THE
BREVIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTS.
VOLUME TWENTY-ONE.
INDIANA LEGISLATURE.
IN SENATE.
THURSDAY, January 4, 1883-10 a. m.The Constitution of Indiana having fixed this as the day and hour for the convening of the Legislature in regular session. Senators holding over and Senators-elect to the Fifty-third General Assembly met in the city of Indianapolis, in the upper northeast corner room of the Marion County Court House (the new State House being in process of erection), and were called to order by Hon. Thomas Hanna, of Putnam County, Lieutenant Governor.
After prayer by Rev. Ross C. Houghton, pastor of Roberts Park Church, in this city-
The following named Senators holding over answered to their names:
- From the Districts composed of the Counties of-
- Vanderburg-William Rahm, Jr.
- Decatur and Shelby-Francis M. Howard.
- Floyd and Washington-Samuel B. Voyles.
- Jackson and Jennings-Jason B. Brown
- Vigo-Francis V. Bischowsky.
- Clay and Own-Isaac M. Compton.
- Henry, Delaware and Randolph-Eugene H. Bundy.
- Grant and Madison-Charles L. Henry.
- Boone and Clinton-Henry M. Marvin.
- Montgomery-Theodore H. Ristine.
- Laporte-William B. Hutchinson.
- Marshall and Fulton-William Davidson.
- Kosciusko and Wabash-Warren G. Sayre.
- Elkhart-David H. White
- Lagrange and Noble-Henry Hostetter.
- Steuben and DeKalb-Francis Macartney
- Allen and Whitley-Robert C. Bell.
- Carroll, White and Pulaski-Jacob Keiser
- Marion-Flavius J. Jan Vorhis
- Marion, Hancock, and Shelby-Simon P. Yancey.
- Hendricks and Putnam-Simpson F. Lockridge.
- Tipson and Hamilton-Robert Graham.
- Rush, Fayette and Union-Jesse J. Spann.
The following named Senators-elect answered to their names and were sworn in by the Chief Justice Woods, of the Supreme Court of Indiana:
- Posey and Gibson-J. E. McCullough.
- Warrick and Pike-E. P. Richardson.
- Spencer and Perry-H. May.
- Crawford, Harrison and Orange-John Benz.
- Dubois, Martin and Lawrence-James H. Willard.
- Clark and Scott-David McClure.
- Jefferson-James Hill.
- Franklin and Ripley-C. J. Faulkner.
- Dearborn and Ohio-Columbus Johnson
- Brown, Monroe and Bartholomew-W. C. Duncan
- Greene and Daviess-L. P. McIntosh
- Knox and Sullivan-I Ernest.
- Park and Vermillion-John H. Lindley.
- Wayne-Dudley Foulke.
- Randolph and Delaware-M.C. Smith.
- Howard and Miami-L. D. Adkinson.
- Tippecanoe-Francis Johnson.
- Benton, Newton and Jasper-Fred Hoover.
- Lake and Porter-J. W. Zoucke.
- St. Joseph and Starke-Marvin Campbell.
- Cass-Rufus Magee.
- Allen-L. S. Null.
- Huntington and Wells-W. J. Hilligas.
- Adams, Jay and Blackford-John M. Smith.
- Morgan and Johnson-G. M. Overstreet.
- Fountain and Warren, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Hon. A. R. Owen-Jackson Fleming.
- Marion, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Hon. George H. Chapman-William B. Fletcher.
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR-The fifty Districts being full-there being fifty Senators present-I now declare a quorum present and ready for the transaction of the first business before the Senate, which is the election of a principal secretary. Nominations are now in order.
Mr. SPANN-Mr. President: For Principal Secretary of the Senate I put in nomination Robert C. Sears, of Vermillion County.
Mr. COMPTON--I place in nomination Robert J. Kelley, of Vigo County.
There being no further nominations the first ballot resulted for Mr. Sears 22 votes for Mr. Kelley 28 votes.
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR-Mr. Kelley having received a majority of all the votes cast, I declare him elected Principal Secretary of the Senate. Mr. Kelley will please come forward and receive the oath of office, [which was administered by Judge Wood]
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR-Nominations page: 10[View Page 10] are new in order for Assistant Secretary of the Senate.
Mr. HENRY-I nominate Charles F. Bobbins, of Marion County.
Mr. WILLARD-I nominate Henry C. Huffstetter, of Lawrence County, for Assistant Secretary of the Senate.
There being no further nominations the ballot resulted as follows:
For Mr. Hufstetter 28 votes, for Mr. Bobbins 22.
Mr. Hufstetter was declared elected and sworn by Judge Wood.
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR-The next in order is nominations tor Doorkeeper of the Senate.
Mr. BROWN nominated Vincent P. Kirk, of Marshall County.
Mr. BUNDY put in nomination Henry L. Gordon, of Franklin County.
Twenty-eight Senators having voted for Mr. Kirk and twenty-two for Mr, Gordon.
Mr. Kirk was declared elected and sworn into office.
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR-I will appoint James W. Woodrum, and Henry Neltzer; of Putnam County, and Bertie Hollis, of Greene, as Pages. The Senate is now organized and ready for any business that may come before it.
