HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SATURDAY, March 21, 1885 - 9 a. m.PROTECTION OF LABORERS.
Mr. MOCK, from the Committee on Rights and Privileges, reported back the bill [H. R. 541] to protect laborers in their pay, with a recommendation that the same be indefinitely postponed.
On motion of Mr. KLAAS the report was laid on the table, and the bill was passed to the second reading.
BREVIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTS.
Mr. SCHLEY, from the majority of the Committee on Printing, reported back the Senate resolution to authorize the Brevier Legislative Reports for this Assembly.
Mr. MOSIER submitted a minority report recoommending recommending indefinite postponement.
Mr. SMITH, of Tippecanoe, moved to recommit the bill to a committee of three to report at any early day.
The SPEAKER hoped that the motion to postpone would prevail. He said that these reports were curtailed to a great extent - began at the middle and ended at neither end. The Senate proceedings were more complete, which gave out the impression that the Senate did better work than the House.
Mr. McMULLEN was of the opinion that the Reports are not worth the price asked.
Mr. LOYD: The reason I oppose this measure is I do not propose the people shall pay for these books that the members may have them for electioneering purposes.
The motion to recommit was rejected, and the motion to concur in the minority report was agreed to.
APPORTIONMENT MAP.
Mr. BUTZ offered a resolution that 500 copies of the apportionment map be purchased and distributed among the members of the House.
Mr. GOODING: It is not right that the people's money should be taken for this. The members should buy copies for themselves if they need them. I move to postpone the resolution.
Mr. PATTEN: Mr. Burford, who is printing these maps, has taken the trouble to set out the vote in each district. The maps are very correct.
Mr. MOODY: While this is a very useful map, it is a good deal like the hand book of politics - a man should buy it if he desire it.
The motion to indefinitely postpone the resolution was agreed to by yeas 47, nays 30.
Pending the roll-call -
Mr. CORY, explainig explaining his vote, said that the maps were needed, and he was not afraid to vote against the motion to postpone.
Mr. HARRELL, in explanation: Believed that there would be means of the people learning without making this purchase.
Mr. GOODING, when his name was called, said: The press of Indianapolis has already fully published this apportionment bill, and this would be a waste of money: I vote "aye."
Mr. OVERMAN, in explanation of his vote, said: Our county has never had a Democratic representative, and as there are several who want to make the race, I want page: 78[View Page 78]them to know the boundaries, and I vote "no."
Mr. REEVES, when his name was called, said: This idea of disseminating knowledge over all of Indiana with 500 copies is a humbug. I vote "aye."
Mr. ROBINSON, in explaining his vote, said: For the reason that the Greenback party is intelligent and needs no maps I vote "aye."
Mr. SMITH, of Perry, when his name was called, said: As this is a question of whether the members here shall spend their own money or some one else's, I vote "aye."
Mr. STALEY, in explanation of his vote, said: For myself I do not care to see this map, neither do the people of the Ninth District, so I vote "aye."
The SPEAKER, when called upon to vote, said: For the reason that there is a good deal of interest in this apportionment, and for the reason that the people at home are abusing him like a pickpocket, under a misapprehension of boundaries, he favored the resolution.
The vote was then announced as above.
So the motion to indefinitely postpone was agreed to.
PROSECUTORS' FEES.
Mr. Robinson's bill [H. R. 377] to abolish fees for Prosecuting Attorneys where, in minor cases, the defendant pleads guilty, having been called back from the Senate -
Mr. ROBINSON moved to recommit the bill with amendment.
The motion to recommit was rejected - yeas, 36; nays, 51
Pending the roll-call -
Mr. GOODING, when his name was called, said: I voted for this bill when it passed the House under the belief that it was proper and just. The amendment now proposed is that neither the Prosecuting Attorney nor his deputy shall have fees unless they render some service in the case. If a Prosecuting Attorney renders no service he should have no fee.
The SPEAKER Pro Tem (Mr. Gordon in the chair): The gentleman is making a speech, and will take his seat until permitted to proceed by the House.
Mr. GOODING: Has that been the practice here? I suppose the Prosecuting Attorneys are here -
The SPEAKER pro tem.: It is the rule.
Mr GOODING: Then this ruling will come home to roost. I shall see that it is enforced. I vote "aye."
Mr. PATTEN, when his name was called, said: I voted for the bill when it was up here before. I think it is right to recommit the bill that it may be corrected.
