Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1875 — INDIANA STATE LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA STATE LEGISLATURE.

Senate, March 2.—The Committee on Lost Bills reported that the most important one had been returned, and asked to be discharged, which was agreed t 0.... The bill to provide for the organization of camp-meeting associations was passed over the Governor’s veto—27to 17.... The Special Committee to investigate the affairs of the Northern Prison reported that they had found everything correct, and recommended the retention of the present officers.... The bill fora new StateHouse was indefinitely postponed by the casting vote of the Lieutenant Governor .... Bills were passed—changing the date of delinquency on the second installment of State and county taxes from the 15th to the first Monday of November; relieving certain counties from suits by the State for unpaid taxes assessed by the illegal Equalization Board of 1869; authorizing the Auditor of State to make good the title to certain lands in Madison County to Delass Root, of Marion County; incorporating the State Grange. Patrons of Husbandry; changing the statute of limitations in case of nonresidence; limiting the power of Township Trustees to contract debts; allowing recovery of damages by reason of animals running at large, without reference to the legality of the Fence law; giving landlords a lien on crops to the amount of ground rental; regulating the matter of opening streets and assessing benefits and damages; providing for support of illegitimate children of minor women; allowing cities to levy taxes on the basis of the county assessment, and giving thirty days for the redemption of personal property sold on execution.... Adjourned. House. —The committee to investigate the charges of irregularities on the part of certain House employes reported that five persons had drawn pay as fictitious officers to the amount of $1,075, and recommended their dismissal, and that they be compelled to refund the money... Bills were passed—levying for 1875 and 1876 for each year a tax of five cents on SIOO and fifty cents on each poll for general purposes, three cents for the payment of interest on school-fund bonds ana two cents for the building of one insane asylum; providing for the transfer of school children from outside districts to city or town schools without property of their parents being transferred for school-tax purposes; providing that wives of insane husbands may sell and convey property held by them in their own right; providing that municipal incorporations shall not incur debts in excess of 5 per cent, of the taxable property therein; also the Appropriation bin. ....In the evening, bills were passed—amending the Savings Bank act so that in cases of runs on banks securities shall not be sacrificed; providing that administrators shall file their reports annually or else lose their fees in case of the second failure, and that upon SI,OOO estates administrators shall have but 6 per cent; providing for appeals from Boards of County Commissioners; to prevent forfeiture of policies of insurance in cases where premiums have been paid in part; an act to legalize acts of Town Trustees when elective officers fail to file statements; providing for the appointment of shorthand reporters in certain courts of counties containing populations of 70,000 inhabitants.... A resolution was adopted directing the investigation of the charges of Cruelty preferred against the management of the Insane Asylum... .Adjourned. Senate, March 3.—The report of the Committee on Fees and Salaries that the House bill on fees and salaries lie on the table was concurred in.... The Railroad Tax law vote was reconsidered, and an amendment adopted extending the time in which roads may claim and receive aid voted by tax from three to five yean, and the bill then passed—26 to 16....8i11s were passed—providing for service of process on officers of steamboat companies on rivers; to allow the setting off of a widow’s portion of land so as to sell the remainder on petition; making the theft or concealment of a bill a felony; allowing the Indianapolis Widows’ and Orphans’ Home to change its name by dropping the word “Widows’”; grovlding for continuance of the office of ounty Superintendent, at a salary of $4.00 per day; making the drawing of deadly weapons a misdemeanor; ceding titles of certain lands td the United States for lighthouse purposes; providing for opening streets and assessing damages and benefits; making gaming by any apparatus a misdemeanor; amending the General Redemption laws; allowing divorced persons to remarry at any time after granting, the decree; allowing corporations to buy in property at judicial sales updn which they may have mortgages (

