HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
FRIDAY, Jan. 16 - 10 a.m.The SPEAKER in the Chair:
The house was opened with prayer by the Rev. David Knickerbocker, Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Indiana.
The reading of the Journal was dispensed with.
Mr. LOYD offered a concurrent resolution, which was adopted, instructing Indiana Senators and requesting her Representatives to use their influence to repeal so much of the United States law requiring applicants to prove soundness at the time of enlistment.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following described bills were introduced, read the first time and severally referred to appropriate committees:
By Mr. FRENCH [H. R. 106] to amend the common school law.
By Mr. ELEY [H. R. 107] proposes an amendment to the fee and salary law fixing the fees of Coroners for the first day's inquest at 46; for each additional day, $2 50, for mileage, ten cents for each mile. He is allowed a clerk, who shall receive $2 a day while employed.
By Mr. HAYDEN [H. R. 108] authorizing Councils of cities to enforce ordinance and requiring contractors to receipt estimates on records, etc.
By Mr. HAYDEN [H. R. 109] supplemental to an act in relation to laying out of streets, etc.
By Mr. BROOKS [H. R. 110] requiring notice to municipal corporations by persons receiving injuries on account of negligence of such corporation.
By Mr. BROOKS [H. R. 111] to amend Section 22 of an act fixing certain fees to be taxed in the offices and the salaries of the officers therein named, providing for certain employes, etc.
By Mr. McHENRY [H.R. 112] to amend sections 3,4,5,6 and 7 of an act providing for the running at large of stock.
By Mr. REEVES [H. R. 113] providing that railroad corporations organized under special charter may acquire real estate, etc.
By Mr. REEVES [H. R. 114] to amend section 471 of an act concerning proceedings in certain civil cases, approved April 7, 1881.
By Mr. DONHORST [H. R. 115] to amend section 8 of an act to amend an act providing for a general system of common schools.
By Mr. MOCK, of Wells [H. R. 116], requiring a widow to take under the will of her deceased husband, unless she elects to take under the law.
By Mr. MOCK of Wells [H. R. 117], concerning gravel and macadamized roads.
By Mr. BROWNING [H. R. 118] to amend Section 1,606 Revised Statues, 1881, requiring bond, etc., for cost.
By Mr. BARNES [H. R. 119] in relation to the removal of obstructions from public high ways, etc.
By Mr. BARNES [H. R. 120] prohibiting the publication or sale of immoral literature.
By Mr. STALEY [H. R. 121] amending the act providing for the holding of teachers institutes and their attendance, etc.
By Mr. STALEY [H. R. 122] to protect the people of Indiana in the sale of poisons, etc. Similar to the bill [S. 110].
By Mr. TAYLOR [H. R. 123] to amend Section 2 of an act amending 2,3,4,5,6,7 8 and 10 of an act concerning drainage.
page: 59[View Page 59]By Mr. TAYLOR [H. R. 124] to amend Section 59 of an act entitled "An act concerning proceedings in civil cases, approved April 7, 1881"
By Mr. McMULLEN [H. R. 125] to amend Section 13 of an act concerning taxation, approved March 29, 1881.
By Mr. McMULLEN [H. R. 126] supplemental to an act for the organization and regulation of the Indiana militia.
Then came a recess for dinner,
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr. McMULLEN, from the Committee on Ways and Means, the bill [H. R. -] in regard to increasing the bond of the Treasurer of State, with a recommendation that the bill be amended so as to increase the bond $1,000,000.
Mr. TAYLOR moved that the further consideration of this subject be postponed until next Thursday, at 2 p.m.
Mr. WILLIAMS demanded the previous question, which was seconded, and under its operations the motion was agreed to.
Mr. FLOYD introduced a concurrent resolution for the appointment of a joint committee to consist of four Representatives and two Senators, to report a fee and salary bill for the officers of the various counties of this State.
On motion of Mr. ROBERTSON, it was laid on the table.
SCHUYLER COLFAX - IN MEMORIAM.
Mr. HANLON offered the following:
"Saturday, January 17 being fixed as the time of the funeral ceremonies of the late Hon. Schuyler Colfax, ex-Vice President of the United States;therefore, in honor of the distinguished dead, be it
'Resolved, That when this House adjourn this afternoon, it be until 10 o'clock Monday morning"
Mr. GOODING said: I wish to inquire where Mr. Colfax will be buried. (He is informed by the Chair that Mr. Colfax will be buried at South Bend.) I can see no reason why this House should adjourn. it costs this State a thousand dollars a day to run it. We have already adjourned in honor the death of Schuyler Colfax. I shall oppose the motion for the reason that it will not add anything to the honor of Schuyler Colfax, and it will cost the people of the State unnecessarily at least $500, and I move to amend the resolution by providing that when the House adjourns at 12 o'clock Monday.
