NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY.
Mr. Buskirk, from the Committee on the Judiciary, returned Mr. Butterworth's bill [H. R. 143] to amend section 1 of the act of 1844, to incorporate the University of Notre Dame du Lac, with a recommendation that the biil pass; but qualifying so far as to recommend that the proposed increase of the powers of the institution so as to enable it to hold real estate to the value of $300,000 be considered as blank to be filled by a vote of the House. He said the committee were not prepared to report as to the amount of real estate which the corporation should hold, but preferred to defer that to the action of the House, under the suggestions of the framer of the bill or some one else.
The bill having been read by the Clerk -
Mr. Butterworth. I move to retain the amount in real estate, or to put into the blank $300,000. The reason of this increase is that real estate has become very valuable there. It is near the city of South Bend, and one of the largest of the Catholic institutions of learning in the United States. It has also amongst its colleges a Manual Labor School, and there is a large number of students. Their present charter allows them but $30,000 in real estate. But such has been the advance around there in the value of this species of property that their original possessions in real estate have become worth about $300,000 - of which they can hold but $30,000 under their present charter.
Debate followed, in which Messrs. Henderson, Givan, Buskirk, Shirley, Butterworth, Woollen, Wilson of Ripley, Thayer, Ogden, Cobb and Miller took part. Mr. Wilson of Ripley, proposed to recommit the bill to the Committee on the Judiciary, with instructions to amend it as to allow the institution to hold and purchase property to the extent of their chartered powers.
Mr. Butterworth moved, ineffectually, to lay the morion on the table.
Mr. Cobb proposed to add to the instructions to this effect: That they may hold the real estate they now have to the extent of $300,000.
The motions for instructions were agreed to, and so the bill was recommitted.
Mr. Buskirk, from the Judiciary Committee, returned Mr. Henderson's bill [H. R. 195] with similar provisions, recommending its indefinite postponement.
The Speaker said: From the reason given in the proper report would be to lay the bill on the table, and the report being so corrected, it was concurred in.
Mr. Ogden, from the Judiciary Committee, returned Mr. Isenhowr's bill [H.R. 272] limiting the punishment of crime in certain cases, recomm- page: 50[View Page 50] mending that it be laid on the table. He also returned Mr. Thompson of Elkhart's bill [H. R. 298] to limit the time when action may be commenced for the recovery of lands sold for taxes; and Mr. Woollen returned Mr. Woodward's bill [H. R. 325] declaring what offices shall be declared lucrative, recommending its indefinite postponement. These reports were severally concurred in.
Mr. Johnson, from the Committee on the Judiciary, returned his bill [H. R. 245.] to provide for the paroling of prisoners who may be confined in the county jails, for the non-payment of lines which may have been adjudged against them for offenses against the penal laws of the State; and his bill [H. R. 246.] concerning the granting of pardons by the Governor, recommending the passage of both. The reports were concurred in.
Mr. Glazebrook, from the Committee on Education, returned Mr. Woollen's bill [H. R. 10.] providing for the issue of bonds of civil townships, for the purpose of paying any debt, or purchasing any grounds, or for building or repairing any school-house, and providing for levying special taxes for the payment of such bonds, with amendments, erasing the word "ten" and inserting the word "five" in lieu, and adding the following under the instructions of the House: "provided that before any such bonds shall be issued under the provisions of this act, it shall be the duty of the Board of Commissioners to require a petition, signed by a majority of the freeholders of the township, asking that said bonds be issued;" and so amended, the committee recommend the passage of the bill. It was ordered to be engrossed.
Mr. Prentiss, from the Committee on Township business, returned Mr. Whitworth's bill [H. R. 308] requiring the clerks of the Circuit and Common Pleas Courts to make indexes, recommending its indefinite postponement, which was concurred in.
Mr. Buskirk, from the same committee, returned Mr. Branham's bill [H. R. 299] providing bounties for red fox scalps, and empowering County Commissioners to provide additional bounties, with an amendment: "said clerk, on such presentation of said scalps, shall then and there destroy them," and so amended they recommended that the bill pass. The report was concurred in and the bill was ordered to the engrossment.
Mr. Coffman, from the same committee, returned Mr. Rumsey's bill [H. R. 320] regulating the duties of County Surveyors and extending the same, recommended that it be indefinitely postponed. The report was concurred in.
Mr. Furnas, from the Committee on Agriculture, returned Mr. Teeter's bill [H. R. 243] to repeal all acts for the protection of wild game, recommending its indefinite postponement. He also returned Mr. Hollingworth's bill [H. R. 80] to prevent the spreading of the common thistle, with the same recommendation. The reports were concurred in.
