HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SATURDAY, January 16, 1875.The SPEAKER called the House to order at 9 o'clock, a m., and directed the Clerk to read the Journal of yesterday, and the same was read and authenticated.
Messrs Burson, Charters and Henderson obtained leave of absence till Monday.
On motion of Mr. TRUSLER, the reference of his bill [H. R. 118] was changed from the committee on the Judiciary to the committee on Education.
Mr. COLLINS, from the committee on Insurance returned the bill [H. R. 129] to amend the act of Feb. 15, '61, to incorporate the Indiana Fire Insurance Co., recommending its passage. It was passed the second reading and ordered to be engrossed.
On motion of Mr. KENNEDY of Montomery, it was ordered that when the house adjourns to-day, it shall be till Monday 2 o'clock p. m.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The SPEAKER now called the roll ot counties and districts for bills and resolutions.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Brown, introduced a bill [H. R. 149] for an act to amend the th section of an act to provide for the protection of Fish, defining the time in which he same may be trapped or taken, and declaring an emergency. [To be unlawful to take fish between the first of May and September - excepting the Ohio and St. Joseph rivers and private fishing premises.]
Mr. JOHNSON of Carroll, submitted a resolution instructing the Committee on education to inquire into the expediency of amending section eight of the Common School law of March 1873, so as to make it duty of the Board of Education to se- page: 76[View Page 76] lect and prescribe such text books as shall be used in the Common Schools of Indiana, which was rejected.
Mr. BENCE introduced a bill [H. R. 150] for an act establishing county Courts, providing for the election and compensation of the Judges thereof, abolishing the Boards of County Commissioners, and providing for the transfer of business to the said County Courts.
Mr. DAVIS presented the petition of the Treasurer and other county officers of Floyd county, for repeal of the law authorizing the Criminal Circuit Court for the counties of Clark and Floyd.
He also presented the letter of Dr. E. Newland, his competitor at the late election for Representative of Floyd county, dated January 15, 1875, and addressed to the Hon. Thomas Bellows, Representative for the county of Clark, fully sustaining Mr. Davis' statements on the floor as to the general sentiment of the people of Clark and Floyd, that that Criminal Circuit ought to be abolished.
The papers were referred to the committee on the Organization of Courts of Justice.
Mr. CLARK submitted the following:
Resolved, That smoking is positively forbidden in this Hall during the session and recess time of this Legislature; and that the Doorkeeper see that this order is strictly complied with.
The SPEAKER. The Chair will say to the gentleman that that is now - in the Rules: the only change is, that this forbids smoking in the recess.
Mr. CLARK. We hear a good deal said here about the bad air and ventilation of this Hall; and for those who never use tobacco - he was of that number - the scent of tobacco throughout the Hall had a deleterious effect, and it remains in the air some time after it is given out. Therefore, since we are compelled to be here, I will take it as very kind if the House will vote that smoking shall not be indulged in this Hall during the session.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr. RAMSEY introduced a bill [H. R. 151] for an act to amend section one of the act entitled an act concerning interest on money, etc., approved March 1867. [Lawful interest 6 per cent - contracts for interest above 8 per cent, usurious - forfeiture of excess.]
Also a bill [H. R. 152] for an act to amend sections 14 to 24 of the act of March 1873 regulating the fees of officers and providing penalties and duties of certain county and township officers.
Mr. RAGAN presented a temperance petition, which was referred to the Committee on Temperance.
Mr. WOODY introduced a Joint Resolution (H. R. No, 5] agreeing to and adopting the amendments proposed to the Constitution of the State of Indiana at the last session of the General Assembly. [In Article ii section 2 by substitute - striking out the word "white;" and striking out section 5, - To amend Article iv by striking out the word "white," from sections four and five. - To amend Article vii section 2 by substitute - increasing the number of Supreme Judges to "not less than four, nor more than seven," etc. - To amend Article xiii by striking it out and substituting one section: limiting the indebtedness of political and municipal corporations "to five per centum on the value of the taxable property within such corporation," etc. - And to amend further, by adding the following section to Article vii section 22: "The election for judicial officers may be provided for by the General Assembly to take place at such time when no other election is pending" - See Acts of the Forty-eighth Regular session pp. 248, 249.
