Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1875 — INDIANA STATE LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA STATE LEGISLATURE.

Senate, Jan. 27. —Bills were passed—changing the time of holding court in Warren, Fountain, Vermillion, Jasper, Benton and Newton Counties; enabling the United States to acquire land in Evansville for a postofflce... .The joint committee of the last Legislature made a report on the subject of plans for a new State-House, recommending three plans. The minority recommended the plan of Myers, of Detroit A bill was submitted with the report providing for a commission of five to superintend the erecting of the structure.... Bills were introduced——providing for the erection of two additional insane asylums, one to be located at Evansville and the other at Logansjfort; providing for the sale of the State swamp lands at $1.25 per acre; authorizing criminal Judges to issue writs of habeas corpus ...The report of the Judiciary Committee to indefinitely postpone the bill allowing husband and wife to testify for and against each other was concurred in.... Adjourned. House. —Bills were passed —in relation to the removal of line fences in certain cases; encouraging the destruction of wolves and foxes by offering rewards of S2O for wolf-scalps and $5 for those of foxes; amending the General Banking law so as to abolish the bureau relating to that business in the Auditor of State’s office.... The Clerk of the Supreme Court reported as to the publication of reports during the last six years... .The report of the State-House Committee was received and ordered printed.... Bills were passed—fixing the time of holding court in Benton, Jasper and Newton Counties; preventing the shooting of wild pigeons when nesting; permitting the sale of large tracts of land, etc.... Adjourned. Senate, Jan. 28.—After receiving and filing a number of committee reports the Sen ate went into Committee of the Whole on the special order, the liquor traffic. Speeches were made by Messrs. Samingshausen, Baxter, Grove. Bell, Johnson and Hough.... The Senate adjourned without reaching a vote. House. —Bills were passed—extending tiie time of credit on sales of lands of decedents’ estates in the discretion of the court; allowing Judges of Superior Courts to appoint attorneys as judges pro tem.; legalizing taxes assessed in the town of Auburn, De Kalb County; and preventing the killing of any small birds, including quails, at any time of the year.... Resolutions were adopted favoring the improvement of the Ohio River and asking Congress to make liberal appropriatkms therefor.... Adjourned. Senate, Jan. 29. —An interesting discussion ensued on a bill to amend the Divorce law. It was finally referred to the committee with instructions.... The House concurrent resolution turning over the State-House plans to the Joint Committee on Public Buildings was concurred in..;.ln the afternoon tiie temperance question was discussed in Committee' of the Whole, the debate being

carried on by Senators Given, Sleeth, Henderson, Baxter, Neff; Scott, Bell and others. After a long time thus spent tbe committee rose and reported the resolutions to the Senate. The vote was then taken amid great excitement, with the following result: Local option—ayes 28, noes 20; personal liability—ayes 31, noes 16; joint criminality in case of sale—ayes 42, noes 6... .Adjourned. House.— Bills were introduced—enabling owners of wet lands to drain through other lands; repealing the law allowing interest on judgments.... Bills were passed authorizing County Commissioners to purchase or build gravel roads on authority of a petition of the majority of the voters of a county; providing that in salts where tbe defendant defaults the bill of particulars filed and sworn to by the plaintiff at the beginning of snch salts shall form sufficient basis on which to form judgment.... .Adjourned. Senate, Jan. 30.—Petitions were received asking that salaries of county officers be reduced... .The Committee of Elections, in the contested case of Walker v*. Larue, reported in favor of Lafue, tbe sitting member, which report was unanimously concurred iu ....The Senate Prison Committee was granted leave of absence to visit the Northern State Prison....A resolution instructing the Committee on Education to report a bill abolishing the office of County Superintendent of Schools was defeated by ayes 20, noes 22.... Adjourned. House.—A majority of the Judiciary Committee reported affirmatively on the resolution asking if it bp constitutional for this assembly to redistrict the State for Congressional and legislative purposes. The minority reported negatively on the same. The majority report was adopted—ayes 43, noes 85.... A resolution was offered recommending that a new insane asylum be built, to be located near the site of the present asylum in Indianapolis. The resolution called out a long debate, which continued until the receßs....ln the afternoon a bill was passed making abortion a felony punishable with imprisonment from one to ten years.... Adjourned. Senate, Feb. I.—The bill allowing County Commissioners to vote aid to railroads to the extent of 2 per cent, of the tax duplicates was reported upon favorably.... A resolution was passed instructing for specific and lower salaries for State and county officers and reducing the salary of criminal Judges to $1,200....A bill was Introduced making the receipt of interest on public moneys a felony .... Adjourned.

House —Bills were introduced—making the salary of criminal prosecutors SI,OOO n addition to that now fixed by law; providing for the prosecution of felonies not punishable by death by information; to provide for the appointment of town and city officers in case of vacancy instead of by special election ; indicating the order of business in Circuit Courts; for fencing lines of railroad.... Bills were passed—introducing the public warehouse system and inspection of grain; making void printed agreements in promissory notes to pay attorney’s fees in case of suit; for the sale of trust lands in certain cases....A resolution was offered directing the Committee on Education to investigate into the alleged difference between the cost of education in State and denominational institutions.

Bknatb, Feb. 2. —Petitions and memorials were presented—praying for reappraisement of real estate in 1875; to cut down the salaries of officers; to abolish the office of County Superintendent; setting forth alleged abuses in connection with the State University.... The Committee on Temperance submitted a majority report to regulate the sale of liquor, providing that retailers shall pay S2OO and wholesalers $400; for local option; for personal liability; drunkenness a misdemeanor punishable by fine; selling to minors a misdemeanor, etc., etc. ....A resolution was passed instructing the Finance Committee to report a bill authorizing a reappraisement of real estate in 1880 and every fifth year thereafter. .. .The resolution for an insane asylum at Evansville and for one at Logansport was tabled.... The Committee on Prisons were authorized to investigate the manner of letting contracts in the Southern Prison.... Bills were introduced—granting a pension of $lB per month to J. C. Bates—who lost an arm in repelling Morgan’s raid; appropriating $83,200 for the Morgan raid sufferers.... Adjourned.

House. —The Speaker announced the Committee on A pportionment.... The House bill reducing the number of Senators to twenty-five and Representatives to fifty was tabled.... The bill to abolish the Criminal Court of Floyd and Clark Counties passed .... The House bill reducing the number of Grand Jurors to seven was reported on favorably, and ordered engrossed.... The bill authorizing the dismissal of County Superintendents for immorality was tabled.... The Committee of Education reported in favor of indefinitely postponing the bill for admission of colored children into white schools where no separate schools are provided for them. A minority report was made with a bill, providing for taxing people in districts who object to mixed schools to maintain separate schools. The majority report was agreed to ... .Bills were introduced—limiting the number of convicts to be contracted for any one kind of labor to 100; for the registry of births and deaths; for the relief of Morgan raid sufferers .... Adjourned.