THE
BREVIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTS
VOLUME TWENTY-TWO
INDIANA LEGISLATURE
IN SENATE.
SATURDAY, Feb. 21, 1885 - 10 a.m.Mr. BENZ introduced a bill [S. 329] to amend an act concerning the behavior and time of convicts in the State Prisons.
A $600,000 LOAN.
On motion of Mr. MAGEE the House amendment to the Temporary Loan bill [S. 196 - see page 131] adding the words "the interest shall be paid semi-annually out of the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated" was concurred in.
SILVER DOLLAES DOLLARS .
Mr. ERNEST offered a concurrent resolution, which was adopted, instructing Senators and requesting Indiana Congressmen to oppose any financial measure having for its object the stoppage of the coinage of silver dollars.
A GRAVEL ROAD IN PARKE COUNTY.
On Motion by Mr. LINDLEY the constitutional restriction was dispensed with by a yes and nay vote, and his bill [S. 294] to legalize the construction of a free gravel road in Parke County was read the second time by title, the third time by sections and passed by yeas 38, nays 0.
Mr. LINDLEY explained: It is purely local, affecting only a certain portion of Parke County, and there can be no question about the justice of the measure. It affects no litigation now pending, and will, in fact, prevent any litigation.
SCHOOL FUND INTEREST.
Mr. HUSTON's bill [S. 29 - see pages 136 and 164] coming up on the second reading with a pending amendment proposing to make the rate of interest 7 per cent -
Mr. OVERSTREET: The bill ought not to pass without this amendment. Under the Constitution no more than 6 per cent. can be collected from any counties that may lend at 6. Upon principle I think 7 per cent. is a fair rate. There are expenses incident upon making these loans that make it cost at least 1 per cent. more. If the people are relieved from this higher rate of interest it can be supplied by the entire State. To harmonize all feelings in this matter we ought to fix the rate at 7 per cent. as this amendment proposes.
Mr. BROWN: The practical effect of this bill will be to loan the school fund at 6 per cent. With the rate at 7, as proposed by the amendment, the bill will have the effect of loaning the entire school fund; and this would be a relief to a great many counties.
Mr. MAGEE: The object of the constitutional provision is to make this a permanent and certain fund. If it be loaned in Wayne County at 8 and in Cass County at 6, we in Cass County would have to make up this difference of 2 per cent.
Mr. JOHNSON, of Tippecanoe: Seventy counties can loan the entire fund at 8 per cent. Only eleven counties recommend the reduction to 7 per cent., and ten to 6 per cent. This amendment would reduce the school fund interest fully 12½ per cent., and the result would be we must cut down the terms of schools or reduce the salaries of teachers, either of which attempt would be a crime against the children now in this State and those yet unborn. Do not cripple the income which sustains the Common Schools. The Democratic party should bear in mind that it is charged with assailing the system of Common Schools. I am here to enter a solemn protest against doing so.
page: 232[View Page 232]Mr. McINTOSH: The committee had this bill under advisement at two meetings. I am opposed to the amendment and to the bill because it cuts the rate of interest down from 8 to 6 per cent. There is but one section that fixes the rate of interest on the school fund, and that is the very section this bill would amend if it passes. Then there would be no law to hold the counties for 8 per cent.
Mr. WEIR would oppose the bill if it will reduce the rate of interest to 6 per cent.
The 7 per cent. amendment was rejected by yeas 16, nays 20.
Mr. YOUCHE moved to amend by providing that the several counties shall be held liable to pay the amount of interest as required under Section 4,226 of the Revised Statutes of 1881.
Mr. OVERSTREET: If the rate is fixed at 8 in this bill where it can be loaned at that and in others at 6, the 8 per cent. rate could not be enforced under the Constitution.
Mr. SELLERS also thought this amendment would render the law unconstitutional. The bill and the amendment ought both to disposed of in a summary manner.
Mr. WEIR: I do not think that county officers will loan this fund for any lower rate of interest than can be obtained.
On motion by Mr. SELLERS the bill and amendments were laid on the table by yeas 25, nays 11.
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
A report from the Judiciary Commiteee Committee Mr. Schloss' bill [S. 39] unconstitutional -
Mr. SCHLOSS: As the Normal School will be without money for tuition purposes I will introduce a bill as a substitute for bill 39.
It was read and referred to a select committee of five, numbered S. 330.
THE INDIAN PROBLEM.
