HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
FRIDAY, Feb. 16,1883-10 a. m.On motion by Mr. Wiley, the reading of the Clerk's minutes was dispensed with.
Mr. HEFFREN offered an amendment to the rules so as to provide that the House shall meet at 9 a. m. and 2 p. m. each day. The amendment in pursuance of the rules of the House, was placed on the table for future action.
Mr. Stewart offered a resolution to provide for a Committee of four members of the House to be appointed by the Speaker, to solicit aid for sufferers from the Ohio River flood.
The resolution was agreed to, and the Speaker made the Committee to conssit of Messrs. Stewart, Shiveley, McMullen and Eley.
Mr. JEWETT, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported a bill [H. R. 420] to provide means for the erection of the new State House, and providing for a tax of 2 per cent. on each $100 of taxable property for the next two years; and also appropriating $100,000 for the same purpose out of the general fund. The bill was read the first time and passed to the second reading.
The Senate resolution providing for a Conference Committee of three on the part of the Senate and three on the part of the House, to consider the decdents' estates bills, passed by the House and the Senate concurred in, and the sub-Committee on the Judiciary. Messrs. Patten, Frazer and Williams, of Knox, was made the Committee on the part of the House.
BILLS INDEFINITELY POSTPONED.
Mr. McClelland's, of Porter, bill [H. R. 353] to regulate the running of railway trains, etc.
Mr. Schloss' bill [H. R. 204] to prevent movers, gypsies, tramps and beggars from occupying public highways that run into cities of 10,000 or more inhabitants, etc.
RAILROAD MANAGEMENT.
Mr. Gilman's bill [H. R. 7] concerning railroads and other corporations, was reported back from the Committee on Railroads without recommendation. [It provides that railroads shall fence within six months; furnish transportation on demand, except in certain contingencies, or be liable for loss occasioned thereby; no discrimination as to rebates or drawbacks; if unable to supply full demand for transportation, shall furnish pro rata at all points; not to charge one person a greater price for a short distance than another for page: 218[View Page 218] the lame or a greater distance; not to increase rates after tender of freight]
On motion by Mr. PATTEN the Constitutional rules were suspended-yeas, 87; nays, 0-and the bill read the second time.
Mr. Gilman did rot desire members to vote for this bill without first understanding its provisions. He simply desired that the amendments be adopted and the bill ordered printed.
Mr. Gordon moved that the bill be printed and made the special order for next Tuesday.
Mr. GIBSON was opposed to making any more Special orders. He thought it would be a saving of time to allow all bills to come up in their regular order.
Mr. PATTEN considered this one of the most Important measures that could come before this General Assembly. While he had not asked a special order for any of his own bills, he believed that the people were demanding this legislation, and he was in favor of making this the special order for next, Tuesday.
Mr. MOODY concurred in the remarks made by the gentleman from Clark [Mr. Gibson]. He thought there had been too many special orders.
Mr. GORDON thought this question was second to none in importance that had come up before this House. He was, therefore, in favor of making it a special order.
The motion to make the bill a special order was rejected.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Mr. Stucker's bill [H. R. 261] to repeal Sections 4986 to 5,0l0 inclusive of the Revised Statutes of 1881, establishing a Stare Board of Health, was reported back from the Committee on Rights and Privileges with the recommendation that it be indefinitely postponed
Mr. WILSON, of Marion, thought the Board of Health an institution that ought not to be abolished. Every Nation in Europe that looks after the interests of its people sustain similar institutions. He was opposed to killing the matter without proper consideration.
Mr. HEFFREN objected to Boards of Health because of the expense it had been to the people. He considered the $5,000 appropriated, but a small part of the cost of the people of the State. He moved to lay the report of the Committee on the table.
The motion was rejected by yeas, 43; nays 49.
Mr. WILLIAM, of Knox, demanded the previous question, which was seconded by the House, and under its operations
The report of the Committee was concurred in.
Mr. HEFFREN made an ineffectual motion to reconsider the vote by which the report of the Committee was concurred in.
