HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SATURDAY, February 15, 1873The journal of yesterday was read and approved.
The Speaker took up and pursued the call for new propositions.
Mr. Anderson introduced a bill [H. R. 491] to amend section 5 of the act of June 9, '52, to provide for the election and qualification of justices of the peace, defining their powers and duties. [Juries before a justice to consist of six jurors; or less by consent of parties.] Judiciary.
Mr. Gifford, (by unanimous consent) returned from the Committee on Cities and Towns, Mr. Cobb's bill [H. R. 489] to amend section 5 of the act of February 16, '48, to incorporate the town of Huntington, recommending its passage. It was read the second time and ordered to the engrossment.
Mr. Mellett introduced a bill [H. R. 492] to Amend section 7 of the act of May 11, 1869, to establish a Home for the maintenance of sick and disabled Indiana soldiers and seamen, and supplemental to said act. (It is provided that widows and orphans of soldiers and seamen from other States who are bona fide residents of this State, may be admitted.) Benevolent Institutions.
Mr. Thompson, of Elkhart, introduced a bill [H. R. 493] to amend line 2, section 8, of the act of February 18, 1865, to provide for a more uniform, mode of doing county business, prescribing the duties of certain officers, etc. (To provide for the local tax levy in cases of the failure of the County Commissioners and Trustees to make it.) County and Township Business.
Mr. Cobb (for Mr. Butterworth) introduced a bill [H. R. 494] to provide for the appointment of two Commissioners of Fisheries, and making an appropriation therefor. (The Governor to appoint said commissioners, whose duty it shall be to inquire into the feasibility of restocking our lakes and rivers with the best varieties and new varieties of edible fishes, especially to inquire and report on the best varieties, and the best methods for propagating them, and the best plans for fish ladders. Also to make experiments in the artificial propagation of fish, and for this purpose said commissioners are authorized to take fish at all seasons of the year, in all places in the State, and at any time that they may deem it expedient. Said commissioners to hold office for two years, removable by the Governor, and receive three dollars a day and traveling expenses, compensation.) Agriculture.
Mr. Wynn (for another) introduced a bill [H. R. 495] to amend section one of the act to amend sundry sections of the act to incorporate the town of Vernon, in Jennings county. It was passed to the second reading.
Mr. Billingsley introduced a bill [H. R. 496] to amend section one hundred and sixty of the common school act of March 6,1865, adding supplemental sections thereto and declaring an emergency. [Whenever a teachers institute is in session the county schools shall be closed, and each teacher in the county shall be entitled to his actual expenses incurred in attendance, etc.; and all common school teachers to be authorized to close their schools on the legal holidays.] Education.
Mr. King presented the claim of I. Taylor for services at the House of Refuge. It was referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. Eward presented a bill [H. R. 497] giving justices of the peace and mayors of cities original and exclusive jurisdiction in all cases of misdemeanor, where the fine does not exceed $50, and where imprisonment is not a part of the penalty. It was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Baxter presented the memorial of Abijah Moffett and others, citizens of Boone county, against capital punishment, as a relic of barbarism, antagonistic, etc. It was referred to the Committee on Reformatory Institutions.
Mr. B. also submitted a resolution for an order to give the privilege of the Hall of the House of Representatives, and to invite the Senate tomeet the House therein, for the purposes of an address on capital punishment by Marvin H. Bovee, on Wednesday next, at three o'clock P. M.
Mr. Shirley objected to the loss of the time of the session which the order would involve, and moved to make it seven o'clock P. M. on said day.
Mr. Baxter accepted, and so the resolution was adopted.Mr. Baxter introduced a bill [H. R. 498] to establish a sanitarium, providing for the Government thereof, and repealing all laws in conflict therewith. (The Indiana Sanitarium to be under the supervision of three commissioners appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, so as that two shall hold over and one go out of office in each year; said Board of Control to select a site of from five to one hundred acres for said Sanitarium, to prepare and adopt plans for the building and grounds, to provide a Superindentent thereof every four years, who shall give bonds in $10,000, etc., and shall supervise the treatment, cure and reformation of habitual drunkards, such as may be committed to said institution for terms extending from nine months to two years. Each page: 170[View Page 170] member of said Board of Control to be allowed $200 a year compensation and no more. The bill proposes to appropriate $50,000 for the purchase of said cite and for said building - said board to receive gifts and donations for this purpose from temperance societies, individuals, etc.) Reformatory institutions.