The SPEAKER: The gentleman is out of order. He is making a speech and not explaining his vote.
Mr. GOODING: I insist that the rule be enforced, and that the gentleman sit down.
Mr. PATTEN: I will vote differently from the way I did before, and explain why. I think the amendment will materially help the bill, so I vote "aye" to recommit.
Mr. ROBINSON, in explaining his vote, said: At the time the bill was up before I thought that some members were not serious. Now I know it.
Mr BEST made a point of order that the use of this language is unparliamentary.
The SPEAKER: The language is unparliamentary, but I think the gentleman does not mean exactly what he says.
Mr. SEARS, when his name was called, said: The gentleman from Clay, Putnam, and Hendricks seems to doubt the sincerity of those who voted to have this bill returned. I made the motion to recall it, and I did it that the bill may be killed. I am willing to bear the responsibility of this. The best thing to do with the bill is to kill it quick.
The vote was then announced as above.
So the motion to recommit was rejected.
THE APPROPRIATI0N BILL.
The regular order being now reached for bills on the the third reading -
Mr. PATTEN called up the bill [H. R. 479] making general appropriations.
On his further motion the House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole (Mr. Adams in the Chair) for the consideration of the bill.
The question being upon an amendment by Mr. GOODING to an amendment by Mr. SAYRE concerning the removal of officers of the Knightstown Institute -
Mr. LOYD said: As the bill concerning the Knightown Knightstown Institute has passed, I think the amendments unnecessary.
Mr. GOODING withdrew his amendment to the amendment, and on his motion the latter was rejected.
Mr. LOYD offered an amendment that the item for repairs at the Knightstown Institute be $3 300 instead of $2 000.
The amendment was rejected.
PURDUE 
UNIVERSITY.
Mr. GORDON moved an amendment to strike out the item giving $24,000 to Purdue University.
He said: I move to strike this out and leave it blank, so that it may be filled by a
smaller sum. If there is one single good reason why the appropriation for Purdue should be
increased, I would like to know it. There has been a standing together here for legislative
log-rolling.
Mr. BARNEY: This standing together of rival State institutions is good for them, but death on the taxpayer.
Mr. FRENCH: The gentleman from Putnam (Mr. Gordon) should be generous enough to say what
there should be, if too large. It may be that by cutting off these State institutions, that
sectarian institution will be helped. There has been a question raised that Purdue
University is not a State institution. If so, this appropriation should not be given. But
the history of Purdue show it to be a State institution. Two years ago President White
wanted $25,000 from the State, and when this was refused, he resigned
page: 79[View Page 79]and turned it over to the State. Professor James H. Smart was
then chosen President. It is not strange that upon the growth of the institution that more
money should he asked.
Mr. LOOP: I firmly believe that if all these members had visited Purdue , and had seen the
progress there, they would not object to this item. I was prejudiced against the
institution before I visited it, but soon changed my opinion.
Mr. FRANKLIN: We need the sciences as taught at Purdue University. The science of farming
is successful at this day. Machinery has so been applied to agricultural pursuits that men
should know the underlying principles. We need schools to discover these principles. Purdue
University does that to a certain extent. The members on the floor should see to it that
these institutions are protected.
Mr. LOYD: The point has been made that Purdue University is a State institution, not
whether Bloomington is a State institution or not, but from Ripley County the idea looks to
us that to pay these large sums for the education of the small number of students that
annually
atttend
attend
these institutions is not just. Fifty counties are not represented in these State
institutions and it is unjust that all the counttes should be taxed for the support of
these institutions. Until I see the time that the industrious people of Ripley County, who
are always able to pay their taxes and send all their children to the common schools -
until I see the time that children all have sufficient clothing through a long winter like
this - I am not in favor of supporting these supposed State institutions. It is not worthy
of men to come here in the garb of protecting education and ask for money for these
institutions under the plea that tuition is free. If these institutions can not live
without these large sums let them die, and the sooner the better. Suppose, to put it at the
best, that every county in the state is represented by the few pupils in these
institutions, are the colleges then worth the sums they cost? It is a popular idea to
foster these institutions under the garb of upholding education. It is time to throw away
such tactics.
On motion of Mr. COPELAND the committee arose, the Chairman reported progress, and asked leave for the Committee of the Whole to sit again at 2 o'clock.
The report was concurred in by the House -
And then came recess for dinner.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. REEVES moved that when the Committee of the Whole rise this evening the House stand adjourned until 10 o'clock Monday morning.
