THE
BREVIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTS.
VOLUME FOURTEEN.
INDIANA LEGISLATURE.
IN SENATE.
MONDAY, January 20, 1873, two o'clock P.M.The Lieutenant Governor took the chair, and the Rev. W. F. Black, President of the Northwestern Christian University, opened the session with prayer.
The minutes of Friday's proceedings were being read when, on motion by Mr. Daugherty, the further reading was dispensed with.
Mr. Bowman, from the Select Committee thereon, returned the bill [S. 155] for the return from the State Treasury of certain taxes illegally assessed in 1869, with a favorable recommendation. Concurred in.
RESOLUTIONS.
Mr. Friedley, of Lawrence, offered a concurrent resolution appropriating $500 to Messrs. Osborne and Calkins for legal services, in the matter of the Calumet darn, under authority from Gov. Baker. He asked that it be referred to the Committee on Claims.Referred to the Joint Committee on Claims.
Mr. Brown offered a concurrent resolution, which was adopted, that a joint committee of two Senators and two Representatives be appointed to examine the books and offices of the House of the Soldiers' and Seamen's Home.
The Lieutenant Governor subsequently made the committee on the part of the Senate, viz: Messrs Boone and Bunyan.
Mr. Dwiggins offered a resolution, which was adopted, directing the Committee on Claims to ascertain whether the Guttenberg Printing Company doubled their bills and were overpaid for papers at the special session.
Mr. Beardsley offered a joint resolution (which he said was drawn by Gov. Baker himself) authorizing the sale of certain articles therein mentioned. [Certain articles of furniture and household property, formerly belonging to the Governor's mansion, and now in possession of Governor Baker.
It was passed under a constitutional provision requiring all joint resolutions to be adopted by a viva voce vote - yeas 34, nays 0.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
Mr. Beardsley introduced a bill [S. 219] for an act to provide for the construction and maintenance of fish ladders, and prescribing punishment for damage done to the same. [At every dam in the rivers of St. Joseph, Eel, East Branch of White, Wabash, Tippacanoe, Whitewater.]
Mr. Steele introduced a bill [S. 220] for an act affording relief to counties and townships voting aid to railroad companies, and repealing all laws inconsistent therewith, and declaring an emergency. [The payment of said aid need not be made till the work on such improvement shall have been commenced in the township voting the same, or until the Board of Commissioners shall be satisfied the work will be done.]
Mr. Friedley, of Lawrence, introduced a bill [S. 221] for an act to amend section 15 of the town incorporation act of June 11, 1852. [Town school trustees to be elected with, town officersone for each ward.
Mr. Daggy introduced a bill [S. 222] for an act making it unlawful for owners or proprietors of billiard tables to suffer minors to play thereon or to congregate about billiard tables in any public place.
[On motion by Mr. Taylor, the consideration of Governor Baker's biennial and Governor Hendricks' inaugural messages were made the special order for two o'clock to-morrow.]
Mr. Friedley, of Lawrence, introduced a bill [S. 225] for an act to legalize certain acts of notaries public. [Those whose commissions had expired.]
These bills were read the first time and severally passed to the second reading.
THE CALENDAR - HOUSE BILLS.
The bill [H. R. 291] defining what counties shall constitute the Third Judicial Circuit, was read the first time.
The bill [H. R. 293] to abolish the office of State Printer being read the first time, -
Mr. Steele moved for a suspension of the constitutional restriction, that this important bill may be advanced on the calendar.
Mr. Brown hoped the Senate would not suspend the rule. Senators should think upon it at least over night, and consider what is best to be done.
Mr. O'Brien said if the office is abolished, and page: 56[View Page 56] no substitute for the present law enacted, the State would be in a bad fix.
Mr. Steele thought some arrangements could be made at once. Contracts could, be entered into for an indefinite length of time.
Mr. Neff would like to know whether the time of the present State Printer would expire immediately on the passage of this bill.
Mr. Steele so understood it.
The motion to dispense with the constitutional restriction was rejected - yeas 23, nays 11 - two-thirds of the Senators elect not voting in the affirmative.
The bill [H. R. 76] to amend several sections of the drainage of wet lands act of March 11,1867, was read the first time.
On motion by Mr. Dittemore the fee bill [S. 172] was taken froru the table and referred to the Committee on Fees and Salaries.
NEW STATE HOUSE.
Mr. Thompson's bill [S. 29] to provide for the enlargement of the State House grounds, in order to furnish a suitable site for a new State House, coming up in regular order, it was read the second time.
Mr. Slater. Inasmuch as there are propositions, now submitted from the owners for the sale of the property mentioned, and as Senator Thompson, who is absent, was very desirious to have this bill passed, he moved for a dispensation of the constitutional restriction, that the bill may be passed by the Senate to-day.
The motion was agreed to by yeas, 36; nays, 1.
The bill was considered engrossed, and read the third time.
Mr. Williams understood that the city of Indianapolis has donated to the State about three-fourths of a square north of the alley since the bill was introduced, and suggested that it would be well to strike out so much of the bill as refers to that.
The bill passed the Senate by yeas, 35; nays, 0; with an amendment of title, striking out all except the words "An act to provide for the enlargement of the State House grounds."
INDIANA MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY.
Mr. Beardsley's bill [S. 53] to amend the charter of the Indiana Marine Insurance Company being read the second time -
On motion by Mr. Brown, the words "as secured to be paid for as provided in the second section of this act" were stricken out.
Mr. Sleeth had not seen the old charter, and would not consent to having the bill ordered to be engrossed until he had examined it.
The bill was passed over informally.
MAYORS AND MARSHALS.
Mr. Gregg's bill [S. 35] to amend sections seventeen and nineteen of the city incorporation act, approved March 14, 1867, was read the second time, and, after debate, referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Sarnighausen's bill [S. 69] to authorize incorporated cities to sell real estate as the Common Council thereof may deem expedient, was read the second time.
Mr. Bird moved to amend by adding section 3, providing that no such property shall be sold until appraised by three disinterested freeholders, appointed by the Circuit Judge, and no such property shall be sold for less than the appraised value thereof.
On motion of Mr. Sarnighausen the bill was ordered to be engrossed for the third reading tomorrow.
Mr. Neff moved that his bill [S. 38] regulating prosecutions in cases of bastardy, and providing for the support of illegitimate children, may be ordered to be engrossed for the third reading - the endorsement thereon failing to show that fact.
A motion to correct the Secretary's minutes [to correspond with the reports in these columns] was agreed to by yeas 28, nays 9.
On motion by Mr. Brown, the bill was made the special order for Wednesday, at ten o'clock A. M.
Adjourned
