Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 March 1883 — LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS. [ARTICLE]

LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.

-1-. —f Tuesday, Feb, 3k j Benat*.—Two private hjßs were passed. An unsuccessful attempts-was made to pass the HU appropriating $lu(J,000 to the flood suferers wasmade. Upon reconsidering the bill to , prevent stock from running at large, it again failed to pass. The special order to select a location for an in sane asylum, was taken np. The matter was referred to a special committee. The bill to complete the construction of a female department to the insane asylum was passed. ■ IN THE HOUSE. Mr. Houston’s joint resolution agreeing to and adopt ng an amendment to the constitution proposed by the last General Assembly, by adding thereto article 17. forever prohibiting the manufacture, sale or keeping for sale in this State spirituous, vinous, malt lipuors or any other intoxicating liquors, except for medical, scientific methanical, and wines for sacramental purposes, was read the second time' and ordered engrossed on the third reading. Among some twenty-five or more new bills introduced, this morning, was one of Mr. Wilson, of Marion, to appropriate $8',(00-for the erection of additional buildings at the asylum for the deaf and dumb, and one by Mr. Mutz to provide for the election of three additional members of the State Board of Agriculture from the district in which Indianapolis is situated. A committee of five was ordered appointed to establish a rate for convict labor. A committee was appointed to draft a bill to temperorarily prevent stock from running at large in the overflowed district?. The bill to permanently endow the State University was rejected. Time was allowed Professor Campbell to explain his methods in making the Kankakee stir vey. Wednesday, Feb 21. Senate.—The bill to extend the supreme court commissioners was passed. On motion of Mr, Brown the bill for the “better government of the Benevolent Institutions,” vetoed by the governor, was called up. The motion to pass the bill over the veto resulted yeas 26; nays 20. Mr. Duncan, from the committoe appointed to visit the flooded districts, reported that in no place did they find any one sufferin g for the necessaries of life. The general appropriation bill was passed. The bill to consolidate and reorganize the Asylum for Feeble-minded Children and Soldiers Orphan’s Home was called up and the H >use amendments concurred in. The House bill for the relief of the flood sufferers, with the appropriation reduced to $60,(00 was reported but no action taken, The bill to establish a sewer from the Female Reformatory, appropriating $30,000 was passed. The bill abolishing the Criminal Court of Allen was passed. IN THE HOUSE. Mr. Gilman’s high license liquor bill was reported from the committee with a recommendation that it pass. Several amendments were proposed and the bill was laid on the table until copies were printed. The bill authorizing the Auditor of State to issue patents in certain cases was passed, The bill to extend the official term of the Director of the Northern Prison was passed. The bill to permit municipal taxes to be paid in installments, as County and State taxes are paid, was passed. Two or three bills of no interest were also passed. The committees on prisons reported that they found the condition of the prisons Nelli and South in comparatively good condition, and recommended certain appropriation for improvements. The House by a vote of 57 to 42, passed Senate Bill No. 1, for the better management of the Benevolent Institutions over the veto of the Governor. The bill to provide for a general system of Common Schools was passed. The bill to authorize County Commissioners to construct gravel roads was passed. The bill permits a county to issue funds in excess of $100,060, the present limit. The bill authorizing the formation of companies for the detection and apprehension of horse-thieves was passed. Thubsday, Feb. 22. Senate.—The bill requiring County officers to pay over all monies to successors was passed. Theffiill supplemental to the fee and salary act was passed. It is to prevent constructive feee. The. bill appropriating $60,000 to the flood sufferers was passed.

A bill to legalize a term of coart held in Pulaski county was passed. A bill fixing the term of court in Vigo county was passed. A message was received from the Governor vetoing the bill changing the name and form of government of the House of Refuge. After discussion the bill was passed over the veto by a strict party vote. The bill providing for the erection of three new insane asylums, one of which is to be located at Evansville, the locations of the others to be selected hereafter, was passed. IM THIS ftOUBB. The bill to legalize the act of a certain voluntary association in Vanderburg county was passed. The bill to make a contract with the city of Michigan City for the construction of a sewer was passed. The bill requiring corporations to make settlements with employee at least once a month after extending the time to sixty days, for certain reasons to be laid before the judge of the circuit court was passed. The bill to amend section 27 of the road law was passed. The bill to place promissory notes on. the same standing as bills of exchange, was passed. The bill to enable the several counties in the State to sell and dispose of land for the benefi of the school fund was passed. The bill authorizing the Board of County Commissioners to grant bounties for the destruction of woodchucks, owls and hawks was passed. The bill to provide for the election of supervisors of highways was passed. The bill abolishing the Allen Criminal Court was passed. The Senate amendment reducing the flood appropriation bill from SIOO,OOO to SBO,OOO was concurred in. - Tkrt bill to abolish the office of City Assessor was passed. Two or three p^jWß^Vjjls.were also parsed. 2»;. Bknatr. -The biTf'to declare exempt from tax ation certain sums of mdnCy, choses in action held by execution devised to benevolent or charitable, or scientific or literary associations was passed. The bill amending section 8278 of the revised

