AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. Youche's bill [S. 112] to amend Section 418 of the act of Section 1,403 of R. S., 1881. was read the second time, with a Committee report recommending that it lie on the table. The report was concurred in.
Mr. Duncan's bill [S. 113] to amend Section 1,467 of the R. S. of 1881, concerning Justices of the Peace, was read the second time with a Committee recommendation that it pass. The report was concurred in and the bill ordered engrossed.
Mr. Hilligass' bill [S. 48] providing for the purchase and conversion of toll roads into free roads, was read the second time, with a Committee report recommending favorable action. The report was concurred in and the bill was ordered engrossed.
Mr. Macartney'R bill [S. 52] to amend Sections 6,487, 6,496 and 6,497 of the Revised Statuses of 1881, concerning taxation (see Brevier Reports, page: 78[View Page 78] page 38), was read the second time, with a Committee recommendation that it be amended. The report was concurred in, and the bill ordered engrossed.
ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.
Mr. Benz's bill [S. 6] for the election of Supervisors of Highways (see page 28 of the Brevier Reports), was read the second time, with a majority Committee report that it be amended, also a minority report amending the title and substituting new matter for the entire bill.
Mr. WILLARD raised the point of order that the minority report is out of order because unconstitutional and unparliamentary.
Mr. RISTINE understood a minority report can be made in this way. The bill proposes the re-enactment of the laws of 1877 with a change in the hours constituting a day's work. The minority report substitutes a bill [Mr. Voyles' S. 40] proposing to amend the present laws by excepting bridges, etc., under the control of gravel and toll roads; and it leaves off the closing words of Section 6 of the present law and provides that the road and poll tax may be worked out under rules prescribed by the Road Superintendent. Much work just commenced all over the State would be cut off by a repeal of the law as proposed by the bill recommended by the majority of the Committee. The law of two years ago as yet had no practical effect.
Mr. BROWN and Mr. FOULKE thought the point of order is not well taken, as did also Messrs, SPANN and VOYLES.
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: The bill can oe amended by substituting new matter below the title and after the bill has passed, then the title could be amended so as to conform to the body of the bill. So the point of order is not well taken.
Mr. BROWN opposed the minority report, though the complaint is almost universal against the existing law. In the poorer Counties it is too expensive. The poorer classes should have the right to go upon the road and p'lit; in an honest day's work. He could not please the people of his District did he not favor the present law.
Mr. MAGEE: Two years ago the Legislature enacted the present law, which has had no opportunity to be practically tested The bill proposed by the majority report was enacted thirty odd years ago, and the present law was admitted to be a great improvement at the time it was passed in the Senate Chamber. The better way is to put a sum of money in the hands of a suitable person with which to improve the roads. We ought not to change the present system until it is fairly tried. Do not go back to She old system till the present law is fully tested. It was always a farce to allow a man to pretend to work six or eight hours a day on the public highway. He desired to see the majority report adopted.
Mr. VOYLES: As between the two systems, the old system is preferable. The people got used to it, and when a new system was introduced they were dissatisfied. There seems to be an almost universal demand for the old law, but if that be re-enacted then the minority report should be concurred in. No measure is useful if the people are constantly crying out with dissatisfaction against it. If the minority report be accepted he should vote for the bill, but as a test vote he should vote for the bill of the Senator from Crawford [Mr. Benz].
Mr. WHITE said in the northeastern part of the State the present road law is considered expensive. They prefer to work out the road tax. If the present law is not repealed the roads will become very bad and in an almost impassable condition.
Mr. HILLIGASS was sure all peoples in his District condemn the present road law. There are <3[Uite a number of young men in every County who pay no tax-no polls can be collected from them-and under the old law there would have been one or two days work collected from that Class. Here are some 1,200 Road Superintendents i in the State, and it is proverbial to see a Road i Superintendent riding miles from home to find a mud hole to fill up. The present bill takes from the people the right to work on the highways, and thousands of dollars are lost by losing the work of the class before referred to. There is a demand from the people, after more than a year's trial, that the present law be repealed and the old law substituted instead. The present law has been tried sufficiently in his District, and the people have had enough of it. They demand its repeal and the reinstatement of the old law.
