HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, Feb. 6, 1883-10 a. m.The SPEAKER called the House to order.
The session was opened with prayer by Rev. F. M. S. Taylor, Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral.
On motion the reading of the Clerk's journal was dispensed with.
Mr. SHOCKNEY offered a resolution, which was not agreed to, that the Standing Committee of the House be instructed to report all bills back in the order in which said bills had been introduced into the House. The resolution set forth that certain bills had been in the hands of the Committees for some time, while other bills introduced later in the session had been reported back from the Committees.
THE GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
The House resumed the consideration of the bill [H. R. 302] making appropriations for the State Government and its institutions, directing the application of such appropriations, requiring accounts to be kept by the fiscal years of the State, and repealing inconsistent laws which was ending at the adjournment yesterday.
page: 164[View Page 164]The SPEAKER announced the question before the House to be the amendment of Mr. Wiley to the amendment offered by Mr. Howland, that the appropriations for Purdue University be increased fr m $2,000 to $9,500-Mr. Wiley's amendment proposing to make the appropriation $14,000.
Mr. JEWETT moved to lay the amendment to the amendment on the table.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. ROBINSON moved to amend the amendment by inserting $1[?],000 instead of $9,500 as proposed by the gentleman from Marion [Mr. Howland]. He understood that this was the only Institution in the State of Indiana provided and maintained in the interest of agriculture and manufacturing, and observed that the objection did not come. from that part of the State where the institution is located, but from members from other parts of the State. He thought that as the farmers of the State pay more than one-half of the taxes of the State, it would not be in good taste to shove this Institution off with a mere pitance; it would be better taste to give it a fair appropriation. He hoped members who stood hereto represent the agricultural interest, and people of the State and the mechanical interest would increase this appropriation so that Purdue would get something more than $2,000.
Mr. SMITH, of Tippecanoe, said the State of Indiana in its Legislative capacity accepted the princely gift; of Purdue University, and pledged herself to perpetually fester and sustain it on the terms of the joint gift of the doors forever as a College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. Will the Legislature now strangle this Institution and thus violate the compact? If so, will not the donors claim to reversion of their gift? The entire proceeds from the interest on the endowment fund are used in paying the salaries of instructors. and the Legislature is asked for an appropriation to meet the current incidental expenses, each item of which is set forth in the report of the Trustees. To-day the value of land, buildings and appurtenances is $312,000, or including endowment fund an aggregate of $652,000, showing that all interests have been cared for.
Mr. PATTEN had filtered to this discussion with some attention, and was unable to understand why some gentlemen had been advocating an increase of this appropriation. He desired to know what they wanted with the appropriation?
Mr. SMITH (interrupting): Two thousand dollars will not furnish the coal for the Institution.
Mr. PATTEN (continuing) understood that Purdue University would not come begging the Legislature every time it was in session. There is nothing practical about this Institution. It does not benefit the farmers at all. The farmers' sons are not educated there. He knew many of the students educated at this Institution become farmers? No, sir; they do not become farmers, and never will become farmers. Men do not send their sons there to become farmers. He was not opposed to Educational Institutions whatever. He found that gentlemen who were advocating a large appropriation had an ax to grind.
Mr. MUTZ knew something about Purdue University, and desired to state to the members what he knew concerning this Institution. He was as much opposed to large appropriations as the gentleman from Sullivan [Mr. Patten.] He knew they had a good Institution down at Purdue-an Institution that no man ought to be ashamed of. He educated one of his sons in this University, and he had never regretted it. When you talk about $2,000 or $9,000 for Purdue, it is too small. He regretted that men would get up on the floor and talk about giving Purdue $2,000. Give it enough so that it may run with credit to the Institution and to the State. Purdue is doing a good work, and nos only a good work, but a great work. He was in favor of a large appropriation.
Mr. WILSON, of Kosciusko, combatted the statement that Purdue University is inefficient and on the decline, referring to the reports of that Institution for proof to the contrary. The decrease in the academic department is owing to a higher grade of qualification being required for those who enter the University. The success of a farmer is not to be judged by the amount of produce sold only, but by the value of his experience. As two students are allowed to be sent to the Purdue University from each County he did cot think the Legislature could afford to strangle that Institution, but, rather, should carefully faster it. He favored the $12,000 appropriation.
Mr. STEWART made an ineffectual motion-yeas, 43; nays, 46-to lay the amendment on the table.
The amendment was agreed to by yeas, 92; nays, 38, and the amendment as amended was also agreed to.
