HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, March 7, 1881--2 p. m.The session was opened with prayer by Rev. S. K. Hoshour, of the Christian Church of this city.
page: 278[View Page 278]The reading of the Clerk's journal of Saturday's proceeding was dispensed with.
CLOSING COURTESIES.
Mr. CAUTHORNE moved that a Joint Committee be appointed to wait on the Gov rnor to ascertain if he has any further communication to make to this session of the General Assembly. The motion was agreed to, and Messrs. Cauthorne and Vawter were appointed as such Committee on the part of the House.
Mr. CAUTHORNE offered a resolution that thanks are hereby tendered to Hon. Cyrus Nixon, principle Clerk, for the able and efficient manner he has discharged the duties of his position; also to Mr. Riley, Assistant Clerk; William Taylor, the Reading Clerk; Mr. Evans, the Door Keeper, and the several assistants, for the courteous manner that they discharged their duties.
The resolution was adopted.
A resolution was offered that the thanks of the House be tendered to the State Librarian, Mrs. Maggie Peelle, for the manner in which she has fitted the Hall, for her responsibility and courtesies to the members, officers and employees of the House.
The resolution was adopted.
THANKS TO THE SPEAKER.
Mr.CAUTHORNE (Mr. Thompson in the Chair) offered a resolution that the thanks of this House be tendered to Hon. William Ridpath for the dignified, marked and able manner he has discharged his duties as Speaker of this House durng the regular session.
On motion by Mr. WALKER, the resolution resolution was adopted.
ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT.
On motion by Mr. WALKER, Senator Traylor'se bill [S. 311] defining the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of the State of Indiana an defining the judicial years in said Circuit, and fixing the time of holding of Courts therein, was read the second time, and the bill laid on the table.
The Special Committee appointed to investigate the Insane Hospital reported that they had organized by electing Representative Berryman as Chairman. Not having time to complete the work, they recommend the Committee be continued through the special session.
Mr. NEFF moved to lay the report on the table.
Mr. BERRYMAN said in explanation at the recommendation of the Committee, that they could not attend to the requirements fully and be in attendance at the House during this term, therefore it would be necessary to continue the Committee during the extra session.
The motion to lay on the table was rejected.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following described bills were introduced, read the first time, and severally referred to appropriate Committees:
By Mr. CARTER [H. R. 446]: Concerning claims and promises [all claims and promises to pay runing over ten years shall be void.]
By Mr. CARTER [H. R. 447]: Concerning leases. [All leases running for a term of one year shall be in writing,]
THANKS TO A DOORKEEPER.
Mr. EDWINS offered a resolution that the thanks of the House be tendered James Woods, as Doorkeeper of the House, for his uniform kindness to members, friends and visitors during the General Assembly.
It was adopted.
REPORT FROM THE CLERK.
The principal Clerk (Mr. Nixon) reported to the House that upon the order of both Houses 7,000 copies of Governor Porter's message and Governor Gray's inaugural address were ordered printed; that the State Printer brought the copies here and placed them in the cloak room without notifying him (Nixon) of the fact, and a great many copies were carried away before he knew they were printed. The Clerk did not think the whole 7,000 copies, were printed, and under the circumstances he was not willing to give a receipt to the State Printer without instruction from the House. He recommended that the requisition be signed after affidavit is made to the effect that the required number of copies were printed.
Mr. NEFF moved that the Chief Clerk of the House be instructed to certify to the accounts of the State Printer for printing the Governor's message and Governor Gray's inaugural, whenever he may be satisfied by affidavit that the requisite number ordered by the House has been furnished.
The motion was agreed to.
CLOSING COURTESIES.
A communication was received from the Senate announcing the passage of a resolution for the appointment of two Senators and three Representatives as a Joint Committee to wait on the Governor for information as to whether His Excellency has any further communication to make to this session of the General Assembly.
Mr. NEFF moved to concur in the Senate resolution, and that the Senate be informed of the appointment of said Committee on the part of the House.
This motion was agreed to.
Mr. CAUTHORNE, from the Special Committee appointed to visit the Governor, reported that His Excellency had no more information to impart to this House during the regular session.
PAY OF EMPLOYES.
Mr. GARDNER offered a resolution that the extra employes of this House--Messrs. Armstrong, Reese, Snyder, Mitchell and Greenman--be allowed the sum of $5 per day for their services during this present session.
Mr. CARTER--This matter was referred to a Committee of this House early in the session, men in whose judgment we have the utmost confidence, and they reported that these extra employes should be allowed the sum of $3.50 per day. That report, as I understand it, was adopted by this House. These gentlemen who rendered the service do not expect to receive anything more, being perfectly contented with that amount. I think it is not the thing for us to do on the last day to pass a resolution increasing their pay $1.50 per day. It would make a very bad record to do anything of the kind now. I shall not vote for the resolution.
Mr. GARDNER said during the last session, at the close, the allowance was raised to $5. These men are poor, come here to work, and save nothing, and the most of them are crippled soldiers. He thought a small amount like that would be a mere pittance for the State and be a very important item for their support.
The resolution was rejected on a division--ayes, 23; nays, 35.
Mr. FANCHER offered a resolution that the principal and assistant Clerks be allowed $300 each for superintending the printing of the journal, reading proof, indexing, etc. He said such allowances have been made for about twnety years past for doing this work after adjournment of the Legislature. He considered it proper and right and wanted the resolution to pass.
Mr. CARTER thought the resolution a little premature, as there would be plenty of time to make such an appropriation at the end of the extra session.
Mr. THOMPSON moved to lay the resolution on the table.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. CAUTHORNE moved that the House now adjourn sine die.
The motion was agreed to, and thereupon--
The SPEAKER declared the House adjourned sine die.
