AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. Offutt submitted a resolution for an order (which was adopted) authorizing the Speaker to draw his warrant to Frederick Lee, administrator of the estate of Patrick H. Lee, late a member of this House for the county of Vigo, for his per diem, etc., for the full term of the present session.
STATE HOUSE GROUNDS.
Mr. Branham submitted a motion, which was adopted, to reconsider the vote of this morning, by which the joint resolution of the Senate in relation to the State House ground was concurred in, and subsequently, on his motion, it was ordered that the Senate be requested to return the same to the House of Representatives.
AUDITOR OF STATE.
Mr. Kimball, from the Committee on Ways and means, reported for an additional allowance for salary and clerk hire to the Auditor of State $1,200; which, in reply to Mr Butterworth, he said would make the Auditor's compensation $2,000. The report was concurred in.
He also returned from the Committee on Ways and Means the specific appropriation bill, ]H. R. 535], and the general appropriation bill, with amendments heretofore ordered by the House; and the reports were concurred in and the bills were referred again to the said committee.
RAILROAD LAWS.
The Speaker took up the special order, viz: the consideration of the bill [S. 115] to prevent extortionate charges for, and unjust discriminations in the transportation of freight by any railroad company, and other common carriers; to provide a remedy where such extortions and discriminations are made, and to provide for the assessment of damages. Which was read at amended, and as proposed to be amended.
Mr. Wesner submitted a motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Railroads, with instructions to strike out the amendments reported by the Committee on Judiciary, and insert in lieu the amendments reported by the Committed on Railroads.
Mr. Offutt moved that the motion be laid on the table, which was agreed to - yeas 57, nays 36.
Mr. Walker demanded the previous question, and there was a second - yeas 46, nays 45and the main question, viz.: Shall the bill pass? was decided in the affirmative - yeas 59, nays 23 so the bill passed the House of Representatives.
Mr. Miller (by unanimous consent) introduced a bill [H. R. 539] authorizing prosecuting attorneys to prosecute the pleas of the State before justices of the peace, and providing their compensation therefor. (In criminal prosecution and in actions on forfeited recognizances. It was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Smith, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill [H. R. 540] fixing the time for holding the Circuit Court in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, (affecting Putnam and Clay.)
INSURANCE LAWS.
Mr. Wilson, of Ripley, from the Committee on Insurance (under yesterday's order of the House), returned the Ways and Means Committee bill [H. R. 350] in reference to insurance companies, and regulating the business of insurance, recommending the amendments submitted by the majority of said committee on the 19th of February, and also inserting section No. 30 The Auditor of State shall require of every insurance company not authorized under the laws of this State to report to his office on the 1st of January in each year a statement of the gross amount of all premiums and losses for the six months last preceding; and there shall be collected from such company the sum of $3 on every $100 received by them in premiums, less the losses for taxes thereon, etc.; $100 forfeiture for each day's failure so to report, etc. The report was concurred in, and the bill as amended was ordered to be engrossed.
BUILDING ASSOCIATIONS.
On motion o r. Givan, the bill [S. 169] to an- page: 235[View Page 235] thorize the organization of voluntary associations, and prescribing their powers and duties (for authorizing building associations, etc.) was taken up and ordered to a second reading; and on his further motion (the restriction being suspended for the purpose) the bill was advanced, and finally passed the House of Representativesyeas 76, nays 3.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
The Speaker took up in order Mr. Walker's bill H. R. 436] to amend sections 109, 110 111 and 118 of the common school act of March 6, 1865it being on the third reading.
The bill finally passed the House of Representatives - yeas 79, nays 1.
On motion of Mr. Branham, the bill [S. 294] to amend the assessment act of 1872, and report certain sections therein, was taken up, read twice by title and referred to the Committee on Ways And Means.
COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP RAILROAD AID.
On motion of Mr. Wilson, of Ripley, Mr. Cowgill's bill [H. R. 515] to legalize elections in certain cases held by counties and townships, to authorize aid to railroads, was taken up and read.
