Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1875 — INDIANA STATE LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA STATE LEGISLATURE.

Senate, Jan. 18.—The Auditor reported the gross amount of dog tax assessed since 1865 to be *137,383, of which four-fifths had been collected.... Resolutions were in-troduced—-for the appointment of a single board to manage the State Prisons; directing the Attorney-General to urge the suit against the Terre Haute Railway; authorizing the Governor to unite wjtli the Governors of adjoining States to devise a uniform system of laws for the government of railroads; direeting appropriation bills to be presented ten days before the close of the session.... The discussion of the question of consequential damages and the trial option clause was made the special order for the 20th.... The bill exempting plats,of farming ground of more than five acres from municipal taxation was discussed at length .... Adjourned. House. —Bills were introduced—fixing the State levy at eight cents on the $100; making it a misdemeanor to employ a minor in dram-shops; authorizing the dismissal of County Superintendents for improper conduct; reducing the salary of the Auditor of State to $4,000. A resolution in favor of paying the Morgan raid claims, amounting to .$500,000, was tabled... .The Attorney-General reported the status of the suit against the Terre Haute Railroad ...Adjourned. Senate, J an. 19. Petitions were pre sented in relation to temperance and the ju risdiction of grand juries.... The report of the Judiciary Committee, recommending the indefinite postponement of the bill to amend - the Will laws, was concurred in The hill to. enlarge the jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace was recommitted to the Committee on Judiciary... .The bill to repeal the Fish laws was indefinitely postponed....A Game law was passed fixing the time of killing between October and January....A resolution to investigate the Adam Earl contempt case was referred to the Judiciary Committee... .Bills were introduced—limiting grand jurors to seven; to make void certain contracts printed on railroad coupon tickets; repealing the tax on foreign insurance premiums....ln the afternoon a ballot was had for United States Senator, with the following result: McDonald, 23; Pratt, 15; Thompson, 7; Buchanan, 4; Holman, 1... .Adjourned, House.—The bill providing for the commencement and prosecution of criminal actions by information was defeated—ayes 47, noes 48.... The Temperance Committee reported a bill requiring a $2,000 bond and SIOO license to sell liquors, and SSO license to sell wine and beer... . Bills were introduced—to fix salaries for certain county officers; limiting grand juries to seven members; repealing Secs. 272 and 273 of the Assessment 1aw.... Petitions for the enactment of a stringent temperance law and for compulsory education were presented.... In the afternoon the House balloted for United States Senator, with the following result: McDonald, 53; Pratt, 2(i; Buchanan, 9; Curry, 2; Holman, 3; Browne, 2.... Adjourned. Senate, Jan. 20.—The bills making husband and wife 1 competent witnesses against each other and subjecting lands of married women to the payment of their own debts were indefinitely postponed... .The Committee on Judiciary recommended the indefinite postponement of the bill repealing the act allowing interest on judgments to be the same as the contract on which judgment is taken’.... A recess was taken to compare the vote for United States Senator....ln the afternoon the interest question was debated, and its further consideration postponed until the following day.... The discussion of the local-option project was postponed until Thursday, the 28th.... Adjourned. House.—The Judiciary Committee re ported a number of minor bi 115.... The . minority of the Temperance Committee ' reported a bill embodying the localoption feature, fixing the license fee at S4OO, with bonds of $2,000, making drunkenness a misdemeanor, and providing penalties for selling to minors and for selling on Sunday....A bill was reported favoring the payment of a debt of $22,168 contracted by the State Normal Bchdol... .The hour for the Senatorial election having arrived the Senate and House met in joint convention and balloted for Senator, McDonald receiving 78 votes, a majority of all the ballots cast. The joint convention then adjourned.... In the afternoon bills were introduced—providing for the admission of colored children into the public schools where separate schools are not provided; fixing the salaries of Judges.... Resolutions were introduced—looking to the passage of a law compelling Treasurers to account for interest on public moneys; instructing the Committee on Railroads to inquire whether the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad Company has complied with its charter... .Adjourned. Senate, Jan. 21. —Tire twenty-eighth annual report of the Trustees of the Wabash & Erie Canal was submitted... .The joint resolution asking Congress to pension Mexican war veterans was passed....A resolution was adopted authorizing the Prison Committees of both houses to investigate the conduct of prisons..,.Bills were introduced—allowing labor schools to issue indentures; allowing cities bordering on lakes to build harbors at public expense; to erect an asylum to insane asylum, and appropriating $500,000; repealing the discretion of County Commissioners allowance and permitting appeal.... The At-torney-General submitted an opinion that the term of office of J. H. Smart, elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, begins March 15, and runs for two yearts- from that time.... Adjourned, House. —The report of the Trustees of the Wabash & Erie Canal was submitted.... The report of the Committee on County and Business on the bill limiting the power of Countv Commissioners was laid ,on the table and ordered printed ... .The bill providing for a general assessment of lands in 1879 and every six years thereafter was discussed, and resulted in an amendment assessing lands in 1880 and every five years thereafter ..The concurrent resolution providing for a joint convention to elect prison and benevolent Boards on the 17th of February was adopted.... Resolutions were introduced asking Congress for aid in the improvement of the Ohio River and its tributaries... .Adjourned. Senate, Jan. 22. —Bills were introduced—allowing married women to sell their real estate by attorney in fact; reimbursing taxpayers for expenses incurred in successfully contesting issuance of illegal orders for money by County Commissioners or other authority; re-enacting the Liquor law of--1869, with an oath added to the application for license; providing for a board of seven prison commissioners, with power to supervise the north and south prisons and anv other that may be. erected; limiting grand juries to five members, and requiring annual statements from officers of gravel and plank roads of counties to be published in the county papers... .The bill giving Justices of the Peace exclusive jurisdiction of misdemeanors punishable by fine only was indefinitely postponed... .The consideration of"the interest question was set for the 26th, and the rcsoluilon making the buyer and seller alike liable in all cases of violation of the Temperance law on the 28th.... Adjourned to the 25th. 4 House. —The bills amending the law in relatita to the publication of the tax-lists and authorizing the organization of Boards of Trade were reported on favorably.... Bill< were introduced—giving Justices entire juriedictioh where claims do hot exceed SIOO and concurrent jurisdiction when claims do not exceed $600; giving Justices exclusive jurisdiction in all criminal cases punishable by fine and imprisonment in county jails; adding the Preside; t of the Purdue University to the State Board of Education....Th,e Senate con*, current resolution relating to prison investigation was adopted.... The joint resolution

asking Congress to pass the act giving Mexican war veterans $8 per month pension was passed.... Adjourned to the 25th.