HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, February 7, 1881--10 a. m.The SPEAKER announced prayer by Rev. Mr. Dudley, of this city.
The reading of the Clerk's Journal of the preceding session was commenced, when--
On motion by Mr. BUSKIRK, the further reading was dispensed with.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following described bills were introduced, read the first time and severally referred to appropriate Committees.
By Mr. ROELKER [H.R. 290]: To amend Section 3 of an act providing for a more speedy trial of causes, to facilitate the transaction of business in Courts, to provide for Judges to try causes, fixing their compensation in certain cases therein named, and authorizing adjournment terms of Court and enlarged jurisdiction in certain specified cases, approved March 7, 1877. If the regular judge fail to appear for two days, on the second day the Sheriff and Auditor shall elect some competent attorney of the County to act as Judge pro tem.
By Mr. COMPTON [H. R. 291]: Defining the a duties the powers and duties of the Adjutant General of the State, fixing his salary, etc. [He shall be the mustering officer of the State, keep a complete record of the companies of the State and militia officers commissioned by the Governor, and all generals and special orders pertaining to the Indiana Legion, make inspection, etc.]
By Mr. COMPTON [H. R. 292]; To amend Section 31 of an act for the relief of the poor, approved June 9, 1852; and amending an act to provide for the support of the indigent, blind and other infirm persons, approved March 4, 1857. [Such keeper to give bond for $2,500; the County Commissioners to inspect such Institution every spring and fall; to report on the condition of each pauper, industry, expense, condition, etc.]
By Mr. FALL [H, R. 293]: To restrain domestic animals from running at large, prescribing the the duties of certain officers in relation thereto, etc.
By Mr. FALL [H. R. 294]: To amend Section 16 of an act to provide for the election or appointment of Supervisors of Highways, prescribing certain of their duties and those of County and Township officers in relation thereto, approved March 5, 1859. [He shall construct ditches, remove any wood or trees that may be necessary, and any person may petition the Township Trustee for the assessment of damages. In such case the Trustee shall appoint three disinterested persons to view the locality whee such grievance was committed, and assess damages within twenty days after such appointment--the Trustee to pay such amount out of County funds.]
By Mr. GREGORY [H. R. 295]: To legalize the incorporation of Greenhill Seminary Corporation, located in Greenhill, Warren County, Indiana, which was designed to be incorporated under an act for the incorporation of High Schools, Academies, Universities, Theological Institutions and Missionary Boards, approved February 28, 1855; also, an act supplementary to an act approved March 9, 1867.
By Mr. GREGORY [H. R. 296]: A bill for an act amending Section 527 of an act to revise, simplify and abridge the rules, practice and pleadings in civil cases in this State, and abolish distinct forms of equity and provide for the administration of justice in a uniform mode of practice, pleading, etc.
By Mr. GREGORY [H. R. 297]: To amend an act to enable owners of wet lands to drain and reclaim them, when the same can not be done without affecting the lands of others; prescribing the powers and duties of County Boards and other officers in the premises, and providing for the repairs of such drains, approved March 9, 1875: [The County Commissioners shall have power, with consent of a regular or special session of Court, to construct any covered or open ditch or water course that may be conducive to public health and benefit within such County].
By Mr. CABBAGE [H. R. 298]: To exempt the timber land of the State from all State and County taxes for the purpose of increasing the growth of the same.
By Mr. MITCHELL [H. R. 299]: To amend Section 3 of an act to provide for the election, compensation and prescribing the duties of the Attorney General of the State of Indiana, and adding a supplementary Section to the foregoing act. [His bond to be $50,000].
By Mr. MITCHELL [H. R. 300]: For an act in relation to the issuance of marriage license and matters properly connected therewith. [It shall be unlawful to issue license to a person or persons of so weak a mind as not to be able to attend to his or her business, of maintaining himself or herself, or when the person or persons is incapable of entering into or making a civil contract-any citizen to have the right to file a written objection. Such objector shall not incur civil liability by reason of such objection.]
By Mr. CUMMINGS [H. R. 301]: For the prohibition of the Grand Jury system, and providing additional means and modes for the prosecution of misdemeanors and felonies, and defining the powers and duties of Justices of the Peace, Circuit Courts and proceedings of Prosecuting Attorneys. [Prosecution for misdemeanors shall be instituted only by affidavit before the Justice of the Peace, saving the right of appeal to the Circuit Court to be taken within thirty days after the rendition of judgment.]
By Mr. CUMMINGS [H. R. 302]: To provide for the punishment of certain assaults and batteries committed by a husband on his wife, and declaring the duties of certain officers in connection page: 144[View Page 144] therewith. [Any husband convicted of committing an assault or battery on the person of his wife, by beating or whipping, etc., shall be punished by whipping with a cat-o'-nine tails, with not less than five nor more than twenty strokes, on the bare back, and imprisonment in the manner now prescribed by law--a whipping-post to be located at the County seat and also in each incorporated city or town.]
