Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1879 — INDIANA LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LEGISLATURE.

Monday, Feb. 10.—Senate.—The Senate did not meet until 2pm., and then proceeded with the consideration of the special order, the drainage bill. After discussion, the bill was again made a special order and its further consideration set down for next Monday, and the Senate adjourned without transacting any other business. House. —The House was in session this morning, and bills were introduced: Providing that voter s art, the general election in 1880 shall vote yes or no on the proposition to call a Constitutional Convention, and if a majority be in favor then it shall be called, and delegates shall be elected to such convention; regulating fees and salaries of State officers; regulating sale of lands forfeited to the school fund; to secure to colored children the same school privileges as white; providing for organization of agricultural societies; limiting fines for contempt to SSOO, and a number of others of little importance... .-The re ainder of the session was taken up in reading bills a second time... .This body was only in session a few minutes iq, the afternoon, no quorum being present Tuesday, Feb. 11.—Senate. —The Senate settled down to business and disposed of fourteen bills which were up on second reading. Of these four were passed to a third reading.... A resolution was laid on the table authorizing an investigation into the charges made by the Indianapolis Journal, against D. D. Dale, principal Secretary of the Senate... .The remainder of the session was taken up in discussing a motion to indefinitely postpone an act providing for voluntary assignments. House.—The morning session of the House was taken up in receiving committee reports and acting on them. Among the most important ordeied to a third reading are the following: Requiring County Commissioners to appoint inspectors of elections from the party having a majority in the precinct; making it unlawful to insert a provision for attorney’s fees; forfeiting rights of a foreign corporation as a punishment for removing cases to the Federal courts.., .The Committee on Election reported unanimously in favor of Robert W. Meirs, the sitting member from Monroe county, holding that the office of Prosecuting Attorney, which he held at the time of his election, is not a judicial office, and therefore did not disqualify him from being elected to the Legislature... .Mr. Gordon introduced a bill regulating the boarding of prisoners by the Sheriffs in counties of 30,000. They are allowed 30 cents a day for each prisoner, and in smaller counties 40 cents... .During the day thirty bills were passed to a third reading. Wednesday,Feb. 12.—Senate.—Bills passed Legalizing the acknowledgement of certain instruments, where the commission of the notary taking the same has expired; defining the crime of grave-robbing, and prescribing the punishment therefor; providing subjects for anatomical dissection; permitting either party to a civil suit to render instructions before argument, and if the court agrees to give the same then the party may read them to the jury as the law of the case/allowing but one change of venue in preliminary examinations; making Jefferson and Switzerland counties the Fifth judicial circuit; permitting cities and towns to abolish the office of City Assessor; abolishing the office of Town Treasurer, and providing for the election of Town Marshal... .Bills introduced: To admit incurably insane persons into the asylum; amending the Raihoad Aid law: to create a board to audit claims between the State ani counties growing out of the late war; to create a State Board of Charities. House.—The following bills were reported favorably on: Creating a Bureau of Statistics; amending the School law; to enable Boards of Trustees of cities of 3,000 or more inhabitants to establish a school for special paupers; to encourage the growing of forest trees, and to prevent the sale of adulterated fertilizers; to permit the arrest of boys who should be in school, but are staying away.., .The claim of Benton county for prosecuting the murderer of Wm. 8. Morgan, in 1865, was indefinitely postponed.... Mr. Compton’s Mining bill, and the bill repealing the Railroad Aid law, were passed... .Delayed statements of expenditures of benevolent institutions for the past two years were received .... Bills were ordered engrossed: Making householders competent grand jurors, supervisors and witnesses when trespassing animals are taken up; reducing salaries of Circuitjudges to $ 1,500 per year. Thursday, Feb. 13.—Senate.—Bills passed: To fix the time of holding court in the Second judicial circuit; legalizing the acts of the City Council.of Logansport in annexing certain territory... .The resolutions to investigate the charges against D. I). Dale, principal Secretary, made by the citizens of White county, growing out of transactions of his while Clerk of that county, were taken up. After considerable debate; the resolutions were withdrawn.... A number of committee reports and petitions were received and placed on file... .After much discussion the apportionment bills were made the special order for next Tuesday.... The Committee on Fees and Salaries ’were instructed to report a bill on the subject of fees and salaries... .The Finance Committee were instructed to report a bill for the reapr-raisenient of real estate next April.

House.—The bills rogulat’ng the running a large of animals, authorizing farmers’ insurance companies, prescribing what kind of judg ments shall be rendered in suits to recover damages for injury to trees, and for tbe protection of sheep were reported t'avorab y and ordered engr ssed....The claims of the city of Indianapolis for money paid out on account of the railroad strike of 1877, and of parties to whom interest is due on account of the indebtedness of the Southern prison, were presented... .The Attorney General reported that the State’s lien on the State fur-ground for money loaned to the State Board of Agriculture was junior to a lien of $60,000 on the same property.... .The House Legislative 2\.p, ortionment bill' was then taken up, and, under the operations of the pi evious question, was passed by a strict party vote—so to 38.... The bill prohibiting appeals from Justices where the judgment does not exceed S2O was passed. Friday, Feb. 14.—Senate.—But very little business was transacted by the Senate, nearly the whole day being spent in debate on the bill regulating voluntary assignments. The biM met with much oppposition on the part of some Senators, thev arguing that, being nothing more than a voluntary-bankruptcy act. it is unconstitutional, as Congress is the only power that can pass such a law. It was also objected to because it is in many respects unjust to the creditor, and shows too much leniency to the insolvent., and gives dishonest men opportunities to avoid paying their debts. The bill wa? finally engrossed... .The House Apportionment bill was read a first time, and made the special crder for Tuesday. House.—The House followed the example of the Senate, and occupied the entire session in discussing the subject of fees and salaries of county officers. Saturday, Feb. 15.—Senate—The Senate took up bills on second reading, and the following were disposed of: The bills exempting the wages of laborers from garnishment in certain cases; enabling boards of commissioners to dispose of uncalled-for allowances, when the same have remained for a period of five years; providing for the election and appointment of Supervisors of Highways; amending the act to enable the owners of wet lands to drain arid-re-claim them were ordered engrossed... .The bills to reduce the fees and salaries of county officers, and for the protection of executions were indefinitely postponed.... Mr. Winterbotham’s bill for the government and discipline of the State prison was recommitted to a special committee Bills were introduced : Amending the Gravel Hoad iaw; to prevent live stock from running at large: amending the School law and regulating the practice in Circuit Courts in certain matters. House.—Bills were introduced: Authorizing County Treasurers to perform the duties of City Treasurers, providing for examining and licensing engineers; authorizing notaries to solemnize marriages; authorizing extra allowances to prosecuting attorneys in certain counties. and repealing the act creating building and savings associations... .The bills to establish a State militia and regulating the practice of medicine were reported favtrably on and ordered engrossed... .The Snpei - intendant of Public Instruction reported a bill embodying the school laws as codified by him in accordance with a resolution of the last General Assembly.... Mr. Mayers offered a resolution asking Congress to issue sufficient treasury notes to pay the pensions authorized bv the arrearage pension bills. Referred to the Committee on Federal Relations.