HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, March 1, 1881--9 a. m.NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following described bills were introduced, read the first tme, and severally referred to appropriate Committees:
By Mr. CARTER [H. R. 432]: To amend Section 2 of an act to provide for the incorporation of Railroad Companies, approved June 4, 1861. [Stockholders severally responsible for debts].
By Mr. CARTER [H. R. 433]: To amend Section 18 of an act prescrbing who may make a will, the effect thereof, what may be devised, the revocation, perpetuity and contest thereof, etc.
By Mr. RYAN [H. R. 434]: To amend Section 15 of an act to provide for the incorporaton of Railroad Companies, approved May 11, 1852. [Such Company to enter upon any land for the purpose of examining or surveying its line and appropriate so much as may be deemed necessary for it railroad.]
By Mr. Cauthorne [H. R. 435]: To repeal an to provide for the payment of sundry bonds and stocks of the State of Indiana issued prior to the year 1841, approved December 12, 1872, and disposing of the balance of the funds realized from the sale of bonds in said act. On his further motion the constitutional rule was dispensed with, the bill read the second time by title only and ordered engrossed.
MECHANICS' LIENS.
The Special Committee thereon reported back the bill [H. R. 69--see page 205 of these Reports] to anthorize laborers' and mechanics' liens, reconmmending its passage with the following amendments appropriately inserted: "Provided, that such lien shall not have perference over any previously recorded lien, judgment or mortgage for a valuable consderation. A legal notice of twenty-one days shall be given by publication in a weekly newspaper of general circulation and published in the County three several times for the protection of innocent parties."
The report was concurred in and so the amendments were adopted.
Mr. GIBSON moved to further amend by adding these words: "And provided further that a copy of such newspaper containing such notice to be filed at said time in the Recorder's office in the County wherever the same is published."
The amendment was adopted.
The bill was read the third time and passed--yeas, 70; nays, 8.
GRAVEL, PLANK AND OTHER ROADS.
On motion by Mr. KENNER, the bill [S. 54--see pages 80, 135, 136 and 155] authorizing County Commissioners to purhase and make free gravel and other roads was taken up, read the third time and passed--yeas, 75; nays, 6.
REINSTATEMENT OF BURNT RECORDS.
The Judiciary Committee returned the bill [S. 211--see page 113] providing for the reinstatement of destroyed records, recommending its passage. The bill was read the third time, and passed--yeas, 79; nays, 0.
GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS.
The Committee on Ways and Means returned the general appropriation bill [H. R. 422] referring to a number of errors and omissions, and recommending that those changes be made as corrections.
Mr. KENNER moved that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, and sit at once for the consideration of the appropriation bill with the reports thereon.
The motion was agreed to--yeas, 69; nays 13.
Accordingly, the House resolved itself into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Furnas in the Chair, and the bill was being read by sections, when--
Mr. MILES moved that the Committee rise, report progress and recommend that 200 copies of the bill be ordered printed.
The motion was agreed to. The Committee rose, and its Chairman reported to the House as instructed.
On motion by Mr. FRAZIER, this report was indefinitely postponed.
Mr. FRAZIER moved to make the consideration of the appropriation bill a special order for 2 o'clock this afternoon.
Mr. MILES moved to amend by substituting to-morrow at 2 p. m.
The amendment was lost--yeas, 42; nays, 45.
The motion was agreed to--yeas, 66; nays, 27.
PUBLIC OFFENSES.
The consideration of the special order--being the bill [H. R. 393] public offenses and their punishment--was resumed.
Mr. KENNER moved to amend section 109 by inserting after the word "duty" in line four, fo11owing words: "Or any officer who requires any Deputy appointed by him to pay back any part of the lawful fees of such Deputy.'
Mr. KENNER said there was a growing wrong. Officers appointing Deputies, etc., enter into a secret contract with such Deputies for part of the pay. This amendment is to obviate such arrangement.
The amendment was adopted.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
ASYLUM SEWERAGE.
The Joint Committee to whom was referred the matter of sewerage of the Woman's Reformatory and Deaf and Dumb Institutions and selling the lands upon which such Institutions are located, report as follows: (1) The Committee think it is injudicious to sell such property. (2) The sewerage as now conducted through Crooked and Polk's Runs are not sufficient; therefore, the Committee recommend some negotiation with the City Council by which the sewerage can be made, and recommend the passage of the following described bill:
The Committee's bill [H. R. 436] for making a contract with the city of Indianapolis for constructing a sewerage for the Deaf and Dumb Asylum and the Woman's Reformatory, and making appropriations for carrying such contract into effect [appropriating $40,000, or so much as necessary.]
