HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MONDAY, March 10, 1873The House met at nine o'clock A. M.
AMENDMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION.
Reading of the journal dispensed with.
Mr. Cauthorn submitted a proposition to amend section 14, article 2 of the constitution of the State, so as to read: Section 14. All general elections shall be held on the second Tuesday in November, and all officers shall be then elected, unless otherwise provided by law.
Mr. Gregory obtained permission to withdraw the claim of Edwin May.
Mr. Richardson, at the request of the author, obtained unanimous consent to withdraw from the tiles the railroad bill, S. No. 6.
The Speaker laid before the House the report of the Attorney General on the subject of the Calumet feeder dam. It was read by the clerk.
Mr. Kimball obtained leave to withdraw the claim of the proprietors of the Sunday Post.
The Speaker slated that all bills and propositions of the House can be returned to the clerk without order.
Mr. Cauthorn, from the Committee on Temperance, returned Mr. Lenfesty's bill No. 10, Mr. Wesner's bill No. 150, and Mr. Lenfesty's No. 162 on the subject of the sale of intoxicating liquors, recommending that they be laid on the table. Concurred in.
Mr. Branham submitted a resolution for an order, which was adopted, authorizing the Speaker to draw his warrant in favor of Cyrus T. Nixon, principal clerk, and Moses G. McLane, principal assistant clerk, for the same amount that shall be allowed by the Senate to their principal and principal assistant secretaries for that purpose, for filing the bills and propositions of the House of Representatives in the office of the State Librarian, in such order as that they may be accessible to any future session of this body.
Mr. Cauthorn, from the Committee on the Judiciary, returned the bill [S. 67] to protect society against the dangerous consequences arising from the setting at liberty of persons charged with murder on the plea of insanity, recommending that it be indefinitely postponed. Concurred in.
Mr. Heller submitted a preamble and resolution for an order authorizing the Speaker to draw his warrant in favor of Webster Dixon for half pay as reading clerk pro tem.
Mr. Butterworth. That would give him half pay for the whole session.
Mr. Johnson submitted a resolution that the janitor of the House Judiciary Committee be allowed $300 for services rendered said committee.
Mr. Johnson, from the committee on public expenditures, reported as a portion of their duty to examine accounts of public officers, under the instructions of the House, their investigations of the Jaccounts of James DeSano, setting forth his accounts of vouchers in a series of three years, showing that there have been purchased by him in this time articles of stationery for the general assembly, amounting in the aggregate of the value of the items to $31,231.53. And the committee recommended that page: 270[View Page 270] the attorney to examine said vouchers and ascertain whether the articles named in them have been delivered to the State Librarian. Report concurred in.
Mr. Smith. There is a concurrent resolution that the State Librarian be directed to turn over to the secretary, auditor and treasurer of State, the remainder of the stationery purchased of Braden & Burford.
He said according to the statement of the Librarian, some $1900 or $2,000 worth of that stationery still remains in the Library; and this $2,000 he said is not included in the report above cited.
Mr. Butterworth proposed to amend the resolution so as to direct the Librarian to return the stationery to Braden & Burford.
Mr. Cauthorn moved to lay the resolution on the table. Agreed to.
AMENDMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION.
The Speaker now returned to the consideration, of Mr. Cauthorn's proposition to amend the Constitution of the State, and it was again read by the Clerk - Mr. Cauthorn stating that its object is to make the general election to come on the same day on which the Presidential election is held. He stated also that there is a provision in one of the committee propositions whereby we may elect our judges at some other time, if the Legislature should think it proper so to direct by law.
Mr. Givan. The law of Congress fixing the time for the Presidential election says not the "first Tuesday in November," but the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November."
Mr. Cauthorn. Yes. I will amend my proposition in that respect.
Mr. Walker. Is that one of the resolution submitted Saturday by the Joint Committee on Constitutional amendments?
Mr Cauthorn. No.
Mr. Walker that Committee had this proposition under consideration; and they refused to propose the change, because that is regulated by a statute of the State, and needs not a constitutional amendment to authorize it: and I remember that the gentleman from Ripley, (Mr. Wilson,) promised to introduce a bill to change the time of the general election, and fix it on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November.