Mr. BROWN offered a resolution that the rules of the last regular and special session Senate be adopted for the government of the proceedings of the present session until further ordered with the exception that the words "President of" in line two of Section 8 be stricken out.
Mr. BUNDY-Offered a substitute providing that the rules adopted at the last session be the rules for the government of the Senate at this session.
Mr. BROWN-The resolution I offered is not intended, of course, to cast the slightest reflections on the Chair. I certainly have not any idea, nor has any Senator, to my knowledge, but that the Chair would exercise the greatest impartiality in the selection of these Committees, did the Senate intrust that duty to the Chair. In fact, the only reason I have, as far as personal reasons are concerned, is that the Chair does not reside in my camp. The Democratic party being in the majority, it will be responsible for the business done in a great degree, and it should have control of the composition of the Committees.
Mr. BUNLY-While I concede all the Senator from Jackson (Mr Brown) has to say in regard to the Democratic party being in the majority, I do not consider, if the Committees were made by the President of the Senate, that anything would occur, either upon a report made by any Committee appointed by the Chair or otherwise, where the majority would not have the same right and the same power to do ss they please. I offer the substitute because I believe the President of the Senate is entitled by precedent and by courtesy to appoint these Committees. I believe it is his right, and that is the reason why I offer it. Of course, the substitute may be voted down, but I believe it is proper and right to offer u and give the brethren on the other side an opportunity to vote for it If they want to,
On motion by Mr. BROWN the sub as laid on the table-yeas, 28; nays, 22-and the original resolution was adopted by the same vote.
On motion the LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR appointed Messrs. Marvin and Sayre a Committee to inform the House of Representatives that the Senate is organized and ready to proceed with legislative business.
Mr. BROWN asked and obtained unanimous consent to introduce a bill [S. 1] for an act to provide for the better government and management of the benevolent institutions, and to repeal Sections 2,768, 2,769, 2,856, 2,857 and 2,869 of the Revised Statutes of 1881, which was read the first time, and 150 copies were ordered printed.
Mr. SPANN moved that the bill be referred to the Judiciary Committee when appointed.
Mr. BELL suggested if there be any real question upon which this bill ought to go to the Judiciary Committee it can go there after it comes from the Committee where it properly belongs.
Mr. SPANN-It seems to me this is a very important bill, and may overturn the laws already upon the statute books for the government of these institutions, and I desire it shall be referred to the Judiciary Committee, with instructions to report to this Senate the status this bill will leave these institutions in
The motion was rejected-yeas. 22; nays, 28.
On motion by Mr. BROWN the bill was referred to the Committee on Benevolent Institutions, when appointed.
On motion by Mr. VOYLES it was ordered that when the Senate adjourn it be till 10 o'clock to- morrow morning.
A message from the House of Representatives by S. W. Edwins, principal Clerk thereof, informing the Senate of the organization of that body, and that it was ready to proceed with legislative business, was read by said principal Clerk, when the Lieutenant Governor said to him, "You win please privately inform members to appoint a Committee of two to inform the Senate of that matter." [Laughter.]
Mr. WHITE moved that a Committee of two Senators be appointed to act with a like Committee tee on the part of the House of Representatives to wait upon the Governor and inform him of the organization of the two houses;, and learn of him at what time it will suit his convenience to make whatever communication he may desire.
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR-This is not in order until we are notified of the organization of the House of Representatives.
Mr. MARVIN-I have the honor to report that Senator Sayre and myself waited upon the House of Representatives, were recognized by the Speaker and reported to him that we were there by order of the Senate to report that the Senate was organized and ready for business.
Mr. FOULKE obtained leave to introduce bill [S. 2] to enable Turnpike Companies in this State to connect with turnpike roads operated in an adjoining State, which was read the first time and referred to the Committee on Roads when appointed.
Mr. SPANN offered a resolution that, in all cases, when a bill shall bs reported from a Committee, with a recommendation that it do pass, that 150 copies of such bill shall be printed for use of the Senate.
On motion by Mr. BELL it was amended by adding the words "when so recommended by the Committee." On motion by Mi. BROWN the resolution a amended was laid on the table.
A message from the House being announced by the Doorkeeper, two Representatives appeared and one of them said: We are a Committee from. the House of Representatives, instructed to present the following resolution:
Resolved, That a Committee of two, on the part of the House, be appointed to act with a similar Committee, on the part of the Senate, to wait upon the Governor and ascertain when he will make a communication to the General Assembly.
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR suggested this was an unusual course and proposed another.
Mr. MARVIN thought either way correct. The Senate two years ago did exactly as the House has done. Sometimes the Senate sent a Committee and sometimes it sent a Secretary.
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR-It is this way: The Senate appointed a Committee to wait upon the House and notify the House that the Senate was ready for business, and the House should send a Committee to the Senate to notify us that the House is ready for business.. [Sotto voce, he charged the Committee to notify the House of this manner of proceeding, which caused much merriment and laughter.]
Mr. GRAHAM offered a resolution that a Com page: 11[View Page 11]mittee of five be appointed by the President of the Senate to report at the earliest possible moment the names of Senators who shall constitute the standing Committees of the Senate.
On motion of Mr BROWN it was laid on the table-yeas, 28; nays, 22.
And then the Senate adjourned, under the order heretofore adopted, until 10 o'clock to-morrow.
