AFTERNOON SESSION.
The pending substitute (Mr. Graham's)was rejected, and the amendment (Mr. Chapman's)was adopted.
Mr. BRISCOE by way of substitute for the pending amendment, moved to strike from the bill Section 8, which would cause a Board of Health of to spring up in every city,town and Township in the State, entailing an expense on the people--no one can tell how much.
Mr. VAN VORHIS believed the expense would be so small as to be of little importance. He desired to reduce the expenses to the lowest possible amount.
Mr. WOOLLEN understands the intention is to prevent the machine this bill will put in motion from being run by politicians. There are now employed in almost every Township of the State physicians to the poor, and this section would probably not increase very largely the present expense, were they to perform the additional duties required by this bill.
Mr. KEISER hoped the substitute would not prevail, as it would disarrange the whole bill. He could not see the force of objections urged against it. There should be provision made for County, Township and City Boards of Health. If the State Board can not receive aid from Counties, cities and towns it will be in a great degree limited in usefulness. He saw no saving to accrue to the people by striking out this section, as its absence will devolve much more labor on the State Board.
Mr. SPANN insisted there must be machinery in the several Counties and Townships to aid the efforts of the State Board, if the bill shall pass. He opposed striking out the section. If a State Board of Health is not worth what little expense this section will incur, the bill had better not be passed, but voted down at once.
Mr. BRISCOE insisted this section would create two physicians to each Township in addition to those now employed. If the bill would provide that it shall not create any extra offices he would be content.
Mr. MACARTNEY knew of no such office under the law as Township Physician. Ia his County there are three Townships without a resident physician.
The motion [Mr. Briscoe's] was rejected.
Mr. VOYLES thought this section extends too far in that it creates Boards in each Township, and while he would not commit himself in favor to the bill, yet, if it be passed, he desired it cut down in its extent. It seems unnecessary to go as far as this bill proposes, especially as a starter. Should the plan operate well, in after time he would favor its extension. He moved a substitute for the section giving each town, corporation city or County a Board of Health.
Mr. VAN VORHIS believed the substitute would deprive the rural Districts of any advantages to be derived from the bill, and would destroy its purpose of collecting vital statistics.
Mr. VOYLES insisted that the vital statistics can be complied in sufficient quantity and perfectly reliable under his substitute. His substitute simply cuts off a work of supererogation in many Townships; and certainly goes far enough.
page: 85[View Page 85]The substitute was rejected.
Mr. SAYRE noticed a clause making an appropriation of $10,000 for the purpose of putting in operations this act; and was anxious to know on what account and for what purpose this money will be expended. He moved an amendment "that the County and Township officers shall perform the duties required of them by this act without compensation."
The amendment was agreed to.
On motion by Mr. CHAPMAN, the order of business was suspended, and the Senate adopted the House concurrent resolution accepting an invitation on to visit Purdue University, and providing for an adjournment of both Houses at 11 o'clock a.m. on Tuesday next for that purpose.
Mr. SMITH offered an amendment for the protection of those ignorant of provisions of the bill, so they shall not be liable to fine for failure to comply with its provisions, unless doing so willfully in relation to reporting births and deaths. It was agreed to.
Mr. Bundy moved to strike out the clause directing the Secretary of State to furnish postage, stationery and other direct and incidental expenses of the Board of Health.
It was agreed to.
On motion by Mr. CHAPMAN, the number of rooms allowed for the State Board was restricted to one.
Mr. WOOD moved to reduce the appropriation from $10,000to $8,000.
Mr. VAN VORHIS offered a substitute appropriating $5,000 per annum for the Board, and providing that the expenses shall in no event exceed $5,000 a year.
It was agreed to.
On motion by Mr. GRAHAM, the emergency clause was stricken out.
The bill as amended was then ordered to be engrossed for the time third reading.
Mr. Woolen's [S. 23] to protect the elective franchise, coming up in order, it was read the third time.
That any person who shall hire or buy, or, offer to hire or buy, either of himself or by any one else, or who shall furnish any money or other things of value to be used to hire or buy or permit his money or other things of value to be used to hire, buy or induce any person to vote for any candidate for any office, or any person who shall attempt to induce any person to vote for any candidate by offering any reward or favor to any person for the purpose of influencing such a person's vote for any candidate; or any voter of this State who shall sell or barter his vote for any money, property, or thing of value, or for any promise or hope of reward given or offered by any candidate, or by any other person or persons, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $25 nor more than $50, and shall be disfranchised and rendered incapable of holding any office of trust or profit for any period of time not less than two nor more than five years.
In examinations before the Grand Jury and in prosecutions under the provisions of this act any person may be examined and compelled to testify touching all the facts, but when the person so testifies by requirement of the Court, he shall be exempt from prosecutions or punishments for the offense or offenses about which he so testifies.
Mr. WOOLLEN explained that the bill simply fixes penalties and makes it a misdemeanor to use money improperly at elections in this State. The statute of 1879 makes it a misdemeanor for anyone to sell his vote, which virtually estops the enforcement of the law of 1867. This bill repeals all laws on this subject.
The bill passed by yeas, 40; nays, 0.
Mr. Brown's bill [S. 44] to amend Section 10 of the act of March 31, 1879, concerning contempt of Court, coming up in order, it was read the third time, and passed by yeas, 40; nays, 0.
Mr. Hefron's bill [S. 26] to amend Section 76 of the act for the settlement of decedents' estates, being read the third time--
Mr. HEFRON explained that the bill allows a petition for the sale of real estate of decedents to be heard in term time. The bill would do away with the existing law, requiring fifty-one days notice before the commencement of Court term.
The bill passed by yeas, 36; nays 0.
On motion by Mr. POINDEXTER, the Constitutional Rule was dispensed with by a two-thirds vote, and his bill [S. 32] to amend Section 2 of an act for the formation of Voluntary Associations was read the second time by title only, consider as engrossed, read the third time, and the question then being: Shall the bill pass?
Mr. POINDEXTER explained the only point in the bill is that it provides for the formation of organizations for dredging or deepening the channels of rivers and creeks, and for the improvement of harbors. It is a measure greatly desired in his section of the state.
Mr. VOYLES stated that this bill is drawn with a view of accommodating a demand made very generally along the line of the Ohio River.
The bill was passed by yeas, 37; nay 0.
The Senate adjourned.
