HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SATURDAY, Jan. 18,1879-- 9 o'clock a. m.The House met at 9 o'clock a. m., the speaker in the chair.
The order of prayer was conducted by Rev. Mr. LYNCH, presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church for this district.
The SPEAKER announced the first thing in the order of business to be the call for reports from committees. He commenced calling the list of committees, but no reports being submitted, he called for reports from select committees, whereupon--
Mr. OSBORN of Elkhart, from the select committee appointed yesterday to secure better ventilation in the hall, reported an interview with the superintendent of the building and the obtaining from that officer a promise that a man experienced with the workings of the heating apparatus would hereafter give special attention to it without extra charge to the State.
The report of the committee was concurred in.
Mr. HEROD, in pursuance of notice heretofore given, called up his resolution for a change of the morning hour for the daily sessions of the House of Representatives. The question being on the amendment [Mr. Shank's] to make the hour twelve o'clock, noon--
The amendment was rejected.
The question then recurring on the original resolution, the yeas and nays were demanded by two members, and being ordered and taken, resulted--yeas 55, nays 27.
So the resolution was adopted, and hereafter the House of Representatives will meet for daily morning sessions at 10 o'clock a. m.
The SPEAKER then proceeded to call by counties for the presentation of bills and resolutions:
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following described bills for acts were introduced, read the first time and passed to the second reading:
By Mr. SLEETH [H. R. 222] authorizing incorporated towns to assess and receive license from vendors of Intoxicating liquors.
By Mr. SLEETH, [H. R. 223] to amend section 2 of an act providing for the election and appointment of supervisors of highways.
Mr. BRIGGS presented a petition from citizens of Sullivan County, which was referred to an appropriate committee without reading.
By Mr. ARNOLD of Wabash, [H. R. 224] for an act authorizing an official seal for the use of justices of the peace in the attestation of official papers.
Mr. TAYLOR of Warrick offered a resolution that the doorkeeper procure a sufficient number of copies of the Revised Statutes at wholesale prices, to furnish a set for the use of each member during the session.
The SPEAKER ruled the resolution out of order because the House of Representatives heretofore refused to adopt a similar resolution.
By Mr. OWEN, [H. R. 225] to amend section lot the act to prevent the spread of Canada thistles. Railroad authorities shall cause their section hands to destroy and prevent the spread of Canada thistles along the track and on all railroad lands.
By Mr. TULLEY, [H. R. 226] to repeal the act authorizing the incorporation of Building and Loan Associations.
By Mr. TULLEY, [H. R. 227] to repeal the act for the protection of fish,
By Mr. TULLEY, a resolution, which was adopted, directing the chairman of the several house committees, whenever they shall consider bills originating in the House of Representatives, to notify the authors thereof, page: 41[View Page 41]so that the author may be present to explain prvisions where it may be deemed desirable.
By Mr. DAILEY, a resolution, which was adopted, tendering the thanks of the House of Representatives to Dr. T. H. Lynch, presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this district, for chaplain service during the present week.
By Mr. DAILEY, [H. R. 228] authorizing the correction of the school account of Adams County.
The bill [S. 32] to authorize the appointment of a clerk to the Judiciary Committee of the Senate, and a clerk to the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives, coming up in regular order, it was read the second time
Mr. WILLARD: An amendment to section 1 providing that there be allowed a clerk to the Senate Judiciary Committee, to the groups of committees now provided by law, a separate clerk for said committee to be appointed by the chairman of said committee, and that there be allowed to the standing committees of the House on the judiciary, organization of courts, banks, fees and salaries, corporations and insurance companies, in addition to the clerks now provided by law for said committees, a separate clerk to be appointed by the chairmen of said committees, and that said clerks shall receive the same per diem as other clerks.
Mr. OSBORNE of Elkhart insisted if the Senate Judiciary Committee was allowed a clerk, the House? Judiciary Committee should also be allowed a separate clerk. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the House, he would do all the committee work he could, with or without a clerk to his committee.
Mr. GORDON favored the passage of the bill. He thought the Judiciary Committee of each branch of the General Assembly should accorded a separate clerk.
Mr. WILLARD was willing the two committees should each have a clerk if they could keep him busy. His amendment was intended to so operate that when the Judiciary Committee had no work for its clerk, he might be employed by other committees.
