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.
