HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, March 15, 1881--2 p. m.The session was opened with prayer by Rev. Halloch Floyd, Member from Wayne County.
The reading of the Clerk's journal of Friday's proceedings was dispensed with.
OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
Mr. HUSTON offered a joint resolution that an amendment be proposed to the Constitution, to be submitted to the electors of the State. Amend by adding sections: (1) Prohibiting the manufacture, sale, keeping for sale, of spirituous, vinous, malt or other liquors, except for medical purposes; (2) the General Assembly shall provide by law in what manner and what place such liquor shall be sold for such purposes.
The joint resolution was referred to the Temperance Committee,
DRUGGISTS--LIQUOR SELLERS.
The SPEAKER announced the special order, viz.: The consideration of the bill [H. R. 420] licensing persons carrying on the business of druggist and apothecary to deal in spirituous, malt and vinous liquors, prescribing penalties, etc., which was read the second time.
Mr. COLE moved to amend the bill by striking out all of Sections 2 and 3, Section 1 being: "Every person carrying on the business of drugstore and apothecary shall pay to the Treasurer of the County $5 as a license for one year, etc., which sum shall be paid into the school fund." Section 2 being: "Upon the presentation of such receipt to the Auditor of the County he shall execute to the person a certificate stating to him the delivery to him of the receipt, and that such person is licensed to carry on the business for one year from date of the receipt."
Mr. SCHWEITZER was of the opinion that druggists had no more right to sell whisky than dry goods stores.
Mr. FRAZER--I move that this bill be referred back to the Committee on Temperance for amendments so it will pass. It will never pass this way.
The amendment was withdrawn and the motion to refer was agreed to.
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
The SPEAKER announced the special order, being the bill [H. R. 255] concerning the organization of the Benevolent Institutions--providing for the appointment of Trustees thereof, etc. A majority of the Committee on affairs of the city of Indianapolis recommending its passage, and a minority of the same Committee recommending that the bill lie on the table, for the reason that it would complicate and make difficult the management of the Institutions; and for the futher reason that the object to be accomplished is a political one, the page: 35[View Page 35] Republicans seeking to oust the Democrats in the control of said Institutions.
Mr. McSHEEHY, in view of the fact that some members are not here to-day, moved that action upon the reports be deferred until one week from to-day.
Mr. MEREDITH moved to amend, by making the subject a special order for Thursday at 10 o'clock a. m.
The latter motion was agreed to.
PARTITION FENCES.
On motion by Mr. MEREDITH, the bill [H. R. 48] concerning inclosures and trespassing animals was made a special order for to-morrow (Wednesday) at 10 o'clock a. m.
REVENUE FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
A majority of the Committee on Temperence reported on the bill [H. R. 89] concerning revenue from the sale of intoxicating liquors [to be appropriated to Public Libraries] recommending that the bill lie on the table.
A minority of the same Committee recommended the passage of the bill.
Mr. RYAN--It is only necessary for the House to understand the terms of that bill in order to concur in the report of minority. For the information of the House I ask that the bill be read.
Mr. Ryan's bill [H. R. 89] to authorize and empower Boards of County Commissioners or Common Councils of cities and Boards of Trustees of incorporated towns to appropriate to the support of Public Lbraries, organized by law, revenues derived by license for the saleof intoxicating liquors, being read--
Mr. RYAN--The purpose of this bill is to empower Boards of Commissioners, Common Councils of cities, Boards of Trustees, etc., to exact a license from every person selling intoxicating liquors, and under certain circumstances they may appropriate a certain portion of the revenue to the maintenance of the Public Libraries on condition that they shall be made absolutely free to all citizens in the locality. It seems to me there can be no two views of the feasibility of this measure. It is certainly in the interest of the people, the dissemination of useful information, and it is dividing the revenue, thus releasing the people from taxation for the support of Libraries. It is levying a contribution upon the whisky sellers for the benefit of education, and the dissemination of useful intelligence. It seems to me that the House ought to concur in the minority report and so recommend the passage of this bill. There could be no better use made of the funds derived from this source than the appropriation of all or nearly all of it to the maintenance of these Libraries. It does not affect the school fund materially because it is not a permanent fund; it is likely to be changed or disposed of by any session of Legislature. I hope the minority report will prevail.
