THE
BREVIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTS.
VOLUME TWENTY-ONE.
INDIANA LEGISLATURE.
IN SENATE.
TUESDAY, January 9,1883-10 a. m.The session was opened with prayer by Rev. F. M. S. Taylor, Dean of Eat. Paul's Cathedral.
Mr. BROWN presented a memorial from Hon. John H. Winterbotham, late a candidate for Congress in the Thirteenth Congressional District, protesting against the manner in which the employes of certain large manufacturing establishments in said District were marched to the polls and voted at the late election, and praying that the Statutes of the State may be amended so as to prevent such oppressive action on the part of owners of large establishments over their employes. Mr. W. practically gives up the contest, saying he is too old and too much engrossed in cares to do more than call the attention of the Legislature to the Intimidations practiced by employers on election day.
It was referred to the Committee on Elections.
COMMITTEE CLERKS.
Mr. VOYLES announced the selection of Horatio Fullenlove, of New Albany, as a Clerk to a group of Committees.
Mr. BENZ announced the appointment of Edward Harbison as Clerk of another group of Committees.
Mr. BELL, from the group of Committees, announced the appointment of R L Depuy as the Clerk thereof.
COMMITTEE ROOMS.
M. VOYLES reported that the Committee on Committee Rooms find six at the Bates House for $900 during the session, which it recommend be engaged. He stated that the House of Representatives has already accepted that proposition.
Mr. SPANN moved to recommit the report, with instructions to report all propositions to let Committee Rooms.
Messrs. Yancey, Voyles, Brown and Willard spoke in favor of the report of the Committee, and Messrs. Spann, Van Vorhis, Foulke, Bell and White spoke in opposition, and in favor of the motion to recommit, which was agreed to by yeas, 26; nays, 16.
JOINT RULES AND COMMITTEES.
Mr. FOULKE, from the Committee on Joint Rules, reported the joint rules of last session, and recommended their adoption for the government of this, with an additional rule 17-as printed in the first part of the House proceedings below.
The report was concurred in.
On motion of Mr. BROWN, 250 copies of the rules, joint rules and Standing Committees of the Senate, were ordered printed.
On motion by Mr. COMPTON, the following Joint Committees on the part of the Senate were appointed by resolution:
- On Enrolled Bills-Ernest, Brown and Smith of Delaware.
- On Public Buildings-Magee, Rahm and Lockridge.
- On State Library-Duncan, May and Campbell.
- On Canal Bonds-Davidson, Hilligass, Bischowski.
- On Claims-Null, Johnson, Fleming.
- On Revision of Statutes-Smith, of Jay, Richardson, May, Henry, Foulke.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Mr. BUNDY offered the following resolution:
Whereas, The Senate and House of Representatives of the United States have recently passed the measure for civil service reform known as the Pendleton bill; therefore
Resolved, That the Senate of Indiana hereby indorse the action of the Senators and Representatives in Congress who voted for said bill, and commend their action thereon as eminently wise, proper and just.
On motion of Mr. WILLARD it was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR.
Several communications from the Governor were transmitted to the Senate by his executive messenger, Mr. Frank L. Blackledge, among which were his appointments of or nominations for, positions on the Benevolent Boards, to-wit: For Superintendent of the Board of Benevolent Institutions, John Coburn, of Marion County; Trustee for the Insane Hospital, George W. Burke, of Henry County; Trustee for the Blind, J. H. Rerick, of Lagrange; Trustee for the Deaf and Dumb, James H. Jordan, of Morgan. These page: 34[View Page 34] nominations were referred to the Committee on Executive Appointments on motion by Mr. Spann.
GRAVEL ROADS.
Mr. MARVIN offered a resolution requesting the Judiciary Committee to report a law to protect gravel roads when new, etc. He hoped such a law would be framed, as it would be of great benefit to every section of the State. The resolution was adopted.
THE NEW STATE HOUSE.
Mr. WILLARD offered the following: Resolved, that the Committee on Public Buildings and State Library be and are hereby instructed to inquire into the present condition of the new State House; etc.
On motion by Mr. Brown, it was postponed till to-morrow.