Mr. SEARS made an ineffectual motion to amend by making the hour 2 o'clock Monday.
The original motion was agreed to.
THE SUPREME COURT.
Mr. KELLISON asked and obtained leave to have his joint resolution [H. R. 2] to amend the Constitution relative to the Supreme Court read the second time, and on his further motion the joint resolution was ordered engrossed.
THE APPROPRIATION BILL.
On motion of Mr. REEVES the House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole (Mr. Adams in the chair) for the further consideration of the bill [H. R. 479] making general appropriations for the State.
Mr. McHENRY: The Committee on Education visited the State institution
and found them in good working order. For one, I am not in sympathy with the spirit to
check these institutions until every child in other counties may be provided with text
books or shoes by the State. These institutions 0f the State are free from religious bias.
They are in accord with the Jeffersoian idea. As friends of mechanical art we can not
afford to withhold our help, though we have the power, from these institutions. We know the
management of Purdue University is composed of men in whom we all have confidence. If we
can not support it properly, let us go at its throat and kill it at once. I, for one, am in
favor of liberal donations.
Mr. GOODING: The Government of the United States and the State of Indiana have entered
into a compact to support Purdue University. The State's honor is pledged to the United
States that Purdue shall be sustained. However I might wish to economize, the fact is I
feel that we cannot afford to break that good faith. Fidelity and good faith with the
United States forbid it. Refer to the act of Congress and you will see that I am correct. I
will not presume to think that any member here will think of breaking this faith. The only
question is, how much money is necessary to carry out this obligation? As a State we can
not afford to sully our honor by breaking our obligation. It is not a question whether we
shall sustain Purdue . We are bound in honor to do that. The only question is, is this much
money needed? In Indiana, the great agricultural State of Indiana, the farmers have no
other institution. The mechanics have no other college. It is the only institution for
them. While we are voting large sums for other institutions is there a man on this floor
who says there is to be no institution for the farmer or mechanic? There is not a member on
this floor dare oppose it and then vote to donate only to institutions to educate lawyers
and gentlemen of leisure and
pleesure
pleasure
. Probably some may call this humbug; if so, God give us more humbug. Let us have
colleges for workingmen as well as Latin and Greek to turn out lawyers and doctors with.
When you teach a young man in theology you make one to teach others. So
page: 80[View Page 80]in teaching farmers and mechanics. I am for economy, but I do not
believe in straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel. Let us keep faith with the General
Government
Mr. PATTEN: It delights me to hear that horny-handed farmer of Hancock (Mr. Gooding) here speaking for the farmer. He is here preaching economy and voting against it.
Mr. STALEY: I call the gentleman to order.
Mr. PATTEN: There is another geraniun who speaks for economy and votes against it. Here
is the gentleman from Hancock speaking for the people. The Government of the United States,
had it known what disposition would have been made of its allowance in this direction,
would never have made it. This is simply class legislation - this proposition to educate at
Purdue . Very few farmers' sons have been educated there. Three from my county have gone
there. None of them were farmers' sons and none of them are farmers. President Smart says
the mechanical shop is not half large enough, and he wants a new one. Farther, the farm
should have more stock; a new carpet is wanted; the library is not adequate, and thousands
of dollars are wanted for it. Here I hold the tenth annual register of the institution. I
want to call attention to the buildings Here is shown where $4,000 was paid for stock, and
yet these gentlemen want further appropriations to buy some blooded stock. I will read
further items of expense. [Reads] The enormous amount of $148,500 has been paid to Purdue
University besides what it receives from its endowment fund, which pays 5 per cant. The
State has already given Purdue $7 000 for stock, and they want more to experiment with. Is
this what is to be done with the farmer's hard-earned moneys? I suppose that it is an open
secret that these Professors there have been down with a microscope examining which end of
the crawfish is the front end. [Laughter.] They also have prepared treaties on the clinch
bug. President Smart knows no more of farming than my nine year old boy, and not as much.
He is a school teacher. All this argument here is made by those who undertake to ingratiate
themselves in the good graces of the farmers. No one ever heard of a farmer being benefited
by Purdue University. The farm boy knows much more from experience than any one about the
colleges.
On motion of Mr. REEVES the committee arose, and the Chairman reported progress and asked leave to sit again.
The House concurred in the report of the Committee of the Whole.
And then, pursuant to an order adopted this afternoon -
The House adjourned till Monday owning at 10 o'clock.
