The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-02-21
Legislative summary.

On Wednesday the Agent of State pre-
sented his report for 1859. A petition from
the Indiana Historical Society asking that
an appropriation be made for reviving the
society and providing a place to keep the
books and documents, was referred to |
Select Committee. Mr.. March, from the |
Committee on Finance, reported an amend |
ment to the Senate bill amending the
interest law so as to prevent usury, but to |
allow 10 per cent. on contract. An ami
mated discussion grew out of this report, |
which was not finished when the hour ar
rived for the consideration of the special Or
der-the election of United States Senators. |
The bill, as originally introduced, was Or
dered to an engrossment. Senator Greene's
bill to provide for an enumeration of the
white male inhabitants in 1860 was passed.
Sundry other bills of no especial import
ance were passed. Mansfeld's Temperance
bill was then taken up. After great many
amendments had been tackled ON to the bill,
it was ordered to be engrossed.
On Thursday Heffren, from the Committee
on Finance, reported an amendment to the
Senate bill declaring the loaning of public
money a misdemeanor, and in some cases
felony. The report aud bill we're discussed
at length-the features of the bill being
regarded by several as calculated to provide
shinplasters for the people and gold and sill
7ee for tie office holders.
The bill provides that all taxes shall be
collected in gold aud silver, and an amend
ment by Blair adds the notes Of the State
and free banks of Indiana. 1t prevents the
loaning of any public money, and 1t was
contended by its opponents that it would
lock up in the State vaults the gold and
silver of the country and give shinplasters
and foreign bank bills the more room for
circulation.
The committee reported an amendment
striking out three sections of the bill which
provide penalty for embezzlement. Those
who favored the proposition contended that
the decisions of the Supreme Court would
make the incorporation of such q provision
void This amendment was adopted.
The discussion of this bill and amend
ment occupied the whole time of the morn
ing session. A host of reports were made
from Committees disposing of bills of minor
importance. Mr.. Odell, by consent, intro
duced bill amending the charter of the
Bank of the State, so as to be taxed as indi-
viduals are taxed, which was read twice and
referred.
Few matters of especial interest were uu-
der consideration in the House on Wednes-
day, except that of the Bill recognizing
the manner of doing township business
Among the new bills introduced, we notice
one by Blythe, to provide for the incorpora-
ton of canal companies, one by Duyol, to
provide for the extension of the Insane Asy-
lum, authorizing loan of $1,000, and one
by Jones, authorizing q bounty of $4,000
for the discovery of the cause of the milk
sickness. Comstock, from select commit
tee, reported q bill for the protection of
blcoded stock. The report was concurred
in. The Township reform bill coming up
in the afternoon, was considered by sec
AOuS. n StiOhk OiA0A1 w 40 AAoA~ ~ NAAS "
ponents of the bill to change the number OF
trustees from one las it now stands) to
three, but was lost by vote of 46 to 40
Several specifications in the bill were amend
ed. When the section providing for the
compensation of the Trustee was read, Hun
ter moved to make it $50 per year, on the
ground of economy. This was vehemently
opposed by Davis and Gordon, and finally
laid ON the table by vote of-ayes, 40
noes, 80. The bill was still in consideration
when the House adjourned.
On Thursday the various committees made
reports on various unimportant matters
Mr.. Prosser introduced bill to prescribe
the mode of taxing the Bank Of the State o
Indiana, to repeal the 18th section of it
charter, and prevent it from issuing on it
deposites. Read twice and referred to sc
lect committee of FIVE. A bill was also in
trodHced to provide for and regulate tn
election OF State Printer.
Ritter, from the Committee on Publ
Expenditures reported on the accounts {
the State Treasurer, Auditor and Secretar