Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1879 — INDIANA LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LEGISLATURE.

Monday, Feb. 17. Senate.—-Bills were introduced : Concerning the effect of the sale of lands for delinquent taxes; providing for the appointment of County Superintendents; amending the vagrant law: declaring it a misdemeanor to keep a house of ill-fame dr rent property for such purpose; providing for the submission of constitutional amendmeats to the people; fixing the salaries of Superior Judges at $2,500; for appraisement of real property in 1879, and every four years thereafter ; for the semi-annual payment of interest on county bonds; providing that county printing shall lie done in two newspapers of opposite politics; amending the act for a partition of lauds; to prevent the mutilation of instruments in writing; to amend the Drainage laws.... Mr. Winterbotham’s Prison bill was then taken tip. The bill provides that hereafter the Governor shall appoint the Directors. The salary of the Directors was cut down to S3(X) each, and that of the Warden fixed at not more than $1,500 per annum. The bill was also amended so as to abolish the use of the cat in the prisons.... Several House resolutions instructing Congress on different topics were laid on the tabla They were those demanding an unconditional repeal of the Resumption act, exempting bonds and greenbacks from taxation, amending revenue laws, and asking reduction of salaries of Federal officers House.—The General Appropriation bill was ordered engrossed New bills were introduced: For a uniform assessment of real estate; amending the act to authorize the construction' of railroads; to make malfeasance in office a felony; to reduce the mileage of members to 10 cents; compelling railroad passenger trains to stop at every station of any incorporated town or city when there are passengers who want to get on or off... .The bills regulating freights on railroads to punish the embezzlement of railroad tickets, and to establish a home for imbecile child'en, wore ordered engrossed.... The bill grading pay of Judges in proportion to the population of their districts was read a second time and ordered printed. Tuesday, Feb. 18.—Senate.—Mr. Winterbotham’s prison bill was taken up, further amended in some minor particulars, and passed by a unanimous vote... .House bills on first reading were then taken up and a number of them read and referred Communications from the Superintendents of the Orphans’jHomo and House of Refuge relative to the number and pay of employes of these institutions were received and referred.... Several Senate bills were read a second time and passed to third reading... .Mr. Menzies introduced a bill to repeal the law in regard to insurance companies publishing statements. House.—A largo number of committee reports wore received and acted upon.... The most important bill was the one reducing tho allowance to Sheriffs for boarding prisoners. The bill was amended so as to allow 30 cents a day for each prisoner when more than five are fed; for a less number, 40 cents. It was then ordered engrossed... .The Feo and Salary bill was under consideration during the rtfst of tiro day’s session. Wednesday, Fob. 19.—Senate.—Senator Gruble’s bill providing for voluntary assignments was killed... .The following bills wore passed: Declaring land-patents admissible in evidence to prove title to such lands; amending the divorce law so that publication can be made in -weekly papers; amending the drainage law, and enabling County Commissioners to dispo=o of uncalled-for allowances after a period of five years by turning the same into the county treasury; exempting the wages of laborers from garnishment so long as the laborer remains in the service of his employer for a period not to exceed one month.... After recommitting several bills and makmgthe Exemption and Homestead bills the special order for Friday, the Senate adjourned. House.—The House, after considerable discussion, killed the Fee and Salary bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause.-;.. The following bills were passed: Senate bills— Authorizing guardians to settle estates of deceased wards; repealing the act authorizing the formation of water-works companies; authorizing the working of prisoners in jails on public highways and improvements. House bills: Restricting the power of School Trustees in towns in issuing bonds for the purpose of building school-houses without the consent of the Common Council; authorizing'thoconstr uction of street railways along public highways on such tepms as may be prescribed by county boards; authorizing Sheriffs to administer oaths to persons claiming a homestead exemption; per.mittinc relatives of decedento to pive bond tc secure debts, and permitting the heirs to take the property without the expense of letters testamentary and of administration; repealing the Vagrant act; authorizing the State of Maryland to convey the title of the State of Indiana to a portion of the Antietam National Cemetery to the Federal Government; amending the code. ... .The bill changing the legal weight of a bushel of corn from sixty-eight to seventy . pounds was killed.

Thubsday, Feb. 20.—Senate.—Bills passed: Providing for the protection of game, and defining the time and manner in which the same may be taken, killed, sold, and otherwise disnosed of; authorizing cities of less than 7,000 inhabitants to surrender their charters upon the vote of two-thirds of the taxpayers, both male and female; providing for payment of special Judges out of the salary of regular Judges; io prevent the practice of resorting to distant courts to oppress citizens of Indiana... .An effort to lay aside the regular order to take .up the Apportionment bill failed....Mr Comstock’s bill allowing husband and wife to testify iu all actions except those for seduction, and Senator Kent’s Drainage bill were ordered engrossed. House.—A statement of the condition of the Northern prison and a communication from the . Governor on Federal affairs -were received and referred... .The Senate bill legalizing the acknowledgment of deeds made by notaries public after the expira'ion of their commissions was passed... .The remainder of the day was consumed in committee of the whole upon the General Appropriation bill, which was ordered engrossed. Fbiday, Feb. 21.—Senate.—Bills passed: To admit feeble-minded, children into the Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home; amending the Embezzlement act; amending the code so as to allow courts to appoint receivers in vacation; defining libel and making it a crime to publish the same; regulating the tolls on roads; amending the act concerning trusts and powcis; in relation to change of proposed line and"termini of railroads. House.—The Senate Interest bill was taken up and passed, after amending it so as to reduce the rate of interest to 6 per cent, absolutely.... The following bills were passed: Providing for the election of Trustees of benevolent institutions; concerning trespassing animals; providing tor appeals from county boards: providing for relocation of county seats... .The General Appropriation bill and the Metropolitan Police bill were passed... .The committee’s Fee and Salary bill was reported. It reduces the salary of Governor to $5,000. “ Saturday, Feb. 22.—Senate.—Bills introduced: Making it unlawful to kill certain game atcertain periods of the year; amending the act for the incorporation of cities; providing for the appointment of State Surveyors: amending the Fee aud Salary law; amending the Assessment law; amending the code; reducing all fees of county officers 30 per cent The following bills were passed: Making it a misdemeanor for a voter to accept a bribe; requiring the blowing of whistles at the crossings ’of all railroads and turnpikes and other roads. House.—Bills passed: Making it illegal to contract for attorneys’ fees in votes; authorizing planting of hedges five feet inside the line of highways; making it unlawful for broeeby animals to run at large; governing the election of Supervisors of Highways; allowing householders to sit on Grand Juries; authorizing the payment to legal heirs of funds derived from the sale of lands supposed to have reverted to the State; exempting growing crops from sale on execution; relative to filing claims against estates; defining the powers and rights of warehousemen; to" prevent the sale of adulterated fertilizers... .Bills were introduced: Authorizing tho creation of countv hoapitals;. codifying thp school laws; relating tq she publication of delinquent lists; concerning the collection of interest on the school fund; relating ti reports to be made by insurance companies and payment of taxes by such companies. Switzerland is experiencing the hardest times she has seen in a quarter Of aosntury, • -