HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, January 9, 1871.The House met, pursuant to adjournmentlast Friday, at 2 o'clock P. M.
The session was opened with the order of prayer by the Rev. Mr. Morand.
Mr. MARTIN, of Putnam, presented thecredentials of the Hon. G. W. FRIEDLEY,Representative elect for the county of Lawrence, and, on his motion, that gentleman received the oath of his office at the hand of Judge BUSKIRK, of the Supreme Court of the State, and took his seat.
The journal of Friday was read and approved.
On motion of Mr. CALKINS, of Porter, Mr. Weakly obtained leave of absence till to-morrow, to enable him to attend the session of the Committee on Elections.
SURVIVING SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
The SPEAKER laid before the House acommunication from the Governor, transmitting a copy of a petition by the com page: 55[View Page 55] mittee of a meeting of the surviving soldiers of the war of 1812, residing in this State, in the town of Cambridge City, Wayne county, on the 26th of December, 1869, asking for the passage of a joint resolution by this General Assembly to memorialize the Congress of the United States for the passage of the bill pending at the time of the final adjournment of the last session of Congress, granting a pension to the surviving soldiers of the war of 1812.
Mr. NEFF, obtaining leave for the purpose, introduced a joint resolution, [H. R. 2], in relation to the granting of pensions to the surviving soldiers of the war of 1812, which was read[a memorial to Congress in the interest of these petitioners.]
Mr. WILSON moved the adoption of the joint resolution. A joint resolution requires but one reading for its consideration and passage. He said it has been the practice of the House to require three readings of a joint resolution, but, he submitted that, upon better authority, it requires but one reading; and for this reason, in part, he moved that it be put at once on its passage.
The joint resolution being read through again by the Clerk, was adopted on the part of the House of Representatives--yeas 92, nays 0.
RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. WILSON, from the Select Committee on Rules, reported a revision of the rules of the last House of Representative's, stating that the Committee endeavored to make the Rules conform to the practice in the Congress of the United States.
The report having been read by Mr. W.--
Mr. NEFF was satisfied that the committee have improved upon the rules of the last session, but the House should take time to consider their report. He could not keep up with the reading of the gentleman from Marion, so as to be advised of the various changes reported sufficiently to vote upon them. When once adopted and printed, it is not very convenient to amend these rules; and if he knew how to gain it, he would like to have time to consider the report.
The SPEAKER suggested that the report might be printed.
Mr. NEFF. Would it not be satisfactory to let it go over till to-morrow?
Mr. McDONALD was not prepared to vote on these rules. He objected particularly to the change reported in Rule 22, for parliamentary reasons.
Mr. MARTIN, of Putnam, moved that the further consideration of the report be postponed, and that it be made the special order for to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock; but he did not press his motion.
Mr. GORDON moved that the report be printed.
Mr. McDONALD would prefer the old rules rather than go to the expense of printing the report. It would save both time and money to make it a special order.
Mr. WILSON also preferred to make it a special order.
The motion to print was rejected, and then the report was made the special order for tomorrow at 10 o'clock A. M.
OFFICERS ELECTIVE BY THE LEGISLATURE.
On motion of Mr. NEFF the House took up for consideration the concurrent resolution of the Senate for a joint convention of the two Houses of the General Assembly in the Hall of the House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon at 2 1/2 o'clock for the purpose of electing such officers as are to be elected by this General Assembly, except the Agent of State, whose election shall be postponed four weeks unless said office shall be abolished.
The concurrent resolution was adopted on the part of the House of Representatives yeas 93, nays 1.
BILLS.
Mr. CONNER introduced a bill [H. R. 13] for an act creating the Twenty-ninth Judidicial Circuit, fixing time of holding court therein, declaring the vacancy of a Judge, and Prosecuting Attorney, and providing for these officers, providing for the return of process in said circuit, and providing a Judge to hold court in the county of Madison. [Said Twenty-ninth Circuit embraces the counties of Hamilton, Tipton, and Howard.]
On the motion of Mr. CONNER, it was referred to a special committee appointed by the Speaker, viz: Messrs. Conner, Stephenson, Sansberry, Kilpatrick, and Gordon, of Boone.
Mr. RHODES introduced a bill [H. R. 14] for an act to amend section 2 of an act in relation to interest on money, approved May 22, 1852, [interest on judgments shall be the rates specified in the contracts.]
