Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 February 1875 — INDIANA STATE LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA STATE LEGISLATURE.

Sbnate, Jan. 25—The Judiciary Com mittec reported favorably upon the Mil providing for the removal of public officers for intoxication, either habitual or during business hours.... Bills werfe introduced —making it a misdemeanor for a railroad to charge more than tnree cents per mile for passenger fare; authorizing the Trustees of towns to select school-teachers; making it necessary for courts to be satisfied of the security for the maintenance for illegitimate children where the mot Her Is a minor before charge of bastardy is dismissed against defendant; repealing the present Interest law and declaring it a misdemeanor to keep a house of illfame or assignation.... Adjourned. House. —Sundry temperance petitions were received and referred.... Bills were passed to a third reading—House bill 222, amending See. 2of an aet for the protection of wild game by making it unlawful at any and all times to kill quails, blackbirds, robins and other small birds, or to destroy their eggs, and fixing a fine of $lO for each offense; repealing Secs. 272 and 2730 f assessment of Tax law; amending Sec. 208 of the Civil Code act, authorizing courts to grant changes of venue in civil as well as criminal cases... .Bills were introduced—appropriating SIOO annuallyto the State Horticultural Society; abolishing the Twenty eighth Judicial Circuit.... Resolutions were passed favoring a repeal of the law providing for semi-annual payment of taxes, and disapproving of any adjournment hereafter for a longer period than from Saturday noon to Monday morning at nine o’clock. Senate, Jan. 26. —A petition was preschlecTasking for'an investigation into the affairs of the Southern State Prison.... Bills were introduced—to cut down the compensation of the Reporter of the Bupreme Court one-third; to authorize five or more persons to do free banking; providing that Auditors of counties shall not pay exceeding twenty cents per tract for the publication of delinquent lists; authorizing the organization of Granges of Patrons of Husbandry.... The afternoon session was devoted to debate on the bill repealing the law allowing 10 per cent, on judgments. The report of the committee favoring indefinite postponement was concurred in by ayes 23, noes 22.... Adjourned. House.—Bills were passed—providing for a re-appraisment of real estate in 1880 and every fifth year thereafter; for the election of township Assessors every two years, who 6hall have power to appoint one or more deputies if necessary; authorizing the County Clerk to receive money paid on judgments, and also all money ordered to be paid in by the courts, and making him responsible for the same; providing for the publication of the delinquent tax-list at twenty-five cents per description; authorizing the United States Government to acquire title to certain lands in Evansville upon which to erect apostoflices -limiting the powers of County in making expenditures exceeding $20,000 except by vote of the people; changing the time of holding court in the Twenty-first Judicial Circuit; authorizing the election of Marshal in towns by people instead of by Trustees.... Adjourned. Senate, Jan. 27.—8i11s were passed—changing the time of holding court in AVarren, Fountain, Vermillion, Jasper, Beaton and Newton Counties; enabling the United States to acquire land in Evansville for a Eostofficc... .The joint committee of the last egislature made a report on the subject of plans for a new State-House, recommending three plans. The minority recommended the plan of Myers, of Detroit, A bill was submitted with the report providing for a commission of live to superintend the erecting of the structure.... Bills were introduced——providing for the erection ,of two additional insane asylums, one to be located at Evansville and the other at Logansport; providing for the sale of the State swamp lands at $1.25 per acre-.authorizing criminal Judges to issue writs of habeas corpus .. .The report of the Judiciary Committee to indefinitely postpone the bill allowing husband and wife to testify lor and again* t each other was concurred in.... Adjourned. House.—Bills were passed—in relation to the removal of line fences in certain cases; encouraging the destruction of wolves and foxes by offering rewards of S2O for Wolf-scalps and $5 for those of foxes; amending the General Banking law so as to abolish the bureau relating to that business in the Auditor of State’s office.... The Clerk of the Supreme Court reported as to the publication of reports during the last six years... .The report of the State-House Committee was received and ordered printed.... Bills were passed—fixing the time of holding court in Benton, Jasper and Newton Counties; preventing the shooting of wild pigeons when nesting; permitting the sale of large tracts of laud, etc... .Adjourned. Senate, Jan. 28.—After receiving and filing a number of committee reports the Seilatewmt into Committee of the Whole on the ■peeial order, the liquor traffic. Speeches were made by Messrs. Sarningshausen, Baxter, Grove, Bell, Johnson and Hough.... The Senate adjourned without reaching a vote. House. —Bills were passed—extending the time of credit on sales of lands of decedents’ estates in the discretion of the court; allowing Judges of Superior Courts to appoint attorneys as judges pro tem.; legalizing taxes assessed in the town of Auburn, De Kalb County; and preventing the killing of any small birds, including quails, at any time of the year.... Resolutions were adopted favorihg the improvement of the Ohio River and asking Congress to make liberal appropriations therefor... .Adjourned. Senate, Jan. 29.—An interesting discussion ensued on a bill to amend the Divorce law. It was finally referred to the committee ■with instructions....Tne House concurrent resolution turning over the State-House plans to the Joint Committee on Public Buildings was concurred in.... In the afternoon the temperance question was discussed in Committee' of the AVhole, the debate being carried on by Senators Given, Sleeth, Henderron, Baxter, Neff, Scott, Bell and others. After a long time thus spent the committee rose and reported the resolutions to the Senate. - The vote was then taken amid great ex, eitement, wiih the following result: Local option—ayea 28, noes 20; personal liability—ayes 31, noes 16; joint criminality in case of sale —ayes 42, noes 6... .Adjourned. House. Bills were introduced—enabling owners of wet lands to drain through other lands; repealing the law allowing interest on judgments... .Bills , were passed authorizing County Commissioners to purchase or build gravel roads on authority of a petition of ,the majority of the voters of a county; providing that in suits where the defendant defaults the bill of particulars filed and sworn to by the plaintiff at the beginning of suck suits shall form sufficient basis on which to form judgment.... .Adjourned. Senate, Jan. 30.—Petitions were received asking that salaries of county officers be reduced.... The Committee of Elections, in the contested case of Walker i>». Larue, reported in favor of Larte, the sitting member, which report was unanimously concurred in .... The Senate Prison Committee was granie 1 leave of absence to visit the Northern State Prison....A resolution instructing the Committee on Education to report a bill abolishing the office of County Superintendent of Schools was defeated by ayes 20, noes 22.... Adjourned. .j House.—A majority Of the Judiciary Committee reported affirmatively on the resolution asking if it be constitutional for < his as6emblv to redistrict the Slate for Congressional and legislative purposes. The minority reported negatively oh the same. The majority report jfras adopted—ayes 43, noes 35.... A resolution was offered recomaending that a new Insane asylum be built.

to be located ne#r thh 6ite of the present asylum in Indianapolis. The resolution called out a long debate, which continued until the recess.... In the afternoon a bill was passed making abortion a felony punishable with iin - prisonment from one to ten years. .. Adjourned. «•