HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, Jan. 22, 1883 -2 p. m.The House was opened with prayer by Rev. Mr. Reddig.
On motion by Mr. JEWETT the further reading of the journal was dispensed with
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
Mr. WILLIAMS, of KNOX, rose to a question of privilege, and said: Mr. Speaker-I rise to a question of privilege. When the newspaper representatives here have failed to report me at all, I have found no fault. When they have ascribed to me opinions and expressions contrary to those held or expressed by me, I have remained silent, but there are certain of the papers that from day to day refer to me as "Mr. Wilson," of Knox, and to this I wish to enter my protest. I have never before sailed under an assumed name or alias, and I do not wish my good constituents in Knox County to have any reason to believe that I am doing so now. My name always has been Will- iams, and I wish it to so remain
EX-SOLDIERS.
Mr. WILSON, of Kosciusko, offered the following resolution:
Whereas, The muster-in roll and the muster-in out roll of the Indiana soldiers of the Mexican and the Indiana soldiers of the late civil War, on file in the Adjutant General's office, have not been recorded in any book, but are being worn out by much handling; and
Whereas, The loss or destruction of this army roll would be a material loss to a large number of the people of this State; and Whereas. The same are liable to be burned or lost; threfore
Be it Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the Committee on Military Affairs confer with the Adjutant General and frame a bill to provide for the recording and safe keeping of said muster-in and master-out rolls and report the same to this House on or before the first day of February, 1883.
Mr. COPELAND moved to amend the resolution by appropriately inserting the following:
Whereas, The names of many members of the Indiana Legion have been, by accident or oversight, omitted from the pay-rolls, and have never received any compensation for their valuable services in repelling the Morgan and Kirby Smith raids.
Mr. JEWETT explained that inasmuch as the outlay that it would occasion would be considerable, he could not favor the resolution until some investigation could be made, and therefore moved that the resolution be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. WILSON, of Kosciusko, said: I have been at the Adjutant General's office, and find that there are no muster-in and muster-out rolls of several regiments.
Mr. SMITH thought the muster rolls should be preserved, but was not in favor of any special bill that would occasion a large outlay of money in the end.
Mr. COPELAND said; I hope the resolution will be unanimously adopted. The papers containing the records of our soldiery should be sacredly page: 89[View Page 89] preserved. The members of the Indiana Legion whose names have been omitted from the pay-roll accidentally or intentionally, should have a practical recognition. In our part of The State during the time that hell-hound and traitor, John Morgan, was raiding and pillaging our towns and villages, and the Knights of the Golden Circle and the Sons of Liberty were plotting treason and secretly aiding Morgan and Kirby Smith, our citizens, regardless of party, joined the Indiana Legion to protect our people. I believe they will be remunerated in a substantial manner by this House.
Mr. HEFFREN (interrupting): May I ask the gentleman from Jefferson a question?
Mr. COPELAND: Certainly.
Mr. HEFFREN: Can you tell me whether or not John Overmeyer was a member of the Sons of Liberty at that time?
Mr. COPELAND; I take pleasure in answering the gentleman I heard one other gentleman make that fool charge [cries of "order," "order."]. He was not then or ac any other time a member of the vile Knights of the Golden Circle.
Mr. PATTEN: I am sorry that the gentleman from Jefferson [Mr. Copeland] should make a partisan fight on this measure or allude to parties. The gentleman from Jefferson is young yet.
Mr. COPELAND: I was not aware that any one had made or attempted to make a partisan allusion in this discussion. If there is any party on this floor that claims or backs John Morgan or sympathises with his treason, then I have made an allusion to party.
Mr. PATTEN thought that as there had been five copies of the muster-out roil made the Government had taken all necessary steps to preserve these records. He was not in favor of bringing up such questions, as he thought the House had "other fish to fry." He thought it was the duty of the Adjutant General to preserve the muster rolls. He did not wish to incur any unnecessary expense.
The motion to refer the resolution to the Committee on Military Affairs was agreed to-yeas, 47; nays, 28.
FEES AND SALARIES.
Mr. Heffren's bill [H. R. 207] to provide fees and salaries for certain County offices therein named was called up and read a second time.
FOREIGN INSURANCE COMPANIES.