Mr. BUNDY moved to postpone this matter and make it the special order for Tuesday next at 2 p. m.
The motion was agreed to upon a division affirmative, 27; negative, not counted.
HORSE THIEF DETECTIVES.
Mr. Ristine's bill [S. 88] to amend Sections 31 and 34 of the Horse Thief Detective Association act of December 21, 1865, was read the third time.
Mr. RISTINE: It amends Section 3,431 of the R. S. It was before the Legislature two years ago and failed to get beyond the engrossment. This bill requires that the consent of County Commissioners that members of the Association may act as Constables, be made matter of record, so such persons may have written evidence of their authority to act as officers of the law.
The bill finally passed the Senate by yeas, 28; nays, 8.
OUTSWINGING DOORS.
Mr. Duncan's bill [S. 85] to amend Section 243 of the act concerning public offenses land their punishment, of April 14. 1869, was read the third time.
Mr DUNCAN explained: It simply provides that District School-house doors shall not be required to swing out, and also relieves the Trustee of the necessity of changing doors so they shall swing out.
Mr. VAN VORHIS thought the bill ought to pass, as the bill has been amended so as to apply only to one-story school houses.
Mr. BROWN hoped the bill will not pass. The country schools ere generally taught in winter time, and if fire occurs the little ones all break for the door, and it should be made to swing outward.
Mr. VAN VORHIS declared the bill has not , been correctly engrossed, because the Committee I attached an amendment limiting its application to one-story buildings,
Mr. GRAHAM took the blame upon himself, having failed to incorporate the amendment in his report. On his motion the engrossment was set aside and the bill was recommitted.
ANOTHER COMMITTEE CLERK.
Mr. MAGEE offered a resolution authorizing one clerk for the Committee on Corporations and Railroads.
It was adopted.
HOUSE BILL PASSED.
On motion by Mr. Bell the bill [H. R. 148] ceding the jurisdiction to the United States over certain lands in this State as has been or shall hereafter be selected, by the United States for the erection ot Postoffices or other houses made exclusively by the General Government, was taken up and read the third time.
Mr. BELL explained it is such a bill as is re quired by act of Congress before the General Government will proceed with the erection of Federal buildings.
The bill finally passed the Senate by yeas, 86; nays, 13-with an amendment of title by adding a clause declaring an emergency.
page: 79[View Page 79]RECESS TILL MONDAY.
A motion being made that when the Senate adjourn it be till Monday at 10 o'clock a. m., the Lieutenant Governor decided the motion carried by the sound. A division was called for and the Chair announced twenty seven Senators standing in favor of the motion. But the yeas and nays being demanded the motion was agreed to by yeas, 25; nays, 17.
Subsequently-
Mr. WILLARD moved to reconsider the vote by which the Senate agreed to take a recess till Monday morning.
Mr. VAN VORHIS made an ineffectual motion yeas, 18; nays, 23-to lay that motion on the table.
Mr. SPANN made an ineffectual motion- yeas, 17; nays, 26-to adjourn.
The motion to reconsider was agreed to.
The question recurring on the motion that when the Senate adjourn it be till Monday at 10 a. m.-
It was rejected by yeas, 17; nays, 25.
Mr. BUNDY demanded a call of the Senate.
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: I don't think that is in order.
Mr. HILLIGAS moved that the Senate adjourn. The motion was rejected by yeas, 19; nays, 20-the Lieutenant Governor giving the casting vote.
Mr. FOULKE moved that when the Senate adjourn it adjourn till Monday at 10:30 o'clock a. m.
Mr. VOYLES moved to amend by making the hour at 10:30 o'clock to-morrow.
Mr. SPANN moved to amend the amendment by inserting 7 a. m. instead of 10:30 a. m.
Mr. MARVIN moved to lay the amendment on the table. The motion was agreed to by yeas, 30; nays, 10.
Mr. BROWN, saying the Senate was not reflecting credit on itself by this action, moved an adjournment.
The motion was agreed to.
And the Senate adjourned till to-morrow at 10 a. m.
