HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
FRIDAY, January 12, 1883-10 a. m.The SPEAKER announced prayer by Rev. Mr. Wilkey of the German M. E. Church.
Mr JEWETT presented the credentials of Hon. W W. Tuley, the newly-elected member from the County of Floyd, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry S. Perrette, and thereupon Mr. page: 52[View Page 52] Tuley appeared at the bar of the House and received the oath of office at the hands of Judge Daniel W. Howe, of the Superior Court of Marion County.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
The following described bills were returned to the House from the Standing Committees named, which reports were concurred in unless otherwise stated.
Mr. McMULLEN, from the Committee on the Judiciary, returned Mr. Patten's bill [H. R. 33] with certain amendments amending the homestead act: so as not to exempt property from sale on execution or other writ: of manual labor in any sum not to exceed the amount of $50.
Mr. STEWART. from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported back the bill [H. R 30] , and, with certain amendments, recommended that it do pass.
Mr. JEWETT, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported back Mr. Wilson's, of Knox, bill [H. R. 10], and recommended that the same pass with certain amendments.
Mr. PATTEN, from the Committee on the Organization of Courts, reported back [H. R. 75] Mr. Gerber's bill providing for the Eighty-fourth and Eighty-fifth Judicial Circuits, with a favorable report.
Mr. JEWETT, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported back bill [H. R. 104, Mr. Gibson's,] and recommended that it be referred to the Committee on Fees and Salaries.
Mr. JEWETT, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported back bill [H. R. 25, Mr. Sterrett's] and recommended that it be indefinitely postponed.
Mr. JEWETT, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported back bill [H. R. 87, Mr- Stucker's,] and recommended that it be indefinitely postponed.
Mr. McHENRY, from the Committee of Military Affairs, reported back the joint resolution [H. R. 4] requesting our Representatives in Congress, and instructing our Senators to secure the passage of a law pensioning all survivors of the Mexican War who are now loyal to the United States, and recommended that the same be adopted. The report was laid on the table.
Mr. BRYANT from the Committee on County and Townshtp Business, reported back the bill [H. R. 99] with recommendation that, the bill do pass. On motion the report was referred to the Committee on Fees and Salaries.
Mr. HEFFREN, from the Committee on Cities and Towns, reported back the bill [H. R 133] providing for a Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners in all towns of 25,000 or more inhabitants, and recommended that it, as the bill is one of great importance, lie on the table and 300 copies be printed.
AMENDMENT OF THE RULES.
Mr. McMULLEN offered the following additional to the rules of the House. Rule No. - Every report of a Committee on a bill or resolution shall state the number of the bill or resolution, the name of the member who offered the bill or resolution. In accordance with the rules of the House amendments to the rules have to lie on the table for one day.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
Mr. HUSTON offered a resolution that the Clerk of the House request the Secretary of State to furnish the House with certified copies of all proceedings in the last General Assembly concerning the proposed amendments to the Constitution.
Mr. HUSTON said: My reason for introducing that resolution is that it is the only proper course we can pursue to get before us the amendments that passed the last General Assembly. He then read from the statutes that portion which provides that the Secretary of State shall submit and lay before either House of the General Assembly all papers and acts concerning either House of the General Assembly.
Mr. JEWETT opposed the resolution and said: "This resolution ought not to prevail, it seeing to me. This resolution requires the Secretary of State to transmit certified copies of the acts of the last General Assembly to this House. This is already done in the statute books that are on the desks of every member. This statute provides that the acts of our General Assembly shall b entered upon the journal and submitted to the next General Assembly. There is no provision authorizing the Secretary of State to submit such acts."
Mr. GIBSON-I now insist upon the motion to lay upon the table.
The motion was agreed to by yeas, 60; nays, 89.
NEW PROPOSITIONS
The following described bills were introduced, read the first time and severally referred to appropriate Committees unless otherwise stated:
By Mr MOSIER [H. R. 145] to amend Section 159, the time being Section 4,529 of the Revised Statutes of 1881-the general Common School law, approved May 6,1855.
By Afr CAMPBELL [H. R. 146] to restrain certain animals from running at large.
By Mr. PRUITT [H. R. 147] to provide for the election of Supervisors of roads and highways.
By Mr. SCHLOSS [H. R. 148] ceding the jurisdiction of this State over certain lands owned by 1$: at Terre Haute and Fort Wayne to the United States. On his further motion the bill was passed to the first reading under the suspension of the rules-yeas 93, nays, 0-and passed the House of Representatives by yeas, 93: nays, 0.
