Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1879 — INDIANA LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LEGISLATURE.

Monday, Jau. 13 —Senate.—Bills were introduced as follows: Providing for introduction as evidence of patents issued by the Governor on swamp Jands; regulating the government of State prisons; providing for liability of married women on their contracts as merchants, and liens on their real estate for improvements; providing for loan of school fund at 6 per cent; authorizing guardians to settle estates of .deceased wards; to provide for voluntary assignments; to divide the State into Congressional districts; for regulation of fees and salaries of county officers; authorizing cities to charge a fee for the sale of liquor; to regulate the practice of medicine, and providing for the appointment of examiners in each county; authorizing the establishment of county workhouses, and authorizing the employment of prisoners on public highways. House.—The following bills were introduced : Abolishing the office of County Superintendent; changing highways ; apportioning the State; enabling Clinton ebunty to hold certain lands bought at Sheriff’s sale; creating new judicial circuit; declaring agreement to pay attorneys’ fees in notes void; regulating the annexation of contiguous tenitory to towns and cities; amending the law creating the Board of County Commissioners; regulating the issuing of orders on County Treasurers; codifying all laws relating ' to highway, road taxes, etc... .The contested-! election eases from the counties of Miami, Mon- | roe and Blackford were referred to the Committee on Elections. Tuesday, Jan. 14.—Senate.—The Governor’s message was considered in committee of the whole, and appropriately referred... .Bills were introduced : Denning libel and describing the punishment therefor; allowing Judges of i the Supreme Court to appoint clerks; organiz- ' ing an asylum for feeble-minded children; : regulating the working of coal mines ; allowing ; aliens to acquire property by devise or de- : scent; amending various sections of the i code; to secure more efficient work ' and i material in the execution of contracts lor public improvements; abolishing the , office of City Assessor; establishing Probate | Courts; repealing the Savings Bank law; eon- | corning the liabilities of married women; to : suppress tippling-houses; reducing salaries of i Circuit Judges to $1,500; to prevent grave-rob- ; bing; to prevent the clouding of titles to land. . ... .The special order being the consideration I of constitutional amendments, they wore read a i first time and a further consideration postponed 1 until to-morrow. House.—The Auditor of the State was re- i quired to report the expenses of benevolent j institutions for the past four years... .A joint , resolution was adopted instructing Indiana ; members of Cangress to vote for a bill to put certain drugs on the free list... .Bills were introduced: To tax the property of telegraph companies; creating a board of pardons; regulating appeals to the Supreme Court; defining contempts of court: limiting time of action against sureties to three years; giving county boards p< wer to grant the privilege of carrying concealed weapons; regulating inquests of insanity; regulating the sale of bonds of cities and towns for the purpose of building school-houses; rendering any resident of a city or incorporated town eligible to the office of Township Trustee; providing for the ■ election of three Special Judges; regulating i contested elections; regulating the election of j officers of the benevolent institutions; estab-I lishing judicial circuits and abolishing the | office of County Commissioners; defining the I duties of Coroner, and giving married women the same rights as unmarried women in certain ; eases. !

STANDING COMMITTEES. The standing committees of the Senate are as follows: On Elections—Messfs. Reiley. Wilson, Viehe, Heilman. Burrell, Taylor and Coffey. On Finance—Messrs. Winterbothaiu. Straight. Vrmston. Cadwallader, Kramer Davis and Woollen. On Judiciary Messrs. Reeve, Harris, Vehie. Grubbs, Burrell. Comstock and Kent?* On Organization of Courts Messrs. Viehe. Grubbs, Coffey, Langdon. Menzies, Wilson and Wood. On Education—Messrs. Sarnighausen, Langdon. Woollen. Olds. Tarlton, Treat and Fowler. On Corporations—Messrs. Kent, Moore, Hefron. Langdon. Menzies. Dice and Wood. On Hoads—Messrs. Peterson. Weir. Donhani. Majors, Taylor, Tarlton and Truster. On Benevolent and Reformatory Institutions — Messrs. ’ Fowler, Cadwallader. Woollen, Shirk, Viehe. Streightand Tarlton. On Agriculture—Messrs. Tarlton. Majors, Peter son. Weir. Hart. Poindexter anil Davis. On Banks—Messrs. Leeper, Cadwallader, Burrell. Heilman. Coffey. Davennort and Reeve. On Public Printing—Messrs. Foster, Mercer. Reiley, Garrigus. Traylor. Shaffer and Briscoe. On Public Buildings and Library—Messrs. Woo] len, Streight, Leeper, Kahos, Menzies, Garrigus and Tarlton. On State Prisons—Messrs. Hefron. Kahlen,Foster. Davenport, Briscoe. Shaffer and Benz. On Canals, Internal Improvements and S-.vamp Lands—Messrs. Davis, Garrigus, Reeve, Langdon. Kent and Trustee. On Fees and Salaries—Messrs. Briscoe, Smith. Sarnighausen, Dice, Reeve. Ragan and Urmston. On Claims and Expenditures—Messrs. Russell. Wilson, Kramer, Davis, Hart, Poindexter and Hes ron.