Mr. Givan the law of Congress makes tuis provision for the time of the Presidential election; and, as it has been amended, it becomes necessary that this change should be made so that our Congressmen shall be elected on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November.
Mr. Cauthorn now sent up his proposition to amend section 14, article 2, and it was read by the Clerk as follows: Section 14. All general elections shall be held on such days as shall be provided by law. Adopted - yeas 66, nays 1.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
Mr. Clark submitted a concurrent resolution that all laws for the infliction of capital punishment ought to be abolished. Rejected - yeas 33, nays 33.
Mr. Baxter took the floor in support of the resolution analyzing the principle of the legislation it proposes, and showing its foundation in justice, in revelation and the progress of civilization. - See XlVth Brev. App. for his revised speech and the tie vote - yeas 33, nays 33 - by which the resolution was rejected.
Mr. Johnson. Mr. Speaker. Isn't that capital punishment? - the House is hung. [Laughter.]
NEW STATE HOUSE.
A message from the Senate announced the concurrence of that body in the resolution of the House of Representatives for a joint specsal committee and Plans for a new State House, with amendments which were subsequently taken up and concurred in; and the speaker appointed Messrs. Branham, King and Glazebrook to serve on said committee on the part of the House of Representatives.
INDIANAPOLIS SENTINEL - H. S. KEENAN
Mr. Hardesty Mr Speaker: I will ask the clerk to read the sentence marked in an Editorial article in this mornings Sentinel, which I send up.
The Clerk read as follows:
"Mr. Edwards can hardly afford to end his term to-day with the impression abroad that either through cowardice or something worse, he has been bullied or brought to defeat the desire of the people at the dictation of a persistently fraudulent company. The entire printing interests of the State House of Representatives for a base betrayal of the public by their action on the printing bill. That the House was sold outbound by a bargain and corrupt in its course on that question is as clear as that there were honest men in the Senate."
Mr. Hardesty. I now submit the following.
Whereas, The Indianapolis Sentinel of the 10th instant published the foregoing charges against the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives; therefore,
Resolved, That the Doorkeeper arrest and bring before the bar of this House its reputed editor, H. S. Keenan to answer to the demand if the House for the evidence upon which he will rest those charges.
Let him come to the bar ot the PTou* us what he knows about thesf1 charges.
Mr. Miller. I think the Constitution does not contemplate or confer the power to punish upon this House, except for contempt and a breach of privilege; and these cannot be committed outside, as in this case.
Mr. Hardesty. The resolution does not propose to punish this man, but to bring him to the bar to testify.
Mr. Gregory did not think we could act upon that. Though he had no favoring word for the article; he saw no power in the House to interfere with matters outside. He wished to inquire what is the position of the public printing bill before the House?
Mr. Hardesty. The bill reported by a majority of the Special Committee, and which was originally drafted by himself, was passed this House by a majority of six or seven votes more than the Constitutional majority . It went to the Senate, and the Senate bill was submitted as an amendment to it - something similar in its provisions to the bill of the gentleman from Johnson [Mr. Woollen,] And when it came back to the House a large majority refused to concur. The Senate also refused to recede, and thereupon two committees of conference were appointed, neither of which could come to any agreement on the conflicting propositions. The House bill is now in the Senate with the Senate amendments.
Mr. Johnson. Mr. Speaker: If you are going to hang this man, I want to change my vote on the resolution in relation to capital punishment.
Mr. Branham. If we pass this resolution it will be a firstrate advertisement for the Sentinel.
Mr. Miller. But is it not true that this is the only remedy the House has against an insult? Let him come before the House and tells us what he knows about the honesty of the other end of the Capitol; and what he knows about the corruption of this end.
Mr. Richardson was opposed to the resolution for several reasons; he was opposed to making an example of the editor of the Sentinel, so long as there are many others implicated in the same matter; and, if we are to do this thoroughly, it page: 271[View Page 271] would require a special session of the General Assembly. He knew that many papers in the State have slandered the General Assembly in this way, indeed there are few papers in the State that have not done do. So far as he individually was concerned he cared nothing about it.
Mr. Butterworth thought this resolution ought not to pass. I believe a good deal in the freedom of the press, and while I here denounce the charges of the Sentinel as false in every respect, there is one thing I have always held certain in this world, and that is that a quarrel with a woman or an editor is very unprofitable business. [Laughter.]