allowing appeals in cases asking for receivers ... .The following were nominated for Trustees of the Normal School at Terre Haute: Wm. D. Byrum and A. C. Hopkins ... .The minority report of the Committee on Corporations, recommending the repeal of the Gravel-road law, was ordered to be engrossed ....The Senate met in the evening, out, no quorum being present, an adjournment was carried. House.’—The veto by the Governor of the bill permitting the organization of campmeeting associations was sustained—67 to 26 ... .A resolution was adopted directing the Attorney-General to collect ana cover back into the Treasury all sums illegally drawn by such employes of the House as were holding appointments unauthorized by 1aw.... The House Fee and Salary bill was substituted for the Senate bill and ordered to a third reading.... Bills were passed—directing County Commissioners at each regular meeting to thoroughly inspect the books and accounts of County Auditors and Treasurers; directing the transcribing of Assessors’ reports directly from their books to those of the Auditor; restricting Township Trustees from contracting debts beyond the funds on hand and the amount levied by taxation until permission is obtained from County Commissioners; making seduction of a minor female a felony, punishable by fine and imprisonment.... In tie evening the majority and minority reports of the Joint Bunding Committee were submitted.... Bills were passed—providing for the sale of turnpike roads to satisfy claims; to reimburse certain counties for taxes illegally assessed and collected for State purposes in 1869.... Adjourned.

Senate, March 4.—The Committee on Public Buildings reported on the condition of the prison buildings at Jeffersonville, and recommended the abandonment of that prison at an early day... .The Committee on Benevolent Institutions reported in favor of substituting the Senate bill for two Insane Asylums in place of the House bill for one. The report was adopted and the bill passed.... The Senate Fee and Salary bill was substituted for the House bill and passed under a suspension of the rules.... Bills were passed—allowing Boards of Aldermen for cities of 12,000 voters and over; relieving stockholders of companies from personal liability for debts of such companies; providing for a public warehousing system with grain inspection; allowing gravel roads to operate ana collect tolls on extensions of the roads....ln the evening the House bill to abolish the Criminal Court in Clark and Floyd Counties failed to pass for want of a constitutional majority.... The House bill providing that legal notices shall be published in Gfennan newspapers when such papers exist and where the population is 15,000 and over passed. ...Adjourned. House. —Bills were passed—providing that in case suit is brought by a city it shall not be necessary to bring in proof of the passage of its ordinances unless the same is denied on affidavit; giving Judges during vacation power to revoke temporary injunctions granted during vacation; extending the time for making application for new trial to not exceeding ninety days; reducing the number of Indiana Reports furnished each county from three to one; defining libel and prescribing a penalty of 81,000 and six. months’ imprisonment for each offense; providing that all orders on counties remaining unclaimed for five years be turned over to Township Trustees for the benefit of township libraries; prescribing the manner of levying assessments of lands for turnpike purposes; repealing former acts providing for entering of records for satisfaction of judgments in Circuit Courts; empowering Justices of the Peace to tax costs against complaining witnesses; providing for the removal of such county, township, or municipal officers as fail or are incompetent to perform their duties; defining the terms of auction and autioneers; fixing the salary of the Attorney-General at 82,000, with certain fees and 81,000 for clerk hire; authorizing the establishment of county Grange agencies; requiring complainant to give an indemnity bond to the Sheriff or constable before said officers can make levy; providing for the appointment by the Governor of Justices of the Peace in cases of vacancy; giving exclusive junsdictionto Justices of the Peace in civil cases involving 8300, and concurrent in cases involving 8600, and permitting confession of judgment to the amount of 81,000; also exclusive jurisdiction in criminal cases where fines do not exceed five dollars, and concurrent where fines do not exceed twenty-five dollars; making payment of taxes in one or two installments optional with the payer, and providing that if the first installment is not paid by the day it falls due the whole tax shall become delinquent; also extending the time of payment of the second installment from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15, and prohibiting County Auditors from receiving any additional per centage for collection of taxes in two installments: providing for additional replevin bail in certain cases; for the better protection of Justices of the Peace, and requiring certain State and county officers to make out annually statements or fees collected by them....ln the evening bills were passed—amending the Practice act; providing for the appointment of additional appraisers of property on execution in case of failure to agree; providing that when the land of a decedent is divided and sold and the heirs do not appear to claim it the proceeds can be paid into the court, and then if not claimed it can be carried into the treasury; authorizing the acquirement of land titles by condemnation to facilitate improvements on the Ohio River; reducing the number and salary of Prison Directors....Adourned.