AID TO RAILROADS
Mr. Gilman's bill [H. R. 18] declaring it unlawful for Counties and Townships to aid in the construction of railroads, was reported back from the Committee on Railroads with th e recommendation that the emergency clause be stricken out.
Mr. FRAZER moved that the bill be indefinitely postponed.
Mr. GILMAN believed that the principle by which one man votes money out of the pocket of another is wrong. He was opposed to the motion to indefinitely postpone.
Mr. ANTRIM thought it would be safe to allow the majority of the people to settle this matter. He referred to those Counties in the State that have but one railroad, and believed this bill would practically leave the Counties at the mercy of this one railroad, there being no competition. He thought that in such Counties the people should have the privilege of voting for another load if they so desire.
Mr. SHIVELY was of the opinion that the wisdom of the present law had never been questioned, and he hoped the present law would remain unchanged.
Mr SMITH, of Tippecanoe, was of opinion that in some of the southern Counties of the State there was need of more railroads, and he was not in favor of denying them the privilege of voting for more railroads if they so desire.
Mr. SHOCKNEY said: This is one of the bills formerly reported to this House by the Railroad Committee with instructions for indefinite postponement, and was by the House referred back to that Committee. After a second careful examination of all the provisions of the measure, it was unanimously ordered that the bill ought not to become a law. The Committee was unanimously of the of the opinion that the law ought to be left as it now is, and that people should be permitted to govern this matter in each Township as they think to their best interest.
The motion to postpone indefinitely was agreed to.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Mr. Nave's bill [H. R. 58] to amend Section 3 of an act for the regulation of weights and measures, was reported back from the Committee on Manufacturing and Commerce with a recommendation that the bill pass.
On motion by Mr. FRAZER, the bill was indefinitely postponed.
A RELIEF BILL.
Mr. Shaffer's bill [H. R. 413] for the relief of Wemms Heagey, was reported back from the Committee on County and Township Business, with the recommendation that the bill pass.
Mr. WILLIAMS, of Knox, could not vote for the bill without having more facts concerning the case. He thought it might be possible that there are suits pending the County concerning this question, or that the people of the County were not in favor of this bill.
Mr. SHAFFER made an explanation for the benefit of members. Mr. Heagey took possession of the office, and received a certificate of deposit from his predecessor for $20,000. In a few weeks the bank failed, and the money was lost without ever having been in the hands of Mr. Heagey, who has made good to the State all the School Fund, and has paid Madison County the sum of $6,000 of said amount. The amount yet due from him is the sum of $7,000. The Township Trustees have all been relieved by special acts of the Legislature. The citizens and taxpayers of the County are all asking that this bill pass for his relief.
Mr. DEEM considered it a just bill and desired to see it pass the House.
Mr. MUTZ had received a letter from a prominent citizen of the County asking him to vote for the bill.
The bill passed the House by yeas, 89; nays, 7.
FLOOD SUFFERERS.
Mr. COPELAND offered a concurrent resolution to provide for the appointment of a Joint Committee on the part of the House and Senate to consist of five members from each House to visit Jeffersonville and other points on the Ohio, to investigate into the necessity of the sufferers from the flood and report to the House.
The resolution was adopted, and the Speaker subsequently made the Committee to consist of Messrs. Copeland, Shiveley, Jewett, Gibson and Sutton.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. DAVIS offered a concurrent resolution instructing our Senators and requesting our Representatives in Congress to take some steps to relieve the people of the vexatious annoyance growing out of the driven well patents.
The resolution was adopted.
HOUSE OF REFUGE.
The Speaker announced the special order to be the bill [S. 9.], designating a name by which the page: 219[View Page 219] House of Refuge for the correction and reformation of juvenile offenders shall hereafter be known, etc. The bill was read the third time.
Mr. HEFFREN moved the previous question, which was seconded by the House, and under its operations-
The bill passed the House by yeas, 59; nays, 39.
Mr HEFFREN moved to reconsider the vote on the passage of the bill, and lay that motion on the table.
The latter motion was agreed to by yeas, 58; nays, 38.
SUFFERERS BY THE FLOOD.
