HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, January 24, 1881--2 P. M.The session was opened with prayer by Rev. Mr. Hinkley, of the Swedenborgain Church of the city.
The journal of Saturday's proceedings was read and approved, after which--
The SPEAKER announced that the House would take up the matter under consideration at the time of the last adjournment, being the bill [S. 86] appropriating moneys due the members of the Indiana Legion and other Independent companies of Militia for services rendered under orders of the Governor during the Rebellion (that the sum of $16,990.71 be paid members of the Second, Fourth, Fifth and Ninth Regiments), which was read the first time and passed to the second reading on to-morrow.
Mr. CAUTHORNE offered the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Claims: That the Speaker be directed to draw his warrant in favor of Hamilton C. Hammond, for the sum of ---- dollars, or so much money as may have been expended by him to carry on the contest for the seat in this House, for the counties of Crawford and Orange.
Mr. RYAN, by leave from the Committee on Revision, reported a bill [H. R. 191] to amend Section 120 of the act concerning Justices of the Peace, their general jurisdiction and mode of proceeding, etc. approved June 9, 1852, recommending its passage.
Mr. CAUTHORNE moved that the report be concurred in.
Mr. KENNER thought it was out of order to take up the bill at this stage of procedure.
Mr. CAUTHORNE favored the concurrence of page: 77[View Page 77] the House with the report of said Committee, and thought it well for the House to rely upon the judgment of such men as are on that Committee, and he could see no harm to come from concurring in the report.
Mr. KENNER said he had unbounded confidence in the Committee's ability, but could not see how the Committee could report a bill to the House that had never been in the House. The House has never had control of this bill.
Mr. CAUTHORNE thought the gentleman before him did not understand him. The bill goes before the House just precisely as any bill reported by any Committee to the House. The Committee recommends the passage of a bill and it is read the first time. It is read for the information of the House and no more, and if it goes any further, it must be done by the suspension of the rules of the House. On tomorrow, this bill may be read the second time, then it is ready for amendment, commitment or engrossment.
Mr. NEFF thought it well to take a little time consider these questions. Every man in the House considered his personal and individual responsibilities. There are some 7,000 sections to be presented to this Committee for revision during this session. It proposes to examine laws which have been amended, and also new bills as introduced here. Would it not be better and proper, as fast at the Committee examines the bills which are presented to them, to report the same to the House or Senate? What else could the Committee do? The Committee accompany these bills with recommendations which state the facts and send them to the House for their adoption or rejection. If anybody is desirous to criticise them, it can be done in the proper time, and they can be amended after the second reading.
The motion was agreed to.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following-described bills were read the first time and severally passed to the second reading:
By Mr. KERR, from the Joint Committee on the Revision of Laws [H. R. 192]: To amend Section 8 of an act concerning Justices of the Peace, their general jurisdiction and mode of proceeding, approved June 9,'52--bond to be not less than $2,000 nor more than $6,000, for the faithful discharge of duties and payment of all moneys that come into his hands.
By Mr. GIBSON, from the Joint Committee Revision of Laws, [H. R. 193]: To amend an act for the settlement of decedents' estates, proscribing rights, liabilities and duties of persons connected with the management thereof, and of certain forms to be used in such settlement, approved June 17, 1852.
By Mr. GIBSON, from the same Committee, [H. R. 194]: To tax the ownership of property held for school purposes.
By Mr. KENNER, from the Joint Committee on Revision of Laws, [H. R. 195]: To enable two or more Agricultural, Horticultural or Mechanical Societies to consolidate, and confer on the consolidated Companies the same rights and powers as those of the original Societies. [Authorizing a consolidation so as to make one Joint Association with such name as may be agreed upon.]
Mr. THOMPSON moved to continue the introduction of bills by alphabetical order as before--according to Rule 53 of the House.
The SPEAKER declared that in accordance with an order of the House, heretofore adopted, reports from the Committee on Revision of the Laws were in order at any time.
By Mr. NEFF, from the Joint Committee on Revision [H. R. 196]: To abolish the office of Asessor in cities and incorporated towns in this State. [City officials shall copy from Township books the levy made.]
By Mr. NEFF [H. R. 197]: to amend an act touching the relation of guarding and ward, approved June 9, 1852.
By Mr. LINDSAY, from the same Committee, H. R. 198]: To amend Section 8 of the act to enable Trustees to receive lands and donations and convey the same for the use of Churches, Benevolent Associations, cemeteries, etc., approved June 17, 1852.
By Mr. HUSTON, from the same Committee, [H. R, 199]: To amend the act prescribing who may make a will, and the effect thereof; what may be devised, etc., approve May 31 1852.
By Mr. CHANDLER, from the same Committee, [H. R. 200]: To amend an act regulating descents and the apportionment of estates, approved May 14 1852.
By Mr. CHANDLER, from the same Committee, [H. R. 201]: Concerning County Prisons. [Grand Jury shall inspect,etc].
By Mr FRAZIER,from the same Committee, [H. R. 202]: To amend Section 120 of the act to provide for the election and qualification of Justices of the Peace, approved June 9, 1852 [When there is no acting Justice, or he be a kin to parties to the suit, a Justice in an adjoining Township shall have jurisdiction in such case.]
Mr. MOODY presented resolutions adpoted by a Soldiers' Association in Auburn, Ind., indorsing and concurring in the proposition to place some memorial of the war and Indiana's war Governor in the corner-stone of the new State House.
It was referred to the New State House Committee.
By Mr. COLE, from the same Committee [H. R 203]: To amend Section 1 of an act concerning estrays and articles adrift, approved June 16, 1852. [Shall advertise within three days by posting notices in three of most public places in the Township.]
Mr. O'NEAL, from a majority of the Committee on Education, returned the compulsory education bill [H. R. 8] with amendments, making it apply to children between the ages of eight and fourteen.
Mr. HAM, from the same Committee, submitted a minority report.
On motion by Mr. GIBSON 200 copies were ordered printed, and the bill and reports were made the special order for Wednesday, February 2,at 11 o'clock a. m.
Mr. THOMPSON, from the Committee on Claims, submitted a report in favor of allowing a number of claims for ditching in Tipton County some thirteen years ago, with interest thereon, the delays having arisen on account of neglect of State officers.
Mr. HUFF reported in behalf of the minority in favor of allowing the principal without interest, most all of the charges being exorbitant.
A motion to lay the minority report on the table being rejected, the minority report was concurred in.
Mr. HAM knew every claimant, and was satisfied that the bills were put in at a low estimate. If the State had not been negligent there would now be no claims of this kind before us. The claimants made every effort to get their money, but have been defeated by State officials.
Mr. THOMPSON stated that these claims were referred by the last Legislature to the Governor Treasurer and Auditor of State to examine, and they have submitted a report, which, after consideration by this Committee, has been passed upon as put.
Mr. MILLER said there was no evidence that the work was worth one-half that is charged for it, and we will certainly be doing justice, and probably more than justice, to these parties if we pay the principal without interest.
On motion by Mr. KENNER, the vote concurring in the minority report was reconsidered.
The question again being on concurring in the minority report--
Mr. NEFF insisted the House should not act so hurriedly on so important a question.
Pending which, the House adjourned till to- morrow morning.