Mr. Walker introduced a bill [H. R. 499] to authorize cities and towns to sell bonds to procure money to erect school houses and to pay debts incurred for school purposes, and to issue other bonds and to exchange them for those previously issued. It was passed to the second reading, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.Mr. Tulley introduced a bill [H. R. 500] to amend section 531 of the practice act. (Every recognizance shall bind the real estate and security from the time it is taken.) It was referred I to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Buskirk introduced a bill [H. R. 501] to amend the title of the act concerning licenses to vend foreign merchandise, approved June 15, 1852. It was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Mellett presented the petition of Lucy Delano and eighty-nine others, students of the Indiana State Normal School, concurring with the trustees of that institution in their petition for the appropriation of money to place that institution on a footing that will realize the end for which it was designed. Education.
The Speaker laid before the House a communication from Antoine Sontag transmitting papers on the subject of immigration, and petitioning this State Legislature to pass a joint resolution favoring such national legislation as the memorialists contemplate. These memorials were referred to the Committee on Statistics and Emigration.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Mr. Edwards, of Lawrence, from the Committee on Elections, returned Mr. Isenhower's bill [H. R. 438] to repeal section 2 and amend sections 3 and 4 of the act to amend sections 1 to 22 of the act to provide for the registry of voters, etc., approved March 7, 1867, and prescribing further duties of officers of elections, etc., approved May 13, 1869, recommending that it be laid on the table. The report was concurred in.
Mr. Mellett, from the Committee on Education, returned Mr. Buskirk's bill [H. R. 480] to encourage teacher's institutes, with a recommendation that it lie on the table. He said the bill is for the purpose of increasing the fund for the expenses incurred in holding teachers institutes over the State. The amount allowed now to each county is $50. The bill proposes to make it $2 for every teacher in attendance. The committee think that the provisions of the bills that have been passed the House for these purposes will be, perhaps, sufficient. The report was concurred in.
Mr. M. also returned Mr. Butterworth's bill [H. R. 340] to compel parents and guardians to educate their children and wards, with amendments according to the instructions of the House; striking out section 3 and correcting the numbers of the following sections, made necessary by this amendment.
The Speaker. The Chair does not wish to take advantage of the absence of the author of the bill by putting the pending question.
On motion of Mr. Hatch the bill and the report were laid on the table.
Mr. Wilson, of Ripley, made an ineffectual motion to adjourn.
Mr. Hedrick, from the Committee on Rights and Privileges, returned Mr. Butterworth's bill [H. R. 485] requiring railroad conductors and engineers to stop all their trains at all cities and towns, recommending that it be laid on the table. The report was concurred in - Mr. Cobb moving, ineffectually, to lay it on the table.
Mr. Given, from the Committee on Education, and Messrs. Hedrick and Gifford, from the Committee on Rights and Privileges, submitted reports involving questions which the Speaker declined to entertain, and at the request of the Chair they were withdrawn.
Mr. King, from the Committee on Railroads, returned Mr. Kimball's bill [H. R. 473] providing for the incorporation of companies formed for the purpose of constructing bridges for road purposes over rivers and streams of water, recommending its passage.
Mr. Walker did not believe that the House (probably without a quorum) ought to receive reports from committees on bills involving important questions, and proceed to concur in them. I believe that this report ought to be laid on the table.
The Speaker. That will be the order.
Mr. Richardson desired a suspension of the order of business in order to enable him to move to take up the consideration of bills from the Senate on their first reading.
Mr. Buskirk moved to take up his court bill that it may be read the second time.
Mr. Gifford desired to return one of Mr. Gronendyke's bills.
Mr. Offutt submitted a resolution tor an order (which was adopted) that General Blocher be requested to move for an adjournment.
The Speaker. That bill is passed. The clerk will bear the order to General Blocher.
Mr. Blocher. I move that we adjourn till Monday, two o'clock P. M.
The Speaker. Of course it's carried.
Accordingly, the House adjourned.
