HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MORNING SESSION.
TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 1873INAUGURAL MESSAGE.
The Speaker. At the adjournment of the House last evening, the Governor's inaugural message was undisposed of. What disposition will the House make of it? It will be proper to make a special order that it be referred to the Committee of the Whole House.
On motion of Mr. Shirley, it was ordered that there be printed of the Governor's inaugural message 3,500 copies in the English language, and 1,500 copies in the German language, for the use of members of the House of Representatives,
page: 39[View Page 39]NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The Speaker took up the call of the House by counties for new propositions.
Mr. Heller introduced a bill [H. R. 284] to amend section 22 of the act for the incorporation of towns, defining their power, providing for the election of officers thereof and declaring their duties. Approved May 11, 1852, and the supplementary act of August, 1855. (Its specific object is to so amend the seventh clause of the 22d section of said act as to authorize the town Boards to restrain the retail selling of spiritous liquors, unless the seller pay a yearly license of $200.) It was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The Speaker laid before the House a communication from the Governor announcing that Samuel R. Downey, Esq., his Private Secretary, has been authorized to act as executive messenger to the House of Representatives.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
Mr. Wesner submitted a resolution for a concurrent order, that, in view of the per diem act cutting off stationery, this House will not vote for an appropriation to pay for newspapers; and that the Senate be respectfully requested to concur herein; which was adopted without a division.
Mr. Martin introduced a bill [H. R. 285] to enable any number of persons less than thirteen, who work at manual labor, to organize and establish reading, library and lecture associations. It was referred to the Committee on Education.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
A message from the Senate announced that that body has concurred in Mr. Satterwhite's concurrent resolution for a special joint committee to secure a respectful hearing of the American Women's Suffrage Association before the General Assembly, with amendments [Clerical and technical.] Concurred in.
Mr. Given introduced a bill [H. R. 286] defining misdemeanors and prescribing punishments therefor. (For menace or bribe of a witness it proposes fine from $25 to $1,000, and imprisonment not exceeding twelvemonths, and disfranchisement not exceeding ten years.) It was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Goudie introduced a bill [H. R. 287] to fix the time of holding the Common Pleas Court in the county of Decatur. (Fourth Mondays in February and August of each year.) It was referred to the Committee on the Organization of Courts.
Mr. Miller presented a petition for temperance.
Mr. Mellett introduced a bill [H. R. 288] supplemental to the gravel road act of 1852. (It is to enable purchasers of turnpike companies at sheriffs sales to organize and collect tolls.) It was referred to the Committee on Corporations.
Mr. Satterwhite obtained leave of absence for to-day and to-morrow.
Messrs. Lenfestey, Furnas, Hedrick and Kirkpatrick severally presented petitions for temperance, and for the completion of the Female Reformatory, which were referred to the committees thereon.
Mr. Thayer introduced a bill [H. R. 289] to amend section one and four of the act to authorize county recorders to make out and keep up general and complete indexes of recorded deeds and mortgages. (I propose to allow the recorder fifteen cents per hundred words for making such indexes.) It was refered to the Committee on Corporations.
Mr. Billingsley introduced a bill [H.R.290] fixing the time and mode of electing the State Printer, repealing all laws conflicting with this act, and declaring and emergency. (It proposees a Board of Public Printing - the Governor, Secretary of State and Auditor-to supervise the Printer's work and his charges thereon - to receive his quarterly reports and publish them in two newspapers of general circulation in the State, etc.) It was refered to a Special Committee, which the Speaker makes to consist of Messrs. Jones, Peed and Mellett - Mr. Billingsley declining to serve.
Mr. Peed introduced a bill [H. R. 291] defining what counties shall constitute the third judicial Circuit viz: Gibson, Parker, Davies, Martin-Dubois and Pike, and it was passed to the second reading. Mr. P. said this was not proposing to create an additional circuit. It simply proposed to place the people of the old circuit in the same position they were before the passage of the act of the last session. He desired to make a motion to suspend the restrictions so that the bill might be put on its final passage.
Mr. Riggs hoped the restrictions would not be suspended, and that the bill would not be passed, because it throws the counties of Posey and Vanderburg outside of any circuit.
Mr. Peed said it leaves Vanderburg and Posey just in the same position in which the act of the last session left the counties of Pike and Dubois. After debate by Messrs. Shirley, Peed, Barker and Cauthorn -
Mr. Baxter moved, ineffectually, to refer the bill to the Joint Special Committee on the reorganization of the Courts; and the question recurring on Mr. Peed's motion, the restrictions were suspended, and the question on the bill was advanced to the final passage. After further debate, in which Messrs. Wolflin, Peed, Baxter, Dial, Butts, Shirley, Heller, Mellett and Walker participated, the bill failed - yeas 50, nays 27 - for want of a constitutional majority.
