3 PER CENT. FUND.
Senator Voyle's bill [S. 72] in relation to the 3 per cent. fund remaining unexpended, authorizing its application for repair of roads, was read the third time.
Mr. MITCHELL said this bill applies, perhaps, only to Washington County. This bill simply has reference to the 3 per cent. fund appropriated by the United States.
In 1816 the United States passed an act giving to the State of Indiana certain lands for the purpose of internal improvements for making, and preparing roads, building, purhasing, and so on. We have between $5,000 and $6,000 in our Treasury and it has never been put out; and I want to get that money out upon our roads. It is used there as a kind of accommodation fund. It is discretionary with the County Commisioners to put out this fund. This act will make it obligatory upon the Commissioners to distribute this money among the Townships of the County. In 1874 there was the sum of $6,380.85 allowed and paid by the United States to the State of Indiana. Instead of paying that money to the different Counties of the State, it was put into the general fund, and the Counties of the State have not received any benefit from it.
Mr. BUSKIRK--I have some doubts as to whether this money can be distributed for this purpose. In order that this bill will have a fair showing I move that it be made a special order for next Tuesday at 9 a. m.
The motion was agreed to.
The SPEAKER announced the regular order to be consideration of the bill [H. R. 271] civil proceeding.
The reading was resumed, commencing at Section 288.
Mr. CAUTHORNE moved to amend to strike out all of Section 317 of the printed bill. He said: This section applies to taking depositions orally, requiring a notice of the name of the person whose deposition is to be taken.
The amendment was adopted.
The House adjourned till to-morrow.
