AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Speaker announced the special order, the consideration of the Senate concurrent resolution for a joint special committee to employ reporters and contract for the binding of 500 copies of the Brevier Reports, etc.
The House refused to concur. Yeas, 30; Nays, 42.
The Speaker laid before the House the informal report of the Committee on Mileage, allowing R. S. Wilkerson and Charles H. Woodard, five dollars a day as committee clerk and janitor. It was concurred in.
CARELESS DRIVING.
Mr. Tulley's bill [H. R. 314] to prevent negligent or careless riding or driving on the public highways, (so as to injure or destroy the property of another, by fine of from five to fifty dollars), was taken up on the third reading and finally passed the House of Representatives yeas, 64, nays, 5.
PROTECTION OF DITCHES.
Mr. Shirley's bill [H. R. 146] to prevent the obstruction of ditches, dykes and running streams, and prescribing penalty, was taken up and finally passed the House of Representatives-yeas 70, nays 0.
HOUSE OF REFUGE.
Mr. Baxter's bill [H. R. 382] to authorize the enlargement of the House of Refuge for Juvenile Offenders (making an appropriation of $55,000 therefor, so as to increase the capacity of the House of Refuge and make it sufficient to accommodate at least 400 inmates) was finally passed the House of Representatives - yeas 68, nays 7.
RAILROAD AID.
On motion of Mr. Miller, the Senate amendments to his bill [H. R. 297] supplemental to act to authorize the construction of railroads by counties, etc., viz.: to amend the first section by inserting appropriately: "In the county or township making the donation or taking the stock": and in the second section: "And the Auditor and Treasurer shall superintend the collection of such taxes, but they shall not be delinquent until the said road shall be permanently located through the said county or township, and shall have expended an amount of money thereon equal to the amount of the said taxes; and if in three years said railroad shall not have expended such an amount of money thereon, the Board of County Commissioners may in their discretion make an order to annul, etc., on petition of thirty free holders and due public notice; provided that whenever said railroad shall have expended an amount of money equal to the stock taken by said county or township, it shall be the duty of the County Commissioners to order said money to be paid over at once." The amendments were concurred in.
DIVORCE.
The Speaker next announced the consideration of Mr. Woollen's bill [H. R. 333] concerning divorces.
The question being on the third reading thereof,
Mr. Bowser desired unanimous consent to amend the bill so as to save pending actions for divorce.
Mr. Woollen said : The proposed law does not save the cases now pending, because it was considered that it involves a question of morality, If it is right that we should change the divorce laws so as to change the causes for a divorce may be obtained, then it is not right to provide that divorces may be obtained for causes not included in the proposed law. We go upon the supposition that the law is wrong now, and that all actions for obtaining divorces should be striken down unless they come under the provisions of this act. I know very well that this is striking at some of my own private business as a lawyer; but while I am on this floor I shall vote for this bill as a representative of the people, and attend to my cases and clients as a lawyer, when I go home.After further debate, and further propositions to amend, in which Messrs. Hollingsworth, Smith, Woollen, Miller, Mellett, Wilson of Ripley, Shirley, Johnson, and Clark took part, the previous question pressure brought the vote, and the bill was finally passed the House of Representatives. Yeas, 56; nays, 21.
THE CONSTITUTION.
Mr. Walker submitted a joint resolution for giving notice to the electors of the State of the time of the submission of the question of the amendment to the Constitution prohibiting legislation for payment of the debt charged on the Wabash and Erie Canal, to wit: On the 18th of February, 1873, requiring the Secretary of State to give notice thereof by advertisement in the Indianapolis Journal and in the Indianapolis Sentinel, and the Governor to give notice thereof by proclamation. It was passed on the part of the House of Representatives - yeas, 74; nays 0.
Mr. Mellett's bill [H. R. 360] to appropriate $150 to distribute the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, was also finally passed the House of Representatives.
On motion of Mr. Mellett, it was ordered that two members be added to the Committee on Education.
Mr. Billingsly moved to take up the Senate concurrent resolution in relation to the public printing, but the House adjourned.