Messrs. Cowgill, Beeson, Johnson and Lenfestey said: It provides that where there has been a fair election, voting aid, and the railroad has gone on and expended more money on the road than has been voted them - the Railroad Company shall have a right to the aid, notwithstanding irregularities on account of defectiveness in the petition, etc.
The bill was finally passed the House of Representatives - yeas 56; nays 19.
SHORTHAND REPORTERS.
On motion of Mr. King, his bill [H. R. 528] concerning the employment of shorthand reporters, regulating their duties, and providing that the original longhand MSS. of the evidence shall be used on appeals, was taken up on the third reading. The bill was finally passed the House of Representatives - yeas 77; nays 2.
On motion of Mr. Blocher it was ordered that the bill [S. 254] to amend section 60 of the city corporation act of March 14, 1867, be taken up. He said it is commonly called the Bridge bill, and we are ready to go to work and build a bridge across the Ohio River as soon as the bill passed.
Mr. Bowser. Is not that the bill the Governor vetoed?
Mr. Blocher. Yes.
The Speaker. The bill can not be found.
THE BRIDGE BILL.
The bill [S. 254] to amend section 60 of the city corporation act of March 14, 1867, being now reconsidered with the majority and minority reports thereon from the Judiciary Committee, on motion of Mr. Walker, the minority report was laid on the table - Mr. Miller not insisting on its further consideration. The majority report recommends the passage of the bill, and it was concurred in.
On motion of Mr. Blocher, (the restrictions being suspended for the purpose) the bill was advanced to the third reading. It was finally passed the House of Representatives - yeas 64, nays 4.
PURDUE UNIVERSITY.
On motion of Mr. Kimball, the bill [S. 170] making an appropriation (of $60,000 for the erection of the main building) to Purdue University, was taken up on the third reading.
The bill was finally passed the House of Representatives - yeas 64, nays 16.
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
Mr. Mellett, from the Committee on Education, reported a recommendation that $15,000 be appropriated toward the completion and repair of the State Normal School building, etc., which was concurred in.
He also reported a recommendation that $15,000 for the year 1873, and $15,000 for the year 1874, be appropriated to the State University at Bloomington, for additional buildings. The report was concurred in.
On motion of Mr. Johnson, his bill [H. R. 512] to provide for interest on verdicts was taken up, the question being on the second reading. He submitted an amendment for a more careful wording of the bill, and providing that interest on such contracts shall not exceed 10 percent; which was adopted.
Then, on further motion (there being a dispensation for the purpose), the bill was advanced, and finally passed the House of Representatives - yeas, 57; nays, 20 - with an amendment of title, adding these words: "and the findings of courts."
Mr. Gifford, from the Committee on Cities and Towns, returned Mr. Heller's bill [H. R. 284] to amend the seventh clause of the twenty-second section of the city corporations act of 1852 and 1853, recommending that it be laid on the table.
STATE PRISONS.
Mr. Hardesty, from the Committee on Prisons reported State Prison appropriations, viz: $5,000 for repairs of the Southern Prison; $3,000 for clothing the convicts of the Northern Prison, and $3,000 for furnishing that prison with water; $200 for flues, $500 for books, and $400 for additional compensation for deputy wardens of the said Prison, and $400 for additional compensation for deputy wardens in the Southern Prison, which report was concurred in.
THE JUDICIARY SYSTEM.
The Speaker took up Mr. Offutt's motion to reconsider the vote by which the House passed the pleas and transferring the business thereof to the circuit court, providing for the election of judges and prosecuting attorneys in certain cases, was passed the House with amendments.
Messrs. Cauthorn, Woollen and Cobb submitted a question of order, that it is not competent for the House to recall the bill, because the Senate has finally passed the bill, with a motion to reconsider laid on the table, and for other parliamentary reasons.
Messrs. Offutt and Ogden replied, and insisted on the right of the motion to reconsider, which discussion of the point of order was continued till the adjournment till to-morrow morning at nine o'clock.
