IN SENATE.
MONDAY, January 17, 1881--2 p. m.The Lieutenant Governor commanded order at the hour to which the Senate adjourned, and announced prayers by Rev. N A. Hyde, D.D., pastor of the Presbyterian Church. After prayers--
The Secretary's minutes of Friday's proceedings were read until--
On motion of Mr. Bell, the further reading thereof was dispensed with.
Mr. Bell presented a petition from ninety-four land-owners in Allen and Adams Counties , possessing in the aggregate 9,255 acres of land, praying for legislation providing for cleaning out beds of water courses, and for the better drainage of lands, etc. He said "This is a matter of considerable importance in his section of the State, and is, no doubt, of like importance in other portions of this Commonwealth. The signers of this petition are managing farmers who desire to be relieved from the flow of water, much increased by the operations of late drainage laws." He called the special attention of the Senate and the Committee to which it will be referred to the merrits of the petition, which, on his motion, was referred to the Committee on Swamp Lands.
Mr. Keiser presented a petition on from a Christian Temperance Union in Brookston, White County, praying for the passage of a law prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, which, on his motion, was referred to the Committee on Temperance.
Mr. Foster presented petitions from Evansville, from South Bend, from Fort Wayne and from Richmond, praying that a law be passed authorizing cities containing 15,000 inhabitants and over to establish free Public Libraries, which, on his motion, was referred to the Committee on Education.
On motion by Mr. Comstock, it was ordered that at 2:30 o'clock to-morrow the Senate will proceed to vote for a Senator to represent Indiana in the United States Senate for six years from the 4th of March next.
Mr. Smith, from the special Committee thereon, reported a contract with the proprietor of the Gran Hotel for the use of five Committee Rooms during the session one exclusively, the others from 8 a. m. till 11 p m.--for the sum of $200 for the balance of the session.
The report was concurred in.
Mr. Poindexter ordered a preamble and resolution, reciting that inasmuch as the Judicial Circuits are too small and too many, and as the salaries of Judges and Prosecutors aggregate $123,000 per annum, to say nothing of Special Judges who draw large sums from the State Treasury, the Committee on the Organization of Courts is instructed to report a bill providing for the territorial enlargement of Circuits; a reduction of Judges to twenty, and if possible a limitation of terms to three per annum in each Distict.
It was referred to the Committee on Organization of Courts of Justice.
On motion by Mr. Woollen, Senator Menzies was added to the Committee on Public Health and Vital Statistics.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following described joint resolutions and bills were introduced, read the first time, and severally referred to appropriate Committees:
By Mr. Coffey [S. J. R. 5]: Instructing and re- questing Indiana's representative in Congress to support the bill to pension soldiers who were prisoners in the Southern Prisons during the late war.
By Mr. Traylor [S. J. R. 6]: Proposing an amendment to Section 1, Article 6, of the State Constitution, so that the Secretary, Treasurer, and Auditor of State shall hold office for four years, and be ineligible for more than one term any per of eight years.
By Mr. Traylor [S. J. R. 7]: Proposing an amendment to Section 2, Article 6, of the State Constitution so that County Clerks, Auditors, Recorders, Treasurers, Sheriffs, Coroners and Surveyors shall hold office for four years, no person being eligible for more than four years in any period of eight years.
By Mr. Hefron [S. J. R. 8]: Requesting and instructing the Indiana delegation in Congress to urge the passage of a law providing for changing the time of the election of Presidential Electors from November to the second Tuesday in October.
By Mr. Graham [S. 81]: Defining the manner in which certain lands within the limits of in- page: 51[View Page 51] corporated towns and cities may be taxed for municipal poses; tracts over five acres in extent not higher than for Township purposes.
By Mr. Grubbs [S. 82]: To amend Section 10 of the act of June 19, 1852, touching guardian and ward. In relation to orders of Court for a change of investment of the estate of wards.
By Mr. Hefron [S. 83]: In relation to notes of hand payable in bank. Notes payable to bearer shall be governed by the same law as ordinary promissory notes.
By Mr. Hostetter [S. 84] : To amend Section 8 of the act prescribing certain powers and duties of County Commissioners, Township and Trustees, City Councils and Trustees of towns in relation to elections, etc., approved May 13, 1869, approved March 14, 1877. In towns of population not to exceed 3,000 there shall be but one voting Precinct.
By Mr. Howard [S. 85]: Prescribing the jurisdiction of Police Judges' and Mayors' Courts of cities and towns. Shall not extend beyond the corporate limits; but subpenaes may run co-extensive with the County.
Mr.Kramer [S. 86]. Appropriating moneys to pay amounts due members of the Indiana Legion, and of the independent companies of militia and minute men for services rendered during the Rebellion--$16,990.71.
