OFFICES AND OFFICERS.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill [S. 325].
Mr. CHAPMAN moved to strike out 1,600, and insert l,000 as the number of copies of the Senate and House and documentary journals to be printed. It is pretty useless printing any how.
The motion was agreed to.
On motion by Mr. GRAHAM, the clause was stricken out of Section 128, authorizing the State Auditor to employ counsel to prosecute suits instituted at his instance on behalf of the State.
Mr. MARVIN said Section 143 refers to an officer he had never heard of before--the Commissioner of the Michigan Road. He had lived on that road over thirty-six years, and had never yet heard of such an officer.
Mr. BUNDY (in his seat.) That officer resigned in 1837. [Laughter.]
Mr. MARVIN moved to strike that section the bill.
Mr. VAN VORHIS knew nothing of the duties of the Agent of the town of Indianapolis, referred to in the same section.
Mr. GRAHAM thought it better to retain the section; there may be some part of the old Michigan road still belonging to the Government.
Mr. MARVIN said the Michigan road in Marion and Boone Counties has been given to the Counties and the Counties have transferred it to the Gravel Road Companies. If it is thought best to keep it in, he would withdraw the motion to strike out this section.
Mr. VIEHE moved to strke out the clause in page: 63[View Page 63] Section 154 requiring monthly statements of the State Treasurer to be published.
The motion was agree to.
Mr. KRAMER moved to strike out the clause requiring a annual publication of the condition of the State Treasury in two Indianapolis papers, and provide in lieu for the publication of 500 copies in pamphlet form to be distributed in the several Counties.
Mr. VOYLES moved to strike out the section.
Mr. MARVIN--The Senator from Washington [Mr. Voyles] the other day offered an amendment to the tax bill, which was adopted, that the delinquent list should not be published. Now, the same Senator moves to strike out Section 155, so as to prevent the publication of a statement of the condition of the State Treasury once a month. He opposed it, believing in the fullest publication of all acts of public officials, that the people may be advised of what is being done by their public servants. He hoped the Senate would vote the motion down.
Mr. LOCKRIDGE suggested a portion of this section should not be stricken out--that portion which requires a report to the General Assembly. That is information necessary to the intelligent framing of revenue, appropriation and other bills.
The motion to strike out was rejected.
The amendment was also rejected.
Mr. CHAPMAN moved to amend so this monthly statement shall be printed in but one paper.
Mr. BUNDY offered a substitute, striking out all relating to printing.
Mr. MARVIN was not here the advocate of any newspaper, but favored publishing the acts of all public servants, so the people may know what they are doing. These statements should be published in a paper of general circulation of each of the two political parties in the city of Indianapolis. It is not paying to these newspapers a subsidy, but it is paying a duty we owe to the people to inform them of the acts of their public servants. What do we have published the acts of the general Legislature for, if we don't want the people to know what we are doing here? He opposed the amendments, and hoped the Senate would not pass them.
Mr. GARRIGUS thought the papers would publish such matters as items of news. Why publish in two papers in this city, and not in papers in other parts of the State?
Mr. BUNDY saw no good to result from the publication of these statements in two papers in this city. The people of the State generally do not see these papers, and it is a useless expense.
The substitute was rejected.
Mr. SHAFFER moved to amend the amendment so that the publication shall be made in some newspaper of general circulation in each County in the State.
Mr. SPANN opposed the amendment on the ground of economy, if no other. It would amount to the sum of $3,000, and it is unnecessary and not what ought to be done.
The amendment to the amendment was rejected by--yeas, 1; nays, 35.
The amendment was rejected by-yeas, 7; nays, 28.
Mr. BENZ explained his negative vote when his name was called, by saying: "As I am not able to take two newspapers, as I am a Democrat, I take the Sentinel, and the State being Republican these statements will be printed in the Journal. I Note 'no.'"
So the amendment was rejected.
Mr. CHAPMAN moved to amend by striking out the words "at Indianapolis," and inserting, in lieu thereof, the words, "of opposite political parties. He said: "We are proposing to vote a subsidy to our own party organs. There is no disguising that fact. There is no use in assuming that by this clause we want to disseminate knowledge. All we want to do is to contribute to the support of our party organ. This amendment will bring the thing down squarely and strip off the thin disguise. There is no attempt to assume any false colors--no putting on of a mask, or any clothing that don't belong to us. All we want to do is to attempt to make the public do that which the political parties failed to do--to support their respective party organs." In order to give Senators an opportunity to vote for what they are in favor of, and what he is against, he offered this amendment.
Then the Senate adjourned till to-morrow.
