HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SATURDAY, April 16, 1881--10 a. m.In the House of Representatives the session was opened with prayer by Rev. J. D. Jones, of this city.
Mr. CAUTHORNE offered a resolution that His Excellency the Governor is authorized and empowered to appoint three properly quaified and competent citizens of this State, who shall constitute a Commission for the purpose of considering the subject of compensation of every officer under said Government, and which Commission shall matureand draft a bill fixing the manner of payment of each officer, from the Governor down, so as to do full justice to the several officers and people as well, and report to the next General Assembly.
Mr. CARTER opposed the resolution because it provided for a Commission which might incur an expense of six or eight thousand dollars.
Mr. FULLER--I am also opposed to this resolution from the simple fact that if we pass this resolution, these Commissioners will get their hands into the public treasury. They get a large compensation, and it will only be a barrier in the way of proper enactments, as was the case with the insurance bill this session--it keeps out such legislation as would be liable to take place. When the time comes I am satisfied that if the proper care is taken that there can be a Fee and and Salary Committee appointed by this body which can go to work and in the course of ten or fifteen days prepare a bill that will pass this Legislature. If not, the people of the State will settle it in the next political canvass, and the member who will be returned will be fully instructed, and know what the people demand.
Mr. MITCHELL was opposed to the resolution because it as much as says that the Members of the General Assembly are not able to frame a bill to govern the officers of the State of indiana. He thought, beyond a doubt, that such a Commission would be competent men, but that they would be dictated to by the officers of the State of Indiana--that they will be heard, and the people who have no direct interest will not be heard, just as in other bills that have been presented here, because those ones mostly interested are going to the trouble to present themselves.
Mr. CARR, of White, was opposed to the resolution because three men can not represent the interests and desires of the people of the State of Indiana; consequently three men would not be competent to act on this subject.
Mr. CAUTHORNE said: I offered this resolution in good faith. It simply authorizes the Governor to appoint three competent men to consider and mature a bill upon the subject of fees and salaries of State and County officers to be presented to the next session of the Legislature. In answer to the intimation that His Excellency is going to set up a job, I am proud to say that have more confidence in Albert G. Porter than that, and I do not believe that he will set up a job upon the people. I am willing to trust him that he will do what is right. I am willing to let the Governor have the responsibility to appoint the men to draft a suitable bill upon this resolution. The gentleman from Washbinon [Mr. Mitchell] says he is willing to let the Legislature do this. In 1878 the Republican party pledged themselves in their platfom that they would pass a suitable fee and salary bill. They asked for bread and we gave them a stone. When you arm talking about the pressure, we all know the power these County officers possess. They will inundate it, and we can not pass upon this question properly if you leave it to the General page: 190[View Page 190] Assembly. The only way to do it peacefully and quietly is to appoint three competent men to draft a bill and then stand by it. I have been abused by County officers, for the reason that they misunderstand me. I would not do one thing in the world to abuse County officers, but, on the other hand, I think the people ought to be protected. The only way to do this is to appoint a Commission who will do justice to all the people on this subject, and not let this subject be neglected, as it has been in the past.
Mr. KERR moved to amend the resolution as follows: "And with a view to assist said Commissioners in the performance of their duty, the different County officers shall, on the last day of March, 1882, prepare a complete and accurate statement, verified under oath, of all the moneys, fees and perquisites charged by them and collected or appropriated by them, each separately, for the year immediately preceding said date, and forward said statements to the Govern r."
The amendment was accepted.
Mr. EDWINS thought that this House should not delegate to three men the power which the Representatives of the State of Indiana ought to have--to sit for two years to mature a bill, use the money of Indiana, and finally probably not be any better than the laws drawn up by Representatives themselves.
Mr. MOODY said the people have been for years clamoring for a fee and salary bill, and he felt satisfied that both parties have been promising relief to the people in this respect. The only reason he opposed the resolution proposed was because his knowledge was not sufficient to warrant a vote in favor of it.
Mr. LINSDAY felt satisfied that the Governor would appoint good men, and that such a Commission would try to deal fairly with the citizens and officers of the State.