Mr. ADIKISON obtained consent to introduce a concurrent resolution requesting Senators and Representatives in Congress to aid in the passage of measures pledging the faith of the Nation to a policy looking to the education of Indians and their voluntary citizenship; - as follows:
Whereas, Believing that the education of Indians and their voluntary citizenship in the United States will most justly, quickly, and economically solve the Indian problem; therefore
Resolved, By the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, That our Senators and Representatives in Congress be and they are hereby requested to aid in the passage of measures solemnly pledging the faith of the Nation to the Indian policy embodied in the following principles:
1. That the unpaid sum pledged for educational purposes by the Government as part payment for the cession of lands by Indians, be appropriated for the purpose of stock, farming implements, tools, etc., for Indian manual-labor schools.
2. That so much of the net proceeds of the sale of Indian lands as may be necessary shall be set apart for the purpose of creating a permanent fund for the education of Indians.
3. That lands in severalty, making their titles inalienable for twenty five years, and United States citizenship may be granted at once to all Indians who so desire.
4. That the legal personality of all Indians may be granted, and that protection of law may be given them, as it is to all other races within these United States.
5. That the civilization of Indians may be hastened by providing for and rewarding their civilized industries.
6. That the salaries of Indian Agents be increased sufficiently to secure good men of large capacity and business experience, and to retain them in service.
It was referred to the Committee on Federal Relations.
Mr. CAMPBELL, of Hendricks: I have been requested by a number of excellent Christian women to present the same resolutions, and had determined to do so in the regular order of business at the first opportunity. My failure to offer them was not on account of any want of respect for the women who asked me to present them, although I have but little faith in of the experiment to educate Indians.
BILLS PASSED THE SENATE.
On motion by Mr. SELLERS the constitutional rule was dispensed with and his bill [S. 71] to legalize the conveyance of real estate by cities was read the second time by title, the third time by sections and passed by yeas 34, nays 0. Mr. S. stating that it would affect only the city of Lafayette.
On motion by Mr. HILLIGAS the bill [H. R. 247] to appropriate $25,901.02 to pay the indebtedness of the State to William B Burford for printing, binding and stationary, was passed to the final reading, under a suspension of the rules, and passed by yeas 35, nays 0.
On motion by Mr. SMITH, of Jennings, his bill [S. 257] concerning contracts for improvement of streets and alleys in cities, was read the third time and passed by yeas 35, nays 0.
On motion by Mr. BROWN his bill [S. 21] to amend Sections 1, 6 and 20 of the Supervisors' Act of March 2, 1883, fixing the price for teams working on the roads, etc., was read the third time and passed by yeas 34, nays 0.
On motion by Mr. BRYANT his bill [S. 162] to amend Sections 1 and 4 of the act of March 7, 1883, establishing a State Board of Health, was taken up, but before it was read -
The Senate adjourned.
THE STATE TREASURE.
[Omitted from first column, page 151.]
The Senate having under consideration the majority and minority reports of the joint committee appointed to inquire as to whether an investigation of the State Treasury is necessary -
Mr. SMITH, of Jennings, concluding his speech, said: No evidence was taken by the committee upon any of the pretended facts stated in the minority report. It stands unsupported by the proof of a single fact, and page: 233[View Page 233] the minority have refused to defend it. They can not and dare not give their authority for any of the facts stated. It is bottomed upon rumor and unworthy suspicion, and grows out of personal difficulties with the Treasurer of State. They are but the deductions of unworthy newspaper scriblers scribblers , whose only ambition is sensational notoriety. The authors of these unfounded rumors are as silent as the dull stones of the forest, and no one will ever justify the facts stated or reveal the character of the author. From what source does these charges come? Who is the witness who has thus borne testimony? Eye hath not seen his hideous form; ear hath not heard his lying voice; he has not been unmasked to the public gaze, nor has he written his name in the book of public accusation; but from the filth and the grease of the gutter, the puny head of this vile calumniated arises, smoking with the fumes of hate, and through the channels of vague suspicion and dishonorable rumor, he breathes his malicious poison into the ears of the people of Indiana.
If fair play had been desired, and honest dealing had been intended, why is the minority report silent upon the author of the facts stated? If shame for the company they have been keeping has not admonished the minority to silence, why have they not placed before the public the authority for the charges contained in their report? But since silence has cast the mantle of protection about the head of the unworthy author of this political libel, it may not be improper if I should say that the ex Governor of Indiana, from the beginning of this investigation, shadowed the minority like the ghost of an ill-omen, and with his cold and designing nature guided its every action and inspired its every motive. From the lofty position of Governor of Indiana, he descended to the common level and vulgar plane of the lobbyist, that he might accomplish, through other means and by indirection, what he failed to do in an open and honorable contest. The minority report is as much work as if he had penned it. The hand is the hand of Esau, but the voice is the voice of Jacob.
The minority report should be rejected, and in dishonor and disgrace it should be consigned to the depths of an everlasting oblivion.