On Military Affairs—Messrs. Traylor, Moore, Menzies, Olds, Foster. Shaffer and Urmstou. On Phraseology, Arrangement. Enrollment of Bills, and Unfinished Business—Messrs. Coffey. Dice, Viehe, Moore, Foster, Grubbs and Reeve. On Federal Relations, Rights and Privileges of the Inhabitants of the State—Messrs. Donliam, Mercer, Winterbotham. Shirk, Sarnighausen. Weir and Menzies. On Temperance—Messrs. Urmston, Treat. Traylor, Harris. Peterson. Ragan and Benz. On County and Township Business—Messrs. Kramer, Olds, Traylor. Regan. Donham, Taylor and Peterson. On Immigration and Statistics—Messrs. Hart, Treat, Sarnighausen, Comstock, Leeper, Wilson and Fowler. On Insurance —Messrs. Menzies. Davenport. Hefron. Trusler, Comstock, Wood and Wooden. Ou Railroads—Messrs. Wood, Harris. Fowler. Smith. Kahlo. Leeper and Reilley. On Mines, Mining and Manufactures—Messrs. Benz, Poindexter, Kent, Davenport, Hart, Heilman and Winterbotham. The Lieutenant Governor also announced the following joint standing committees on the, part of the Senate: On Enrolled Bills—Messrs. Coffee. Grubbs and Viehe. On Public Buildings—Messrs. Woollen, Streight and Leeper. 1 On State Library—Messrs. Menzies. Moore and Kahlo. On Ca' Fund—Messrs. Darin, Langdon and Reeve. On C? mis—Messrs. Burrell, Wilson and Hefron. The douse committees consist of the following g -.tiemen: Ou i io-tions—Messrs. Lehman, Humphreys. Dailt Caldwell. Gordon, Campbell and Carter. O Aay : and Means—Messrs. Humphreys. Willard t .-borne of Elkhart, Caldwell, March, Gordon and On Judiciary—Messrs. Osborne of Elkhart, Shanks, Thompson, Works. Miers, Taylor of Daviess, Gordon, Saint, Briggs, Sleeth and March. On Organization of Courts of Justice—Messrs. Briggs, Taylor of Warr k, Dailey, Nave, March, Herod and Overmyer. On Banks—Messrs. Kester. Shutt, Reichelderfer, Copeland. Arnold of Wabash, Sehwitzer and Osborne of Vermilion. On Educatio’n—Messrs. Miers, Van Valzah, Cunningham, Baker, Fancher, Reed and Hopkins. On Affairs of the Prisons—Messrs. Tulley, Edwins, Taylor of Daviess, Caldwell, Messick, Thornburg and Copeland. On Swamp Lands—Messrs. Confer, Perry. Robe son. Barker, Brown of Jasper. Davis and Skinner. On Military Affairs—Messrs. ReicHelderfer, Edwins, Messick, Works, Van Pelt, Van Valzah and Shanks. On Claims—Messrs. Shutt, Allen, Nave, Carey, Handy, Donnell and Wimmer. On Trust Funds—Messrs. Flodder, Shauek, Blockley. Drover, Golden. Arnold of Grant, and Connoway. On Fees and Salaries—Messrs. Willard, Miers, Hosmer, Ginz, Rodman, Robeson and Thayer. On Sinking Fund—Messrs. Dailey, Hosmer, Alden, Bearss, Galbraith, Brown of Steuben and Hess. On Rights and Privileges of the Inhabitants of the State—Messrs. Edwins, Drake, Shields, Hubbard, Thompson, Stevens, and Taylor of Lagrange. On Railroads-—Messrs. Van Valzah. Compton. Robinson, Dalton, Overmyer. Thayer and Hosmer On Manufactures and Commerce—Messrs. Sehwitzer. Huthsteiner. Alden, Barker, Owen, Rodman and Vawter. On County and Township Business—Messrs. Baker, Huthsteiner, Garoutte, Stucker, Hartland, Watson and Owen. On Agriculture—Messrs. Davidson, Connor, Ginz. Reed. Bloekley, Handy and Johnson. • On Benevolent Institutions—Messrs. Thompson. Scholl, Davidson, Briggs, Herod. Kirkpatrick and Sleeth. On Temperance—Messrs. Faulkner. Shields, Lindley. Van Pelt, Arnold of Grant. Shauek and Hub bard. On Mileage and Accounts—Messrs. Handv, Hart, Snoddy, Bryant, Rooker. Compton and Kelly. On Corporations—Messrs. Taylor of Daviess. Van Valzah, Thompson, Allen. Hess. Robinson and Harland. On Canals—Messrs. Flodder. Drover. Hart, Galbraith. Robeson, Arnold of Wabash, and Campbell. On Public Expenditures—Messrs. Shields. Shutt,. Ginz, Hart, Wimmer, Carey and Donnell. On Federal Relations—Messrs. Baylor of Warrick, Cunningham, Mitchell, Shauek, Connor, Davis and Snoddy. On Affairs of f'ity of Indianapolis—Messrs. English. Edwins, Van Pelt, Allen. Robinson. Lindley and Stevens,