By Mr. LINDSAY [H. R. 303]: For an act to provide for a homestead to every resident "head of a family" in this State, exempting it and certain amounts of personal property from sale on execution, distress for rent, or any other final process of any Court, other than for judgments rendered for amounts due on mortgages or bill of sale for balance of purchase money, or for taxes, and defining who is a resident head of a family under this provision.
Mr. LINDSAY says that every State in the Union has such a law except six, and Indiana was one of the exceptions. The bill exempts $1,500 in real property, and $1,000 in personal property, where the debtor is the head of a family, and in other cases $300 in books or tools, when the debtor is not a family man.
By Mr. CARR [H. R. 304]: To legalize the election of the Board of Trustees and all other officers of the town of Monon, White County, Indiana, for the year 1879 and 1880; to legalize all their official acts, by-laws, ordinances, regulations and proceedings executed by them, in pursuance of the act for the incorporation of towns; defining their powers, providing for the election of officers thereof, and declaring their duties; approved June 11,1852.
By Mr. KENNER [H, R. 305]: In relation to opening highways. When the County Commissioners are petitioned by a majority of property owners, shall grant a right of way for the improvement of such street, alley or highway, and the petitioners can proceed to grade or pave such highway, under the supervision of a Civil Engineer.
By Mr. SUMNER the bill [H. R. 306]: To revoke certain acts of the Board of Trustees of Center Township, Marshall County Indiana.
By Mr. JACKSON [H. R. 307]: An act to regulate the manufacture and sale of commercial fertilizers. [Every package of commercial fertilizer offered for sale for manuring purposes shall have plainly stamped upon the same the name and place of manufacture, the weight, contents and analysis, stating the per cent. contained therein.]
By Mr JACKSON [H. R. 308]: To repeal Section 10 of an act concerning married women. [The section providing that married women shall not mortgage her separate property as security for the debt or liability of her husband, or any other person, be and is hereby repealed.]
By Mr. HINTON [H. R.309]: Fixing certain fees and salaries to be taxed in offices therein named, and describing their duties, approved March 31, 1879. [The fees of Grand Jurors in Circuit Courts shall be $2 per day, and ten cents for each mile traveled in going and coming.]
By Mr. GARDNER [H. R310]; To establish a Department of Geology and Natural History in this State. [The Governor shall appoint a suitable person, skilled in the art, as State Geologist, who shall have power to appoint as many assistants as he may deem necessary. The State Geologist is to serve four years, at an annual salary of $1,800. He shall continue the geological survey of the State, giving special attention to the discovery of mineral stones. He shall also be Curator of the Geological Cabinet.]
Mr. GARNER states: "There is no more reason for doubling up the Statistical Bureau and the Geological Department, than there would be in a union of a street-cleaning department with of fine arts."
By Mr. BARNETT, [H. R. 311]: to amend Section 26 of an act fixing fees to be taxed certain officers and the salaries of officers therein named, providing for certain employes, in public offices and fixing their compensation, defining certain duties and liabilities of officers and persons therein named, and liabilities of officers and person therein named, and disposing of certain moneys, making appropriations, etc.
By Mr. HOTTELL, [H. R. 312]: to amend section 6 of an act containing several provisions regarding landlords, tenants, lessees and lessor, approved May 20, 1852.
By Mr. TAYLOR [H. R, 313[: Fixing the salaries and fees of County Auditors, and repealing Sections 22, 23, 24 and 25 of an act fixing certain fees, etc., approved March 31, 1879. [The County Auditor shall be allowed the sum of $1,200 per year in Counties where the population does not exceed 10,000; and shall be allowed the additional sum of about $90 per each one thousand inhabitants in excess thereof, besides fixing the fees to be charged to individuals for outside matter.
RESOLUTIONS.
Mr. GREGORY offered a resolution, That the Committee on Benevolent Institutions be requested to examine into the practicability of the passage of a bill, during this session, to establish a State Board of Visitors, investiged with powers to visit at any time any and all of the Benevolent Institutions of the State, with full authority to investigate into anything pertaining to the management of such institutions, to send for persons and papers to inquire into the charges so preferred. Such Board to be elected by the General Assembly.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr. ADRIAN offered a resolution which was adopted; That the Secretary of State be instructed to forward, without delay, to the different County Auditors of this State, the blank inquiries, in regard to the number of orphan children in the County Poor House, and that the principal clerk see that this resolution be carried into immediate effect.
Mr. ROBINSON offered a resolution, which was adopted--yeas, 78, nays, 0--that our Senators and Representatives in Congress are respectfully requested to use their best efforts to secure the passage of a law by Congress equalizing the bounties of soldiers of the late war of the Rebellion.
Mr. SWITZER offered a resolution, which was adopted, that the Attorney General be requested to inform this House of the steps taken by himself or predecessor in the matter of bringing suit against E. B. Henderson, late Auditor of State, for the recovery of moneys from foreign Insurance Companies, as directed by the General Assembly of 1879, etc.
The House adjourned.