By Mr. SHIVELY [H. R. 149] to amend Section 367 of an act, being Section 516 of the Revised Statutes of 1881, concerning procedure in civil cases, approved March 7, 1881.
By Mr. HEFFREN [H R. 150] to empower Judges pro tem. to hold Court.
Mr. WILSON, of Marion, moved for a suspension of the Constitutional rule, in order that the bill may now be read the second time by title only, considered as engrossed, read the third time by sections and put upon its passage.
The motion for a dispensation of the Constitutional restriction was agreed to by ayes, 88; nays, 5. The bill was read the second time by title only, considered engrossed, read the third tim.e by sections, and the question being "Shall the bill pass? "
The House took a recess till 2 o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The bill [H. R. 150] was passed by aye,. 96; nays, 1.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS,
Mr. WILLIAMS, of Knox, offered a resolution that the Judiciary Committee be directed to ascertain and to report to this House on or before Friday next, what if any proposed Constitutional amendments were agreed to by the two Houses of the Fifty second General Assembly, and properly referred to this, the Fifty-third General Assembly.
Mr. FRAZIER moved ineffectually to lay the resolution on the table-ayes, 38; yeas, 56.
Mr. HUSTON moved a substitute to the original resolution, which substitute, on motion of Mr. HEFFREN, was laid upon the table-ayes, 56; noes, 39.
Mr. HEFFREN moved tho previous question upon the original resolution, which was seconded by the House-yeas, 59; nays, 38-and under its operations the resolution was adopted-yeas, 56; nays, 38.
Mr. WILSON, from the Committee on Benevolent Institutions, reported back bill [H. R. 42], and ask that the same lie on the table, and that page: 53[View Page 53] 200 copies be printed for the use of the House. The report was concurred in.
A BANKRUPT LAW.
The joint resolution [S. 4] instructing our Senator and requesting our Representative to oppose the general bankrupt law now pending in Congress was taken from the speaker's table and read, whereupon Mr. HEFFREN moved an amendment which was adopted, to strike out the word "prove" and insert the word "oppose."
Mr. JEWETT said: As a member of this House I think that resolution ought not to be adopted. I am certain that the commercial interest of this country has increased of late under a thorough bankrupt law, and such a law tends as much as anything else in my judgment, to bring about great commercial prosperity. Now, I will say to the gentlemen of this House who are not engaged in the practice of law that I have paid some little attention tot he law, and I find that the law now before Congress radically differs from the cumbrous laws formerly in force.
Mr. SMITH, of Tippecanoe, said we have thirteen Representatives and two Senators in Congress from this State. I think it is not wise in us to attempt to instruct our Representatives. I think we ought to waive this matter for the present and let this resolution go to the table.
Mr. FRAZIER: I can not add anything to what has been already said by the gentlemen from Washington [Mr. Heffren] and from Tippecanoe [Mr. Smith], but I give my hearty concurrence to what they have said on this subject.
Mr. ADAMS: I think that the commercial interests of our country demand, and always have demanded, some kind of bankrupt law, and I am opposed to the resolution. Because we have had some bankrupt laws that were ineffectual is no reason why we should not have a good bankrupt law.
Mr. PATTEN: I think a general bankrupt law will be proper and right. It protects the debtor class. I think we ought to have a bankrupt law that will protect the general interest of the country.
Mr. MONTGOMERY: My constituency are in favor of a bankrupt law, and I do hope this resolution will not be adopted.
Mr. MOCK: I am opposed to a bankrupt law and in favor of the resolution.
Mr. GORDON: In the history of the country we have had three bankrupt laws, and they have all been repealed because they have proved unprofitable experiments. The gentlemen on the other side of this question are not able to tell us that the law now before Congress is anything but an experiment. The sentiments of the people of the State of Indiana are overwhelmingly in favor of no bankrupt law, and I believe that the resolution ought to prevail.
Mr. WILSON, of Marion: I do not know of any law to-day under which an unfortunate debtor can be relieved from his embarrassments so as to start again in life. I am backed up by the best lawyers when I say that the bankrupt law is a humane law. It gives a man an opportunity to start anew. We know that the bills pending in Congress have been submitted to the best legal talent in the East and West, and if there is any thing in experience this bill ought to pass. I believe that the business men of New York and Boston and other Eastern cities have petitioned Congress for the passage of this law.
Mr. SHOCKNEY-I think the State of Indiana is as ably represented in Congress as any State in the Union, and I am in favor of letting our Representatives exercise their judgment in this matter.
Mr. DEEM said, I shall record my vote in favor of this resolution.
Pending the discussion on the resolution the House adjourned until 10 a.m. to-morrow.
