AFTERNOON SESSION.
OFFICES AND OFFICERS.
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR declared the question to be on concurrence in the majority report of the Special Committee on Sections 77 and 78 of the bill [S. 325] concerning offices and officers, presented Friday afternoon.
Mr. BROWN moved to substitute the minority for the majority report.
Mr. HEFRON voted for the present law requiring foreign Insurance Companies to make and publish a semi-annual statement of resources and liabilities, and still regarded it as a beneficial measure. This law of 1877 has driven from the State every shaky and insolvent Insurance Company. There is certainly nothing wrong about that. The law does not point out the newspapers, but requires the Auditor of State to publish these statements in two leading daily newspapers of the State having the largest general circulation. He favored the minority report.
Mr. BELL had taken occasion to inquire, and found it frequently the case these Insurance Companies had their advertisements reprinted with more display, and paid for it an additional price. These advertisements ought to be so inserted as to attract the attention of the greatest number of persons, inasmuch as it is only printed once. He failed to find any good Insurance Company that did not occupy twice the space the State Auditor does when they advertise on their own account. Then there is not a single State, except Ohio where they are required to make such publications in which the price is not twice as much, and in some three times as much, as in this State. It is in bad taste to say that any one who favors this minority report does so in the interest of some newspaper; and, as far as he was concerned, he branded such statement as false. He was reliably informed page: 93[View Page 93] that the insurance agents representing the best Companies do not want this law changed, regarding it as advantageous to the Insurance Companies that these publications shall be made as they are now.
Mr. CHAPMAN only desired the Senate shall vote understandingly on this question. The law in regard to insurance is not under consideration now, but the provision in this bill a proposition in regard to legal advertising, as to what is legal advertising, and how it shall be made. Legal advertising is all one thing--it is all legal advertising, and the Committee reported as to legal advertising certain rules shall prevail--as to king of type to be used, the display to be given, etc.
Mr. BROWN spoke in favor of the minority report.
The motion to substitute the minority for the majority report was agreed to by yeas, 27; nays, 6--present but paired, 2.
Mr. TRAYLOR moved to strike out of Section 271 the words "under oath." Under the old law County officers would make a calculation of the books they think they will need, and the result is, many times, as in the case in his county, there are books some eight years old yet unsaved; and as blanks change form frequently, there are many unused often piled up in County offices. This amendment is to correct this unnecessary expenditure.
It was agreed to.
Mr. MENZIES (for Mr. Rahm, absent) offered an amendment to Section 261. Very exorbitant bills have been allowed, in some cases arbitrarily, by County Boards, and the purpose of this amendment is to allow the right of appeal and try the question in the Courts.
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr. VOYLES--In some Counties the terms of office will expire a few days before the November election. He offered an amendment to Section 508 authorizing such to hold over those few days till their successors are elected and qualified.
The amendment was agreed to.
The bill was ordered engrossed.
STATE SEWER.
On motion by Mr. CHAPMAN, his bill [S. 326] authorizing a contract with Indianapolis to construct a sewer from the Deaf and Dumb and Female Prison [appropriating $40,000], was read the second time.
On motion by Mr. BROWN, the constitutional rule was dispensed with, the bill considered as engrossed, and read the third time.
Mr. CHAPMAN explained the necessity for the bill--these institutions can not longer be carried on without sewerage, and no cheaper plan has been proposed, or possibly can be.
The bill passed by--yeas, 29; nays, 6.
EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT.
Mr. BUNDY, from the Committee on Executive Appointments, recommended the confirmation of Thomas Wilson, Jr., as Mine Inspector.
The report was concurred in.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following described bills and joint resolutions were introduced, read the first time and severally referred to appropriate Committees:
By Mr. SPANN [S. 360]: For the employment of convict labor in the Prisons of this State. [To labor eight hours for contractor at ninety cents a day.]
By Mr. HUTCHINSON [S. 361]: To provide for the imprisonment of convicts in the Northern and Southern Prisons, and directing from what Counties in the State convicts shall be sent to each of said Prisons.
By Mr. KAHLO, a joint resolution [S. 16]; Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Indiana, that the Senate shall not exceed thirty or the House of Representatives sixty members.
By Mr. GRUBBS, a joint resolution [S. 17]: Proposing an amend to the Constitution so that no regular session shall extend beyond 100 or any special session beyond thirty days.
GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
On motion by Mr. WILSON, the bill [H. R. 422] making appropriations for the State Government and its Institutions,
Mr. MENZIES thought the office ought to be dignified and moved to make the salary of the Governor's Private Secretary $2,000 instead of $1,500, as in the bill.
Mr. FOSTER believed the position of the Senator right and that the salary ought to be increased.
The motion was rejected.
Mr. WILSON thought it right if the Governor has officers that they should receive a salary. Some salaries are left to the wild chances of an appropriation bill, which is wrong. There is no law creating a Governor's clerk, messenger or janitor; and it is wrong to create offices in an appropriation bill. Two years ago the Senate refused to allow the Governor either a clerk or a messenger, and Governor Williams ran his office thereafter with only a private secretary alone.
Mr. KRAMER moved to strike out the item creating the office of the Governor's messenger.
Mr. OWEN insisted the Governor should have a messenger or janitor of his own, independent of the janitor for the State Building.
The Senate adjourned till to morrow.