On Cities and Towns—Messrs. Allen. Baker, Lehman, Golden. Galbraith. Herod and Hopkins. On Engrossed Bills—Messrs. Scholl. Nave,Confer. Tully. FancLer, Vawter and Thornburg. On Roads —Messrs. Stacker. Faulkner. Blockley. Handy. Rooker, Skinner a>d Arnold of Wabash. On Statistics and Emigration—Messrs. Bryant, Scholl, Connor. Confer. Drake, Taylor of Lagrange and Vawter. On Printing—Messrs. Garoutte. Reichelderfer, Davidson, Schwitzer. Carter. Connoway and Snoddy. On Insurance Companies—Messrs. Huthsteiner, Dalton. Faulkner, Osborne of Elkhart, Herod, Thayer and Watson. On Reformatory Institutions—Messrs. Saint. Da vldson, Shauck, Perry, Osborne of Vermilion. Brown of Steuben, and Copeland. On Drains and Dikes —Messrs. Barker, Schwitzer, Glnz. Rooker. Lindley, Brown of Jasper, and Fancher. On Mines and Mining—Messrs. Compton. Huthsteiner, Messick, Nave, Taylor of Daviess, Robinson and Kelly. On Apportionment and Redistricting the State for Senatorial and Representative Purposes in the General Assembly, and Redistricting the State for Congressional Purposes—Messrs. Caldwell. Davidson, Tavlor of Daviess. Mitchell. Drake, Watson, March. Keily|Brown of Jasper, Kirkpatrick, Shanks, Osborne cWSlkhart, and English. . Joint standing committees on the part of the Rouse of Representatives: On Public Library—Messrs. Brown of Jasper Eu glish and Dalton. Ou Public Buildings—Messrs. Da’ton, Compton, and Herod. Ou Canal Fund—Messrs. Drake, Kester and Bearss. . Ou Enrolled Bills—Messrs. Works. Overmyer, Dalton and Cunningham. Wednesday, Jan. 15. —Senate.—A communication was received from the Governor recommending the establishment of a State Board of Health, and indorsing the report of the State Health Commission... .The proposed constitutional amendments were read a second time, and made a special order for 10 o'clock to-morrow. They strike out the word ‘•white” where it occurs; compel voters to live thirty days in a precinct before election, and in the township sixty; allow the passage of a Fee and Salary bill, according to the population of ’counties; put State elections in No-' vember instead of October; and restrict county taxation to 2 per centum.... The bill authorizing the appointment of separate clerks for the House and Senate Judiciary Committees was passed; also the House joint resolution to instruct onr Representatives in Congress so vote for a bill to place certain medicines on the free list... .Bills were introduced: repealing the act for organization of waterworks companies; authorizing the organization of water-works companies; repealing the railroad aid law; requiring a mortgage to constitute a lien on real estate conveyed, and providing for appointment of school examiners... .Resolutions of respect to the memory of the late Senator Beardsley were adopted. House.—The Committee oh Rights and Privileges were directed to prepare a bill establishing Probate Courts.... Bills were introduced: To make the wife the head of the house when the husband is insane or unable to transact business; permitting married women to make contracts; changing the time when lien for city taxes takes effect; regulating the sale of liquor; and regulating the listing of property for taxation. .. .The bill appropriating money to defray the expenses of the General Assembly was passed... .Judge Osborn introduced a resolution instructing committees to strike the emergency clause from all bills. The consideration was postponed for the present... .The remainder of the session was taken up by reading bills a second time and referring them to committees. Thursday, Jan. 16.