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.
