Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1875 — INDIANA STATE LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA STATE LEGISLATURE.

Senate, Feb. 24.—8i11s were passed—changing the age of girls to be admitted to the Woman’s Reformatory Institute from sis teen to sixteen; allowing Criminal Court Judges to issue writs of Aoteas corpus; allowing towns of 3,000 inhabitants to incorporate us cities; prohibiting counties but allowing townships to vote to railroads; making it a misdemeanor to rent houses for immoral purposes; compelling deeds to be recorded within fifty-five days; compelling administrators to file their claims with County Clerks thirty days before they are allowed; allowing surplus funds to joint-stock companies to be

loaned to others than members of the companies; providing for the appointment of commissioners to locate the boundary lines between Indiana and Kentucky near Green River Island; abolishing the bank department of the Auditor’s office and turning over the money to the general fund....A motion to suspend the rules and pass a bill requiring the Auditor to pay quarterly into the Treasury fees received from foreign insurance companies was defeated... .A resolution was introduced for the appointment of a committee to inquire concerning the swamp lands of the State conveyed under the act of Congress of 1802.... Adjourned. House.—The consideration of the question of building a new State-House was indefinitely postponed—67 to 27....8i11s were passed—reducing the pay of County Superintendents from four to three dollars per day; authorizing the adoption of children who are inmates of the Girls’ Reform School; prohibiting the sale of deadly weapons and ammunition to minors.... Adjourned. Senate, Feb. 25. —The Public Warehouse bill was amended so as to apply only to those who choose to operate under its provisions.. . .The remainder of the session was occupied in considering the General Fee and Salary bill, no definite conclusion being reached.... Adjourned. House.—After a long discussion the bill providing for two Insane Asylums was indefinitely postponed. The vote was subsequently reconsidered and the bill recommitted with instructions to report a bill to locate the asylum on the grounds now owned by the State at Indianapolis, to cost not exceeding $350,000—48 to 46.... The Senate Local Option Liquor bill was rejected, the House adhering to its own bi 11.... The General Appropriation bill was reported and made the special order for March 2.... Adjourned.

Senate, Feb. 26.—A lengthy report was submitted from the Special Committee on the Wabash & Erie Canal, covering a resolution providing that the special committee of the Senate ana the standing committee of the House meet during the recess of the Legislature to consult with the Governor. Several amendments were offered, and finally the resolution and amendments were tabled—3l to 9 ....The Joint Committee on Public Buildings recommended the passage of the bill in relation to the new State-House.... The committee to revise the swamp-land history of the State, etc., was announced by the President.... Bills were passed—relating to fees; providing that all fees received from insurance companies shall be paid into the State Treasury... .The Senate bill in regard to salaries was taken up and, pending discussion, the Senate adjourned. House. —Bills were passed—forbidding Trustees of any State institution to contract debts on account of the State apportioning the school fund, and prescribing the duties of State and County School Superintendents; providing for she disposition of a wife’s interest in the proceeds of the sale of real estate in partition proceedings, when the land is derived from a former deceased husband; authorizing the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, assisted by the State Board of Education, to purchase libraries for certain townships; authorizing commissioners to appraise as well as examine lands which cannot be divided and sold without material loss; providing that all corporations and employers shall pay their employes monthly, ana on failure to do so may be sued and execution levied within ten days without benefit of stay or other delays; creating a new judicial circuit by making one each of Tippecanoe and Cass Counties, and one out of the counties of White, Carroll, and Pulaski; providing that one Insane Asylum be erected at a cost not to exceed $350,000 on the Insane Asylum grounds now owned by the State in this city; blowing Sheriffs to advertise sales of land on execution in any newspaper of general circulation in the county; making a person accepting a bribe for his vote equally guilty with those who offer it; providing for the appointment by city Councils of gas commissioners, who shall act as middlemen between the people and oppressive gas companies.... The bill compelling railroads to fence their rights of way during the next four years—one-fourth each year—was defeated—36 to 55... .The'tax levy for 1875 and 1876 was reported from the Committee on Ways and Means .... Adourned

Senate, Feb. 27.—The Senate did little of interest save to appoint a committee to investigate the causes which led to the disappearance of certain important bills, supposed to have been stolen. House.—The following bills were passed—providing that real estate given to a son-in-law shall, upon his death;' revert to the children or family of wife who brought him such property, even though he may have remarried and had issue by such second or third marriage; requiring County Treasurers to make semi-annual statements to County Commissioners, which shall be spread upon the records, and to make actual exhibit of funds on hand; exempting benefits of widows and children, derived from Masonic, Odd Fellows, or other benevolant associations and benevolent mutual insurance associations, from execution ; providing that County Commissioners shall appoint a committee of four persons, two men and two women, who shall make quarterly visits to the County Poor-house, and examine into the condition and treatment of the inmates, and report thereon to the County Auditor, who shall cause the same to be published .... Adjourned. Senate, March I.—The Governor sent to the Senate with his veto the bill to allow the incorporation of camp-meeting associations .... Bills were passed—providing for the organization of loan associations; providing for letting out the public printing to the lowest bidder;for the employment of an expert to have charge of the work, under contract, of the Printing Bureau, composed of the Governor, Secretarv and Auditor of State; repealing the act of February, 1873, giving the State University at Bloomington $15,000 per annum, leaving that institution SIB,OOO for current expenses; and so amending the charter of the city of Evansville that public burying-grounds may be transferred to private associations.... Adjourned. House.—The House Fee and Salary bill was passed—7B to 7....8i11s were passed—amending the Assessment law for the benefit of Perry County; authorizing County Commissioners to increase the salary of Prosecuting Attorneys SI,OOO more than is allowed at present; regulating assessment and collection of taxes in the town of Danville for 1874; legalizing the acts of the Trustees of the town of North Vernon. Jennings County; protecting bottlers of mineral water in their trade-mark; and giving residents of any school district the right to select their own teachers and to determine the branches to be taught.... Adjourned.