Mr. SCHLOSS moved to amend the appropriation for the State Normal School by inserting seven thousand dollars in place of five thousand. He explained that there had been a considerable increase in the number of students, and it would require the extra two thousand dollars to carry on the school properly. He thought that as there had been such an increase in the number of students the appropriation should be likewise increased. He hoped that the House would grant the extra two thousand dollars.
Mr SMITH thought that an extra $2,000 would be a very small sum, and hoped the House would grant the extra $2,000.
Mr. JEWETT desired to state that the amount was the largest ever granted to the State Normal School, and read the several amounts granted for previous years. He further explained that the entire expenses of the Institution way not met by this appropriation, but that the law provides that the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall draw a certain sum in favor of this Institution.
The amendment was rejected.
Mr. PATTEN moved to strike out the $5,000 appropriated for the State Board of Health.
Mr. JEWETT stated that the Committee did not see way clear in this matter, but he considered the better than to be the continuance of the appropriation.
Mr. STEWART desired that the amendment of the gentleman [Mr. Patten's] would not prevail, and that the House would concur in the original appropriation "
Mr. HEFFREN favored the adoption of the amendment. He stated that the $5,000 granted in the appropriation was only a mere pittance of the amount the State Board of Health cost the people of the State. He thought that a vote on the adoption of the amendment would decide whether or not the members were in favor of continuing the State Board of Health.
Mr. WILSON, of Marion, stated that there had been two or three bill? introduced to repeal the law creating a State Board of Health, and that the friends ot the said Board have asked permission to be heard on this question before the bills are reported back on to-morrow Let this bill be acted upon. It does not continue the State Board of Health; and let these men have a chance to present this matter to the Committee.
Mr. WILEY desired to say a few words in answer to the statement of the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Heffren] that the State Board of Health had cost the people several thousand dollars, and that he was unable to see that it had benefited them any. He had been reliably informed that contagious diseases have been entirely removed in certain localities.
Mr. JEWETT (interrupting) asked if it was not a fact that a large part of the outlay so far has been for books and articles that will last for a long time to come.
Mr. WILEY stated that such was the fact. He would rather kill this Board of Health outright than to strangle it by withholding the ap page: 165[View Page 165]propriation. He favored granting the appropriation.
Mr. McHENRY thought that the statistics of this Board were of little practical value, since many physicians had failed to make the required reports of deaths, births, etc; but it has been two short-lived to tell the result. He favored the appropriation, and said if the Legislature decides it must die let it be by a fair vote and not by strangling it to death.
Mr. MOODY believed the House ought to allow the appropriation and decide the matter on the merits or demerits of the bills when they reported back from the Committee. Allow these men who are prepared to show the effectiveness of this Board of Health, to appear before the Committee. In his opinion the existence of this Board has been too short to determine its usefulness.
Mr. THOMAS desired that the appropriation be continued, and hoped that the members would not cut off the same.
Mr. PATTEN did not care how this Board of Health was killed, so it was killed. Cut off the appropriation and it will die. It was created for the purpose of furnishing statistics for certain corporations. These corporations have to have these statistics, and they propose to make the State furnish them. What is this State Board of Health and what has it done? It is not right to appropriate this $5,000 to continue this thing that nobody wants. It is an outrage upon the people of the State of Indiana. One man has the power to make or damn every physician in the State.
Mr. PRICE thought the House should proceed cautiously in adopting the amendment. He was not fully satisfied with the workings of the Board so far himself, but he desired to see a full and impartial investigation. We should vote down this amendment.
Mr. BOWERS did not want to take a step backward. If the State Board of Health is not worth $5,000 it is not worth anything.
Mr. GANTS stated that there are some objections to this Board, and were when the bill was passed. Quite a number of physicians were opposed to the bill who, after they had investigated this matter carefully, are in favor of the bill or of leaving the Board as it is.
One gentleman said there was an object in view in passing this bill. Well are not all bills passed for an object? And the object of this bill was to protect the people. He referred to vaccination and every man knows that vaccination is for the protection of the community and family.
On motion by Mr. GORDON the amendment was laid on the table by yeas 64; nays, 27.
The House took a recess until 2 o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. DEEM made an ineffectual motion to reduce the appropriation for the State Board of Health from $5,000 to $2,000.
Mr. HEFFREN offered the following amendment, which was adopted, to the appropriation for the State Board of Health; "And no more, by virtue of any former law, shall be appropriated than $5,000."
A motion to strike out the appropriation for the Fishery Commission was laid on the table by yeas, 63; nays, 19.
Mr. FLEECE offered an amendment to the appropriation for the House of Refuge for Boys, making it $60,000 instead of $50,000. He had been informed by the Manager of the Institution, whom he regarded a most worthy and honorable man, that $50,000 was not sufficient to properly conduct the Institution and furnish proper food and clothing to the inmates. He desired to have this appropriation raised to $60,000.