Senate, March s.—The House Temperance bill was taken up, amended in several important particulars and passed on third reading—3o to 18... .The General Appropriation bill was considered by sections, amended and ordered engrossed... .Bills were passed—incorporating the town of Martinsville; making null and void the proviso in promissory notes for payment of attorneys’ fees, legalizing the official acts of Town Boards and regulating the making of town assessments; authorizing the incorporation of boards of trade; allowing the incorporation of cemeteries already partially occupied.... The Judiciary Committee reported a bill changing the date of the genecal election to November, which passed under a suspension of the rules— 44 to 2... .In the evening bills were passed—authorizing Judges to issue injunctions or restraining orders in vacation; offering a reward for the destruction of wolves, foxes and other destructive animals; providing for the levy of a tax to purchase gravel roads by counties; to protect wild pigeons in their roosting-places from destruction; to supply in the absence of Judges from any cause from the bench of Superior Courts; to amend the process of attachment; providing for judgments on sworn accounts in cases of default, without, further proceeding; providing for the purchase of all stationery for public use by County Commissioners; providing penalties for irregularities and peculations.... Adjourned. House.—The Specific Appropriation bill was passed.... Bills were passed—authorizing incorporated cities to construct and improve harbors and condemn property; empowering railroad conductors to arrest and eject any disorderly passengers and those engaged in gambling.... The Speaker read a parting address, and a vote of thanks was carried.... In the evening bills were passed—authorizing the organization of stock-yard associations; requiring railroad companies, steamboat owners or other carriers of passengers to repurchase their unused tickets or coupons, and making it a misdemeanor for anyone to resell, except persons actually purchasing: authorizing transferring of the county seat ofßenton County to thMown of Oxford; establishing city courts in cities havings population of over 6,000 inhabitants; providing that in selling timbered school lands the first payment shall be equal to the value of

the timber; providing for the election of six Trustees of Purdue University, instead of eight; compelling gravel-road corporations to publish sworn statements of their financial condition; authorizing Circuit Courts to change the names of corporations; requiring County Auditors to publish all items of expense allowed by Commissioners....Ad, journed. Senate, March 6. —The following bills were passed: Requiring suits on promissory notes to be brought in counties where drawer resides; incorporating the State Horticultural Society; providing for ditching and draining of lands by corporations, under direction of County Boards; providing for short-hand reports of evidence im courts; providing that corporations may hold real estate acquired by foreclosure of mortgage: authorizing Sheriffs to advertise sale of real estate in any paper in the county, instead of the paper nearest the land; appropriating 88,000 to the State Geologist; permitting pupils outside of corporations to attend High School by paying a tuition fee.... The session having expired by limitation, the Senate adjourned sins die.

House.—The following were among the bills passed: Making Allen County a separate Judicial circuit; establishing a Superior Court in Tippecanoe County, and abolishing Criminal Court; fixing the time of holding courts in the Tenth Judicial Circuit; providing that City Assessors may take their assessments from the books of the County Auditor; legalizing the assessments and collection of taxes since 1872; compelling School Trustees of cities to reorganize the School Board each year, and changing the time of election of Trustee from April to June; providing for the incorporation of State and subordinate Granges; providing that loan associations may not be compelled to dissolve ana reorganize every eight years; providing that city orders shall draw Interest from the time of their presentation until notice is given by'the City Treasurer that funds are on hand to pay them; repealing the Railroad County-Aia law, but allowing townships to vote aid; extending the time in which railroad companies having received aid from counties may complete their lines from three years to five years; fixing the time for holding courts in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit; authorizing County Commissioners to appoint Justices of the Peace whenever vacancies occur; providing for apprenticing of inmates of the Manual-labor Schools of the State; amending Sec. 269 of the Assessment act; providing for the removal of public officers on account of drunkenness; authorizing the sale of certain lands • belonging to the State in the counties of Hancock and Jennings; reducing the price of “ Indiana Supreme Court Reports” from 85 to 83 per volume, and prescribing what cases shall be reported; providing for the incorporation and continuance of building and loan associations; providing that when the appointment of receivers is asked or made appeals may be taken; prohibiting the importation into the State of Texas cattle except from the Ist of November to the Ist of April; limiting the power of Township Trustees to contract debts until permission is obtained from County Commissioners; changing the name of the Widows’ and Orphans’ Asylum of Indianapolis to the Indianapolis Orphans’ Asylum; authorizing criminal Judges to issue writs of habeas corpus-, admitting girls of sixteen years of age to the Female Reform School; providing for service of process on Presidents of steamboat companies or their agents.... Adjourned sine die.