Mr. BUSKIRK--I hope the minority report will not prevail, because it would be bad policy to take the license from the schoo1 fund, where it now goes, and put it in public libraries. My experience is that public libraries do not do a great deal of good. I think the present manner of disposing of that fund is better than the one proposed by the bill.
The majority report was concurred in.
REPORTS FROM THE COMMITTEE ON ROADS.
The Committee on Roads reported on the bill [H. R. 5] in relation to Supervisors of Highways, recommending that it lie on the table, the subject matter being contained in another bill reported favorably.
Report was concurred in.
The same Committee reported on the bill [H. R. 274] concerning gravel roads and other corporations, recommending its passage after amendment by substituting new matter after the enacting clause.
The report was concurred in and the bi11 was ordered engrossed.
The Committee on Roads reported on the bill [H. R. 348] concerning gravel and macadamized roads, recommending that it lie on the table, for the reason that the same matter is contained in another bill.
The report was concurred in.
The Committee on Roads reported on the bill [H. R. 188] to abolish the office of Supervisor, recommending that the bill lie on the table.
The report was concurred in.
Also on the bill [H. R. 230] concerning the working and improvement of roads and highways, recommending that it lie on the table.
The report was concurred in.
Also on the bill [H. R. 92] providing for bonds in th construction of gravel and macadamized roads, recommending that it lie on the table.
The report was concurred in.
Also, on the bill [H. R. 118] for the working of public highways by taxation, recommending that it lie on the table, as the same matter is included in another bill.
The report was concurred in.
Also, on the bill [H. R. 151] making Township Trustees Superintendents of Highways, recommending that the bill lie on the table.
The report was concurred in.
GRAVEL ROAD ASSESSMENTS.
Also, on the bill [H. R. 215] for the relief of plank, macadamized and gravel roads, recommending that it lie on the table.
Mr. RYAN--The report of the Committee should not be concurred in. This bill provides for the completion and approval of the assessments to extent of enabling owners of this class of roads to collect the pay for liabilities that have been incurred for the benefit of the community. There certainly can be no objection to this measure. Many roads were built in anticipation of this assessment under the then existing law, when the Legislature came along and wiped it out, and left these men bankrupts, growing out of the repeal of this law. It is right, it seems to me, that some such law should be passed to reimburse these men for their means invested.
Mr. FLOYD thought if this measure passed it would lay the foundation for extensive litigation.
On motion by Mr. RYAN, the bill was recommitted to the Judiciary Committee.
ROOMS FOR COMMITTEES.
The Special Committee on Rooms reported that in pursuance of the order of the House, they contracted for the two cottage rooms at the Grand Hotel at the prices directed; also that the office of Major Carter for the use of the Judiciary Committee was contracted for, and asking for a discharge of the Committee.
The report was concurred in.
REPORTS FROM THE INSURANCE COMMITTEE.
The Insurance Committee reported on the bill [H. R. 95] regulating Fire Insurance Companies, etc., recommending that the bill lie on the table.
The report was concurred in.
It also reported on the bill [H. R. 94] to regulate Fire Insurance Companies, recommending that the bill lie on the table.
The report was concurred in.
It also reported on the bill [H. R. 419] in relation to Tontine Insurance Companies, recommending its indefinite postponement.
On motion by Mr. BUSKIRK, action upon this report was deferred, awaiting the presence of the author of the bill.
The Committee on Insurance reported on the bill [H. R. 335] concerning foreign Insurance Companies, recommending indefinite postponement.
On motion by Mr. M'INTOSCH, action was deferred until the author of the bill is present.
The Committee on Insurance, reported on the page: 36[View Page 36] bill (H. R. 426] concerning corporations, recommending the passage of the bill with amendments.
On motion by Mr. HUSTON, the bill was recommitted to the Judiciary Committee.
FOREIGN INSURANCE COMPANIES.
The Committee on Insurance reported on the Revision Committee's bill [H. R. 344] concerning insurance, recommeding its passage with amendments.