Mr. STEWART, from the Special Committee appointed during the morning session, to solicit aid from the members of the House for the sufferers from the Ohio flood, reported that the Committee had up to the present time obtained $265, and desired to know what disposition the House desired them to make.
On motion by Mr. WILSON, of Marion, the Committee was directed to turn the amount over into the hands of the Board, consisting of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary and Auditor of State.
Mr. JEWETT made an ineffectual motion to put the money In the hands of some of the Relief Societies of Indianapolis, saying he desired to place the money in the hands of parties who would give relief at once to those who are suffering.
[It was ordered that when the House adjourn this afternoon it be until 2 o'clock on Monday.
Mr. Jewett, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported back the bill [H. R. 419] to appropriate $100,000 for the relief of the sufferers from the Ohio, Wabash and White River flood, without any recommendation.
Mr. JEWETT spoke of the necessity of passing the bill while the members are all present, believing it would be undue delay to wait until the members were called together again next Monday at 2 o'clock.
Mr. SHIVELY offered an amendment, which was accepted by Mr. Jewett, that any part of the appropriation not expended should be covered into the Treasury of the State.
Mr. JEWETT moved that the bill be considered engrossed, read the third time by sections and put upon its passage.
Mr. WILLIAMS, of Knox, was of the opinion that the House should not take this action at this time. If when members return next Monday it is found that this amount is necessary, then the House could pass the bill in five minutes and get it into the Senate at once.
Mr. GIBSON had one reason why he desired the measure to pass at once. He believed that the reason the Board had been so slow in giving out the sum formerly appropriated was the small amount that they had to appropriate. That it required them to proceed in a too cautious manner. He hoped that the bill would pass the House this evening.
Mr. PATTEN was not in favor of voting any further appropriation until the $40,000 had been expended and it was seen to be necessary to pass this bill. He did not think the House or the Senate would be slow to act when the necessity is seen to arrive.
Mr. THOMAS would favor this appropriation when he thought it necessary tot do so.
Mr. MONTGOMERY thought it would be unexpedient to vote $100,000 at present.
Mr. WILEY was favorably disposed toward the bill. If the money is not expended and is more than is necessary, it will be covered into the Treasury.
Mr. WILSON, of Kosciusko, though the resources of the State too great to be penurious about granting this appropriation. He was going to materialize his feeling for the sufferers by voting this bill.
Mr. SHOCKNEY could see no reason why gentlemen opposed this bill, since all money not expended would return to the State. The $40,000 appropriated for the former bill would not be $1 for each sufferer. He thought there was no time to wait for a Committee to investigate.
Mr. JEWETT hoped that he would not be accused of unduly pressing the passage of the bill. He was satisfied if members knew of the message he had received of the persons who had come from the flooded district to plead for assistance, they would not question the purity of his motives in making this earnest effort to secure aid at once.
Mr. MOODY spoke favorably of placing the bill upon its passage at once.
Mr. WILSON, of Marion, thought in the face of the fact that more rain would likely fall in the near future, followed by colder weather, that this measure for relief should be acted upon at once.
Mr. GORDON was of the opinion that if the House passed the bill leaving hte appropriation at $100,000 it would not pass the Senate. He made an ineffectual motion to reduce the appropriation to $60,000.
The bill was considered engrossed and passed the House by yeas, 60; nays, 3[?].
Mr. JEWETT moved to reconsider the vote and lay that motion on the table. The latter motion was agreed to.
MILL DAMS, ETC.
By consent, Mr. Smith's, of Perry, bill [ R. R. 351 H. R. 351 ] to provide for the removal of mill dams and other obstructions from water courses to prevent overflow of lands, was called up, and on motion by Mr. Smith the Constitutional rules were suspended, the bill was considered engrossed, read the third time by sections and passed the House by yeas, 63; nays, 27.
BILLS INDEFINITELY POSTPONED.
Mr. Gordon' [H. R. 396] for the benefit of Horticultural Societies.
Mr. McMullen's bill [H. R. 377] to provide for the protection of growing timber and for the appointment of a Forestry Commission.
The House adjourned until 2 o'clock next Monday.
