REVISED STATUTES OF 1881.
On motion by Mr. LANGDON, the constitutional rule was dispensed with, and the bill [H. R. 437] concerning the publication of the Revised Statutes of 1881, was read the first and second times by title only, with a Senate Committee substitute therefor.
Mr.MENZIES moved to increase the number of Commissioners to be appointed by the Governor to perform the duties prescribed in the bill, from two to all of the Members of the Board of Revision of the Laws.
Mr. COMSTOCK thought the work of a character that could not well be divided. He moved a substitute to reduce the number to one.
Mr. BELL opposed the substitute. This sort of work can properly be subdivided--let one Commissioner take one portion of the code and another Commissioner another. It should be done speedily. No one or two men can do the work properly in eight months. These persons can go on with this work rapidly now.
Mr. GRUBBS should stand by the report of the Committee believing two sufficient to do the work. The work can be better done by two than by three.
The substitute was rejected.
Mr. RROWN would favor the reduction did he suppose it could be done more economically; but there is just so much work to be done, and it is important this publication should be made as soon as possible. Court Judges will doubt and hesitate to decide cases, awaiting for the revision to be published. He favored the amendment rather than the report of the Committee.
Mr. LANGDON also favored the amendnment, beliveing this labor will require all three of the Board of Revision, and three gentlemen are better prepared to do this work that two. The bill provides the work shall be completed in six months, and the three Commissioners should be retained, an odd number being desirable in case of a difference of opinion.
The amendment was agreed to.
On motion by Mr. CHAPMAN, the words "and such Commissioners shall hold the position until the 1st day of November,1881" were added to Section 1.
Mr. BUNDY made an ineffectual to have the advertisement for bids for the publication of the Revised Statutes of 1881 in "three" papers in Indianapolis instead of "two" as the bill provides.
Mr. WILSON made an ineffectual motion to reduce the number of papers to "one."
The the Senate took a recess till 7:30 o'cl ck p. m. for the sole purpose of reading the bill [H. R. 393] concerning public offenses.
