EXEMPTION LAW.
Mr. Patten's bill [H. R. 33] to amend Section 1 of an act to provide for a homestead exempting it from sale on execution, and exempting certain personal property, was read the third time.
Mr. HEFFREN did not know why the House should enact class legislation. He was opposed to class legislation, and ho was not aware that one debt was any more sacred than another. There is already in the statute books a law by which mechanics can put liens upon property. This bill does not give them any more rights, in fact, not so many.
Mr. PATTEN thought the gentlemen [Mr. Heffren] was wrong. The bill is simply to protect laboring men, and to enable small property holders to secure the necessary labor, which they can not do at present, because they have not the re- quired amount of property to make them amenable to the law. It is simply right that when a man performs a day's labor he should have wages for it.
The bill passed by yeas. 73; nays, 10.
Mr. Pattens bill [H. R. 35] to amend Section 18 of an act to incorporate the town of Sullivan was taken up and read the third time, and on motion by Mr. PATTEN was laid on the table.
Mr. Kirkpatrick's bill [H. R. 53] to legalize the incorporation of the town of Burnetsville, White County, was read the third time and passed the House by yeas, 77, nays. 3.
