IN SENATE.
THURSDAY, March 31, 1881--10 a. m.On motion by Mr. BRISCOE, the bill [H. R. 239] to legalize the official acts of officers, and the incorporation of the town of Geneva, in the County of Adams, was, under a dispensation of the constitutional restriction, read the first and second times by title only--the third time by sections, and passed.
On motion by Mr. LEEPER, the bill [S. 311] to amend Section 1 of a supplemental act concerning manufacturing and manufactories, by appropriately inserting the words "with light," was read the third time and passed.
On motion by Mr. VOYLES , the bill [H. R. 378] to amend a city incorporation repealing act of March 14, 1867, was read the first time and referred to a Select Committee of three.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following described bills were introduced, read the first time and appropriately referred:
By Mr. KEISER [S. 364]: Defining the Thirty-first Judicial Circuit--Lake, Porter, Starke and Pulaski Counties.
By Mr. WILSON [S. 365]: Requiring County Treasurers to pay to the Treasurer of State all interest collected for the County.
By Mr. KAHLO [S. 366]: Creating the Twenty-ninth Judicial Circuit--the County of Cass.
JUDGES' ROOMS.
On motion by Mr. TRAYLOR, his bill [S. 317] to amend the act for the organization of Courts so as to require County Commissioners to furnish Judges a room during vacation, was read the third time and passed.
CALUMET SAND-BAR.
On motion by Mr. WOOD, the bill [S. 132-see page 178 of these Reports] to appropriate $6,000 for the removal of a sand-bar in Calumet River was passed--having heretofore been read three times--by yeas, 30; nays, 13.
DECEDENT'S ESTATE.
Under a dispensation of the constitutional restriction, on Mr. VIEHE'S motion, his bill [S. 351] concerning the settlement of decedent's estates was read twice by title only, and made a special order for 10:30 o'clock to-morrow.
RAILROAD TELEGRAPH LINES.
On motion, by Mr. YANCY, the bill [H. R. 462] to authorize Railroad Companies to construct and operate telegraph lines for commercial purposes was read the third time and passed.
MEMBERS, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYES.
On motion by Mr. OWEN, the bill substituted by a Senate Committee for the bill [H. R. 271] concerning members, officers and employes of the General Assembly was read the second time.
Mr. HEFRON regarded this bill as a piece of legislative monstrosity, something unheard of in legislation. This General Assembly should not undertake to lay down rules for all future Legislatures. This bill, if encacted into a law, would cut off that free and independent power the Constitution confers on each branch acting for itself separately and distinctly. If passed it would be unconstitutional.
Mr. LANGDON also opposed the passage of the bill. There are some wholesome regulations laid down in the bill, but each General Assembly can regulate such matters to suit itself. If enacted it attempts to deprive each House of its clearly defined Constitutional powers. It fixes in a iron frame every provision about Committees, their number of clerks, etc., not having any reference to the business of the session.
On motion, this bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
NEW PITTSBURG TURNPIKE.
On motion by Mr. BUNDY, the bill [H. R. 176] concerning the new Pittsburg and Hoover Turnpike Company, was read the third time, its provisions explained by Mr. BUNDY, and passed the Senate.
SHEEP PROTECTION.
On motion by Mr. WHITE, the bill [H. R. 36] to provide for the registry of dogs by Trustees and the protection of sheep, was read the third time page: 111[View Page 111] Mr. TRAYLOR feared if this bill becomes a law it will prove fatal to many good dogs.
The bill passed by--yeas, 26; nays, 14.
SALE OF SCRAP METAL.
On motion by Mr. GARRIGUS, the bill [H. R. 14] to regulate the sale of scrap iron, brass or other metals, etc., was read the second time.
TELEPHONE COMPANIES.
On motion by Mr. BROWN, the bill [H. R. 61] concerning Telephone Companies and authorizing incorporation of Telephone Exchanges, was read the third time and passed.
The Senate took a recess till 2 o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR declared the order of business to be the general appropriation bill [H. R. 422], which was read the third time.
Mr. WILSON says: The basis on which the Committee made their report on the appropriation to the Insane Asylum was to finish the new building, place in the Institution 1,300 inmates; calculating subsistence at $188.20 per capita; estimating that clothing would have to be furnished one-half of those admitted, at $20 per capita, which clothing account is collected back from each County and covered into State Treasury. This institution has never been so cheaply run, except in 1879, when it was 'under' exceptionally favorable circumstances, the same per capita as we now ask for in our report. He was in favor of the appropriation to Purdue University, because it was the College for the people, but doubted whether it was wise to continue the State University at Bloomington, at so large expense to the State, to confer a merely classical education for professional men, when the same facilities were offered by Hanover, Asbury, Crawfordsville and Butler College. It seemed as if a consolidation of these State Institutions is demanded in the near future, so as to concentrate our efforts, lessen the expense, and give us a State University equal to the best on the continent, instead of several small ones fed by penurious appropriations.
Mr. BROWN demanded the previous question; which was seconded by the Senate, and under its operation the bill failed to pass--yeas, 21; nays, 19--for want of a constitutional majority.
MANAGEMENT OF CEMETERIES.
On motion by Mr. LEEPER, the House amendment to his bill [S. 10] empowering County Commissioners to convey cemeteries, was concurred in.
MEDICIAL LEGISLATION.