On motion by MR. LEHMAN the bill and pending amendment were referred to the Judiciary Committee.
WORK FOR COMMITTEES.
The SPEAKER then announced the order for the consideration of House bills on the second reading:
The following described bills were read the second time, and referred to Appropriate Committees:
Mr. Baker's bill, [H. R. 421 to repeal section 14 of the common school law; also, his bill, [H. R. 43] to make interest on the loan or forbearance of moneys six per cent.
Mr. Taylor of Warrick's bill, [H. R. 44] to amend section two of the common school law; also, his bill, [H. R. 45] to legalize taxes levied by incorporated towns.
Mr. Mitchell's bill, [H. R. 46] to amend section one of an act to provide for township elections approved March 3,1877.
Mr. Dailey's bill, [H. R. 47] for an act to enable the owners of wetlands to drain and reclaim the same--through the action of county commissioners; also, his bill, [H. R. 48] fixing the time when actions shall stand for trial in the Circuit Court; also, his bill, [H. R. 49] to provide for township elections.
Mr. Compton's bill [H. R. 50] declaring void agreements to pay attorney's fees in any bill of exchange, acceptance, draft, or other evidence of indebtedness.
Mr. Stacker's bill [H. R. 51] to abolish the office of county school superintendent and to Appoint a county school examiner instead. Also his bill [H. R. 52] to amend an act in elation to highways. Also his bill [H. R. 53] to amend an act defining who shall be competent witnesses.
Mr. Caldwell's bill [H. R. 54] for redistricting the State for legislative purposes. Also his bill [H. R. 55] to legalize the board of county commissioners of Clinton County.
Mr. Taylor of Daviess' bill [H. R. 56] defining the Tenth, Twelfth, and Third Judicial Circuit.
Mr. Donnell's bill [H. R. 57] to legalize sheriffs sales.
Mr. March's bill [H. R. 58] to amend an act declaring agreements to pay attorney's fees in bills of exchange, acceptances, drafts, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness; also, his bill [H. R. 59] providing for appeals from boards of county commissioners.
Mr. Willard's bill [H. R. 60] to incorporate the orphan's home of New Albany.
Mr. Connoway's bill [H. R. 61] concerning interest on money--to make the legal rate 6 per cent.
Mr. Davidson's bill [H. R. 62] to amend the act for the organization of county boards, prescribing their powers and duties, etc.; also, his bill [H. R. 63] to amend an act in relation to county treasurers; also, his bill [H. R. 64] to provide for the working and repairing of public highways, abolishing the office of road supervisor, etc.
Pending the consideration of the above order--
Mr. HEROD, in order to accommodate & number of members who desired to go to their homes to-day, moved that when the House adjourns it be till 2 o'clock p. m. Monday.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. HANDY, from the Committee on Mileage and Accounts, asked and obtained leave to submit a report setting forth the number of miles traveled by each member of the House of Representatives in coming to and returning from the state capital. Several corrections were made thereto, and, on motion, it was recommitted for further amendment.
Mr. GAROUTTE moved that the House adjourn.
The SPEAKER begged the indulgence of the House to state that inasmuch as the proposed amendments to the constitution of this State referred to this by the last General Assembly, have been transmitted from the Senate to this House without any accompanying resolution, he would suggest the following form as a proper manner in which to get the question before the House--
Senate joint resolution No. 1, to amend section 11 of article 2 of the constitution and prescribing the qualifications of voters proposed and agreed to by a majority of the members elected to the Senate and House of Representatives of the Fiftieth General Assembly of Indiana, and by said General Assembly referred to the present Assembly being the General Assembly chosen at the next General Assembly after the same was so proposed and agreed to by the Fiftieth General Assembly, in the following words, to-wit: * * * Having been read the third time, the question is, will the House of Representatives agree to and ratify and adopt the said joint resolution as adopted by the Fiftieth General Assembly of the State of Indiana, proposing an amendment to the constitution, and by said General Assembly referred to the present General Assembly, as set forth in the joint resolution as aforesaid. Those of you in favor thereof, will, as your names are called, say "aye," and those of a contrary opinion will, as your names are called, say "no,"
Mr. Garoutte's motion was then agreed to,
And so the House stands adjourned till Monday at 2 o'clock p. m.