THE DOORKEEPER.
Mr. DUNCAN offered a resolution reflecting upon the Doorkeeper for not posting up a list or employees appointed by him, and for discharging the several appointees without cause, etc., and requesting the Committee on Executive Appointments to report facts, etc. It was adopted.
FEES AND SALARIES.
Mr. SAYRE offered a resolution authorizing the Senate Committee on Fees and Salaries to fully investigate the facts in relation to a fee and salary bill, which shall be in accord with the recently adopted amendment to the Constitution, with authority to si^nd for persons and papery. He believed it would be a certained that three-quarters of a million of dollars are annually taken from the people wrongfully by constructive fees of officials in this State. This great outrage, being perpetrated every day and hour, should be put a stop to.
Mr. VOYLES was against the resolution because it looks too much like proposition to send for the County officers of this State. The people who are not County officers are also interested in this matter.
Mr. BUNDY hoped this resolution would be adopted. If there is one subject more than another in which the people of this State are interested, it is the fee and salary question. County officers are getting rich in one term by reason of their charging constructive fees. Nothing can be done intelligently to remedy this evil till a Committee has heard evidence.
Mr. WILLARD saw necessity for information, but it will be time enough to grant this power when they ask for it.
Mr. FOULKE could see but one purpose in opposing a motion of this kind. No one can tell without experience what these officers can perform their services for. Whether or not there is cause for complaint, the people demand that something shall be done with the fee and salary bill. Unless it is desired to suppress all action on this subject, he hoped the resolution would pass.
Mr. VOYLES opposed the resolution, because of the construction put upon it that it would be a call for County officers to come up here. He saw no necessity for the resolution at this stage. stage.
Mr. BROWN moved to refer the resolution to the Committee on Fees and Salaries.
The motion was rejected by yeas, 23; nays, 24.
Mr. CAMPBELL desired to see the resolution passed. He believed some offices supposed to be very rumenerative were not, while others not supposed to be lucrative were indeed so. There is a great difference. He was sorry to notice a somewhat partisan division in this matter.
Mr. MARVIN was surprised at the introduction of this resolution by the author. For 100 days the present law was before the Senate, and it was passed by a Republican body and signed by Republican officers. He was willing to try the present law two years longer.
Mr. HILLIGASS deprecated making this a party measure, but regarded the resolution" as unnecessary. He thought an equitable adjustment can be made by calculating upon a basis of population. He hoped this Legislature will adopt an equitable fee and salary bill. He also opposed the resolution because it proposes to give into the hands of this Committee power unlimited.
Mr. WILLARD made an ineffectual motion-yeas, 11; nays, 35-to lay the resolution on the table.
Mr. BELL now hoped to see the resolution passed. He believed in getting competent men and paying fair price for services. He hoped the unlimited power conferred by the resolution will not be abused With a little discretion not much mileage will have to be paid to County officers [Laugnter.]
Mr. WHITE hoped the resolution will pass.
Mr WILLARD hoped the resolution will not pass, because it gives the Committee unlimited power to summons any person from any point of the State to whom mileage and per diem will have to be paid. It may be productive of great expense, which the Committee has not asked for. After consultation if the Committee ask for this power it might then be granted.
Mr. ADKISON asked who was responsible for the political aspect in which this resolution was receiver. One County in his District is largely Democratic, the other is Republican, and there is no objection there to a project of this kind. There is a necessity for it. We do not want the kind of evidence that will come up here for the purpose of influencing legislation. He favored the resolution.
Mr. BROWN also favored the resolution.
Mr McCULLOUGH understood the feeling to be universally in favor of a law under which there can be no constructive fees. There are too many County officers about the Legislature when the question of fees and salaries is considered. As a rule the more that is heard about fees and salaries from County officers, the less is known about that subject. Men interested directly in the deliberations of this body will color their statements. The resolution would probably be too expensive at this time; and it will bring here a class of men that will not enlighten the legislators on that subject Some members on this Committee have had experience, and if the Committee shall ask for further power in the premises he would be willing to giant it.