Mr. Yancy's motion, heretofore entered, that the Senate refuse of concur in the House amendment to his medical bill [S. 74--See page 212 and 216 of these Reports], and ask for a Committee of Free Conference thereon, was taken up and agreed to, and the Lieutenant Governor makes said Conference Committee, on the part of the Senate, to consist of Messrs. Yancy and Woollen.
NEW JUDICIAL DISTRICTS.
On motion by Mr. SPANN, his bill [S. 270], to create the Forty-fourth Judicial Circuit, was read the third time, and failed to pass--yeas, 20; nays, 19.
On motion by Mr. KIZER, his bill [S. 364], defining the Thirty-first Judicial Circuit, was read the second time, by title only, the third time by sections, under a dispensation of the Constitutional restriction, and psssed.
On his further motion, Mr. Kahlo's bill [S. 366], to create the Twenty-ninth Judicial Circuit, took the same course, and was also passed the final reading in the Senate.
Mr. RISTINE introduced a bill [S. 367] to create the Forty-third Judicial Circuit, which was read the first time.
CONTEMPT OF COURTS.
The Committee on Revision's bill [S. 152], concerning contempts of Courts coming up in regular order, was read the third time and laid on the table, on motion by Mr. Langdon, under an impression that a bill covering the same ground has been passed by this General Assembly.
SUPERIOR COURTS.
The bill from the Revision Committee [S. 239], concerning Superior Courts, was read the second time, with a Committee report recommending indefinite postponement, which was concurred in.
REMOVAL OF COUNTY SITES.
The Committee on Revision's bill [S. 298] concerning the removal of County seats-see page 198 of these Reports--was read the second time, amended by Messrs. Brown and Compton, and ordered engrossed for the third reading.
MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR.
GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE--I have the honor to inclose to you a copy of a letter addressed to me by gentlemen comprising the Railroad Commission of Alabama, elected under a recent act of the Legislature of that State. The thirty-first section of that section provides that "Mission, by correspondence, convention, or otherwise, to confer with such persons from States having no Railroad Commissioners, as the Governor of such State may appoint for the purpose of agreeing, if practicable, upon a draft of statutes to be submitted to the Legislature of each State, which shall secure such uniform control of railroad transportation on the several statutes, and from one State into or through another State, as will best subserve the interest of trade and commerce in the whole country, and said Commission shall include in their report to the Governor an abstract of the proceedings of any such conference or Convention."
The letter states that it is believed by those who have given the movement consideration that a Convention be held at some point that may be agreed upon in the month of June or July next, might be productive of good in many respects. The Governor of the State not being empowered by law to appoint delegates to such conference or Convention as is contemplated in the resolution above quoted, and there being no appropriation available for paying the expenses of delegates in case they should be appointed, the subject is respectfully referred to the General Assembly for such action as may be deemed by it to be appropriate. Having received a copy of the act mentioned in the letter above referred to, I have the honor to transmit it to the Senate for examination by Senators and Representatives who may desire to read it.
A. G. PORTER, Governor.
OFFICE OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSIONER OF ALABAMA, MONTGOMERY, Ala., March 15, 1881.
To His Excellency Hon. Albert G. Porter, Governor of Indiana:
DEAR SIR: By an act of the Legislature of Alabama, approved February 26, 1881, a Railroad Commission was provided for, and the undersigned have been elected such Commissioners. The thirty-first section of this act provides: "Mission by correspondence, convention or otherwise to confer with such persons from States having no Railroad Commissioners as the Governor of such State may appoint for the purpose of agreeing, if practicable, upon a draft of statutes to be submitted to the Legislature of each State, which shall secure such uniform control of railroad transportation on the several statutes, and from one State into or through another State, as will best subserve the interest of trade and commerce in the whole country, and said Commission shall include in their annual report to the
page: 112[View Page 112]Governor an abstract of the proceedings of any such Conference or Convention." In obedience to this provision of the law, we respectfully invite your attention to what it contemplates, and beg leave to request an expression of your views respecting it as early as may be convenient. It is believed by those who have given the movement some consideration that such a Convention, held at some point that may be agreed upon like, for instance, Louisville, Ky., in the month of June or July next, might be productive of good in many respects.
Yours respectfully,W. L. BRAGG,President,JAMES COOK, CHARLES P. BALL,Associate Railroad Commissioners of Alabama.
REDEMPTION OF LANDS.
The bill reported from the Revision Committee [S. 327], relating to the redemption of lands from sale on execution, was read the third time.
Mr. TRAYLOR said this bill was drafted by Judge Malott, and is a very good bill. He hoped it would pass.
The bill passed the Senate--yeas, 31; nays. 4.
LANDLORD AND TENANT.
The bill proposed by the Revision Committee [H. R. 237], concerning landlord and tenant, was read the third time with Senate amendments made thereto.
Mr. VIEHE cited some features in the bill he could ont approve of. He moved to refer the bill to a Special Committee, with instructions to amend so as not to require the amount due to be set out in the notice, and to give a lien in all cases.
Mr. HEFRON thought the provisions of the bill referred to were right.
The motion to refer was agreed to, and the Lieutenant Governor made the Committee to consist of Messrs. Menzies, Viehe and Langdon.
SESSION HOURS.
A motion entered on the journal several days since, to change the hour of meeting from 10 to 9 o'clock a. m., was called up and agreed to.
On motion by Mr. LOCKRIDGE, the bill [H. R. 136] relative to the State Board of Agriculture was read the first time and referred to the Committee on Finance.
The Senate adjourned till 9 a. m. to-morrow.