Mr. Henderson doubted the power of the House in the case and to adopt the resolution would certainly be a very foolish thing.
Mr. Blocher. I move to lay the resolution on the table.
Mr. Hardesty. Mr. Speaker: I beg leave to withdraw the resolution; and there being no objection the resolution was withdrawn.
AMENDMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION.
Mr. Miller submitted two propositions to amend the Constitutionof the State, viz.: add to section 4 Art. XV.; "It shall be the duty of the first General Assembly, first convening after the taking effect of this amendment, by proper legislation to submit to the female inhabitants of the State over twenty-one years, the proposition to confer the ballot upon themselves to be decided by the result of their vote'for female sufferage' or 'against female suffrage.'" "Section 5. If the greater number of votes be for female suffrage, shall be extended to all the females of the State of 21 years and over, having the same qualifications as other electors." This (he said) is carrying out the recommendation of Gov. Baker to the General Assembly.
Mr. Butterworth moved to lay the resolution on the table; but the motion was not entertained.
Mr. Gronendyke submitted a joint resolution to amend the Constitution in Article II, section 2, by striking out the word "male" where it occurs after the word "white."
On motion of Mr. Butterworth it was laid on the table 0 affirmative 36, negative 30.
The Speaker. The Clerk informs the Chair that he has not reported to the Senate the amendments to the Constitution adopted on Saturday, because there was no vote taken on the adoption of the several propositions submitted by the gentleman from Johnson as a whole. It is proper that the House should recur to those propositions take them up and consider them as a whole I understand that there were ten of these propositions in all; and three of them were rejected. The rejected propositions, of course, are not before the House. Only those that were approved on Saturday are now to be voted on as a whole: and accordingly
Mr. Cauthorn's joint resolution for amendment of the Constitution of the State, and also the seven propositions as recited in the proceedings of Saturday were taken up and adopted - yeas 51, nays 16.
Mr. Hatch proposed to amend the Constitution of the State by an addition to this effect: Art. - , section - . Railroads heretofore constructed or that may be herealter constructed are hereby declared to be common Public Highways, and may be owned and operated for the transportation of persons and property under such regulatiouns as shall be provided by law; and the General Assembly shall provide by law the maximum rates, and shall pass laws to prevent abuses and unjust discriminations; and shall enforce the same by adequate penalties to the extent, if necessary, of forfeiture of property and franchises. He said: I do not wish to make a speech only to say, that that resolution embraces an exact copy of the provision in the new Constitution of the State of Illinois in regard to railroads. I believe it might be adopted here; and that if the people have a chance to vote on it, it will be adopted by a large majority: and I ask the friends of the Railroads here to vote for it.
Mr. Gregory. I believe this proposition has merit, but, for the reason that we have not time to consider it, I move to lay it on the table.
Mr. Hatch demanded the yeas and nays whereupon -
Mr. Gregory withdrew his motion to lay on the table.
Mr. Butterworth. We are now within an hour of the final adjournment, and it seems to me that it is not right to pass on such a grave matter as this when we do not know, and have no time to consider, whether it is right or not.
The proposition was lost for want of the prescribed majority - yeas 48, nays 8- 20 present and not voting.
THE INDIANAPOLIS SENTINEL.
Mr. Mellett submitted the following:
WHEREAS, The issue of the Indianapolis Sentinel of this date contains a wanton attack upon the integrity of the Speaker and members of this House in an article on public printing; and,
WHEREAS, The same paper in a recent issue, warmly indorsed the bill passed by the House on the same subject, which bill this House adhered to to the last; and
WHEREAS, The charges in said article are wholly false and without foundation in truth; therefore,
Resolved, That the editor of the Sentinel, in the publication of said article, is at once false and inconsistent, and merits the censure of this House therefor.
Mr. Gregory considered that if we pass a censure of this character on this newspaper, we ought to extend it so as to include every newspaper in the State. He ventured the assertion that there is not a paper of any distinct character in the State that has not published matter equally reprehensible with that in the Sentinel; and if the Sentinel has slandered the House, there is not a paper in the State but has done as much. I make the motion that they all be included in the resolution.
