AID FOR THE FLOOD SUFFERERS.
The Judiciary Committee announced that it had prepared the bill for the relief of the sufferers of the Ohio River, which was, by the consent of the House, introduced, to-wit:
By the Judiciary Committee [H. R. 414] to appropriate $40,000 for the relief of the sufferers from the recent floods of the Ohio River, and to appropriate from the general fund of the State not otherwise appropriated, and making the Governor, Secretary of State and Auditor a Board of Commissioners to dispense with the sum appropriated for said purpose, which was read the third time.
Mr. STEWART moved that the Constitutional rules be suspended, that the bill be read the second time by title, be considered engrossed, read the third time by sections and put upon its passage. The motion was agreed to by yeas, 91; nays, 4. The bill was then read the second time.
Mr, KENNEDY made an ineffectual motion to insert $50,000 hi place of $40,000.
The amendment was rejected.
Mr. MOODY offered an amendment making the provisions of the bill extend to all sufferers in the State from the recent floods.
Mr. PATTEN opposed the amendment. It was not necessary to extend this relief to every man who had lost a cabin or some cattle. In all such cases the neighbors could and would afford ample relief for the sufferers.
Mr. FRAZER moved to recommit the bill with instructions that the words "other rivers" be inserted after the word "Ohio."
Mr. SHOCKNEY moved to amend the amendment by inserting the words "Wabash and White Rivers."
On motion by Mr. JEWETT the motions to amend and recommit were laid on she table by yeas, 50; nays, 49.
The bill was read a third time by section.
Mr. MELLETT could see no reason if there are families suffering on the Wabash why these families should not be relieved by this Legislature a well as the families who are suffering from the waters of the Ohio River.
Mr. HUSTON had not heard of any suffering from water, except from the Ohio River. He thought that the bill should pass for those who are hungry, cold and homeless.
Mr. SHIVELY was most heartily in favor of the bill, but after the rejection of such fair amendments as had been offered he would have to vote against the passage of the bill. He had letters in his pocket stating that persons were suffering from the overflow of the Wabash River.
Mr. ANTRIM would like to see the bill, which he heartily indorsed, include the other rivers in this State.
Mr. PATTEN did not favor extending the pro' visions of the bill to other rivers than the Ohio, although the White and Wabash ran through his District.
Mr. GIBSON demanded the previous question.
The House seconded the demand by yeas, 49; nays, 35, and under its operation the bill passed by yeas, 88; nays, 4.
Mr. WILLIAMS, of Knox, moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed.
Mr. JEWETT made an ineffectual motion to lay on the table this motion.
The motion to reconsider was agreed to by yeas, 51; nays, 48
Mr. WILLIAMS, of Knox, insisted upon the right and justice of making the charities of this bill extend to the Wabash and White River Counties. The blue water of the White and the muddy waters of the Wabash are as cruel and relentless as those of the broad Ohio. The drowning page: 203[View Page 203] woman's scream is the same terrible cry no matter whether it comes from the angry floods of one stream or the other. The starving child re a on the Wabash appeal as loudly for bread as do those from the Ohio. He regretted the bill came into the charge of gentlemen who prevented, through the operation of the previous question, debate, amendment or proper consideration.
Mr. JEWETT could not understand how any man who had a heart in his bosom could stop to raise objection to this measure, while the people on the Ohio were in such great distress and appealing to the Legislature for relief.
Mr. WILSON, of Marion, regretted that there bad been any bad feeling raised on the question. He was satisfied that it arose from a misunderstanding of the facts. He slated that some 300 families were driven out of their houses near this city because of the high water, but the city of Indianapolis was able to take care of these people. He thought that if the people on the Wabash were in a suffering condition, and the people along that stream could not render them relief, and they should come to the Legislature with an appeal, that would immediately grant them.
Mr. BOWERS stated that the city of Lawrenceburg is under water and many hundred people are driven from their homes. He hoped that the bill would not be delayed, and that it might pass at once.
Mr. COPELAND objected to the amendment because the inhabitants of the White River and Wabash Valley regions have not asked for aid. He begged the gentlemen to turn their ears and hearts to the cry that comes up from the raging waters of the Ohio. Hundreds of our people have been driven from their homes, cold, desolate and hungry. The cry of hungry and despairing children rises to high Heaven asking for bread and shelter and clothing. Women with crying babes in their arms are Imploring us for aid: tottering old men with white locks are turned out of their homes in mid-winter at the mercy of wild winds and wilder waves; strong men with unlifted hands are begging and praying that the flood may roll back from the workshops and foundries that they may earn bread for their starving families.
Mr. SHIVELEY thought that the bill would receive the hearty endorsement of every member if the amendment was accepted. If the gentleman would accept the amendment the bill would pass the House in ten minutes. This amendment Is fair and reasonable, and the gentlemen who oppose it are the ones who are delaying the passage of what I consider a just and humane measure.
Mr. HEFFREN spoke of the terrible suffering of these people from this great flood. He thought it was no time to stop and quibble about what might befall some other people, and delay the measure simply because it did not extend to some other people and some other region. These people are driven out of their homes by the remorseless flood and are praying for relief.
Mr. MOODY did not think such legislation was right. He did not think they had any right to place their hands in the pockets of the State and take out this money for an appropriation. He favored extending the provisions of the bill so as to furnish relief to all persons in the State suffering from the recent flood.
Mr. PATTEN moved the previous question, which was not seconded by the House.
Mr. GIBSON moved that the bill be recommitted to a Special Committee of Two with Instructions to make its provisions extend to the flood sufferers from the Wabash and White Rivers, and to report in five minutes.
The motion was agreed to by yeas, 72; nays. 19.
This Committee was made to consist of Mr. Gibson and Mr. Frazer.
Mr. MONTGOMERY, by consent, introduced a bill [H. R. 415] concerning the distribution of property, etc., which was read the first time.
The Special Committee, to whom was referred the bill for the relief of the Ohio sufferers, reported that they had amended the bill as instructed.
The report of the Committee was concurred in.
Mr. HOWLAND regretted very much that the bill had been placed in a condition that he could not vote for it. No member of the House was more in favor of the bill, as first introduced, than he was. He was not in favor of adopting the amendment.
Mr. TULEY had several dispatches in his pocket asking for relief, and though he did not favor adding the amendment to the bill, was willing to accept just what would be allowed. The people are driven from their houses and are camping upon the hillsides with nothing but a blanket to protect them from the cold. We have already wasted too much time on this matter. We are now willing to take what we can get.
The amendment was adopted, the bill considered engrossed, and passed the House by yeas, 88; nays, 2.
