CONTRACT CONVICT LABOR.
Mr. JOHNSON offered the following:
Whereas, From all sections and from nearly every County, the State petitions have come to this General Assembly praying for the abolition of the present system of hiring out the labor of convicts of our Penitentiaries and the inmates of our Reform Schools and Benevolent Institutions, under contract to the highest bidder.
Whereas, A bill passed by the Senate for the regulation of said convict labor aims only at modifying the present system, but falls short of abolishing it and applying the proper remedy for its evil and abuses; and,
Whereas, The short time of the legislative section prevented this General Assembly from finding the proper remedy for this system, which is admitted to be pernicious to the interests of Indiana manufacturers and Indiana mechanics and workingmen,
Resolved, That Committee of three Senators holding over for the General Assembly of 1885 be appointed by the President of the Senate to prepare a bill abolishing the present system of convict labor and substitute a system of employment for the convicts of our Penitentiaries, and the Inmates of our Reformatory School and Benevolent Institutions which will not come in competition with Indiana manufacturers.
Resolved, That the members of said Committee of three Senators shall not be entitled to any compensation for services on the Committee.
The resolution was adopted and the Lieutenant Governor makes the Committee to consist of Messrs. Johnson, Foulke and Campbell.
On motion by Mr. SPANN a Committee of Two-Messrs. Spann and Magee-were appointed to wait on the Governor and ascertain whether Hit Excellency has any further communication to make to the Senate.
The Committee soon returned and reported the Governor has no further communication to make to either Branch of the General Assembly.
On motion by Mr. YANCEY the concurrent resolution of the House authorizing a highway opened across the north end of the grounds of the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, was concurred in by the Senate.
Mr. FOULKE offered a resolution declaring it the opinion of the Senate that the action of the House of Representatives, in failing, without sufficient reason, to pass the general appropriation bill during the time allotted for the present regular session, is injurious to the best interests of the people.
Mr. VOYLES raised the point of order that this resolution is out of order, because it attempts to criticise a co-ordinate branch of the General Assembly.
The PRESIDENT pro tem. [Mr. Bundy in the Chair] overruled the point of order.
Messrs Bell and Voyles appealed from the decision of the Chair.