The Speaker the amendment is not in order, because it does not specify persons and dates.
Mr. Branham indicated a motion to lay on the table; but gave way for the direct vote, which resulted - yeas 35, nays 20.
So the resolution was adopted.
COMMITTEE ROOMS FURNITURE.
Mr. Walker submitted a resolution to authorize the Secretary of State to sell the State's property consisting of the chairs, tables, desks, etc., of the various committee rooms, at 10 o'clock a. m., of Tuesday March 11, and to place the proceeds thereof in the State Treasury; and that the chairmen of the Standing Committees be authorized to deliver said property to the Secretary of State for such sale; but -
On the motion of Mr. Satterwhite, the Senate concurrent resolution embracing the same matter, for the sale of said property at public outcry in Circle Hall, in this city, was taken up and concurred in.
Mr. Gregory asked, but did not obtain unanimous consent, to take up the Senate joint resolution No. 22, to authorize the letting of the public printing - thinking (as he said) that the passage of that resolution would be the best refutation of the charges in this morning's Sentinel that could be made.
Mr. Tingley from the Joint Committee on Public Accounts, reported their examination of the Cash Book and Vouchers of the accounting officer of the Soldiers' and Seamens' Home, and their finding the same to be correct in all respects.
The report was concurred in.
page: 272[View Page 272]THE SPEAKER.
Mr. Cauthorn. Mr. Speaker: This is the 61st day of the session - the day on which it is to terminate. During this session there have been a great many exciting scenes, questions which have required the interposition of the authority and the rulings of the Chair; and your rulings, necessarily not always satisfactory to all the members of the House, having become an occasion for censure, and having now in my hand a resolution for that purpose which it might not be proper for you to hear and adjuditate upon, I respectfully ask you to yield the chair to the gentleman from Wayne (Mr. Walker) while I may introduce it.
The Speaker. The gentleman from Wayne will take the Chair.
Mr. Cauthorn then submitted the following:
Resolved, That the thanks of this House be and they are hereby tendered to William K. Edwards, for the faithful and impartial manner in which he has discharged the duties devolved upon him as Speaker of the House during the session; and that for his future success and prosperity he has our sympathies and best wishes.
Mr. Woollen. This is the second time that I have served in the General Assembly as a member of this House. During my first term Judge Buskirk was in the Chair, and this time the gentleman from Vigo. I have watched his decisions narrowly and I believe that they heve been received with unanimous, universal approbation: and I believe it a just opinion, that his decisions as Speaker have been eminently fair; and if he has given favor to any, it has as often fallen to those acting with the party opposed to him as to those acting with the party in unison with him. I desire to say this, from ihe fact, that the position of Speaker is both difficult and delicate; and when a gentleman so acts in it as not to incur the displeasure of any, I sincerely think that he is entitled to thanks.
Mr. Givan endorsed the remarks of the gentleman from Johnson. He also was a member of the House during the Speakership of Judge Buskirk and the present incumbent. It seemed to him throughout these sessions that no man could take serious exceptions to the rulings of the gentleman from Vigo; and it was with great pleasure that he bore this testimony to the uniformly courteous deportment of the Speaker.
Mr. Buskirk proposed to strike out the word "sympathies," as redundant; and Mr. Cauthorn acquiesced Whereupon, the resolution was adopted by the rising vote - the Speaker pro tem. (Mr. Walker) saying: It is with great pleasure, (because it in accordance with my own vote,) that the Chair announces that the House of Representatives unanimously approves the course of the gentleman from Vigo.
THE PUBLIC PRINTING.
Mr. Gregory now called up the consideration of the Joint Resolution S. No. 22, authorizing the letting of the Public Printing paper buying and binding to the lowest responsible bidderby the Governor, Secretary, Auditor and Treasurer of the State.
Mr. Hardesty demanded a call of the House.