On motion by Mr. GORDON the amendment was laid on the table.
Mr. CAMPBELL made an ineffectual motion to increase the appropriation for the "Institution for Women and Girls," from $30,000 to $35,000.
He also made an ineffectual motion to strike out the following words: "But no person receiving a salary from the State or any of its institutions shall be paid additional compensation from this fund."
Mr. WILLIAMS, of Knox, offered an amendment, which was agreed to, to insert the words, "inforce" at the time reports are delivered," after the word "law," where it first occurs in the following item of the appropriation bill: "For payment for volumes of the reports of the Supreme Court in number and prices as provided by law to be paid in the manner provided by law."
On motion by Mr. JEWETT the bill as amended was ordered engrossed.
THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
The SPEAKER announced the special order the report from the Committee of the Whole House on the several reports from the Committee on the Judiciary concerning the status of the proposed Constitutional Amendments.
On motion by Mr. BEST the House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole [Mr. Jewett in the Chair].
The CHAIRMAN stated the question to be on the amendment of the gentleman from Wabash [Mr. Frazer].
This amendment was rejected upon a division-affirmative, 40; negative, 46.
The CHAIRMAN: The question recurs now on the report from the Judiciary Committee submitted by Messrs. Patten and Jewett.
The report was concurred in upon a division-affirmative, 53; negative, 33.
The report [Mr. McMullen's] as amended by the Patten and Jewett report was concurred in.
On motion by Mr. GIBSON the Committee rose, reported its action to the House and asked to be discharged.
The House concurred in the report of the Committee of the Whole by yeas, 52; nays, 35, as follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Adams, Antrim, Beeson, Best, Brazelton, Bryant, Campbell, Copeland, Davis, Deem, Fleece, Frazee, Frazer, Furnas, Genung, Gibson, Gilman, Graham, Ham, Hanson, Helms, Holler, Huston, Jewett, Kirkpatrick, Knowles, McCormick, McClelland of Lawrence, McClelland of Porter, Marsh, Mellett, Mering, Mosier, Patten, Pettibone, Pulse, Robertson, Robinson, Shaffter, Shively, Shockney, Smith of Blackford, Sterret, Stewart, Straughan, Thomas, Thompson, Weaver, Westfall, Wiley, Wilson of Kosciusko and Wooding-52.
Nays-Messrs. Bowers, Brooks, Cabbage, Carr, Chandler, Chittenden, Eley, Ferriter, Fisher, Gordon, Greene, Howland, Kennedy, McHenry, McMullen, Mauck of Harrison, Miller, Mack of Wells, Moody, Mutz, Nave, Price, Pruitt, Schloss, Smith of Perry, Spain, Stevenson, Stucker, Sutton, Tuley, Whitsit, Williams of Knox, Williams of Posey, Wilson of Marion and Mr. Speaker-35.
Pending the roll call-
It was stated that Messrs. Akin, Gantz, Smith of Lagrange, and Smith of Tippecanoe, who would have voted "aye," were paired with Messrs. Gerber, Heffren, Kester and Shaw, who would have voted "no." The absentees were Messrs. Barr, Peters, Montgomery, Henderson and Wright.
The vote was then announced as above.
So the House of Representatives concurred in the report from the Judiciary Committee signed by Messrs. Patten and Jewett-see page 79.
RELOCATION OF COUNTY SEATS.
The SPEAKER announced a special order, being Mr. Brazelton's bill [H. R. 91] concerning the relocation of Counts seats, which was read the third time, the question being, Shall the bill pass?
Mr. ADAMS said this bill seeks to revolutionize the law on the subject of relocation of County seats, and were it to pass, in a very short time the page: 166[View Page 166] County of Morgan would be in a turmoil. He reviewed the history of laws in this State on the subject.
Mr. JEWETT demanded the previous question.
The demand was seconded,and under its operations the-
Mr. BRAZELTON denied the intimation that there was any party politics in this question. Two thirds of the people interested ought to be allowed to vote, as provided in this bill. He spoke in favor of its passage.
The bill failed to pass for want of a Constitutional majority of the members elected, by yeas, 47; nays, 41.
Mr. JEWETT called up his bill [H. R. 27] for an appropriation for the Department for Women in the Insane Hospital.
The bill passed by yeas, 87; nays, 0.
FEMALE REFORMATORY SEWER.
On motion by Mr. WILSON, of Marion, his bill [S. 52] to construct a sewer from the Female Reformatory was read the second time and ordered engrossed.
The SPEAKER obtained leave of absence for to-morrow and Mr. Heffren was selected to act in his stead.
The House then adjourned.