On motion by Mr. CARTER, the bill was laid on the table and 200 copies ordered printed.
Mr. SCHWEITZER moved to amend the bill [H. R. 344] by adding the following section:
"All Insurance Companies organized pursuant to the laws of this State, before there is any business done in any County in this State, shall be required to procure from the Auditor of State a condensed statement of their condition--each shall contain such itemized statements of liabilities as the Auditor may deem it necessary to show the public the true condition of such Company, and they shall, before taking any risks or do any business in this State, cause such statements to be published in a newspaper in said County."
Mr. McSHEEHY, by request, offered the following amendment:
"And such Company shall cause such semi-annual statement to be published in one paper of general circulation in each County of the State of Indiana in which such Company transacts business, and shall file with the Auditor of State a copy of each publication, together with the certificate of each publisher attesting such publication, and the date thereof; provided that such semi-annual statement shall be set solid withont unnecessary display. Furthermore, such Company, for the fuller information and protection of the insured, shall attach to each policy when issued a true copy of the last preceding semi-annual statementof such Company."
Mr. BUSKIRK moved that the amendments offered to-day on this bill lie on the table and be incorporated in the motion to print.
Mr. MEREDITH made an ineffectual effort to lay this motion on the table.
The motion was agreed to.
STREET COMMISSIONERS.
The Committee on Cities and Towns reported on the bill [H. R. 228] concerning streets and alleys, recommending its passage with amendments.
On motion, the bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
ANOTHER CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Mr. FURNAS offered a concurrent resolution for a proposed amendment to the Constitution, providing that, in all elections not otherwise provided for by this Constitution, every citizen of the United States of the age of twenty-one years and upward who shall have resided in the State six months and in the Township sixty days, the Ward or Precinct thirty days immediately preceding such election, and every person of foreign birth of the age of twenty-one years and upward who shall have resided in the United States one year and in the State six months, and Township sixty days immediately preceding such election, and shall have declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States, comformable to the law on the subject of naturalization, shall be entitled to vote in the Township, Ward or Precinct where he shall reside continually, and was duly registered according to law.
Resolved, that this amendment, when voted upon, shall be designated No. 1.
The resolution was referred to the Committee on Female Suffrage.
COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES.
The bill [S. 24], authorizing the appointment of a Commissioner of Fisheries for the State of Indiana, defining the duties and making appropriation to defray the expenses thereof [amount, $2,000], was read the first time and referred to a Special Committee.
FEES AND SALARIES.
The bill [H. R. 311], to amend Section 26 of the fee and salary act, was read the second time.
On motion by Mr. BARNETT, the bill was ordered engrossed.
SENATE BILLS READ THE SECOND TIME.
On motion by Mr. MEREDITH, Senator Comstock's bill [S. 192] to legalize the proceedings of School Trustees of Milton, Wayne County, was read the second time.
On motion by Mr. LINDSAY, the House took up Senate bills on second reading.
Senator Comstock's bill [S. 169] amending an act defining who are persons of unsound mind, and authorizing the appointment of guardians for such persons, powers, duties, was read the second time.
Senator Compton's bill [S. 40] amending Section 3 of an act of March 5, 1877, providing for Township elections, was read the second time.
Senator Van Vorhis' bill [S. 27] amending Section 1 of an act concerning the election of Justices of the Peace was read the second time.
Senator Langdon's bill [S. 157] amending Section 4 of the act concerning guardian and ward, approved June 9, 1854 was read the second time.
Senator Henry's bill [S. 151] amending Section 7 of the act for the incorporation and continuance of Building Fund and Saving Fund Association was read the second time.
Senator Langdon's bill [S. 149] to amend Section 28 of the act providing for the organization of Savings Banks and the proper management of their affairs, was read the second time.
Senator Viehe's bill [S. 153] to amend Section 1 of an act to provide for voluntary assignments--for personal and real property--was read the second time.
On motion by Mr. FRAZER, the bill [H. R. 138], regulating charges of railroads, was ordered engrossed.
Then came an adjournment till to-morrow.