Mr. Mellett. I have been one of those several members here who, during the present session of the Legislative, have worked faithfully in order to get a bill for the public printing in the interests of the people. Our work, such as it has been, has gone to the record; and I stand upon that. I believe that the bill which this House acted upon and which we sent to the Senate, would have protected the printing interests of the State better than any other method that could possibly be devised. It was upon the question of letting the public printing to the lowest bidder that the Senate disagreed to that bill. The House offered two methods: one was the bill sent to the Senate, and the other was for the letting of the Public Printing to the lowest bidder; (as by the pending resolution;) that was the bill prepared by the gentleman from Johnson (Mr. Woollen;) it was voluminous, but carefully drawn - its provisions hedged about, the treasury so as to guard the interests of the people in every direction; and whilst I might have been willing to vote for that bill, I could not be willing to vote for the Senate bill - that was thrust upon us as an amendment to our bill - that Senate amendment was a contract system bill, and very loosely drawn.
And when it became a question, whether we shall have this bill or leave the law as it is, I said, let us leave it as it is. The result is, that the public printing will be left to be executed under the statutes of 1852 and 1853dividing the responsibility of the superintendance between the Secretary and the Governor of the State. And I think that as safe a place to rest this interest as could be afforded at present by any law which we could pass on the subject. I hope, therefore, that the House will not be so indiscrete as to pass this Senate resolution for the naked contract system, which will open again upon us those floodgates of peculation and corruption, of the effects of which we have had some experience. I move to lay it on the table.
Mr. Woollen. Does this resolution provide for the continuance of the public printing after the adjournment?
Mr. Mellett. I so understand it. I understand also, that under the existing law the printing will be contracted for under the supervision of the Governor and Secretary of State. It will be perhaps, about equally distributed between the parties. I insist on my motion to lay the resolution on the table.
On the motion of Mr. Jones the House then took a recess till two o'clock p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Speaker resumed at t wo o'clock p. m.
Mr. Cauthorn submitted a resolution (which was adopted) tendering the thanks of the House of Representatives to the elective Clerks the acting Doorkeeper, by name, and the employers acting with them in the service of the General Assembly for the courteous, prompt and faithful discharge of their duties.
CLERK'S STATIONERY ACCOUNTS
Mr. Branham, (by unanimous consent,) presented the stationery account of the Principal and Principal Assistant Clerks, showing the aggregate amount of the cost of the stationery used by the former during the session to be $100.32, and that used by the latter to be $137 53, which he alleged to be the most economical service in that department ever before presented.
Mr. Cauthorn. And no doubt members have "borrowed" a great deal from the Clerk's desk for their own use.
The statement was ordered to be spread upon the Journal.
CALUMET DAM.
The Speaker laid before the House the concurrent resolutions relative to the Calumet Dam, which were concurred in, with an amendment striking out the direction to the Attorney General to present the same to the Illinois General Assembly, which amendment was adopted on the motion of Mr. Cauthorn.
PUBLIC PRINTING AND BINDING.
The Speaker now returned to the consideration of the unfinished business, viz: the consideration of the Senate concurrent resolution No. 22, for letting the public printing to the lowest bidder.
Mr. Branham alleged that there is no longer a quorum of 51 members present, or in the city; and so that matter was passed over.
page: 273[View Page 273]REPORTS - ACTS - JOURNALS.
Mr. Edwards of Lawrence submitted a resolution for an order (which was adopted) as follows:
Resolved, That the Secretary of State be authorized to send to each member of the House of Representatives three copies of the Brevier Legislative Reperts and the acts of this session, and one copy each of the House and Senate Journals of this and the special session as soon at the same are printed and bound.
LISTER L. NORTON.
Mr. Shirley submitted the following:
Resolved, That Lister L. Norton be allowed $200 for services rendered to the Judiciary Committee as Janitor; and that the Speaker be directed to draw his warrant on the Auditor of State to allow the same. This (he said) will make up the $300 which the service performed is worth, and which he was employed to perform - having no other service as stated by a member of the Judiciary Committee. And now the question is whether we will cut down this service to $100?
Mr. Mellett. When this question was up the other day I asked the question whether this Janitor to the Committee was not also Janitor to the United States Court? and the question was not then answered; but I have since learned that he was not; that he was brought here from Bloomington, and put in simply to attend to this business.
Mr. Branham. My opinion is that that amount ought to be paid; but, under the decisions of our Courts, it can not be paid in that way by resolution.
Mr. Johnson. I know of a similar allowance that has been paid on the order of the Chairman of the Committee.