Mr. HENRY regarded the resolution as a proper one-the Committee will not send for persons and papers unnecessarily. All are satisfied there should be action by this Legislature on this question. We want an investigation, and evidence on the subject brought before the Senate. This is not apolitical question. The present incumbents of County offices are not The only men in the State who can give desirable information concerning fees and salaries. He deprecated the laws now on the statute books that almost drive litigants out of the Court.
Mr. WILLARD moved to refer the resolution to the Committee on Fees and Salaries, with instructions to report whether there is a necessity for the passage of this resolution, pending which-
There came a recess till 2 o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The motion to refer with instructions was rejected by yeas, 18; nays, 29.
The resolution was adopted without a division.
Mr. BELL offered a resolution, which was adopted, that the message of the Governor concerning the jurisdiction of certain lands in Fort Wayne and Terre Haute be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
THE DOORKEEPER AGAIN.
Mr. FOULKE offered a resolution empowering the Committee on Executive Appointments to page: 35[View Page 35] send for persons and papers concerning the con- duct; of the Doorkeeper, as referred to in a resolution adopted this morning.
Mr. BROWN moved to lay the resolution on the table. The motion was agreed to by yeas, 31; nays, 17.
Mr. DUNCAN moved to reconsider the vote of yesterday, authorizing the Doorkeeper to appoint four additional Doorkeepers.
On motion by Mr. BROWN-yeas, 36; nays, 16-the motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
SOLDIERS' PENSIONS
The House joint resolution [H. R. 1], concerning the pensioning of soldiers and widows of soldiers of the Mexican War, was read.
Also, the House joint resolution [H. R. 2] favoring Changes in the pension laws so as to raise the rate on disabilities and not on rank, received in service, were severally read the first time and referred to the Committee on Federal Relations.
COMMITTEE ROOMS AGAIN.
Mr VOYLES, from the Special Committee thereon, reported again in favor of the Bates House proposition of $900 for six rooms.
Mr. SPANN moved 10 recommit the report of the Committee in order to give the Committee further time and report as to separate rooms for the Senate. He also read several propositions from the Grand Hotel offering more rooms and at a cheaper price.
Mr, BUNDY favored the motion.
Mr. BELL could not understand the haste in this matter when the Committee saw so much dissatisfaction expressed this morning. There seems to be a disposition on the part of two or three members of this Committee to take the bit in their months and rush this thing through before all propositions are examined.
The discussion was continued at some length, Messrs. Spann. Bell, Van Vorhis and Campbell speaking in favor and Messrs. Brown and Voyles opposed to the motion to recommit.
Mr. FOULKE demanded the previous question, which was seconded by the Senate, and under the operations thereof-
The motion to recommit was agreed to by yeas, 84: nays, 16.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following described bills were introduced, read the first time and severally referred to appropriate Committees.
By Mr. ADKINSON [S. 42.] requiring Railroad Companies to fence and maintain fences on their lines. It was referred to the Committee on Railroads.
By Mr. BROWN [S. 43] to amend Section 30 of the fee and salary act. The Coroner's fees for The first day increased from $5 to $10; also increasing the clerks' fees from $2 to $3. It was referred to the Committee on Fees and Salaries.
By Mr. BUNDY [S. 44] to provide for the organization and government of the State's Prison. [The same as Senate bill No 4 of last session.] It was referred to the Committee on Benevolent Institutions.
By Mr. COMPTON [S. 45] supplemental io the act to incorporate the Ohio Insurance Company, or Commercial Beard. It was referred to the Committee on Banks.
By Mr. FLETCHER [S. 46] to provide for the construction of a sewer from the Indiana Reformatory Institution to one of the principal sewers in Indianapolis. It was referred to the Committee on Benevolent Institutions.
By Mr. FOULKE [S. 47] to amend an act to establish public libraries in all cities of 10,000 inhabitants and over. so as to extend its provisions to all the cities and towns in the State. It was referred to the Committee on Education.
By Mr. HILLIGASS [S. 48] providing for the purchase and conversion of toll roads into free roads. It was referred to the Committee on Roads and Highways. It was referred to the Committee on Roads.
And then the Senate adjourned.
