Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 February 1875 — INDIANA STATE LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA STATE LEGISLATURE.

Senate, Feb. I—The bill allowing ' County Commissioners to vote aid to railroads to the extent of 2 per cent, of the tax duplicates was reported upon favorably... .A resolution was passed instructing for specific and lower salaries for State and county officers and reducing the salary of criminal Judges to $1,200 A bill was introduced making the receipt of interest on public moneys a felony ....Adjourned. House —Bills were introduced—making the salary of criminal prosecutors SI,OOO n addition to that now fixed by law; providing for the prosecution of felonies not punishable by death by information; to provide for the appointment of town and city officers in case of vafaneyinstead of by special election ; indicating the order of business in Circuit Courts; for fencing lines of railroad.... Bills were passed—introducing the public warehouse system and inspection of grain; making void printed agreements in promissory notes to pay attorney’s fees in case of suit; for the sale of trust lands in certain cases.... A resolution was offered directing the Committee on Education to investigate into the alleged difference between the cost of education in State and denominational institutions. Senate, Feb. 2. —Petitions and memorials were presented—praying for reappraisement of real estate in 1875; to cut down the salaries of officers; to abolish the office of County Superintendent; setting forth alleged abuses in connection with the State University.... The Committee on Temperance submitted a majority report to regulate the sale of liquor, providing that retailers shall pay S2OO and wholesalers $400; for local option; for personal liability; drunkenness a misdemeanor punishable by fine; selling to minors a misdemeanor, etc., etc. .... A resolution was passed instructing the Finance Committee to report a bill authorizing a reappraisement of real estate in 1880 and every fifth year thereafter. .. .The resolution for an insane asylum at Evansville and for one at Logansport was tabled.... The Committee on Prisons were authorized to investigate the manner of letting contracts in the Southern Prison.... Bills were introduced—granting a pension of $lB per month to J. C. Bates—who lost an arm in repelling Morgan’s raid; appropriating $83,200 for the Morgan raid sufferers.... Adjourned. House.—The Speaker announced the Committee on A pportionment Tlie-House bill reducing the number of Senators to twenty-five and Representatives to fifty was tabled... .The bill to abolish the Criminal Court of Floyd and Clark Counties passed . ....The House bill reducing the number of Grand Jurors to seven was reported on favorably, and ordered engrossed.... The bill authorizing the dismissal of County Superintendents for immorality was tabled.... The Committee of Education reported in favor of indefinitely postponing the bill for admission of colored children into white schools where no separate schools are provided for them. A minority report was made with a bill, providing for taxing people in districts who object to mixed schools to maintain separate schools. The majority report was agreed to .... Bills were introduced-—limiting the number of convicts to be contracted for any one kind of labor to 100; for the registry of births lind deaths; for the relief of Morgan raid sufferers .... Adjourned. Senate, Feb. 3.—Petitions in relation to salaries, fees, temperance, etc.... Sundry reports were made by standing committees and placed on file.... Resolutions were adopted—asking Congress to make an appropriation for the survey of a harbor at the mouth of Oak River, on Lake Michigan; asking the appointment of a special committee to consider the report of the Trustees of the Wabash &Erie Canal and the accompanying message of the Governor; asking Congress to locate the pro.posed new mint at Indianapolis....A joint resolution asking Congress to retire national bank-notes and substitute greenbacks was referred to the Committee On Banks.... The Senate hill for the protection of game was rejected.... Bills were passed—to close up the Banking Department in the office of -the Auditor of State; providing for return of value of property in cases of contracts wjth minors; to prevent the sale of deadly weapons to minors; for annual organization of School Trustees; authorizing the incorporation of the Patrons of Husbandry... .Adjourned. . House.—The Temperance bill was taken up as the special order and several amendment# were promptly tabled. The debate was continued during tho entire day and evening, and pending discussion the House adjourned. Senate, Feb. 4. Resolutions were adopted inviting Sene tor-elect Burnside, of Rhode Island, and Gen. S. B. Buckner, of i Kentucky, to sente upon the Joor of the ’ Senate.... The Auditor .of- Stain reported as to-the number of certificates issued to foreign insurants companies... * A large number of new bills were Introduced and referred to appropriate committees....A resolution of respect to ttiw memory of the late Superintendent of fhsblic Instruction was passed In the afternoon Messrs. Burnside and Buckner addressed the Senate, thanking Senators for the oeurtesy. displayed by them. ...•.Adjourned. House.—The entire day with the consideration of the maiority and minority reports from-the Committee on Temperance. At the conclusion of'the debate the majority bill was passed 'by ayes 56, 'Does 39. .. .Adjourned. Senate, Feb. 5. —The Senate occupied nearly the entire day in discussing a series

of resolutions instructing tfie Committee on Fees and Salaries to incorporate in any bill which may be reported the following provisions: Certain salaries for So( t>itai-y, Treasurer and Auditor, instead of fees, all fees to be paid into the Treasury; reducing the compensation of officers of State institutions; ] reducing the salaries of Judges of the Criminal Court; ignoring the system of construction fees for county officers, aud requiring all fees to be paid to the County Treasurers; county officers to receive fixed salaries; no fees to be charged against decedents'estates by clerks; fixing the Governor’s salary at $6,000; fixing the Attorney-General’s salary at $2,000 —all of which were adopted ....The House bill providing for the reappraisement of property in 1880 and every fifth year thereafter was amendeded by sustituting 1875 for 1880, and passed.... Adjourned, until the Bth. House. —The bill fixing the per diem of members was discussed at length and finally recommitted.... The Committee on Elections reported in favor of Waterman, the sitting member, as Representative from DeKalb.... Bills were passed—authorizing city Councils to exclude certain plats of ground from corporation limits, at thqir discretion; defining grave-robbing, and providing a penalty of from five to twenty years’ imprisonment, upou conviction; for the release of securities on debts unless judgment is obtained within twelve months... - Adjourned until the sth-