Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1879 — INDIANA LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LEGISLATURE.

Monday, March 17.—senate.—The Senate this morning agreed to adjourn next Monday, provided the General and Specific Appropriation, the Congressional Apportionment, and the Fee and Salary bills shall have been passed and approved. An attempt to the Metropolitan Police bill was a failure. The Congressional Apportionment bill will hardly pass, as indefinite leave of absence has been grafted to Senator Reeve, and without his vote twenty-five cannot be secured on political measures. House.—A short session was held, but no business of importance was transacted. Tuesday, March 18.—Senate.—The Fee and Salary bill was the special order in the Senate to-day, but it was postponed, and the Appropriation bills taken up. Several amendments were made, but not much progress was achieved. ... .While the Prison bill was under consideration in the Senate yesterday, Senator Menzies offered an amendment that the Directors of the Northern prison shall elect Murdock Warden in place of Mayne. A special committee, after investigating the claims of Murdock and Mayne, reported favorably upon the amendment to-day... .Majority and minority reports from the Senate Committee on Elections on the SaulsburySmith contest were made. The majority report—that Smith was entitled to the eeat—was adopted. House.—The House postponed consideration of the resolution fixing the date of adjournment till Saturday. Wednesday, Marek 19. Senate.—The House bill authorizing Boards of County Commissioners to make appropriations for the relief of citizens from debts incurred in voting aid to railroads was passed... .The Fee and Salary bill was then taken up and the Senate substitute considered, which occupied the remainder of the day House. —Bills were introduced: Authorizing the redemption of certain lands sold for taxes; authorizing a loan for the payment of the temporary loan debt heretofore incurred, and several legalizing bills. Bills were passed: Limiting taxation in incorporated towns having less than twenty-five freeholders residing therein; providing ’ for a more speedy distribution of tho laws; regulating the collection of fees from insurance companies and requiring the Auditor of State to report the name; amending the Discount law; requiring Coroners to hold inquests without the aid of a jury; providing for the temporary loan to meet the payment of $710,000 State debt falling due this year; exempting five acres of land inside city corporation from taxation for any a greater rate than the lands of the township in which the city is located; defining the crime of embezzlement by adding to the persons who may embezzle clerks, lawyers and other persons who fail to pay over money; to enable farmers to form voluntary associations for protection from damages by lightning; for the protection of game. ... .The joint resolution instructing the State Librarian to distribute the geological reports on his hands among the colleges and schools of the State was passed. Thursday, March 20.—Senate.—The Senate took up and passed the Congressional Apportionment bill, under the operation of the previous question... .The Fee and Salary bill was amended to a great extent, but not finally acted upon... .Several legalizing bills were taken up and passed under a suspension of the constitutional rules.

House.—New bills introduced: Amending the act establishing judicial circuits; authorizing County Commissioners to fill vacancies in the office of Justice of the Peace; reducing the jurisdiction of Circuit Courts and increasing jurisdiction of Justices; repealing certain sections of the act for inspection of petroleum; authorizing cities and towns to remove any cemetery or bodies buried therein whenever such cemetery shall become inclosed in the city limits, and a new cemetery is provided.... A resolution was adopted instructing our Senators and Representatives in Congress to endeavor to secure the passage of a law amending the National Bank act, in relation to the jurisdiction of the courts over controversies between banking associations located in any State or Territory.... A resolution to adjourn on Saturday was made the special order for Saturday, at 2 p. mThe Senate substitute for the House Congressional Apportionment bill was taken up as soon as reported from the Senate, and the substitute adopted.... Bills were passed: Appropriating S2S,(XX) to defray expense of the special session of the Legislature; to prevent the sale or transfer of county orders in the possession of any one owing county taxes; regulating the practice of dentistry; abolishing the publication of Sheriffs’ sales in newspapers; prohibiting playing of billiards, pool, etc., in connection with saloons, and abolishing concert saloons ; requiring County Auditors in making a loan when. the funds belong to various townships to take but one mortgage; regulating weights and measures; authorizing cities to construct water-works; abolishing the color line as to orphan children in admission to asylums, and legalizing judicial sales in certain cases. Friday, March 21.—Senate.—The consideration of the Fees and Salary bill occupied almost the entire time of the Senate... .An effort was made to take up the Metropolitan Police bill, but it failed... .The Specific Appropriation Dill was then taken up and passed... .The House Loan bill was taken up and read a firs’ time....A resolution was adopted fixing the time for the final adjournment on Monday. House.—A resolution was adopted appointing the Attorney General, Auditor and a third person, to be named by the Governor, a commission to revise and codify tho insurance 1aw5....0n the reading of the journal it was discovered Mr. Caldwall was recorded as voting in favor of the bill to prevent biliard, pool and other gaming tables, music or other amusement in saloons where intoxicating liquors are sold. He was not present at the time the vote was taken, ana his name was stricken from the roll-call, leaving the hill without a constitutional majority. Bills were passed: Defining burglary; enablingincorporated cities to aid in the construction of railroads, gravel roads, water-works and bridges; enabling owners of wet lands teuiram to reclaim them when the same can bexlone without affecting the land of others; providing tor tne appointment of guardians of insane persons; authorizing insurance companies to reinsure risks; regulating duties of Justices; limiting the levy of taxes by school trustees, and requiring county boards to take charge of free gravel roads.... The bills for the protection of purity in election. defining duties of city Judges, and authorizing transfer of Morgan raid claims from the Governor’s office to the office of Adjutant Genera], were defeated. Saturday, March 22.—Senate.—Several legalizing bills werg rushed through as a starter, and then the Senate took up the House bill appropriating $25,000 to defray the expenses of the present session of the General Assembly, amended it so as to appropriate $35,000, and passed it under a suspension of the constitu tioual rules... .The Fee and Salary bill was then taken up and passed... .The conference committeee on the bill removing tho legal disabilities of married women reported, recommending an amendment prohibiting married women from mortgaging any property derived by inheritance, or to otherwise endanger their possession by becoming surety for husbands. This report was concurred in. .The conference committee on the Fort Wayne Water-Works bill also reported certain amendments, which were agreed toThe Senate passed the following bills: Authorizing cities and towns to fund their indebtedness; compelling the Auditor of State to pay 75 per cent, of his insurance fees into the State treasury; concerning warehouses... .The bill concerning the redemption of real estate from sale or execution was taken up and passed. House.—A local-option bill was ordered engrossed.. . .The Senate amendments to the bill appropriating money to pay expenses of tho present session was concurred in... .The House then took up the Specific Appropriation bill and refused to concur in several amendments made by the Senate... .A few minor items of the bill were considered, and tho House adjourned.