Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-01-04
What the Extra Session Accom-
pIfshed.

session, OF similar length since the adoption of our
present Constitution. The number Of bills that
passed both houses hundred and three,
besides divers joint resolutions; and many others,
passed one or the other of the houses which failed
Ito become laws.
Among the more important ensctments we're the
following:
/. To provide for the distribution of the interest
OF the Sinking Fund. for the support of common
schools. This will add from two hundred and fifty
to three hundred thousand dollars annually, to the
funds heretofore provided for maintaining our pub
lie schools.
Q For the establishment, Of State Normal
School,
3. Providing for refundng to the Sinking Fund,
in State bonds, the amount due it from the State.
4. An act providing for the taxation of rail-
roads
s. A Authorizing a company organized under the
general ditching act, to dig ditch or canal from
the Little Calume. to the Grand Calumet river,
in Lake county. BY the erection OF feeder dam
in the State of Illinois. the waters of the Little
Calumet were caused to overflow about 10000
acres of land in Lake county, to the great injury
of its citizens Illinois has persistently refused
make any compensation to the injured parties, and
has recently sold the dam to private parties. The
draining of the overhowed lands in Lake county
will probably leave water enough in the dam for
manufacturing purposes, to which we understand
the water power is to be devoted but If not, that is
no reason why we should longer submit to the great
| injury inflicted upon our own citizens.
g. Providing for a Criminal Court in the County
of Marion, and all other counties having 10 900 or
more voters. This Court is to sit continuously rs
long il has any business 10 transact. and il the
pcntentaries not pcopled by its adiudicstons,
is will be because the scoundrels who gather here
from all quarters of the country, take time by the
orelock, and transfer their operations to other To-
calites. There will be no six months contnuances,
but Justice, in the language of the Constitution,
will be administered speedily aid without de-
lay"
7. All former general laws for the incorporation
Of cite. repealed and new law enacted
which, il is believed by its framers will be great
improvement on our late system of municipal gov
ernment. 1t gives enlarged power to city coun-
Gil. in providing for the cleanliness and consequent
health of cities, and by which they can take vigor
GUS measures for meeting pestilence and epidem
les. Considerable changes have been made rela-
tive to the improvement of streets and the con-
structon of sewers, and to preserve the moral
health of city officials, and to prevent the possible
suspicion of their official integrity, the law prohib
its all city officials from participating il contracts
let by the city, and makes all contracts, in tho
profits Of which any municipal officer is interested,
absolutely void.
| g. The Supreme Judges were deprived OF the
pow heretofore conferred upon them to issue vrss
of habeas corpus; and enlarged powers in that res
and Common Pleas Courts.
| 9. The law enacted at the last regular session,
| by which a State tax of thirty cents each 800
OF tax able property levied for the support of
soldiers families. for the years 1865 and 1866, was
| rer called to the latter year. The proceeds of
tho tax of 1865, less five per cent thereof are to
be retained in the treasures OF the counties where
collected, and after the first day OF March next
become n part of the general county funds; but all
loans made by the boards of county commissioners,
in anticipation of the tax, for the purpose OF fur
nishng the relief contemplated by the act, to
be first paid and it is made the duty OF the Coun-
ty Commissioners by the repeating act, TO provide
from the general county fund, in q liberal manner
for the support of destitute soldiers who have been
disabled by wounds or diseases contracted in the
military service in the line OF duty, for their fami
/ lies, and for the needy widows, orphans, and de
pendent mothers OF soldiers who died in the service
or shall hereafter die from wounds disease, re-
ceived or contracted in the line OF duty.
The law under which the lax was levied set
apart 900, to be expended under the direction
of the Governor for the relief of sick and wounded
Indiana soldiers in hospitals. This would amount
, TO about seven per cent. OF the amount likely to
be realized from the three mill tax ard in antci-
patton of its collection the Governor borrowed con
siderable sums for that purpose. These loans are
to be refunded out ofthe five per cent reserve fund
and the residue is authorized to be expended by
the Governor, in his discretion, for the relief o
destitute, disabled, wounded or sick Indiana sol
ders who may need such relief, and he is required
to report the amount and manner of such expendi-
tu-e TO the next General Assembly.
10. An act to prevent unauthorized State print
ing.
IL. an act defining the crime Of emjezzlement
and prescribing punishment therefor. il is reas
enable suppose that the prospect of protracted
service in the Penitentary will have a tendency t.
prevent persons occupying places Of trust and con
fdence, from making too free use of the money
Of their principals.
~ An act providing for the organization o
horse thief detecting companies.
Is. An act making it the duty of County Audi
tors to examine the records of their Offices in rela
ton to the school funds, aud make report to the
Superintendent of Public Instruction, and provid
ing compensation therefor. The Superintendent
reports that by giving bis personal attention to tn il
matter in few counties, he has recovered $l1 0Ot
10 the school fund that had been lost sight of, bu
that he had not time without neglecting his other
duties to continue his inv vestgation. Ii was, there
FORE made the imperative duty Of the County Au
ditors to make a thorough examination into the
condition Of the school fund in their respective
counties, which will probably result in saving mucl
that would otherwise be lost.
IA The late Supreme Judges made decision
10 the effect that it was a sufficient defense by
surety on an official bond, that the PRINCIPAL prom
ised him that some othe. person would sign tn,
bond as o co-surety, before it was filed and ap
proved; and that such additional surety was no
. obtained. To obviate the disastrous effect Of th
"iudge made law" an act was passed, requiring al
official bonds to be acknowledged before some off
Ger authorized TO take the acknowledgment o
deeds; and when so acknowledged. that such oblig
or shall, as to the State, be deemed principal il
the bond. and liable as such. A large portion o
the w>rk OF the Legislature, for the last fourteen
years. has consisted in efforts to repair the mis-
chief perpetrated by a reckless set of Supreme
Judges, Of whom, the Lord be praised, we ar,
happily rid.
Is. The deplorable condition OF the iucurabl
insane appealed strongly for legislative action
The Hospital for the Insane is not large enough t
accommodate even those who give promise of res
toration to reason, and many incurable cases have
Of necessity, been discharged. while there ART
many others who have never been received int
that institution. To make beginning at least 70
the proper care OF these unfortuuates, an act wa
passed providing for the erection of additona
buildings for the accommodation exclusively, o
the incurable insane.
l6. The constitutional duty imposed upon th
Legislature, to cause an enumeration of the whit
i male inhabitants Of the State, over twenty
years of age, to be made every six years, commen
cling from the second session held after the adop
ton of the constitution, rs basis for the appor
tionment of senators and representatives among
4 the several countless has been dead letter Their
has been no enumeration since 1853, and no ap
portionment since 1857. No Legislature has beel
elected in the manner prescribed by the constitu