HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, March 17, 1879 9 a. m.The reading of the journal of Saturday's proceedings was dispensed with.
The bill [S. 432] to amend section 10 of an act to establish a House of Refuge for the correction of juvenile offenders--may receive infants between the ages of 7 and 16--was read the second time and passed to the third reading.
Mr. Briggs' bill [H. R. 672] to legalize the acts of the official Board of Trustees of the town of Marion, in Sullivan county, was read the second time and ordered engrossed.
Mr. Watson's bill [H. R. 673] to amend sec-[tions] page: 33[View Page 33] [sec]-tions 210 and 211 of the general practice act, was read the second time and referred to the judiciary committee.
Mr. Allen's, of Pirnaru bill [H. R. 674] to define certain practice in the various courts, including the mayor's court, was read the second time and ordered to be engrossed for the third reading.
Mr. Drake's bill [H. R. 675] to amend the 14th section of an act defining felonies, was read the second time and ordered engrossed for the third reading.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following described bills were introduced, read the first time and passed to the second reading:
By Mr. WORKS, [H. R. 676] to amend section eight of an act, supplemental and amendatory of an act for the uniform assessment of property.
By Mr. STUCKER, [H. R. 677] to protect the honesty and purity of the elective franchise.
By Mr. OSBORNE, of Elkhart, [H. R. 678] to repeal an act to divide the State into Congressional districts.
By Mr. MARCH, [H. R. 679] to amend sections 9 and 11 of an act supplemental to an act prescribing the duties of the attorney general
By Mr. MAJOR, [H. R. 680] regulating the running at large of hogs.
By. Mr. BROWN, of Jasper, [H. R. 681] authorizing judges to give opinions in writing, and making the same a part of the record.
The judiciary committee returned the bill [H. R. 101] to exempt claims and interests of the wives, children and dependents of members of the Masonic, Odd Fellows and other charitable institutions, with a recommendation that the bill do pass. The report concurred in, and the bill ordered engrossed.
By Mr. MARCH, [H. R. 682] in relation to the license and sale of intoxicating liquors.
By Mr SHANKS, [H. R. 683] to provide for the prompt publication of the acts of the general and special sessions.
The bill [S. 53] to amend section 94 of an act of December 21, 1872, to provide for the uniform assessment of property, was read the first time and passed to the second reading.
It being apparent, there was no quorum present, the House look a recess until 2 o'clock p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The House reassembled at 2 o'clock, p. m.
On the motion of Mr. WILLARD, the House then took a recess until 3:30 o'clock.
Promptly at the hour appointed, the speaker resumed the chair and called the House to order.
Mr. FAULKNER offered the following:
WHEREAS, The predecessor of the present incumbent of the office of attorney general collected large sums of money for the State of Indiana from the counties and county officers in the State, and,
WHEREAS, It is represented he has failed to account for, and pay the same over to the State as required by law,therefore,
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to investigate the affairs of said officer daring his said term, and ascertain what amount of money has been collected by said attorney general from any and all sources; what amounts thereof has been accounted for and paid over. and what amount, if any, has not been accounted for, and report the same fully to this House.
Mr. BLOCKLEY said: a certain county official on the expiration of his official term was sued on his bond to the amount of $3,178. Judgment was rendered and the money was paid to the full amount to the Attorney General, and upon examination there was but one thousand and nine dollars accounted for.
Mr. TULLEY moved to amend by adding "Attorney Generals Buskirk and Denny, back to March, 1873.
The amendment was agreed to, and the resolution as amended was adopted, and
The SPEAKER made the committee to consist of Messrs. Faulkner, Works, Stucker, Huthsteiner and Sleeth.
The House concurred in the Senate amendments to the bill [H. R. 663] to amend the charter of Evansville.
Mr. CONNOWAY called up his bill [H. R. 589] to authorize the township trustee of Union township, Union county, or his successor in office, to pay certain indebtedness incurred by the former trustee of said township, which was read the third time, and finally passed the House by yeas 64, nays 16.