The SPEAKER: The House can not say to-day when the House shall adjourn to-morrow
Mr. SAYRE: I have heard several times these statements how much it cost to run this House, as though it cost any more to run it when it was not in session that when it when it was not in session than when it was. It costs just as much whether this House is in session or not in session. The pay of members and employes goes on just the same. It seems to me that ought not to be regarded this House. I hear no objection when members want to be excused, and nine times out of ten it is to go home to attend to their own private business. Members have been excused and leave anyway, and it seems to me as an additional mark of respect to the memory of Schuyler Colfax this resolution ought to be adopted.
Mr. TAYLOR: I shall certainly favor the motion. I think it would be quite appropriate for this House to adjourn in honor of Mr. Colfax's memory. The Congress of the United States has deemed it proper to adjourn. So far as personal feeling is concerned, it shoudl have nothing to do with it. I differed from him politically, but he is on of Indiana' most distinguished sons. There is nothing to be lost by paying this tribute to his memory. I differ from the gentleman from Hancock (Mr. Gooding) when he says the memory of Schuyler Colfax will not be made more illustrions. I think we will do honor ourselves and to Schuyler Colfax by adjourning. As I said, he is one of our most distinguished citizens - or hs been. It is nothing more than right and proper that we adjourn in honor to his memory. in the event of the death of Hon Thomas A. Hendricks, whome I believe has been twice elected Vice President of the United States, would we doubt for a moment the propriety of adjourning? I think it is necessary to pay this tribute to his memory, and i hope we may pay the honor due to the distinguished dead.
Mr. BROWNING: I think it is due to ourselves that we take the course suggested by our friend from Daviess [Mr Taylor]. I think it is proper as long as the Congress of the United States has adjourned that we shall adjourn in honor of the memory of Schuyler Colfax, and if it was simply a motion to adjourn over until 10 o'clock Monday I should favor the motion, and why? Because leaves of absence have been granted to ten or twelve members. And my experience in legislation is that when these members come back next Monday or Tuesday they will take up as much time asking for an explanation of what we have done in their absence as if we adjourned over until Tuesday.
Mr. GOODING: I have not opposed paying due respect to Schuyler Colfax. As I remarked in the first place, this House has once adjourned in honor to Schuyler Colfax. I am actuated, sir, by no person motives. I was personally acquainted with Schuyler Colfax, and our relations were friendly and cordial. It is out of no personal matter that I am opposed to adjourning this House, but this House has been adjourned from time to time on different excuses, and now this is simply an excuse to adjourn over until Monday. It is said some members have been excused, but business will go on the same. That is no reason for adjourning. It is said the Congress of the United States has adjourned. It can page: 60[View Page 60] adjourn on almost any occasion. They have more than sixty days to transact business. They can adjourn over from time to time until the business is transacted. We are limited to sixy days time. Every day we are in session the sooner we can get through with the business and adjourn. I am going upon the theory that we will adjourn whether the sixty days are up or not as soon as we get through the business before us.
The resolution was adopted.
NEW PROPOSITIONS.
The following described bills were introduced, read the first time and severally referred to appropriate committees:
By Mr. MOSIER [H. R. 127] to amend an act concerning proceedings in criminal cases.
By Mr. HANLON (for Speaker Jewett) [H. R. 128] to amend Sections 196, 206, 262 and 263 of an act entitled an "Act concerning proceedings in criminal cases, approved April 19, 1881," [Puts changes of venue in capital cases on the same footing as other felonies, and make the continuance of criminal causes a matter of discretion with the trial judge. It limits the verdict of the jury to the question of guilt, leaving the punishment with the court.]
By Mr. HARRELL [H. R. 129] to amend Section 3 of an act appointment short hand reporters, prescribing their duties, etc.
By Mr. TWINEHAM [H. R. 129] to legalize the incorporation of the town of Owensville, Gibson County, Indiana.
By Mr. HOLMES [H. R. 131] to amend Section 1 of an act amending Section 3 of an act regulating weights and measures.
By Mr. HOLMES [H. R. 132] prescribing the powers and duties of coroners.
And then House adjourned.