—Senate. —Tlie proposed constitutional amendments were adopted. They amend tne constitution in substance as follows: Providing for a registration law; striking out the provision denying negroes tho right of suffrage; fixing the time of holding all general elections in November, and providing a special election for Judges; to strike the word '• white ” from tho constitution; grading fees and salaries according to population; vesting the judicial power of the State in the Supreme Court, Circuit Court, and such other courts as the General Assembly may establish ; fixing the number of Supreme J udges at rot less than five nor more than seven; limiting the indebtedness of municipal corporations to 2 per cent, of the value of its taxable property; limiting the length of regular sessions of the General Assembly to 121 days and special sessions to sixty days, and rrohi'biiing the increase of salaries of memners at a session at which a bill for such increase may be passed House —A resolution was adopted instructing Senators and requesting Representativesill Congress to endeavor to have the salaries of Federal officers reduced... .A committee was appointed to inquire into the practicability of codifying the criminal statutes The Committee on Education was directed to inquire if any children were deprived of school privileges on account of c010r... .Bills were introduced: To abolish the office of Township Assessor; to protect wages of married women: to prevent the collection of toll on Sunday; relating to the relocation of county seats; enabling sureties of notes to file cross-complaints; appropriating $82,286.31 to pay Morgan-raid claims... .Communications from the Governor in reference to the disposition of the Morgan-raid c aims on file in his office, and concerning tho transfer of the State’s interest in the national cemetery at Antietam to the General Government, were read... .A resolution approving Secretary Sherman’s resumption policy was referred to the Committee on Federal Relations without debate.

Friday, Jan. 17.—Senate.—Tlie protest of Republican members as to the organization of the Senate was filed and ordered spread upon the minutes... .The Indiana Senators and Representatives in Congress were instructed to vote for a bill to pay arrearages in pensions and to equalize bounties... .A message from the Governor recommended the sale of University square, in Indianapolis, and that the proceeds be applied to the support of the State University; also, recommending that courts be permitted to reduce judgment when excessive punishment has been inflicted, without being compelled to grant new trials... .The House bill appropriating money to defray expenses of the General Assembly was passed... .Bills were introduced : Authorizing executors and administrators to convey real estate sold by decedent; compelling foreign insurance companies to tile agreements with the Auditor of State not to transfer suits against them to the Federal courts; prescribing the mode of proceedings in inquisitions of insanity; fixing the length of terms of certain officers; regulating the organization and transaction of the business of insurance companies; and a number of other bills of minor importance. House.—Resolutions instructing Senators and requesting Representatives to use their influence to procure certain financial legislation were adopted. The resolutions embody, in substance, the financial portions of the last Democratic platform... .Resolutions were adopted reciting the evils of the resumption policy, and iii favor of the reduction of salaries of all Federal officers... .Bills were introduced: Allowing Sheriffs to administer oaths in certain cases; regulating passenger fares on railroads; requiring guardians to make full reports every two years; authorizing cities to aid in the construction of railroads, and a number of other unimportant bills. Saturday, Jan. 18.—Senate.—The President of the Board of Commissioners of the Insane Asylum was ordered to report an itemized account of the receip s of the incidental funds derived from the sale of hides and tallow from beeves slaughtered... .Bills were introduced: To regulate the practice of medicine; regulating expert testimony in courts; for the preservation of evidence taken before Grand Juries; concerning the rights of married women, and regulating weights and measures. House, —Bills were introduced: Regulating the election of Supervisors; to prevent the spread of Canada thistles, and regulating the closing of business of building and loan associations, .. .A number of bills were read a seeend time, and referred.