AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. WILSON, of Morgan, introduced a bill [H. R. 519] to provide officers' salaries in certain Counties therein named, prescribing their duties, etc., which was read the first time.
TEMPERANCE LEGISLATION.
The special Committee raised to consider the bill [H. R. 505] regulating the sale of liquors recommended its passage with amendments.
The report was concurred in, the bill was read the second time and ordered engrossed.
The Special Committee reported on the bill [H. R. 502] requiring persons to secure individual license for the purpose of drinking intoxicating liquors, recommending its passage.
The report was concurred in, the bill was read the second time and ordered engrossed.
CITY TAXES.
Mr. KENNER introduced a bill [H. R. 520] to amend Sections 2 and 3 of an act to provide for the collection of taxes for municipal purposes on shares of stock owned in banks doing business in this State, approved March 4, 1873.
Mr. KENNER moved to suspend the constitutional rule, that the bill just read may be read a second time by title, the third time by sections and put on its passage.
The motion was agreed to--yeas, 78; nays, 0.
The bill passed--yeas, 77; nays, 0.
THE NEW STATE HOUSE.
On motion by Mr. Cauthorne, the regular order of business was suspended and the bill [H. R. 407--see page 75 of these Reports, Vol. 20] to provide a revenue to complete the State House building, authorizing money to be borrowed to meet any casual deficiency, appropriating such revenue to the completion of the State House and other matters pertaining thereto, was read third time.
Mr. RYAN said it has been suggested to me that the limitaton in the bill of the appropriation of $100,000 of the cash balance to the general fund, may possibly defeat the bill. That ought to be changed to "any fund not otherwise appropriated." The Treasurer of State might avoid the purposes of the bill by transferring and changing the fund in such a way as to defeat the appopriation. A little verbal change would avoid it.
Mr. CAUTHORNE said: I have no objection to the amendment.
Mr. RYAN, by unanimous consent, offered the following amendment, which was adopted: By striking out the words "of the general fund" and insert in lieu thereof "in the treasury not otherwise approprated."
The bill passed--yeas, 69; nays, 6.
SUPREME COURT COMMISSIONERS.
Mr. RYAN called up his bill [H. R. 489--see page 115 of these Reports] concerning the Supreme Court for the appointment of five Commissioners, which failed for the want of a constitutionl majority.
The bill passed--yeas, 62; nays, 23.
OFFICES AND OFFICERS.
The regular order--the bill [S. 325] concerning officers and offices--was resumed, commencing with Section 60.
Mr. KENNER moved to amend Section 101 by adding the following: "And a certified copy of the printed acts of each session of the General Assembly." He said, in setting forth what the Secretary of State shall preserve, it is also necessary that he preserve a copy of the printed acts. That is the purpose of the amendment.
The amendment was adopted.
SESSION HOUR.
Mr. Hinton's resolution, to change the rule of the House so as to meet two night of each week (Wednesday and Thursday nights) was taken from the table and adopted.
THIRTY-NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT.
On motion by Mr. FANCHER, the constitutional rule was suspended and the bill [H. R. 521] to define the Thirty-ninth Judicial Circuit, and fixing the time for holding Courts, was read the first and second times by title, the third time by sections.
Mr. CAUTHORNE said he had something to do with changing the Circuit up there, and he felt satisfied that the business of the Circuit could all be done if Pulaski County were added. He had no objection to this change.
Mr. CARR, of White--The Judge says emphatically, "No;" that he don't want the County attached to ours (White), as he has already thirty-six weeks occupied, and if he takes Pulaski, it gives him forty-eight weeks, more than any man on earth ought to expect. I am decidedly opposed to the annexation of Pulaski County to our District.
The bill passed--yeas, 53; nays, 23.
FOREIGN INSURANCE COMPANIES.
The Committee on Insurance reported on the bill [H. R. 494--see page 102 of these Reports, vol., 20] to regulate foreign Insurance Companies doing business in this State, recommending its passage.
The report was concurred in, the bill was read the second time and ordered engrossed.
Mr. BUSKIRK said this was a very important bill, and moved to suspend the constitutional rule, that the bill be read a third time by sections and put upon its passage.
The motion was agreed to--yeas, 68; nays, 6--and the bill was read the third time.
Mr. KENNER--There is a simple amendment that I would like to get into this bill. I will you why. Under our present laws are is a discrimination against one Insurance Company known as the Underwriter's Agency. It is composed of two Companies, the Germania and Hanover, both of New York, both doing business under the Underwriter's Agency. The Auditor of State construes this combination and says there are two Companies, and increases the expense just double to that of one Company. They only issue one policy in one State, and it is unjust discrimination against them. It would save them several thousand dollars. I want to insert after the word "Companies" the words "Or Insurance Organizations." That lets them out.
The amendment was agreed to and considered engrossed.
Mr. BUSKIRK said this to meet a class of cases that I know of where the Company did business, took risks and then left the State. In one instance the judgment was out, but they could not be reached. One case where a widow woman was kept out of a large amount of money due her, and we could not get service because the Company closed to have officers in this State, and there was nothing upon which we would get services, and the only thing to do was to take an attachment, which is troublesome. One of the principal objects of the bill is to meet cases of this kind. I hope the bill will pass.
The bill passed--yeas 58; nays, 13.
BILLS PASSED.
Senator Smith's bill [S. 16] to amend Section 79 of an act for the incorporation of cities, was read the third time and passed--yeas 69; nays, 1.
Mr. GARDNER called up his bill [H. R. 418--see page 225 of these Reports] to amend Section 54 of an act to repeal all general laws now in force for the incorporation of cities, prescribing powers, duties and the manner in which it shall be done, approved March 5, 1867, was read the third time and passed--yeas, 76; nays, 1.
Then the House took a recess until 7;30 p. m.
