The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-01-11
What the Extra Session Accomplished.
From the Indi,n,poiis Jsurnai.l

the more important enactments were the
j following
l. To provide for the distribution of
the interest of the Sinking Fund, for the
support of common schools. This VIII
add from two hundred and fifty to three
hundred thousand dollars, annually to
the funds heretofore provided for main
tanning our public schools
> For the establishment Of State
Normal School.
8 Providing for refunding to the
Sinking Fund, in State bonds, the amount
due it from the State.
4 An act providing for the taxation
OF railroads.
5 Authorizing company organized
under the general ditching act, TO dig
ditch or canal from the Little Calumet
TO the Grand Calumet river, in Lake
County.
g. Providing for Criminal Court in
the county OF Marion, and all other
counties having 10000 or more voters.
This court is to sit continuously as long
q, il has any business to transact.
J. All former general laws for the in
corporation Of cities were repealed and
a new law enacted, which gives enlarged
powers 70 city councils in providing for
the cleanliness and consequent health OF
cities, and by which they can take vigor-
oas measures for meeting pestilence and
epidemics.
s The Supreme Judges were depriv
ed of the power heretofore conferred up
on them to issue the writs of habeas cor
pas and enlarged powers in that respect
we're conferred upon Judges of tue Cir
cult and Common Pleas Courts.
Q The law enacted ut the last regular
session, by which 4 State tax Of thirty
cents on each 900 Of taxable property
WAS levied for the support Of soldiers
families, for the years 1863 and 1865,
was repealed as to the latter year.
The proceeds Of the tax OF 1860. less
five per cent thereof. are TO be retained
in the treasures Of the counties where
collected, end after the first day Of March
next become a part of the general coun-
tv fund; but all loans made by the
Boards Of County Commissioners. in an
tel ipation Of the tax, for tao purpose OF
furnishing the relief contemplated by the
act, are to be first paid and it is made
the duty Of the County Commissioners,
by the repeating act. to provide from
the general county fund in liberal man
ner, for the support of destitute soldiers
who have been disabled by wounds or
diseases contracted in the military serv-
ice in the line of duty, for their families,
and for the needy widows, orphans and
dependent mothers of soldiers who died
in the service, or who shall hereafter die
of wounds or disease, received or con
tracted in the line Of duty.
, Tac law under which the tax was levied
set apart Sl0o. 900, to be expended un
der the direction of the Governor, for
the relief of the sick and wounded lndi-
ana soldiers in hospitals. This would
am cunt to about seven per cent, of the
amount likely to be realized from the
three mill tax. and in anticipation of its
collection the Governor borrowed con
siderable sums for that purpose. These
loans are to be refunded ont Of the five
per cent reserve fund. and the residue
is authorized to be expended by the GOV
ernor, in his discretion, for the relief OF
destitute disabled, wounded or sick In
diana soldiers who may need such re-
. lief, and he is required TO report the
amount and manner of such expenditure
to the next General Assembly.
10 An act TO prevent unauthorized
State printing.
II An act defining the crime of EN-
bezzlemcnt, and prescribing punishment
therefor
l. An act providing for the organi-
zation of horse thief detecting conpa
nics
13 An act making 1T the duty of
County Auditors to examine the records
Of their offices in relation TO the school
funds, and make report TO the ~Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction, and pro
viding compensation therefor.
II An act was passed. requiring all
Al 70 ha ode hot
some officer authorized to take the &C
knowledgement Of deeds and when so
acknowledges that such obligor shall,
rs to tie State, be deemed a principal in
the bond and liable as such.
Is An act was passed providing for
the erection of additional buildings for
the accommodation, exclusively, OF the
incurahlc insane.
Is There has BEEN no State enumcr-
alton since 1858, and no apportionment
since 1857 No Legislature has been
elected in the manner prescribed by the
constitution since 1854 and many eoun-
, ties are consequently deprived of the
representation to which they are Justly
entitled To provide remedy for this,
an act was passed requiring such emu
meration to be made in the year 1866,
and thereafter at each recurring period
prescribed by the constitution.
Il The House of Representatives
passed bill repeating all laws disquali-
! flying all persons from testifying az wit
nesscs on account of their color The
bill was sent to the Senate, which did
not act upon it, but passed another,
! originating in that body, making all col
, ored persons competent witnesses, ex-
cept such as has come, or may hereafter
come into the State, in contTavention OF
the 18th article of the State constitution.
This the House had to accept or get no
enactment on that subject, and it was
accepted as the best that could be done.