Mr. Branham. But now the Auditor of State has determined to follow the law strictly; and the law says, that, where there is law; no resolution of the House can altar that law; and all that can be legally drawn is what the law provides.
Mr. Miller. Couldn't it be paid out of the appropriation for the expenses of the Legislature?
Mr. Branham. Not unless the amount be fixed by law.
Mr. Miller. The Auditor had paid for the Senate newspapers in that way.
Mr. Branham. I think, if the gentleman will apply to at the Auditor's office he will find that it has not been allowed.
Mr. Johnson. I did not know till just now that $100 had been allowed to Mr. Norton; but that young man has earned his money. I am informed that the Journal and Sentinel have been paid on the Senate resolution. A gentleman near me says so.
Mr. Mellett. It certainly becomes us to make the just allowance for services we have contracted for and received. I suppose this is one of the things for which the law does not provide. It is the wish of all to make the allowance for the service of this Committee - just as we have done for every expense we have incurred - to make the allowance for the service and have it paid for. I suppose they all stand upon the same footing; and if others are paid, of course this can be; and we owe it to ourselves to say so. All the jurisdiction we have is over the Speaker. All we can do is to have the warrant signed.
Mr. Smith. I think $300 is too much. [Voice; "No: that is what the others get."] I know that the Janitor of the Ways and Means Committee got $2 a day.
Mr. Woollen. Upon inquiry, I find that the Janitor of our committee is not in the pay of the State at all; and $300 will not be extravagant.
The resolution was then adopted.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTIVE OFFICERS.
Mr. Billingsley submitted a resolution for an order (which was adopted) that each of the elective officers of this House be allowed a copy of all the documents heretofore voted to members, including the Revised Statutes.
CIRCUIT COURT FEE, AND ASSESSMENT BILLS
The Speaker laid before the House the Senate concurrent resolution directing the Secretary of State to cause two thousand copies of the acts knows as the Circuit Court bill, the fee bill and the assessment bill to be printed and stitched in pamphlet form and distributed among the counties according to the ratio of population, was taken up; but -
Mr. Woollen suggesting an amendment, it was laid over.
The Speaker announced the appointment of Messrs. Johnson and Claypool to wait on the Governor and learn from him the time when it will be convenient for him to make to the House of Representatives his next communication respecting the enrolled acts in his hands originating in this body.
HOUSE OF REFUGE.
Mr. Baxter submitted a concurrent resolution authorizing the Commissioners of the House of Refuge to expend in improvements of the House of Refuge any surplus funds out of the appropriations for that institution for the years 1873 and 1874.
Mr. Branham. I hope that resolution will pass. I want to put these men on their good behavior; and that upon their showing to the Legislature that shall come here two years hence they will be justified in adopting the same plan.
The resolution was adopted on the part of the House of Representatives.
EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
Mr. Woodard submitted the following:
Resolved, That the amount allowed yesterday to the Committee on Education was not just and should not have been proposed. [Laughter: Voices: "Referred to Gen. Blocher." They decline the money."]
The Speaker, being required by law so to do, now submitted his detailed report of the number and amount of all the warrants drawn by the Speaker for the pay of members, officers and employees of the House of Representatives during the present session. The aggregate amount was $64,095
It was ordered to be spread on the Journal.
Mr. Johnson from the committee appointed to wait on the Governor for that purpose, reported for the Governor's answer, that he will have no further communication to make to the House of Representatives before five o'clock p.m.
COURT BILLS.
The Senate concurrent resolution for printing certain bills in pamphlet was again taken up; and -
Mr. Woollen proposed to amend, by striking out the words, "known as," and the words, "fee bill and assessment bill," and inserting these words: "the bill in regard to the order of the Circuit Courts, the bill in regard to the convening of Grand Juries, and the bill in regard to prosecutions for misdemeanors by affidavit."
The amendment was agreed to; and so amended the resolution was adopted on the part of the House of Representatives.
The House then took a recess till five o'clock p.m.
The Speaker resumed the Chair at five o'clock p.m.
page: 274[View Page 274]CLERK'S STATIONERY ACCOUNT.
