The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-24
THE SEAL OF INDIANA
PRESENT ONE IS LEGAL, But NOT
AT ALL ARTISTIC.
Myron ID. King Produces the Record
OF the Passage of the Bill
Authorizing 1t.

1t - a. Hf1Sldhe, Se1iO MY iOA II. IAihSs
private secretary to Governor Matthews
yesterday, ito say that Indiana has not a
lawful seal. 1t is true, however, that the
printed statutes do not contain the law that
was passed creating the seal and directing
the Governor to procure one at a cost not
to exceed 500. Some three. years ago. when
deputy to Governor Claude Matthews, then
Secretary of State, received handsomely
engraved copies of the seals of other states,
with request to reciprocate, stating the
time the seal was adopted and the circum-
stances connected With it. This set me to
investigating, and I made the discovery
that the printed acts of the session of 1916
do not contain the act that the journal of
that session says was passed"
The following records are what he found
of the bill in the House and Senate jour-
nails:
House of Representatives, Nov. 4, 1885,
Israel Blackford Speaker, Thursday morn
ing, Nov. q 1876
ION motion Of Mr.. Benjamin Ferguson,
resolved, that a committee be appointed to
consist of three persons, to inquire into
the expediency of providing public seal
and press, and make a report thereof, and
Messrs Ferguson, Zenor and Johnson were
appointed that committee.
Friday morning, Nov. 8, 1816-Mr. Fergu-
son, from the committee appointed to in
quire into the expediency of providing a
public seal and press. reported by bill,
which was read for the first time, and on
ond time tomorrow.
Thursday, Nov. IA. 9 a. m.-Bill provid-
ing for public seal was taken up and read
the third time and passed.
The following record is in the Senate
journal:
NOV. 15-The bill from the House en-
titled An act for providing for a public
seal and press was taken up and read the
second time, ordered to be committed to
committee of the whole house, and made
the order of the day for tomorrow, Nov.
49,
This bill. however was not taken up
Saturday, bnt the Senate journal Of Mon
day following says
Senate resolved itself into a committee
of the whole house the bill from the
House of Representatives providing a pub
lie seal and press Mr. Poke reported that
the committee had, according to order, had
the said bill under consideration and made
some progress therein. and had directed
him to ask leave to sit again Ordered.
that the committee of the whole house have
leave to sit again on the said bill.
Nov. 20.-The Senate again resolved it
self into a committee of the whole house
tives entitled An act for providing pub
lie seal and press, and, after some time
chair and Mr.. Pennington reported that the
committee had, according to order, had the
said bill under consideration, had made sew
eral amendments therein, and was directed
TO desire the concurrence of the House,
and handed the same in at the Secretarys
table, where they Were again read and
concurred in by the Senate. The said bill
was then read the third time, as amended,
and passed ordered that MI III, Poke i, in,
and desire their concurrence therein
The House of Representatives, on Nov.
amendment, with amendment thereto Of
fered by. Mr.: Floyd, as follows:
striking out from the word device to con-
cluSion, and insert in lieu thereof "a forest
leaving the forest and fleeing. through a
plain to a distant forest, and the sun set
ting in the West. with the word Indiana
The amendment carried.
Later the Senate journal shows as fol-
lows
NOV. 25.-Message from the. House OF
Representatives, that House had concurred
in the amendments made by the Senate to
the bill. with an amendment thereto. Sen
of House of Representatives to the amend
ments made. by Senate. On question of
concurrence it was decided in the negative
and Mr.. Poke ordered to inform the House
NOV q lin Senate).-MeSSage from House
10 TO- the emeea LnaJ the "a o use INSISTS upon
of the Senate, and desire a committee of
conference thereon and have on their part
appointed Messrs. Floyd and Wilson. The
Senate then resolved that the Senate insist
upon their disagreement and agree to a
conference. and appointed Messrs. DePauw
and Paul on the part of the Senate
Nov 2S.-Mr. DePauw. on the part of the
Senate conference committee, reported that
the amendments made to the bill in the
Senate. The Senate then conculred in the
report, and so informed the House of Rep
resentatives.
Nov. 2S-Message from House that the
House had concurred in the report of con-
ference committee.
Dec. 9.-Message from the House of Rep
resentatives that the Speaker had signed
lie Seal seal and press When Mr. n President dent
signed the same. ordered, that Mr.. Ferris
inform the House of Representatives there
Friday, Dec 13.-Mr. Ferris from the
Joint for e has sa bills
fore the Governor for his approval and sig
nature an enrolled bill entitled An act pro-
viding for a public seal and press
Dec. IA, 1816.--A message from the House
of Representatives by Mr.. Dunn says the
sentatives that he has approved and signed
an enrolled bill entitled AN act providing
for public seal and MP Kng bere Is
act authorizing Governor Jennings to car
ry out the provisions of the act describing
BE it enacted by the General Assembly
| of the State of Indiana, That the Governor
| of this State be, and he is hereby, author
| lied to provide a seal and also a press for
| the said State, and that a sum not exceed
| ing 800 be and is hereby appropriated for
| that purpose, to be paid out of any moneys
| in the treasury not otherwise appropri-
ated"
| The above researches of Mr.. King are of
especial interest since the movement in the
| Senate to discredit the State seal of Indi-
ana. Mr. King acknowledges that the seal
| is not handsome or artistic but he says
| the original description was not followed
out. The seal contains mountains, whereas
! there none in the State, and it is said
| the bison in the design was never product
| of Indiana plains
Fish La Japanese.
| Washington Post.
| While the Japanese are equal In most