•ta/wtes of Ifitl. exempting the property of theUnited States, thia State, the property of any county, city, town or township, all lands for the use of common schools, personal property auA real estate of every manual labor school, when used and occupied for that purpose, not to exceed 3 0 acres was passed. A resolution exf-onorating Vincent P. Kirk, ' late Door Keeper, from all charges of unofficial conduct was presented and adopted. Another resolution was then offered, which declared that the Secretary and Door Keeper of the Senate bad failed to do their duty and have shown great nefficiency, and that thesa offices be declared vacant: and that Cyrus T. Nixon be declared Secretary and Vincent P. Kirk Door Keeper he Senate. The resolution was warmly discussed and finally adopted. The bill concerning railroads crossing each other was passed. 1 The bill for the regulating of convict labor wa» discussed at length, . At this point in the proceedings, the office oj. Secretary of the Senate, by resolution, was again declared vacant, and Albert J. Kelley, who had been displaced “for incompetency” earlier in ths day was re-elected to the position. By a unanimous vote the Senate returned thanks to CyrusT. Nixon” for his brief, but faithfni services asprincipal Secretary,” etc IN THE HOUSE. The bill vetoed by the Governor, changing ths name etc., of the House of Refuge, was passed by a party vote over the Governor’s veto. The bill amending section r',278 of the Revised statutes, mentioned in Senate proceedings of thisdate, was passe I. The bill to permanently endow the State Uni J versify was again called up and rejected. The bill authorizing Boards of Commissioner* to straighten and change the course channel* of bodies of water upon petition of persona living adjacent, was passed. The bill requiring in the next. apportionment of school funds, and semianually to deduct ths same amount, to set apart SIO,OOO to be known as the normal school fund, was passed. The specific appropriation bill was discussed in committee of the whole. The prohibition amendments resolution was read the second time and ordered engrossed. f Saturday, February, 24. Senate—Has spent most of the entire morning, ) in the discussion of the Campbell and Johnson' convict labor bills, neither of which, judging from the nature of the opposition, stands much chance of passage. An effort to call up the metropolitan police bill was ineffectual, on acconjit of the previous quo - tion being in operation upon the other pending measures. IN THE HOUSE. The House, early in the morning session, adopted, amidst considerable merriment: "Whereas, The tenor of office is very insecure, and, whereas,this House has no means of knowing who are the-' officers of the Senate, therefore resolved that the Senate be requested to inform the House at least twice every day who should be recognized as the officers of the Senate.” Immediately thereafter a committee of the Senate, consisting of Messrs Spann and Brown, appeared at the bar of the House and reported the re-election of Kelly to the office of Secretary of the Senate. The House went into committee on the specific appropriation bill. The committee rose after discussing the Martin claim of $48,736.46 for brick work on the insane asylum. The joint resolutions proposing a submission 4 to a vote of the people of the constitutional amendments, were adopted. A resolution authorizing a bill be prepared fixing a time for their submission was laid on the table amidst considerable excitement, and ar» thus killed, it is believed. A motion to adjourn was declared carried by the speaker pro tern (Gibson) who refused a call of the yeas and nays. Those opposed to adjournment then formed themselves into an indignation meeting, but the clerk informed them that the action of the speaker was final, and that any business tansacted would not be legal. . Monday. Feb. 26. IN THE HOUSE. Tho bill allowing plaintiffs to select a paper of general circulation in which their advertising shall be done, was passed. The bill consolidating the offices of county and city treasurer and assessor, was passed. The declaring exempt from taxation certain monies, and choses in action, held by executors, bequeathed or devised to literary scientific, benevolent or charitable institutions, was passed. The bill fixing the fees of certain officers, was read the second time, and amended so that the clerk of the circuit court shall receive for attendance upon the circuit court the same per diem allowed for attendance upon criminal and supe- 4 rior courts.