AFTERNOON SESSION.
POWER OF ATTORNEY.
Mr, Chapman's bill [S. 189] defining power of attorney, was read the third time.
Mr. VIEHE objected to the penal clause in the second section.
Mr. BROWN regarded this bill as appointing a guardian for all mortgagees and alienees, and its enactment would result in great confusion.
Mr. CHAPMAN considered that every feature of the recording law would be open to the same criticism. He moved to set aside the order for the engrossment, and recomit the bill.
It was agreed to.
page: 155[View Page 155]GRAVEL ROADS.
Mr. Ristine's bill [S. 54]j to amend Section 7 of the gravel road law of March 3, 1877, in relation to assessments and outstanding bonds, [see these reports page 80,] was read the third time.
MR. RISTINE said the only change was in reducing the rate of interest from 7 to 6 per cent., increasing the amount of outstanding bonds from $50,000 to $100,000. An emergency clause is added for the reason that the limit of $50,000 in many Counties has been reached, having roads uncompleted for want of funds.
The bill passed by-yeas 32, nays 2.
WARD CONSOLIDATION.
Mr. Smith's bill [S 16] to amend Section 79 of the general city incorporation act, so as to authorize cities to consolidate wards, being read the third time--
Mr Smith explained the bill simply authorizes the consolidation of one or more Wards, there by decreasing the number and also the number of Councilmen. It is not directory or mandatory but simply discretionary.
The bill passed by-yeas, 35; nays, 0.
INTEREST ON SCHOOL FUNDS.
Mr. Rahm's bill [S. 13] to amend Section 8 of the Common School law of 1865, so as to reduce the rate of interest on school funds to 6 per cent., being read a third time--
Mr. VIEHE saw no objection to the bill, except it does not require the interest to be payeble in advance, as has been customary with all school funds.
Mr. TAYLOR opposed the bill because it will cripple the school fund one-fourth. He was satisfied that eighty-two out of the ninety-two Counties of the State have already their money loaned at 8 per cent., and could not see the consistency of reducing the income to the school fund one-fourth because some few Auditors have some money on hand unloaned.
Mr. MENZIES said the author of the bill agrees to have it lie on the table, to be considered when the school of law codification is considered.
Mr. FOSTER objected to delay.
Mr. OWEN had a list covering one-fourth of the Counties, showing that but 3 per cent. of the whole amount remains unloaned. The question should be: How much can we get legally and not usurious? If the legal rate of interest is reduced from 8 to 6 per cent., the rate on these funds ought to be reduced, and the bill should await action on the interest bills before the General Assembly.
Mr. VOYLES believed that the rate of interest on the public moneys ought to be lowered.
Mr. Rahm thought it but right and just that the rate of interest on school funds should be reduced. Senators should relieve those so poor as to have to mortgage their farms to get this money from paying 8 per cent., when 6 is enough, He believed it wrong to ask more, even if we could get it. In his County money can be obtained for less than 8 per cent., and some $7,000 or $9,000 of the school funds are now lying idle. The bill read that the interest should be paid in advance, and he desired it should read so now.
Mr Chapman considered it as well to meet this this question now as at any other time, whether the rate of interest of the school fund shall be reduced from 8 to 6 pe cent. He opposed the proposition, and opposed delay.
Mr. URMSTON believed the bill it passed as it is, would change the rate of interest entirely. Then the title and the body of the bill are at variance. It should be recommitted.
Mr. HENRY desired to see the bill defeated or indefinitely postponed.
On motion by Mr. CHAPMAN, the bill was indefinitely postponed--yeas, 21; nays 19.
SENATE BILLS FINALLY PASSED.
Mr. Voyles' bill [S. 72] authorizing the distribution of the 3 per cent. fund by County Boards to Township Trustees, was read the third time.
Mr. VOYLES explained while the bill is general in its scope, it has direct reference to his County.
The bill passed by yeas 37: nays, 1.
Mr. Leeper's bill [S. 52] to amend Section 34 of the Common School [see these reports January 13], was read the third time and passed by yeas, 35; nays, 1--Mr. Garrigus.
Mr. Kramer's bill [S. 67] extending term of Township Trustee to two years, was read the third time.
Mr. KRAMER explained that the change of terms requires some provision for the next election, so where more than one is chosen, one-half, or those receiving the highest number of votes shall hold for two years. The object being to have one-half hold over. Another provision allows the Trustee to levy a road tax concurrent with the County Boards.
Mr. URMSTON was satisfied this bill has not been carefully examined, and should not be passed.
Mr. FOSTER favored the plan of having one-half the Board hold over. He moved to recommit the bill, with Instructions to add an emergency clause.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. Menzies' bill [S. 213] authorizing the incorporation of Public Libraries, was read the third time.
Mr. MENZIES said the purpose of the bill was to authorize persons to associate themselves together for purpose of establishing Public Libraries.
The bill passed--yeas, 40; nays, 0.
Mr. Kramer's bill [S. 104] to amend Sections 2 and 4 of the Common School law, [see p. 116] was read the third time and passed--yeas, 32; nays, 4.
Mr. Wilson's bill [S. 147] authorizing the Governor to appoint all officers elected by the General Assembly, was read the third time, but failed to pass, by yeas, 18; nays, 19.
And then the Senate adjourned.