Mr. Wiley offered a resolution, which was adopted, that the Auditor of State be instructed to furnish the House a list of all foreign corporations which had not complied with the law in filing their regular semi-anaual detailed statements, as the law requires.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following described bills were introduced, read the first time, and were severally passed to the second reading, unless otherwise stated:
By Mr. SHIVELY [H. R. 248] to amend Section 64 of an act concerning proceedings in criminal cases, being Section 1,637 01 the Revised Statutes of 1881 [the jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace ]
By Mr. WILEY [H. R. 249] in relation to petitions for rehearing in the Supreme Court.
By Mr. HEFFREN [H. R. 250] to amend Sections 25 and 26 of an act concerning decedents' estates being Sections 2,489 and 2,490 of the code of 1881, [relating to the estate of husband of wife.]
By M, HEFFREN [H. R. 251] to amend Section 1 of an act in regard to foreign Insurance Companies.
THE KANKAKEE RIVER.
The Senate concurrent resolution authorizing the printing of 3,000 copies of the report of the engineer on me survey of the Kankakee River region was concurred in.
CHARITABLE ASSOCIATIONS.
The bill [S. 155] to authorize Charitable Associations to change their names [see Senate proceedings of Saturday] was taken up, and under a dispensation of the Constitutional restriction moved by Mr. Jewett-yeas, 71; nays 1-the bill was pressed to the final reading and passed the House of Representatives by yeas, 73; nays, 0.
The bill [S. 12] to amend Section 288 of the act concerning public offenses and their punishment being Section 2,204 of the code of 1881, was taken up, read the first time and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
The bill [S. 20] relating to the qualification of petit Jurors was read the first time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The bill [S. 32] to punish persons who disclose the contents of messages sent over telephone wires, was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Mr. McMULLEN, from the Judiciary Committee, reported back Mr. Tuley's bill [H. R. 160] to prohibit the selling, bartering or giving away the questions provided by the State Board Education, with an amendment striking out the emergency clause. The report was concurred in.
Mr. WILSON, of Marion, from the same Committee, returned Mr. Frazer's bill [H. R. 94] to provide for the sale of lands purchased on the part of the State at judicial sales. With a favorable report, the report was concurred in.
Mr. McMULLEN, from the same Committee, reported back Mr. Mellett's bill [H. R. 157] to amend Section 82 of an act concerning public offenses, with an amendment, the report was concurred in.
Also, Mr. Bowers' bill [H. R. 163] to legalize the acts of Notary Publics whose commissions have expired, with a recommendation that it be in- definitely postponed. The report was concurred in.
Also, Mr. Whitsits bill [H. R. 13] concerning the use of firearms, with an amendment striking out the emergency clause. The report was concurred in.
Mr. HEFFREN, from the same Committee, returned Mr. Shively's bill [H. R. 149] to amend Section 516 of the Revised Statutes concerning procedure in civil cases, with an amendment striking out the emergency clause. The report was concurred in.
Mr. STEWART, from the same Committee, returned Mr. Frazer's bill [H. R. 38] for taxing the ownership of property for school purposes, with an amendment striding out the emergency clause. The report was concurred in.
Mr. WILSON, of Marion, from the same Committee, returned Mr. Copeland's bill,[H. R. 637] to amend Section 473 of the Revised Statutes of 1881, with a recommendation that it be indefinitely postponed. The report was concurred in.
SCHOOL DISTRICT DIRECTORS.
Mr. SMITH, from the Committee on Education, reported back Mr. McHenry's bill [H. R. 119] to provide for the election of Directors of School Districts outside of cities and towns, with a recommendation that it be indefinitely postponed.
Mr. McHENEY opposed concurrence in the report of the Committe on the ground that people outside of towns and cities should be granted the right to choose Boards of Trustees as well as people living inside of corporations, and it is not wise to leave school matters in the hands of one person who is irequently chosen, not because of qualifications for the place, but for different rea page: 90[View Page 90]sons entirely. What this bill asks is that the people should take into their own hands the rights which belong to them.
Mr. SMITH objected to the bill because it would change the entire school system, and required a revision of the present law.
Mr. WILLIAMS, of Knox, did not believe that the best interests of our Public Schools demand this proposed change. He believed the report of the the Committee should be concurred in. and as time enough had been taken up on this discussion, he demanded the previous question-
The demand for the previous question was seconded by the House, and under its operation the report of the Committee was concurred in.
And so the bill was indefinitely postponed.
The House then adjourned till 10 a. m. to-morrow.