NEW STATE HOUSE FUND.
Mr. CAUTHORNE offered a substitute for his bill [H. R. 407] to provide a reserve for completing the State House buildings by striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting new matter: That there shall be assessed and collected, as other tax, in each of the years 1881 and 1882, the sum of two cents upon each $100 upon the taxable property in this State, and the money placed to the credlt of the new State House fund, for the erection of the New State House, to be paid out by the Auditor upon the requisition of the State House Commissioners, as prescribed by law.
REVISED STATUTES.
Mr. RYAN introduced a bill [H. R. 437] concerning the publication of the Revised Statutes for 1881.
page: 250[View Page 250]On motion by Mr. RYAN, this bill was referred to a Special Committee of three.
The SPEAKER made the Committee to consist of Messrs. Ryan, Skinner and Cauthorne.
THE STATE GOVERNMENT.
The Committee on Ways and Means reported the following amendments to the general appropriation bill [H. R. 422]: To the State Board of Equalization, $1,000, and for the State Board of Education, $1,200, and that the following figures be adopted as the intended reading of the bill: To the State University, $25,000 to the Purdue University, $10,000; to the Female Prison, $28,000; to the Horticultural Society, $400.
Mr. BUSKIRK--The State University has been in existence for about fifty years. It is a creature of the General Government, and has been fostered by the State. In 1816 the Government gave the State of Indiana a Township of land in Monroe County for the State Educational Institution. In 1828 the Legislature organized and located the Indiana College at Bloomington. In 1852 the act of 1828 was approved and the name of the College declared to be Indiana University. In 1854 Congress gave to the Institution by its corporate name 23,000 more acres of land. Up to 1867 it never received a dollar from the State, except $8,000 to rebuild the building which burned down in 1854, and to the building of which the citizens of Monroe County contributed $10,000. Without the aid of the State the Institution became one of honor and credit to the State, and educated some of our most illustrious citizens; but as times changed, and the State advanced in greatness, it was found to ask the aid of the State to carry on the Institution, and by two acts of the Legislature within the last twenty years the amount was fixed at $23,000, which is now the law. The last Legislature, for some reason, reduced the amount to $20,000 in the general appropriation bill without repealing the former law. We ask the Committee to restore it to $23,000 and reimburse us for $3,000, the deficiency for the last two years. The Committee saw fit not to do that, but to give us $25,000 which, if granted to us, will leave us short still $2,000, but we will be content with the amount fixed by the Committee. I think the Legislature would be disgracing itself by reducing the amount of appropriation to such a degree as to deprive the Trustees of the means of properly conducting the Institution. The Committee of Visitors, consisting of Messrs. Mabie, Smart and Bloss, decided that $37,000 was necessary for a thorough equipment of the Institution, but if this body will allow the amount contemplated in this amendent we will rest satisfied.
Mr. CARTER thought if there is one thing that Indiana is in need of more than another it was to educate the masses, as it is the very foundation upon which is sustained the republican form of government--education to a higher standard of intelligence and morality. He thought the members should have enough pride in the State to appropriate to the Institution that they helped to create, and thought the appropriation too small--not only this appropriation should be increased but also the appropriations to Purdue University and the Normal School.
Mr. FANCHER--I am opposed to any further appropriation to our Educational Institutions. I have the figures before me which shows that at State Institutions during the last six years the number graduated is 242 students, while private Institutions have graduated 725. You go in the North part of the State, you find the Valparaiso Normal. To-day they have more students enrolled than all the State Institutions put together. In all the State Institutions you have only 864 pupils, while at Valparaiso you find more than double that number. That is a private Institution and costs the State not one cent, and I submit to you if anybody in the North part of the State will send their children to Terre Haute. That was my reason for offering my resolution some time ago, to consolidate the State Educational Institutions. There are many reasons why this should be done. I hope the amendment will not prevail.
Mr. THOMPSON said he was in the Legislature years ago when these appropriations came before the House. They asked for $40,00 and received $5,000, which has been enough, he presumed to run the Institution. He opposed giving them the amount asked for in the amendment.
Mr. MILES moved to amend by reducing the appropriation to the State University to $20,000.