It was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. ST. JOHN introduced a bill [H. R. 15] for an act to amend sections 6 and 7 of an act regulating and granting divorces, nullification of marriages, and decrees and orders of court in relation thereto, approved May 13, 1852. [It confines the power of granting divorces to the Circuit Court, and provides, amongst other particulars, so that no divorce shall be granted in this State for any cause which would not entitle the applicant to a divorce in the State where he resided at the time of the offense.]
Mr. STEPHENS introduced a bill [H. R. 16] for an act to amend the seventh section of an act regulating the granting of divorces.
Mr. BROWNING introduced a bill, [H. R. 17] for an act to amend section twenty-two of an act prescribing the powers and duties of justice of the peace in State prosecutions. Approved May 29, 1852.
Mr. BRITTON introduced a bill, [H. R. 18] for an act to repeal section two of an act repealing sections 2 to 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, of an act to require a registration of voters, approved March 11, 1867, and prescribing further duties of the officers of elections; approved May 13, 1869.
Mr. BARNABY introduced a bill [H. R. 19] for an act to authorize the Common Coun- page: 56[View Page 56] cil of Jeffersonville to elect pilots for the falls of the Ohio river.
Mr. STONE introduced a bill [H. R. 20] for an act to abolish the office of Agent of State, and to authorize the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint a temporary Agent, if necessary.
It was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
WM. M. MERWIN.
Mr. NEFF submitted a resolution, which was adopted, that Wm. M. Merwin be allowed five days' pay and mileage for his services in the organization of this House; that the Speaker draw his warrant for the same; and that the same be paid out of the appropriation for legislative purposes.
BILLS.
Mr. WARRUM introduced a bill [H. R. 21] for an act to amend sections 97 and 103 of an act to revise, simplify and abridge the forms of practice and proceedure in criminal actions in this State; approved June 17, 1852.
Mr. CALDWELL introduced a bill [H. R. 22] for an act to amend an act to enable the owners of wet lands to drain and reclaim them when the same can be done without affecting the rights of other land owners, by amending the tittle thereof, and sections 1, 3, 4, 6, 9,11,12-the tittle to be amended so as to read: An act to enable and encourage the owners of wet lands and marshes to drain and reclaim them when the same can be done without affecting the rights of others, and defining the duties of county officers in relation thereto, and repealing all acts in conflict with the provisions of this act.
Mr. WOOD introduced a bill [H. R. 23] for an act to repeal an act to authorize and encourage the construction of levees, dykes and drains by incorporated companies, and to repeal all former laws in relation thereto, which took effect May 22, 1869.
Mr. CALKINS of Porter, presented a petition from sundry citizens of Porter county asking for the passage of this bill, and by unanimous consent it was ordered to be referred with the bill.
Mr. MARTIN of Wayne introduced a bill [H. R. 24] for an act to amend section 90 of the criminal procedure act of June 17,1852. [It declares that amongst the competent witnesses, the accused may testify if he chooses.]
A message from the Senate by Mr. Cory, Secretary, announced the passage in that body of a resolution on the subject of annexing Dominica to the United States, and asking the concurrence of the House of Representatives.
BILLS.
Mr. MAJOR Introduced a bill [H. E. 25] for an act to amend section 77 of the common school law of March 11,1861. [School funds to be loaned at 10 per cent. interest.]
Mr. WASHBURN introduced a bill [H. R. 26] for an act to raise revenue for State purposes for the years 1871, 1872 and for subsequent years. [A tax of ten cents on the $100.]
Mr. TAYLOR introduced a bill [H. R. 27] for an act for the improvement of highways, and providing for the assessment and collection of road taxes, and prescribing the duties of Township Trustees and others in relation thereto.
Mr. GORDON, of Boone, introduced a bill [H. R. 28] for an act regulating and fixing the salaries of certain county officers therein mentioned, and providing for the compensation of deputies appointed by them.
Mr. MARTIN, of Putnam, introduced a bill [H. R. 29] repealing sections three and four of an act entitled "An Act authorizing voluntary associations formed under an act concerning the organization of voluntary associations and repealing former laws in reference thereto, approved February 12,1855, to acquire title to lands that have heretofore been used as burial places, and to acquire additional adjoining lands for burial purposes and declaring an emergency," approved May 14, 1869, and declaring an emergency.
The House then at 4:10 o'clock adjourned.