Mr. THOMPSON--We had a Commission appointed for the purpose of codifying the laws and they presented to this Legislature a fee and salary bill for every office in the State of Indiana; and yet it was stricken out in the Senate, for what cause I am unable to tell. So far as the Governor, State officers and Judges of the Court are concerned, and all those officers--they are appointed by the population--it is easy to say what their salary will be, but when you come down to County officers when you take the two extremes--Marion and Blackford Counties--it is almost impossible to harmonize them. If a Commission could go to work and grade the Counties and appoint a man to represent each grade to establish what their County officers shall have, they could probably all be satisfied.
Mr. MILES thought something ought to be done in the way of framing such a bill.
The resolution was withdrawn.
CLOSING COURTESIES.
Mr. FRAZER offered the following resolution, wich was passed by a rising vote:
Resolved, That the thanks of the members of e House are hereby tendered to Hon. Wm. M. Ridpath, for his kind and courteous treatment of the members of this House during his term as Speaker, and for the able and impartial manner in which he has discharged his duties.
Mr. AKIN introduced a resolution of thanks to Clerk Nixon, which was adopted unanimously, as was also one offered by Mr. MEREDITH returning thanks to all the employes of the House.
THE STATE OF THE UNION.
Mr. GILLUM'S resolution affirming the fidelity of the public of this State to the Constitution of the Unitd States with all its amendments and indorsing "the political ideas enunciated and taught by Washington, Hamilton and Lincoln as to possession and exercise of sovereign powers by the Federal Government," was passed by a viva voce vote.
TO WAIT ON THE GOVERNOR.
Mr. WRIGHT moved that a Committee of three be appointed to act with a like Committee of the Senate to wait upon the Governor to ascertain if His Excellency has any further communication to make to the General Assembly.
The motion was agreed to, and the Speaker appointed Messrs. Wright, Meredith and Cauthorne.
Subsquently the Special Committee appointed to visit the Governor reported that the Governor had no further communication to make.
TITLES OF ACTS PASSED, ETC.
Mr. LINSDAY offered a resolution, which was adopted, that the Bureau of Public Printing cause to be published in two newspapers of the largest circulation in Indiana the titles of all passed at the regular and special sessions containing the emergency clause.
Mr. LINSDAY moved that 200 copies of the joint resolution (No. 1), in regard to improving the Wabash Canal, be printed for distribution.
The motion was agreed to.
THE SPEAKER'S GOOD-BYE.
A motion being made that the House do now adjourn sine die--
The SPEAKER (Hon. William M. Ridpath) said:
GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES--By your kindness an partiality at the beginning of the regular session of this, the Fifty-second General Assembly of Indiana, I was chosen to preside over your deliberations. I have tried at all times to maintain toward each individual member of this House that feeling which would insure him that respect and recognition which, by reason of this honorable position, he might be entitled to. At times I may have come short of my purpose, but before our separation allow me to say that it has not been intentional, but a want of proper consideration of your grave rights and my duty toward you. And may I hope that with our separation, if any feelings of unpleasantness has been formed that it may be forever put away, and nothing of the past be cherished but feelings of the warmest sympathy and frendship for each other. You have made your record, and I feel that I can say truly that it is a good one. And as we leave it in the past it will grow in importance and be seen by those who intrusted us with this important work as a monument of our fidelity and devotion to the trust they confided to us.
As to my own record, I can only say that I have endeavored to do my duty conscientiously, fearlessly and honestly. I have refrained from taking any part in the active floor work of the session for the reason that I felt that my own inexperience as a presiding officer, and the importance of the work before the House required my undivided attention to the duties of the Chair to which you had called me. Never having been before a member of a legislative body and never having seen a legislative body in session but once before taking my seat, I feel that I can congratulate myself in yielding up the official life you conferred with but one appeal from my decisions. For the uniform kindness and courtesy you have shown me at all times during the regular and special sessions, I will ever be grateful.
With the best wishes for both the members and employes of the House, I bid you adieu, and declare this House adjourned without day.
And so the House of Representatives of the Fifty-third General Assembly of Indiana, adjourned sine die.