Mr. MEREDITIH was in favor of the most liberal appropriation for te State University that can be obtained. He thought this Institution needed fostering and taking care of, and if properly cared for would be a great credit and honor to the State. many members who favored consolidtion o something else if they could accomplish their purpose, would still cry down appropriation. While he was in favor of a liberal appropriation to the State University, he also favored a liberal appropriation to Purdue University.
Mr. COLE believed in giving each and everyon of the State Institutions such a liberal amount as would enable them to run successfully.
Mr. MITCHELL--If we want to make these Institutions what they ought to be the Legislature must necessarily endow them with the proper means.
Mr. WRIGHT--I take this position, that where private enterprises will furnish facilities sufficient for the public, that the Government hs no business in attempting to control the matter; and I undertake to say that the Institution at Bloomington furnishes simply a College education and nothing more. Colleges in ths State are to-day sufficient in number and ability to furnish a College education to all the sons of Indiana who desire such education. There is Institution at Crawfordsville, and also at Greencastle, which are equal to the Institution at Bloomington. So far as a College education is concerned, the State Institution offers nothing superior to those controlled by private enterprise. My view is this: That the State should look to the common school system of the State, and if she attempts to do anything beyond that it ought to be in the shape of a University education--something above a College education. Something has been said here about men being opposed to appropriating to these Institutions. My people at home think it does not pay to keep up the Bloomington University. I am not in favor of abolishing the appropriation altogether. I will vote for $20,000 to Bloomington, but I will not vote to give her $25,000, and I hope to see the day that Indiana will have a University that will be an honor to the State. I think the appropriation of $20,000 is sufficient and all we ought to make.
Mr. NEFF--There was a time when the State University was not talked of in the Legislature as it is to-day. There was a time when it sent out such men as Dunn, Wright, Whitcomb and Robinson, and hundreds of others that I might name, that were pointed to with pride. There was a time when an Indianan was not so proud when he crossed the State line. Bloomington is a child of the State. We ought to either take care of it, disown it, or strike it out from the catalogue of Colleges. It should be an honor and a credit to the State as long as we undertake to foster education.
Mr. HAMILTON thought if the Institution is located at the wrong place it was no fault of the Institution, and did not lessen the liability of the State to bestow proper care upon it. The Institution existed before on $20,000, and he did not favor an advance of that amount.
Mr. FLOYD said the object of the Institution was to elevate the intelligence of the people of the State. The standard of this State so far as intellegence is concerned has been greatly increased page: 251[View Page 251] by those model men who have been educated in the State University. When we consider the influence and general advantage that is felt in every department of life through the influence of this Institution I say, gentlemen, we should not regret the dollars of money appropriated for its support I shall vote for $25,000.
Mr. JOHNSON felt fully convicted that the State University was an honor to the Commonwealth of Indiana, and he was in favor of continuing support of the Institution, and placing it upon an equal footing with Universities of other States. He also favored making the required appropriation for Purdue University. The gentleman from Grant, [Mr. Wright] has been pleased to say that public enterprises should give away to private enterprises. It may be so in certain cases. A private enterprise has no right to interfere with the public schools of Indiana. [Applause.] He regarded the State Institutions as paramount to any private school, and in this light he regarded Bloomington University, paramount to all other Colleges in the State. He favored the appropriation of $25,000 to Bloomington and the amount asked for to Purdue.
Mr. KENNER said the State, when she aooepted the lands and donations to these Institutions, promised faithfully to maintain them, and to-day there seemed to be an effort made by the members of this body to shut their eyes and repudiate this solemn obligation by freezing them out. He hoped the amendment would prevail.
The amendment was rejected--yeas,40; nays, 50.
Mr. MILES moved to amend by making the appropriation to Purdue University $25,000 instead of $10,000.
Mr. O'NEAL said he hoped the gentleman would withdraw the motion, as $20,000 was all they asked for.
The amendment was rejected and the $20,000 appropriation was agreed to.
Mr. FULLER moved to amend by striking out the figures $1,200, as allowed to the State Auditors Clerk in the Insurance Department, and insert in lieu thereof $1,000.
Mr. FULLER said that was the amount allowed two years ago for the Clerk in that Department, and the thought the Republican party could fill the place just as cheap as the Democratic party, that was his reason for offering the amendment.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr. COTTON moved to amend the section relative to the salary of the Secretary of State's Clerk so as to read "one thousand".intead of "seven hundred."
Mr. FRAZER moved to lay the amendment on the table until to-morrow morning.
Then the House adjourned.
