Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-02-13
Legislative summary.

hoNDAfs FEBRUARY =, icoi'
SESATE-The Senate met in afternoon session
and transacted large amount of business in the
way Of reading up. amending and recommitting
bills with instructions and or two ere passed
Twelve new bills were introduced-oneby Mr..
Newcomb, for the relief of borrowers from the
Sinking Fund, and one by Mr.. Claypool, supple
mental to the banking law of 1855, to authorize
the Auditor and Treasurer to surrender securities
and moneys, in certain cases. A resolution by
Mr.. Murray was adopted requiring the Committee
on Printing to inquire into the expedency of let
ting out the printing to the lowest bidder-to re-
port bill making the printer find paper, and to
separate the printing from the binding. The
consideration of the minority report of the Com
mittee on Federal Relations being the special or
der, Mr.. Ray in behalf of the minority who voted
for the resolution sending commissioners to Wash
ington, submitted the protest which was ordered
to be spread upon the journals. They protest
against the implied hostility contained in the res
olutions against all measures of conciliation-
against the provision requesting the postponement
of the conference the provision forbid
ding the commissioners to act until nineteen States
are represented, and because the resolutions do
not indicate but virtually DENY all means of set
ting our National difficulties by other means
than the sword.
HoUsE.-The Speaker laid before the House
the response of the Warden of the State Prison, in
regard to contractors, and announced the select
committee to receive the President elect-Messrs
Gresham, Burgess, Bingham, Sherman, Brett and
Mclean. The reports from the committees were
numerous, and embraced bills on almost every
subject of legislation, and a good days work was
accomplished in short time in reading up and
dispOsing of accommodating matter Several new
bills were introduced and read first time. The
teen was continued-Mr Cason, of Boone and
Hendricks, spoke ON the Republican side; Mr.
Roberts, of Dearborn. (Democrat) followed, and
Mr.. Gresham, of Homer, (Republican) closing
Mr.. McClurg. of Clinton, got the floor at adjourn
nent. In the way this debate is progressing now
it promises to hold out during the session. Il.
good school for young men to learn to debate
but a very expensive one to the good people o.
Indiana.
TUESDAY, February s. 1861.
Standardization adopted at Union meet
ings held in Gibson and Fayette counties wer,
presented and referred. An Intellectual motion
was made to reconsider the vote referring all mat
tiers ON Federal subjects to the committee, with
out debate. New bills were presented-to pro
vide for adjourned terms of Circuit Courts, anC
fixing the compensation of Judges and Prosecu
ting Attorneys; in regard to the boards of equal
ization; authorizing County Auditors to issue fe'
bills, and to subdyide several tracts of land il
Monroe and Gibson counties. The bill for tn
preservation Of fish was recommitted, with in
structions, also that in reference to Re
porter of the Supreme Court, and Mr.. Conner
bill limiting the period of publication to thirt
days, instead of sixty days; Mr.. Shoemaker's i
reference to conveyance of public property; am
Mr.. Holcomb's in regard to tract-b books, ETC.; Nh
Newcombs in regard to juries; and Mr.. Turner
in regard to Common Pleas Courts, and ne'
counties-were passed. A long debate sprung II
on Mr.. Lines bill in regard 10 Common Plea
Attorneys fees, and it was finally recommittet
with instructions.
HoUsE.-lt a working day in the Hous.
A very large number of bills were read secon
time and referred to committees or ordered to
engrossed The ENLIGHTENMENT bill, introduce
by Mr.. Branham-No. of this session-entitle
an act defining certain felonies and misdemeanor.
and prescribing punishment therefor. and proviC
ing certain evidence on the part of the State. wa
taken up being the special order in the afternoor
and passed by vote of IA yeas to nays
Its leading provisions are: l. Making il
felony for any officer or other person entruste
with money, fund, security, &C.. of the Slati
10 convert them to his own use &c lie sha
lie deemed guilty of felony, punishable wit
confinement in the penitentiary not less tina
D one nor more than twenty one years, and in
fine not exceeding the value of the money Sc
e so used; and refusal to pay over to person er
: titled to receive, to be held MS evidence of sue
felony =. False statement of the amount ,
money on hand to be a felony,-confnemer
not less than one nor more than fourteen wear
3. Ii the Treasurer of State shall pay out ,
receive any public money, except as prescribe
q by law-not less than fifty dollars. nor mo-
: than FIVE hundred. and imprisoned in Il
t, county prison not less than one year. A. If
accept any warrant or voucher from any ere,
itor of the State without having paid the san
to such creditor, in such funds as he may ha'
received for disbursement-he shall be fin,
. in a sum equal TO the amount withheld an
. confined in the county Jail not less than OF
nor more thsn twelve months g. III the Sc
q rotary, Auditor, or Treasurer of State sha
receive any fee or perquisiie, and fail to repo
n it TO the Treasury-he shall be fined in doub
N the amount received aud imprisoned in Il
county jail-same term. 6. The Treasurer