238, 89 239 255 261, were read the first time and referred.
The House still pursuing the calendar, proceeded to the consideration of engrossed bills of the Senate on the third reading
PROTECTION OF RIVER BANKS
The bill [S. 48] for the protection of banks of water courses, etc, authorizing persons owning property along any water course in this State, that is navigable for boats of large size, to hang gates at or near the top of the bank, across any road leading down the bank and terminating at said water course, saving those within the limits of incorporated towns and cities was taken up and passed the final reading in the House of Representatives - yeas, 58; nays, 16
PATENT VENDERS
The bill [S. 17] to resuate patent rights and prevent frauds therein, was taken up
It proposes that every vendor of patent rights shall file with the County Clerk a copy of his letters patent, with his affidavit that they are genuine, etc; that he has a right to sell the same; his name, age, occupation, and residence, and the same of his principal; and receive a certified copy thereof, and exhibit it on demand. The words "given for a patent" to be written on every written obligation taken by him, and providing a penalty of $1000 It was finally passed - yeas 80; nays, 1.
PAY OF JURORS
The bill [S. 58] to amend section 16 of the aggregation of the fees of officers, &c, approved March 2, 1855 was taken up.
It proposes to pay jurors $2 per day and four cents milage. And jurors before a Justice of the Peace 75 cents per day, to be taxed with the costs.
Mr. WILLIAMS, of Knox, desired, but did not obtain, unanimous consent to make the mileage six cents
The bill was finally passed the House of Representatives - yeas 81, nays 2
The bill [S. 81] to legalize the appraisement of the real estate of the State of Indiana, made in the year 1864, coming up with a recommendation by the Judiciary Committee,
0n motion of Mr. COFFROTH, it was laid on the table.
STATE DEBT FUND COEMISSIONERS
The bill [S. 231] to amend section two of an act to provide for a State Debt Sinking Fund, &c, approved December 21, 1865, making the Governor a member of the Board of the State Debt Sinking Fund, was taken up and passed the final reading in the House of Representatives - yeas 72, nays 9.
ADDITIONAL UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTS.
The joint resolution [S. 9] creating another District Court of the United States in the Southern District of Indiana, was taken up.
It proposes Congressional instructions to secure such Southern District. And Mr. McFadin's amendment thereto (which was adopted) proposes to include a Norther District - the court to be located at Logansport.
Mr WELBORN said his motion to reconsider the adoption of Mr. McFadin's amendment was duly filed during the regular session, and he moved now to take up that motion to reconsider.
And, accordingly, the motion to reconsider was taken up
Mr. McFADIN was heard in favor of his amendment, showing that the same demand, and the same necessity exists for the Northern and for a Southern District Court of the United States.
Mr. WELBORN replied, showing the superiority of the claims of the southern portion of the State - Evansville being the second city of the State as to population and the first as to commercial importance And, by a decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, no case connected with the local civil court; but they must all come up to the United States District Court at Indianapolis. These numerous wrongs were suffered on account of the expense of coming here with cases involving claims of smaller amounts. It re page: 57[View Page 57]quired a cause of action for $500 to pay for coming up here with it. And he was satisfied that Congress would pay no attention to our application for two additional United States District Courts for the State Of Indiana And this was the only thing be asked or expected for the Southern portion of the State looking to an advantage on account of State or National patronage And he deprecated the unreasonable hostility which had defeated former applications for this Southern District Court.
Mr. McFADEN spoke again, sustaining his amendment, criticising the superior claims of Evansville.
The question on the motion to reconsider, was decided in the negative 40 to 46. So the House refused to reconsider
The question being on the final passage of the joint resolution-
Mr. STANTON disclaimed any knowledge of an controlling influence hostile to Evansville, or to a Southern District Court, intimated by Mr. Welborn.
Mr WELBORN was willing now to vote for another United States District Court for Richmond, tor the east, and Terre Haute, or wheresoever, for the west portion of the State
Mr NEFF considered the amendment equivalent to a defeat of the proposition, and he should now vote against it.
On motion of Mr BAILIFF, it was laid on the table. Affirmative 41, negative 28
0n motion of Mr. OSBORN, the order of business was suspended for the call of the names of members for the introduction of bills
Mr. BAKER, (for Mr. Underwood) introduced a bill [H. R. 321] for an act to amend the act authorizing the authorities of cities and towns to sell bonds for the erection and repairs of School houses, &c.
Mr. UNDERWOOD had explained that the object of his bill was to authorize the proper authorities of cities and towns "to purchase" school houses, as well as to build them. Is was referred to the Committee on Education
Mr. BARNET introduced a bill [H. R. 322] to enable railroad companies who have formed articles of association to perfect their lines by connections, to preserve their franchises, &c.
It was referred to the special Committee on Railroads.
The House then adjourned.
