AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill [S. 325] concerning offices and officers, commencing at Section 424.
On motion by Mr. MARVIN this section was amended to as to require all surveys in the construction of gravel roads to be made by the County Surveyor.
Mr. BELL offered an amendment to Section 433, allowing appeal from Surveyor's report.
Mr. HENRY regarded this amendment as unfavorable to the people. There should be an end to these matters. If there is shown to be a mistake the Court would direct a resurvey.
Mr. GARRIGUS opposed setting up one man to decide such matters who may not know much about surveying.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr. BUNDY understood all these amendments were in the interest of surveyors, being recommended by a meeting of thoe gentlemen, and thought they were being hurried through here without the consideration they ought to have.
Mr. HEFRON moved to reduce the Notary bond "$2,000" to $1,000 [in order to give the ladies a chance.]
The motion was agreed to by yeas 19, nays 18, the Lieutenant Governor giving the casting vote.
Mr. MENZIES moved that all sections referring to fees and salaries be stricken from the bill. The remaining matter may be of a permanent nature, while the fee and salary bill may be frequently the subject of amendment.
Mr. CHAPMAN favored this motion.
Mr. HENRY thought the motion should designate the sections.
On motion by Mr. MENZIES this motion was referred to a special Committee of three, with instructions to designate the sections by number.
This Committee subsequently reported numbers, which report was concurred in.
Mr. LANGDON moved to strike out the clause in Section 174 by which every County, Township or municipal officer may call upon the Attorney General--such classes embracing about 8,000, who will be permitted to propose interrogations and demand replies.
Mr. CHAPMAN saw no reason why this officer should not give his opinion to these officials when called upon, inasmuch as he receives good round salary.
Mr. GARRIGUS opposed the amendment.
It was adopted yeas, 26; nays, 11.
Mr. VOYLES moved to strike out Section 471, limiting the Township Trustee to two terms.
Mr. GRUBBS hoped this section would not be stricken out.
Mr. MENZIES thought this a wholesome provision. The school teacher ring and the pauper ring may combine and re-elect most any Trustee. He hoped the section would be stricken out.
Mr. VOYLES--If it be true these sort of rings be about the Trustee, the office should be abolished. The people generally like to retain a good Trustee. It is not an office much sought after, and if that officer is eligible for re-election the people will re-elect the good one, and the bad one will get the go-by.
The motion to strike out was rejected--yeas, 13; nays, 28.
Mr. COMSTOCK moved to amend Section 471 by exempting cities from its operation. He thought page: 84[View Page 84] cities ought to have the privilege of re-electing Township Trustees as often as they pleased.
Mr. VAN VORHIS opposed the amendment, as every objection in out Townships applies with tenfold force to cities.
Mr. HEFRON believed a good deal of bad management in office was due to the eligibility for re-election.
The amendment was rejected.
Mr. WOLLEN moved to amend Setion 371 allowing Coroners a $3 fee for viewing a dead body and mileage.
Mr. MENZIES opposed the amendment. He thought the amendment would be productive of mischief.
Mr. WOOLLEN did not contemplate the Coroner should hold an inquest the first time he views the body, but only to make inquiry concerning the death.
The amendment was rejected.
Mr. GARRIGUS offered an amendment tp Section 249, which was adopted, authorizing the Board to appoint some person to receive work on ditches when completed, and satisfy liens on account thereof, etc.
Mr. COMSTOCK, from the Special Committee, to which was referred Sections 77 and 78 referrring to the publication of legal advertisements submitted a majority report recommending that all such notices be set solid, etc.
Mr. BELL submitted a minority report proposing to amend the majority report by excepting the printing of semi-annual statements of foreign Insurance Companies.
Mr. BELL did not believe these kind of public notices should be set in solid reading type, as provided in the report of the majority.
Mr. COMSTOCK said there is no attempt in the majority report to attack the insurance law, but it requires that all legal advertisements shall be set solid. He saw no reason why a statement of foreign Insurance Companies should receive any more delay that other legal notices required by law to be given.
Mr. BROWN challenged the production of any foreign Insurance Company advertisement, made under its own private contract, that was not equal in display to that made by the Sentinel and the Journal.
Mr. MENZIES denounced the "insurance steal," so-called, as a dirty piece of iniquity. The majority report does not repeal the act of 1877, which is unworthy a place on the statute book, being in the interest only of two newspapers in Indiana. This thing of exacting a tribute from these Foreign Insurance Companies is similar to the highwayman's threat "to stand and deliver" for the benefit of these two newspapers. The State should not be a party to this filching from Foreign Companies. It is too little, too contemptible, and beneath the dignity of a State. Every burden put on Foreign Insurance Companies have to be borne by the manufacturing interests of the State in extra premiums paid for insurance.
Mr. SPANN had made investigation of this matter, and failed to find a single party representing foreign Insurance Companies who has said that they were being abused by these papers. The only demand for the repeal of this law has come from the Daily News of this city, and a few country papers. These Insurance Companies can give wine suppers costing from $10,000 to $15,000, and can pay their Presidents salaries of $40,000, and they can afford to pay for such display of their advertisements as is made by enterprising merchants.
Mr. FOSTER stated it was a fact that the Senator from Posey [Mr. Menzies] had been fairly represented by these papers whenever he has spoken on this floor, and had no right to oppose them on that score. It is a good and wholesome thing to make publication of these statements in a respectable shape, too. He refused to sign the majority report because he believed it wrong.
Mr. WOOD--I champion no individual or corporate interest here, but I do say that foreign Insurance Companies should advertise their semi-monthly statements in the papers having the largest general circulation in the State. That is the reason the Journal and Sentinel do it now. The question presented in the majority report is (and it is the only one before the Senate) what kind of type shall be used in their advertisemts, whether small reading type or large display type. They should advertise in at least as effective a manner as a patent medicine man. The object is to inform the people the condition of all companies; this should be done in large type, so that it may attract attention, and not in small type the same print as contained in their policies.
Mr. BELL objected to the statement that Senators voting for the minority report are voting to subsidize certain newspapers. He stood in the interest of the people, and declared it right that the people should know by advertisements, well displayed, the condition of these Insurance Companies.
Mr. CHAPMAN believed the purpose of gentlemen speaking on this subect has been to muddy the waters, and hoped the majority of the Senate can see clearly the point to this question. No Senator can say the General Assembly has a right to require that any notice advertised in a newspaper shall be printed in large poster or hand-bill type. It is but reasonable to provide for the display usual in the paper making the publication.
Pending the above proceedings--
SENATE BILLS PASSED.
On motion of Mr. BELL, the Constitutional restriction was dispensed with, and his bill [S. 330] auhorizing the Bishop of the Episcopal Church to transfer property of the Churches held by him in trust directly to the Churches themselves, and to legalize the corporate powers of trustees therein named--
Also his bill [S. 205] to amend Section 1 of the act incorporating the German Theological Seminary of the German Evangelical Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other States of January 21, 1880, so as to change the name of the College, and legalizing certan acts of Directors done thereunder, were severally read the second and third time, and passed the $Senate.
SANDBAR IN CALUMET RIVER.
Mr. WOOD called up his motion entered heretofore to reconsider the vote by which his bill [S. 132] appropriating $6,000 to remove a sandbar in the Calumet River was passed.
The motion was agreed to.
The Senate adjourned till to-morrow.