Mr. CONNOR called up his bill [H. R. 530] to prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors on fair grounds, which was read the third time, and passed the House by--yeas 62, nays 14.
Mr. HEROD [for Mr. Copeland] called up his bill [H. R. 570] concerning licenses to vend foreign merchandise, to exhibit any caravan, menagerie, circus, rope dancing, puppet show, ventriloquism, legerdemain, opera or concert, or theatrical performance, etc., which was read the third time.
Mr. SLEETH said this bill diverts the money received from these traveling shows for licenses from the treasury of the Agricultural society to the county treasury.
Mr. VANPELT said that agricultural societies were hard up generally, and ought to be encouraged. He hoped the bill would not pass.
Mr. HUBBARD thought it was but very little difference which way the money went, to the Agricultural society or to the county treasury, so that these shows were compelled to pa a tax for their performances. It taxes a large class of performances that were never taxed before, and he thought it was a good bill, an he hoped it would pass.
Mr. WIMMER, would be willing to vote for the bill, provided, in counties where there were no agricultural societies, the money should go into the county treasury; otherwise, the agricultural societies should have the benefit of the money.
On the motion of Mr. HEROD, the bill was recommitted to a special committee of five.
The SPEAKER made the committee to consist of Messrs. Herod, Hubbard, Baker, Stucker and Shanks.
Mr. DAILEY called up his bill [H. R. 270] for the protection of the ballot box and preventing bribery in elections, which was read the third time, and finally passed the House by yeas 76, nays 0.
Mr. DAVIS called up Mr. Johnson's bill [H. R. 601] to prohibit the keeping of saloons or other houses, sheds or booths, for the purpose of persons congregating together for the purpose of drinking spirituous or malt liquors, which was read the third time.
Mr. JOHNSON had never been connected with any temperance society, but he was willing to lay down the proposition that everything that is an injury to society is a nuisance. If there is a man here who can show that a saloon is an advantage to community he would like to have him do so, for he assumed that a saloon is no advantage to anyone but the man that keeps it, and the mayors and marshals of cities and towns. If the school fund is benefited by it the court and poor house expenses are increased. The cause of nearly all the crime committed can be traced to a saloon. Young men from the country as well as the town are decoyed into saloons, and are there robbed.
page: 34[View Page 34]Mr. WORKS saw one objection to this bill. The repealing clause is too broad. It would have the effect to repeal all the law we now have on the subject of selling intoxicating liquors. This bill would allow any person to sell liquors anywhere except in a saloon, and to any person, without violating the law. He was in favor of the principle of the bill, and believed it was wrong to legalize the sale of Intoxicating liquors in any way. With a proper amendment of the repealing clause he could support the bill heartily.
Mr. OWEN moved that the bill be recommit ted to a select committee of three.
Mr. WILLARD ineffectually moved--yeas 21, nays 58--to lay the motion to recommit on the table.
The motion to recommit was then agreed to.
The SPEAKER made this committee to consist of Messrs. Owen, Johnson and Lehman.
Mr. DONNELL called up his bill [H. R. 591] to amend the act regulating the granting of divorce, which was read the third time, and finally passed the House by yeas 71, nays 5.
Pending the roll call--
Mr. HUBBARD, when his name was called, said he believed there was but one reason for the granting of divorces, and that was the reason given in the holy scriptures; and as he did not like to vote against this bill he therefore asked to be excused from voting.
Mr. MIERS offered a resolution that when this House adjourn it adjourn to meet at 8 o'clock p. m. this evening. The resolution was rejected by--yeas 20, nays 63.
The bill [S. 171] in relation to felonies, was read the first time and passed to the second reading.
The bill [S. 426] to amend section 3 of an act concerning voluntary associations and their perpetuity, so as there shall be no distinction on account of complexion, nativity or religious belief, as to orphan children in the dispensation of charity, was read the first time and passed to the second reading.
Mr. LEHMAN moved that the committee on the bill H. R. 601, to prohibit the keeping of saloons, be increased to five.
Mr. SAINT moved to lay the motion on the table, on which motion the yeas and nays were demanded, pending which--
The House adjourned.
