HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, January 20, 1873.The Speaker laid before the House the memorial of the American Woman Suffrage Association, and, on motion of Mr. Smith, it was referred to the Committee on Elections.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Mr. Walker, from the Committee on the Judiciary, returned Mr. Reeves' bill [H. R. 307] for the relief of Emily Wilson, of Monroe county, recommending its passage. Mr. Ogden returned Mr. Wesner's bill [237] to amend section nineteen of the act of May 29, 1852, providing for the election and prescribing the powers and duties of justices of the peace, recommending that it be indefinitely postponed. Mr. Buskirk returned Mr. Givan's bill [H. R. 240] to amend section seventy of the justices' act of June 9, 1852, and, saving pending action, recommending that it be laid on the table. These reports were concurred in.
Mr. Butterworth, from the Committee on Swamp Lands, returned Mr. Shirley's bill [H. R. 146] to prevent the obstruction of ditches, drains and running streams, recommending its passage. Concurred in.
Mr. B. also returned Mr. Mellett's Commissioner bill [H. R. 225] supplemental to the act for the relief of Indiana University, with an amendment by way of substitute, viz.: A bill [H. R. 341] for an act supplemental to the act for the relief of Indiana University, and to increase and extend its benefits by providing for the pale of lands donated by Congress for the use of Indiana University, approved March 2, '71.
On motion, referred to the Committee on Education.
Mr. King, from the Committee on Railroads, returned Mr. Miller's bill [H. R. 297] supplemental to the act authorizing aid to the construction of railroads by counties and townships, by taking stock therein, recommending that it lie on the table.
The report was rejected, and the bill ordered to the engrossment.
Mr. Hedrick, from the Committee on Rights and Privileges, returned Mr. Tulley's bill [H. R, 314], to prevent careless riding or driving on the public highways, recommending its passsge, with an amendment, by inserting the word "wilfully," and striking out "two hundred," and inserting "fifty," before the word "dollars," as to the fine. The amendments were adopted, and the bill ordered to be engrossed.
Mr. Shirley, from the same committee, returned Mr. Barrett's bill [H. R. 318], to amend section 2 of the act to discourage the keeping of useless and sheep-killing dogs, recommending that it be laid on the table. Concurred in.
Mr. Cowgill, from the Committee on Mileage and Accounts, reported a resolution (which was adopted),declaring that the mileage to be allowed to members of the House of Representatives for this session shall be for the same number of miles allowed at the special session.
Mr. Baxter, from the Committee on Reformatory Institutions, returned his bill [H. R. 332.] to authorize the enlargement of the House of Refuge for Juvenile Offenders, and making an appropriation therefore ($55,000 to accommodate 400 inmates). Ordered to the engrossment.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
Mr. Anderson introduced a bill [H. R. 342] providing for the taxing of costs in criminal actions. (In all criminal prosecutions the tax shall be page: 57[View Page 57] charged to the defendant, and where the same can not be made out of the defendant, it shall be paid by the county in which the action was commenced.) Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Claypool introduced a bill [H. R. 343] to amend section ten of the act providing for the organization of County Boards, and prescribing some of their powers and duties, approved June 17, 1863. (The county shall be divided into three districts for the election of three Commissioners.) Referred to the Committee on County and Township Business.
Mr. Buskirk introduced a bill [H. R. 344[ in relation to the terms of the Circuit Courts and of the Court of Common Pleas in Gibson county; and he moved that it be laid on the table.
The Speaker. The only motion that can be entertained on the first reading is to reject. The bill was passed to the second reading.
Mr. Wood introduced a bill [H. R. 345] to amend section three of the act for the regulation of weights and measures, approved January 7, 1852, February 27, 1855, and March 8, 1863; 60 pounds of wheat, averdupois weight, shall be given and taken for a standard bushel - increasing the number of legal standards of weights and measures.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
Mr. Shirley introduced a bill [H. R. 346] to amend section 270 of the act to provide for the uniform assessment and collection of taxes, approved December 21, 1872. (Assessors are directed to employ as deputies their competent predecessors elected at the October election of 1872.) Referred to the Committee on County and Township Business.
Mr. Hatch introduced a bill [H. R. 347] to amend sections 155, 159 and 180 of the assessment act of December 21,1872. (It is in reference to the collection of delinquent taxes, amending these sections so that in cases where there are no bidders at the sale for said taxes, the proper officers may bid in the property for the benefit of the State and county, and sell it again.) Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Dial introduced a bill [H. R. 348] to amend sections 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19 of the act to authorize aid to railroads by counties and townships, etc. Referred to the Committee on Railroads.
Mr. Henderson introduced a bill [H. R. 349] to repeal the act to provide for the redemption of real property, or any interest therein, sold on execution or other order of sale, and providing for the issue of certificates of purchase and the execution of conveyances, approved June 4,1861, and declaring an emergency. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
The Speaker now announced the changes in the standing committees; that they remain as in the special session of 1872 [see Brevier Reports, vol. xiii: pp. 54, 55], excepting as follows:
- Committee on the Journal (to include the Speaker) - Messrs. Whitworth, Wood, Scott and Stanley.