Mr. Teeter presented the stationery account of the Principal Assistant Clerk amounting in the aggregate to $137,53: which was concurred in; ordered to be spread on the Journal in connection with the stationery account of the Principal Clerk presented this day by Mr. Branham.
The Speaker. It will be necssary to appoint a committee to wait on the Governor for his answer as to further communications.
A message from the Governor was now received by the hand of Mr. Downey, his private Secretary announcing his approval and signature of enrolled acts originating in the House of Representatives, numbered 504, 224, 530, 337, 339, 332, 495, 241, 139, 541, 503, 213, 531, 535, and that he has caused the same to be deposited in the office of the Secretary of State.
DEPARTMENTAL COMPELLATIONS.
On the motion of Mr. Cobb, it was formally ordered by resolution that a committee be appointed to wait on the Governor and ascertain whether he has any further communication to make to the House of Representatives at the present session; and that a committee be appointed to wait on the Senate and inquire whether that body has any further communication: whereupon -
The Speaker appointed Messrs. Cobb, Smith and Edwards of Lawrence to wait on the Governor, and the Principal Clerk to wait on the Senate for these purposes.
Mr. Gifford submitted a resolution for a "Reward of $100,000" lo Maj. Gen. Blocher, for his services in "the war against the Island of Ohio," which was ruled out of order.
Mr. Cobb, from the special committee appointed to wait on the Governor, reported the discharge of that duty and his Excellency's answer, that he has no further communications to make to the House of Representatives.
The Senate amendments, to the House propositions to amend the Constitution of the State in article 2, section 4, etc., etc., were taken tip and concurred in.
Mr. Woodard moved that the House do now adjourn sine die.
The Speaker. That motion can't be made. We can't adjourn sine die till the Senate informs us that they have no further communication to make.
Mr. Blocher. I move that we all have a recess for five minutes in order that we may have a good shake hands with the Speaker.
Mr. Johnson (standing on his desk.) All in favor of the motion say aye!- The response was all a one-sided affirmative. [Whereupon, Mr. Blocher being invited to a seat on the right of the Speaker, advances, shakes hands with the Speaker and takes the assigned position.]
JUDICIAL ELECTIONS.
A message from the Senate announced the passage in that body of certain engrossed amendments to the House Joint Resolution for amendments to the Constitution of the State of Indiana: which propose amongst other things that it shall be provided by law that the judicial elections shall take place at some time when no other elections are pending. The Senate amendments were concurred in.
The Speaker. I would say to the House that after the final adjournment I would be very glad to accept the greetings so kindly tendered under the motion of the gentleman from Scott [Mr. Blocher.]
Mr. Blocher. Now, gentlemen, I insist on the fulfilment of my motion.
Voices: "Consent," "consent:"
So, thereupon, members rose up from the benches in every part of the House and began to order the line of march for the greeting of the Speaker; and the Speaker, acquiesing, benignly, descended the dais to the right and courteously grasped the right hand of every Representative in the Hall as the line passed in order; and every member present returned at once to his place.
Mr. Gifford. The State of Indiana has now ended the war with Ohio. It is as it was with the Little Corporal at the bridge of Lodi. Gen. Blocher seized the flag when scales trembled with determining the result of the conflict, and victory has perched upon the brow of the gentleman from Vigo. [Laughter with cheerings.]
INSANE ASYLUM, ETC.
A message from the Senate announced the passage in that body of a concurrent resolution authorizing and empowering the Governor. Secretary, Auditor and Treasurer of State, with the advice of the Superintendant of the Hospital for the Insane, to take the necessary steps for the erection of another Asylum for the Insane, similar to the one already erected - said Asylum not to exceed in cost thereof the sum of $500,000; and the faith of the State is hereby pledged for whatever amount may be expended under this resolution before the assembling of the next General Assembly.
Also a concurrent resolution authorizing and empowering the Governor, Secretary, Auditor, and Treasurer of State to proceed and carry to its completion the work on the Reformatory Institution for Women and Girls.
Also this: Whereas several acts have been passed increasing the salaries of the several State and county officers: and whereas such salaries fixed by former laws have been increased by said acts; now, therefore, resolved, that it is declared to be the true intent and meaning of said acts to make the amounts fixed as said salaries to be the amounts in full to be paid to them as said salaries; and the House of Representatives is respectfully requested to concur herein.