Mr. Peed introduced a bill [H. R. 292] supplemental to the act regulating the proceedings in bastardy, and providing for the support of illegitimate children, approved May 6,1852. (When the case shall have been dismissed without the knowledge of the relator, the same shall be restored on the petition of the relator.) It was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
EVIL FAME HOUSES
The Speaker suggested, and the House, by unanimous consent, took up Mr. Butt's, bill 210, defining it to be a misdemeanor to keep a house of ill fame, and to rent or lease, etc., and prescribing certain rules of evidence in proceedings against persons charged with such offences. (Fine, $25 to $200imprisonment not exceeding two years. The fact of occupancy shall be presumption of the renting or leasing - inmates compelled to testify.) The question being on the final passage of the bill -
Mr. Lenfesty hoped that it would not pass without more consideration than it could receive now, and desired that it should be made a special order.
Mr. Wolflin moved, ineffectually, to make it the special order for to-night, at half-past seven o'clock.
Mr. Lenfesty regarded it as a bad measure; that its effect would be to drag into society every abandoned woman in the State. By closing their haunts, the business houses of the State would be infested with them.
Mr. Baxter. There is a provision in this bill which enables us to send these persons to the Reformatory for their reformation; and he regarded the passage of this bill as one of the most beneficent things the Legislature could do.
Mr. Mellett regarded the proposed legislation as very important. As to the objection of the gentleman from Grant [Mr. Lenfesty], he could not see that the bill would have that effect. It will have the effect to close these houses of evil fame, and compel their inmates to seek other business.
Mr. Miller. If he voted against the bill, it would be because he knew nothing about it.
The Speaker. That is no objection to the final vote. The bill was read twice during the last session.
Mr. Thayer was very much surprised to hear page: 40[View Page 40] gentlemen say they knew nothing about this matter. It seemed to him that every man should know something about this festering sore that has fastened itself upon the community in so many ways. He was also surprised at the position taken by the gentleman from Grant - that the punishment of a crime should be to encourage and increase the same order of criminality. He was not himself prepared to make a speech on the bill; but he stood ready, at all times, to give his vote and influence for the relief of society from wrong-doers. The gentleman talks about girls being driven into business houses; but did not every gentleman know that there are thousands of prostitutes that, instead of being invited, would be forced from their haunts by such legislation as this bill proposes? The father of every family in the State - every man who has a son or daughter - has a deep interest in this legislation against this licensed professional prostitution. It is scattering disease and death all over the land. He urged the gentleman to consider the remedy; and in doing so it was proper to look at this evil in all its odiousness, and to throw around the sons and daughters of the State all the safeguards we can to protect them from beguilements into the ways that would lead them down to degradation and death.
Mr. Stanley demanded the previous question, and there was a second, and under that pressure the bill was finally passed the House of Representatives. Yeas, 70; nays, 3.
The House then took the recess till two o'clock P.M.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Speaker announced the special order, to wit: The bills to be reported at this time from the Committee on Printing.Mr.Billingsley,from the Committee on Printing, returned Mr. Shirley's bill [H. R. 9] to abolish the office of Public Printer, with an amendment byway of substitute. He also returned Mr. Shirley's bill [H. R. 31] to provide for the Public Printing by contract without recommendation.Mr. Furnas, from the Special Committee thereon, reported Mr. Billingsley's bill [H. R. 290] fixing the time and mode of electing the State Printer, repealing all laws conflicting therewith, and declaring an emergency; which bills were severally advanced to the second reading, and after debate, in which Messrs. Shirley, Heller, Branham, Billingsley, Woollen, Mellett, Walker, Baker, Kimball, Barrett, Offut, Wilson of Ripley, Woodard, Miller and Cobb, participated, the two bills te let the printing by contract and to provide for the election of State Printer, were ordered to be printed; and the three bills together were made the special order for Thursday afternoon.
LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION.
Mr. Kimball, from the Committee on Ways and Means, returned Mr. Hardesty's bill [H. R. 268] to appropriate $100,000 for Legislative expenses, with an amendment by way of substitute entitled a bill to appropriate $125,000 to defray the expenses of the forty-eighth regular session of the General Assembly of the State. The bill finally passed the House of Representatives - yeas, 72, nays, 11.
PROFESSIONAL PROSTITUTION.
The Speaker, by consent, announced the consideration of Mr. Clark's bill [H. R. 265], defining professional prostitution, and describing punishment therefor (penalty, imprisonment from six months to two years, inmates compelled to testify). The bill was on the second reading, sustained by a favorable committee report, and it was ordered to be engrossed.
Mr. Woodward submitted a resolution, which was adopted, that the door-keeper procure suitable rooms for the different committees of the House.
Mr. Given presented the report of the State librarian, which was laid on the table.
The House then adjourned.
