Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1869 — LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY. [ARTICLE]

LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY.

XLVI. GENERAL ASSEMBLY. ' Ucrnlßr ftnaaien. . ' Sms ave. ‘ : ‘x Organized h«st TtniMdAy, January 7th. Officer*—John R. Craven, President pro loin Hon. O, M. Wilson, of Marion, Secretary. Hon. W. A. Bonhanf, of Blackford, Assistant Secretary. John A. Farnsworth, of Grant, Doorkeeper. Friday, Jan. Bth.—Met in joint session to hear the Message of the Governor. Adjourned until Monday at 2 o'clock, P. Mr-* — House. Organized last Thursday, January 7th; Officers—Hon. A. P. Stan tohftif Marlon, Speaker. W. M. Merwin, of Putinan, Clerk. John <). Hardesty, of Hamilton, Assistant. J. J. McCarm, of Wabash, Doorkeeper. Friday, January B.—After preliminary business, Mr, Pierce presented the protest of James A. Thornton, of LaPorte county, contesting the seat of Samuel Mill, sitting member. The following bills were introduced : By Mr. Cory: A bill to fix the times of holding the Courts in the Fourth Judicial Circuit. By Mr. Coffroth : A bill to fix the time for holding the Courts in the Twentieth Judicial District. By Mr. BoGo; A bill providing for the appointment of suitable persons to hold Common Pleas Courts, in the absence of the Judges thereof. Governor’s Message read. House adjourned until Monday fit 2 o’clock, P. M.

Senate. Monday, Jan. 11. —Senate met at two o'clock, P. M. Mr. Turner, of Davies, offered a joint resolution (No. 1) asking our Senators and Representatives in Congress to use their influence to secure the passage of ti bill by Congress, to increase the currency to the amount it has been curtailed by the retiring of greenbacks. The Auditor of State Was instructed to send in a list of all officers, county and State, with the fees, as filed in his office, agreeably to the -SnrteKni'tutcs. 'Hie remainder of the session, after the inauguration of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, was taken up with the debate on ft resolution introduced by Mr. Turner, (Democrat,) calling upon Governor Baker for a copy of certain alleged correspondence had between himself and Hon. Will Cumback. The Senate adjourned until two o’clock, P. M., Tuesday. II Ol SB. Monday, Jan. 11.—In place of four Folding Clerks, the usual number employed, the House decided to have the same work done by one. The vote for Governor and Lieutenant Governor was counted in joint session of both Houses, Brief Inaugurals were delivered by Governor Baker and Lieutenant Governor Cumbfick. House bill No. 1, fixing the time for holding courts in the Twentieth Judicial District passed to second remling find was ordered engrossed. The following bills vvere introducod and fend the first time : House bill No. 4, enabling cities to aid in the construction of railroads; and House bill No. 5, looking to the simplifying and abridging forms in criminal actions. • Senate. Tuesday, Jan. 12th. Senate met at 2 I’. AL 'l'he Lieutenant Governor anno tin ce<l the standing committees. A long discussion ensued on the resolution to__ca.ll dor the BakerCumback correspondence, which was passed after an amendment Ly Mr. flughes, making the language less objectionable. A bill was passed changing thetinie of holding the Courts in llamilton county, also, one changing the time of holding the Court in Franklin county. A committee of three was appointed to whom the (Governor's Message was referred for proper distribution.

The following bills were introduced : By Air. Carson: To repeal section one of the school law, passed Alarch 9, 1801. By Air. Johnson, of Spencer: To authorize the biiperintendant of Bublic Instruction to adopt a unii form system of book-keeping for Township Trustees. By Air. Reyitolds: To amend section one of the law relating to unfinished railroads, passed Alareh 6, 1867. By Air. Johnson, of Alontgomery: . To authorize appraisers to appoint i ilcputies. ' By Mr Bell any: An ac t to fix tlie ccciipensatjon of real estate appraisers; extend the time for making the appraisemynT, and to adopt j the’ appraisement of iB6O as the Basis of taxation until new appraisement is completed. By Air. Armstrong: Deciding prize fighting to be a felony and affixing a penalty therefor. By Mr. Huffman: To amend section 27; bf the school law. By Mr- Mason: To repeal the act for the redemption of land sold on execution. Senate adjourneduuljl two P. M., . Wednesday. House.

Tuesday, Jon, 12.—House met at two o'clock, P. M. Chair-appointed standing committees for the session. Petitions were received asking that premiums be'offered for for scalps; th fit the per (Kent of estate appraiser* find assistants be ad-

▼nnecrt to tS; the erection of n priHon for women; the incorporation Of the “Benevolent Friends’ . Hourly” oEthoX'hiMVh of the UiflU‘d |ire*hren in Christ; and the amending of grovel-foad laijr. (Joiniuittee on OrganiMtHm of Courts was instructed toconsider— first, the abolition of tho Courts of Common Pleas; .second, the granting of surrogate i powers to clerks of courts, and third, the tstablisting of Criminal Courts throughout the circuits, or .that being impracticaoTe, to provide for three in place of two terms. A special committee of seven Was appointed to investigate the I doings of railroads nhd investigate ; complaints, with power to send for . persons and papers. . A special committee of five was appointed to at once investigate the charges against the officials of the Blind Asylum, prepared by ithe pupils of the Institution. A resolution was adopted directing the appointing, by the Speaker, of two committees On prisons, one on the North and one on the South prison. A Committee was appointed to investigate charges preferred by a daily paper against the State Printer. Resolution adopted calling on Auditor of State for exhibit of fees ! reported from clerks of courts of, various counties throughout the State. House bill 253, laid over from last session, was called for from the files of the Librarian. The following bills were read the first time and committed: House bill No. 0, in reference to the.eonstruction of lateral railroads, and the manner of proceeding on the part of'property holders for damages. House bill No. 7, authorizing foreign guardians to take possession of ami sue for property of wards residing in the State. House bill No. 0, fixing salary of I Judges of Supreme Court at the same paid Judges of Circuit Court. House bill No. 10, relative to decedents estates. House bill No. 11, creating the 22<i and 23d Judicial Districts. House bill No. 12, for equalizing JJie appraisement of teal estate, i House bill No. 13, to prevent the | importation of Texas and Cherokee ' cattle. I House bill No. 14, regulating the interest on money. House bill No. 15, regulating the : interest on judgments. House bill'No. 16, fixing the time for holding Circuit Courts in the hirst Judicial Circuit. House bill No. 17, establishing and regulating a public printing J office. House bill No. 18, for the incorporation and continuance of building, loan fund and saying associations. I House bill No. 19, creating a department of insurance. i House bill No 20, repealing the | law discriminating on account of color, in the distribution of the school funds and iu levying assessments. House bill No. 21, fixing docket! fees of eouvta, and tees ot justices | and prosecuting attorneys. House bill No. 22, for extending gravel roads. House hill No. 23, fixing times for holding elections. House bill No. 24, regulating the medical profession, .•’nd declaring who may practice medicine. House billljNo. 25, to repeal the gravel road law. House bill No. 26, defining the jurisdiction of justices ofthe peace. House bill No. 27, for the assessment of land within one and a half miles of gravel or plank roads, for road purposes. House bill No. 28, to create 18. official circuits, and fixing time for j holding courts in the same. House bill No. 29, to legalize the assessment of taxes in cities in 1868. House bill No. 30, amendatory to TiuFact providing'for the election'of dorks of the Circuit Courts, and defining some of their dutes. House bill No. 31, to amend the act providing for the election of and defining the qualifications for justices of the peace, and defining their powers in civil cases.