- Committee on the Judiciary (additional) - Messrs. Miller, Shirley, Cowgill, Offutt, Wesner, Smith and Lenfesty.
- Committee on the Organization of Courts - Messrs. Wood and Gregory, in place of Cowgill and Shirley.
- >On Trust Fund - Mr. Wayne, in place of Mr. Miller.
- On Corporations - Mr. Smith, in place of Mr. Hoyer.
- On the Affairs of Indianapolis - Mr. Hoyer in place of Mr. Gregory.
- On Drains - Mr. Shirley in place of Mr. Gregory.
On motion of Mr. Furnas, Mr. Florence obtained further leave of absence on account of sickness in his family.
The House then took a recess till two o'clock P.M.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Senate took up the Report of the State Librarian, and it was referred to the Committee on the State Library.
INSURANCE.
Mr. Kimball (by unanimous consent) reported from the Committee on the Judiciary a bill [H. R. 450] to organize insurance companies, and regulate the business of insurance in the State of Indiana. (Any number of persons not less than thirteen - a majority residents of the Statemay organize and make insurance on life or property under the numerous regulations, provisions and restrictions therein contained.) It was read the first time by the clerk, and on motion of Mr. Kimball, it was ordered that it be laid on the table and three hundred copies printed.
DIVORCE.
Mr. Woollen (by unanimous consent) returned from the Judicary Committee, his bill [H. R. 333] concerning Divorce, with amendments striking out from the closing sentence of section seven, and inserting these words: "witnesses who are actual householders of the State," and in the fifth sentence of the eighth section striking out "five," and inserting "three" in lieu, and so amended the Committee recommend the passage of the bill. The amendments were adopted, the bill read and ordered to the engrosment.
Mr. Henderson moved that the bill be printed. Adopted.
STATE HOUSE BOARD.
Mr. Cobb introduced a bill [H. R. 351] to provide for the enlargement of the State House grounds, the appointment of a State House Board, for the building of a new State House, and providing a fund therefor. [There shall be elected by the Legislature six commissioners, holding their office four years, who, with the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Secretary of otate, shall be known as the State House Boardto secure plans and estimates, additions to the present site, let contracts, for the building, etc., doing all things necessary to secure the erection of a durable structure sufficient to the growing wants of the State. To furnish a fund for the purpose a tax of five cents on the hundred dollars of the State taxables is proposed, which shall be coltected and kept (or invested as the bill prescribes) by the Treasurer of State. The total cost not to exceed two millions of dollars.] Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
ABORTON.
Mr. Wilson of Ripley, from the Committe on the Judiciary; returned Mr. Glazebrook's bill [H. R. 182] defining the procuring of an an abortion or miscarriage to be a felony or a murder as the case may be, and repealing, etc., recommending that it be laid on the table. Concurred in.
COMMISSIONS.
Mr Johnson, from the Committee on the Judiciary, returned Mr. Miller's bill [H. R. 14] to amend sections live and and seven of the act in relation to commisioners' certificates and resignations of office, with a recommendation that it be indefinitely postponed. Concurred in.
CITY REAL ESTATE APPRAISEMENT.
On motion of Mr. Billingsley, his bill [H. R. 122] providing for the appraisement of real estate in cities of 30,000 inhabitants and over, was taken up and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means with instructions to report certain amendments.
DIVORCE.
Mr. Woolen, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported the return of sundry divorce law amendment bills, recommending that they be laid on the table. Concurred in.
page: 58[View Page 58]ATTORNEYS' FEES.
Mr. Henderson introduced a bill [H. R. 352] limiting the damages which shall be assessed by any court or jury on account of attorneys' fees contract; and providing for the payment of attorneys' fees on contracts. [On concracts for any sum not exceeding $300, no greater rate of interest than ten per cent; over $300 and under $1,000, no greater rate than five per cent; over $1,000, no greater rate than two and a half per cent.] Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
CITY ROAD TAXATION.
Mr. Scott introduced a bill [H. R. 353] to prohibit Township Trustees from levying road tax on the inhabitants of incorporated towns andcities, and repealing, etc. Referred to the Committee on County and Township Business.
WM. B. WALTERS.
Mr. Henderson submitted a preamble and resotion, which was adopted, reciting that the claim of Wm. B. Walters for expenses incurred by him in contesting the seat of Robert S. Taylor in the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of 1871, was allowed in part by the Committee on Claims during the late Special Session, and subsequently rejected by the House: therefore,
Resolved, That the said claim be again referred to the Committe on Claims, with instructions to report the facts in the case, and how much, if anything, should be allowed.
The House then adjourned.