The Speaker stated the first question to be on concurrence in the former resolution - that authorizing the State officers to commence a new Insane Asylum building on the present grounds - the cost not to exceed $500,000, and for the completion of the Reformatory.
On motion of Mr. King, the resolution was amended by striking out the Reformatory clause - without a division.
Mr. Smith was originally in favor of dividing the State into Hospital districts for the care of the Insane; but now he believed under the circumstances, we ought to adopt this resolution.
Mr. Heller could not think so. It is simply a project for establishing the thing here, so that it can not be removed from the capital of the State. I can't cast my vote so to fix this Institution that no future Legislation will ever give one to the people of the northern part of the State.
Mr. Smith. The State of Ohio has five Hospitals for the Insane.
Mr. Heller. We passed a bill here the other day giving an Asylum north of Indianapolis; and it was done by the friends of Indianapolis and of the people of the State.
Mr. Johnson. That is a mistake. Marion county never voted for it.
Mr. Heller. Then I am mistaken. But I know, and you know, Mr. Speaker, that this is for the purpose of cutting the northern people out. I therefore protest against the passage of this resolution, especially at this hour, and when there is not a quorum present.
NO PERQUISITES.
On the motion of Mr. Woollen, this Asylum resolution was passed over so far as to allow the House to take up that declaring the com- page: 275[View Page 275] pletness of the legally prescribed salaries for official compensation, and it was adopted on the part of the House of Representatives.
INSANE ASYLUM.
The Speaker then returned to the question on the former resolution to authorize the State offices to commence the building of another Insane Asylum on the present Asylum grounds.
Mr. Butterworth did not believe it wise or good policy to erect this building: but in his opinion provision should be made at once for the accommodation of at least two or three hundred of this class - not for medical treatment, but for the care of chronic cases - and thus relieve the counties from the care of those chronic cases. We can furnish places for perhaps 250 patients of this class at the Reformatory, which would be filled up at once with women and girls. Now, therefore, since we all have confidence in the Governor and the State officers, I move to reconsider the vote by which we voted down the resolution converting the Reformatory Institution into an Insane Asylum.
Mr. Hollingsworth. I think it would be improper and very wrong, especially at this time and in such an inconsiderate manner to divert the Reformatory from its original purpose.
The House refused to reconsider: and then on the motion of Mr. Tully, the matter was laid on the table - yeas 22, nays 19.
Mr. Mellett. I would like to have the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means to state what he knows about this matter.
Mr. Kimball. I hope some gentleman will move a reconsideration of the vote that laid the Insane Asylum resolution on the table.
THE ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE.
The Speaker laid before the House the following message from the Senate, just now announced by their Secretary:
Resolved by the Senate (the House concurring,) That the General Assembly do now adjourn sine die.
The resolution was adopted by unanimous consent on the part of the House of Representatives.
Mr. Gifford I move that this House now adjourn sine die: whereupon -
The Speaker said: Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, we are now at the close of another laborious session. This General Assembly has been eminently successful in originatig and completing most of the important legislation required by the necessities of the State. The two sessions through which we have passed have not been without their important lessons in legislative practice. One of these must be apparent to every member. It is that the general and specific appropriation bills should not be left to the haste and confusion of the closing hours, but should be considered and matured at as early a day of the session as the course of business will permit. Another is the danger of grouping together a large number of subjects and interests in one appropriation bill, and considering them all at the same time. Each subject or class of appropriations should stand upon its own merits and be separately acted upon.
The enactments which you have assisted in making, are important to the best interests of society intended for the good of the State, and a proper respect for law and order, requires their due and faithful execution.
The uniform kindness and courtesy that you have so uniformly extended to me, and the unusual harmony which has prevailed during our deliberations, has created on my part a warm sentiment of personal attachment to each one of you, without exception.
The generous resolution you passed this morning, the manner of it, impress me still more sensibly with the highest obligation which your kindness has placed upon me. The feeling that our intercourse has produced commands from me not friendship alone, but that which the kindliest and purest sentiments of the heart direct.
As you will now return to your respective homes, I wish you the fullest enjoyment of health, happiness and success in life.
Pursuant to your order, I now pronounce this House adjourned sine die.