Mr. SMITH introduced a bill [H. R. 153] for an act to legalize official acts for the town of Portland, Jay county, Indiana, by the Board of Trustees and other officers of said town under the act approved June 11, 1852.
Mr. KEIGHTLY introduced a bill [H. R 154] for an act to empower the Auditor of State to correct errors heretofore made by officials in the sale of the Sinking Fund lands, by making proper deeds, etc.
Mr. KENNEDY of Montgomery introduced a bill [H. R 155] for an act concern- the granting of new trials, and providing that Jurors may be examined under oath touching any alleged misconduct of juries.
Mr. KENNEDY of Morgan introduced a bill [H R. 156] for an act defining certain crimes, declaring the procurement of an abortion a felony, prescribing penalties therefor, etc., and declaring an emergency. [Penitentiary one to ten years]
Mr. REEDER introduced a bill [H. R. 157] for an act to provide for the improvement of highways.
Mr. ANDERSON presented a temperance petition which was referred to the Committee on Temperance.
Mr. TAYLOR of Tipton introduced a bill [H. R. 158] for an act to amend sections 26 and 29 of the act to authorize and encourage the construction of levees, dykes, drains and ditches and the reclamaiton of wet and overflowed lands by incorporated companies, etc.
page: 77[View Page 77]Mr. HAVENS introduced a bill [H. R. 159] for an act to repeal section 2 of the act to define certain misdemeanors, and prescribing punishment therefor, approved December 2, 1865. [He said it was a bill to repeal "the provoke act."]
Mr. HARRIS, of Wayne, introduced a bill [H. R. 160] for an act requiring the County Auditors to publish statements in the newspapers of all allowances made by the Boards of County Commissioners, on the same terms of other legal publications.
Mr. MARTIN, of Wells, submitted a resolution, which was adopted, that the Reporter of the Supreme Court be requested to report to this House the whole number of copies of the decisions of the Supreme Court sold by him since he has been Reporter, the amount of such sales, and the cost of printing and binding the same.
Mr. WASHBURN presented the petition of 125 voters of Whitley county for a reduction of the fees and salaries of public officers, which was referred.
Mr. HELLER presented a claim, which was referred; also, a resolution that the Principal Clerk be directed to comply with the 13th section of the act of December 23, 1872, prescribing the duties of officers of the General Assembly; which was adopted.
Mr. FORKNER introduced a bill [H. R. 161] for an act authorizing the contracts of married women, and denning their liabilities on their contracts, etc.
Which bills were severally passed to the second reading.
ORDERS FOR REFERENCE OF BUSINESS ON
THE
SPEAKER'S TABLE.
Mr. Leeper's Wolf and Fox bill [H. R. 138] was taken up on the second reading and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
Mr. Haven's Married Woman bill [H. R. 139] was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Darnall's Kokomo Legalization bill [H. R. 140] was referred to the Committee on Cities and Towns.
Mr. Havens' Law of Libel bill [H. R. 141] was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. El wards' Railroad Aid Repeal bill [H. R. 142] was referred to the Committee on Railroads.
Mr. Gilbert's Normal School Act Amendment Appropriation bill [H. R. 143] was referred to the Committee on Education - Mr. Havens submitting, ineffectually, a motion to refer it to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Heller's Physicians and Surgeons bill [H. R. 144] was referred to the Committee on Scientific and Benevolent Institutions.
Mr. Adams of Wells' Adams County Reimbursement bill [H. R. 145] was referred to the Committee on Corporations.
Mr. Bence's Town Corporation Act Amendment bill [H. R. 146] was referred to the Committee on Cities and Towns.
Mr. Ratliff's Divorce Witness bill[H. R. 147] was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Twibill's Divorce Law Amendment bill [H. R. 148] was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. GOSSMAN submitted a resolution, which was adopted, that the Committee on Swamp Lands be instructed to examine the records as to the amount of [swamp land] money heretofore appropriated to each county, and the amount expended by each county, and the amount unexpended by each county, and report as early as possible.
The SPEAKER laid before the House a communication from the State Labrarian (Mrs. Estella A. Oren) regarding the employment of a fireman for the Representatives Hall, etc., which was referred to the Committee on Employees.
On motion of Mr. HELLER, the House then adjourned till Monday, 2 o'clock p. m.
