Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-01-19
INDIANA LEGISLATURE.
From the Indianapolis State Gazette.
INDIANAPOLIS, January, IL, 1888

On this afternoon, in the House OF Representa- I.
tives, the modification bill again taken under
in committee of the whole, MI
Gregory in the chair. The seventh section being
under consideration, Mr.. Marshall moved to amend
so as to prosioe for filling any vacancy OF Chief
which adopted. The Committee +
having proceeded to the tenth section. Mr.. Miiroy
moved to strike out that part which relates to dis
bursting agents: which after some discussion was
adopted Mr.. Cooper moved to strike out that
part which relates the Board fixing the salaries
of Engineers, &c; which not adopted.
The principal part of the evening was consumed /
IN the discussion OF motion, made by Mr.. Nc
Cure, to strike out all that part of the 18th sec
ton which relates to the annual expenditure, by /
the Board, of not exceeding 81 100000 in 1899,
81 100000 in 1910, and one million per annum
thereafter. Mr.. Owen cautioned the moditiers |
against adopting this amendment. IL would /
leave the Board at full liberty to expend what a
mount they might deem proper, and prevent the
modification contemplated III the section of the
bill relative to resembling on,racts-the amount
OF work, now under contract, to be completed In
two years, being upwards of three million of dol
lars. Mr. Mcclure supported his amendment on
the ground that circumstances might make 1t ne
cessary to place or less work under contract
and the Board should be left at liberty TO take
advantage of the times, in prosecuting the public
works. That one year 1t might be TO the interest
of the state to expend only million; another
year. two millions nigh be proltably expended
Mr.. Bright, the member from J Jefferson,
made his debut, on the subject of internal improve
ment, in a long and interesting speech. In the
outset he took the ground, that there was no ne
cesslty of creating any alarm as to our credit and
resources. He reviewed the course of New York,
Ohio, and other states the subject of internal
improvement, and exhibited documents to prove,
that the most sanguine expectations of the friends
of Improvement in those states had been fulfilled
in three fold ratio. He referred TO documents
to prove that the precise sum TO be provided for,
during the present session, in the revenue bill,
could not exceed 80 cents the hundred
dollars. This, he contended, bore comparison
to the tax now paid In Ohio and although ''the
minimum valuation of lands in Ohio less than
In Indiana, still the greater amount of tax paid
by that state, on the one hundred dollars, more
than doubled ours, even admitting we were to
place tax at 80 cents and equalze the valua-
ton of property IN the two states. lie contended,
that before the ad vaorem system was adopted IN
this state, the anoholders, considering the valun-
ton OF lands them compared with tho present
prices, paid more tax than they now would, under
a taxation of thirty cents. This sum, he referred
to documents to prove, would be all that it would
be necessary to levy for the next two or three
wears, even should the Board authorize two mil
lion dollars to be annually expended as the add
ton to- the lands, which would then be subject &c
taxation, the increase value of tow property, per-
sona estate, commercial transactions, &c, would
be fully adequate to the increase of expenditures
/, should no unnecessary alarm be created, and the
. state progress In her grand en- terprise he con
: fidently believed she would, under proper ex
} penditurc of the public money. He said, fear:
were entertained by some, that many OF the work
. would not keep themselves in repair, or that bu
= little would be derived from them, when compile
ted He believed they would all be profitable
That the history of internal improvements in tn
= United States clearly proved, that public expec
= ta,ions had been more than surpassed, whereve
10 rko had hnen tod rfa1r
. himself, should the state complete the work il
: which he most interested, find men VII
. would give ample security, and who would tax
Z the road, keep II IN repair and pay the interest
>, the money expended for the next ten years
:, Mr. Bright was followed BY M'Narv, in one
>, his Iaughablo speeches, in which he introduce
his old figure of the feeding on buckwhea
,, straw in the way of offset to Mr.. Bright's a.
=. gumeuts.
- Mr.. Judah followed in of his happiest e
- forts, IN favor of modification Having the repo
:. from the financial committee Of the House befor
:. him, he referred TO a great many facts highly II
. terestlng. in reference to the position o,
y cupv, and the necessity Of limiting the annual e,
70 penditure of money. As both Mr.. Bright's an
- Mr.. Judah's speeches will most probably be put
lished, must claim their indulgence for merel
=. glancing at their arguments. TO keep the publ
~ advised of the progress of this momen,ous que
~ ton
Mr.. Speaker Evans finished the debate tn
=. evening, by making a few general remarks
:, reference TO the system. It's origin, progress
y proper mode OF completion, which he observe
: that his friend from Madison, who had not here,
+ lore obtruded his views on the House. on the su
r. lect of improvement, was unfortunate, on his 6r
effort, TO have the big guns of the House le, loo
- =, upon him He had, however, In his opinio
- made use of arguments tina, canno, be easily CO
VI trove r,ed.
y The committee then rose, with leave TO Sc,
= gain, and the House adjourned.
:. Frequent illusions having been made to Il
- comparative situation OF New York Ohio, al
:. other states, unfav orable TO Indiana, we think
- our duty TO remark. that we were in Columbu
" during the winter when Governor Brown, the I
Witt Clinton of Ohio, first brought the great subie
of internal lmprov ements before the legislaiul
:. of that enterprising state. and we aye compells
!, to say, that the comparative advantages of Obi
- at that period, contra.ted with the present stu
!. ton Of Indiana, Preponderaie greatly in favor
!. the Hooser state. At that period. Ohio had
" popu lation of less than FIVE hundred thousand i
habitanis. Cincinnati, the great queen city