Mr. Kramer explained that this bill was introduced in order to hasten the payment of persons who served during the late war under the orders of the Governor. These State has been reimbursed for the services of these parties. In 1867 an appropriation contained $30,5000 to be paid out to these parties, and the payments have been made up to 1877, when the appropriation of 1877 precluded any payment outside of those specifically mentioned in the appropriation. This money is due to these parties. By consulting the Adjutant General's report gentlemen will find a list of the parties to whom this money is due. They are scattered over the southern part of the State; many are in reduced circumstances and need this money; it is in the hands of the State only as a trust, because these funds do not belong to the State but to these parties, many of whom reside in his County. He thought this a most opportune time for the bill to be passed, and he moved for a dispensation of the Constitutional restriction in order that the bill may be pressed to the vote on its final passage in the Senate to-day.
Mr. Bell thought there should be a provision in the bill preventing the payment of moneys to assignees of original claimants.
Mr. Kramer--Moneys will be paid as under the reservation made in 1873.
Mr. Briscoe desired to know to whom this money was to be paid, and on what proof.
Mr. Kramer--Under the laws and regulations then made. It will be paid as they were up to 1877.
Mr. Brown heartily approved of the bill, and hoped it will be passed as soon as possible, but agreed with the Senator from Allen 9Mr. Bell) that the bill ought not to provide for the payment of moneys to assignees, because it is well-known that a lot of speculators have been buying up these old war claims. For the purpose of perfecting the bill as soon as possible, he moved its reference to a Select Committee of three, its author to be Chairman and suggested that the bill be amended so as the money shall be paid to original claimants only.
Mr. Kramer consenting, withdrew his motion.
The pending motion (Mr. Brown's) was laid on the table on a division--ayes 13; noes, 12.
On motion by Mr. Van Voris, the bill was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs--yeas, 24; nays, 14.
By Mr. Langdon [S. 87]: To amend Section 782 of the General Practice Act [prescribing when actions commenced for injuries to person shall expire.]
By Mr. Owen[S. 88]: To amend Section 3 of an act authorizing cities and towns to negotiate and sell bonds, with the proceeds from which to erect school buildings, etc., approved March 8, 1873. The levy may be increased to seventy-five cents on the $100 valuation, but shall not exceed the rate necessary to raise an amount sufficient to pay said interest.
By Mr. Poindexter [S. 89]: to prevent the running at large of any domestic animals.
By Mr. Spann [S. 90]: To encourage immigration to the State of Indiana. [Foreigners may hold real estate, etc., in like manner and with the same effect as citizens of this State.]
By Mr. Shaffer [S. 91]: To provide for the conversion of toll gravel roads into free gravel roads. County Boards may purchase on petition of a majority of land owners adjacent and owners of a majority of the whole number of acres of land benefited and to be assessed.
By Mr. Urmston [S. 92]: To regulate insanity inquests, and the committal of insane persons to Hospitals for the Insane and their discharge therefrom.
By Mr. Van Vorhis [S. 93]: To establish a State Board of Healt and prescribing a system of registration and vital statistics.
By Mr. White [S. 94]: To amend Sections 1 and 2 of an act conerning interest on moneys. To make judgment follow a contract for 8 per cent.
By Mr. Woollen [S. 95]: Concerning primary elections and conventions of the people to nominate candidates for offices of trust or profit. To punish bribery in connection therewith.
By Mr. Briscoe [S. 96]; To provide for the sale of property on execution and declare void certain contracts connected therewith--where appraisement laws are waived.
By Mr. Bundy [S. 97]: To provide for the appropriation of real estate for school purposes.
By Mr. Compton [S. 98]; To amend Sections 30, 37 and 197 and to repeal Sections 196, 209, and 246 of the assessment and tax collection law (so as to assess and list the property held by administrators and executors at decedent's last place of residence).
By Mr. Foster [S. 99]: To authorize County Commissioners to lay out and establish free turnpike roads.
By Mr. Chapman [S. 100]; To provide for the construction and maintenance of private crossings across railroads.
A concurrent resolution announced by message from the House of Representatives this afternoon, providing for a Joint Committee of three Senators and five Representatives to investigate the management of the Hospital for the Insane, being read--
On motion by Mr. Menzies, It was referred to the Committee on Benevolent Institutions.
A current resolution from the House of Representatives providing for a Joint Convention of the two Houses at nooon on Wednesday, to compare the vote of each House for a Senator to represent the State in the United States Senate, for six years, from the 6th of March next, was read and--
On motion by Mr. Spann, agreed to.
A House concurrent resolution requiring all claims against the State to be filed before the first Monday in February ; and a House resolution providing for a Joint Committee on Claims, were read and severally agreed to.
On motion by Mr. Van Vorhis, his bills [S. 18] and [S. 19] having particular reference to the city of Indianapolis, were referred to a Select Committee of five, to be hereafter appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.
And then the Senate adjourned.
