Which bill was read a first time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Senate bill No. 100 was taken up-a bill to amend sections 352 and 354 of an act entitled "An act to revise, simplify and abridge the rules, practice, pleadings and forms in civil cases in the courts of this State; to abolish distinct forms of action at law, and to provide for the administration of justice in a uniform mode of pleading and practice without distinction between law and equity," approved June 18, 1852.

Which bill was read a first time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Senate bill No. 103 was taken up-a bill to amend section 78 of an act entitled "An act to provide for a general system of common schools, the officers thereof, and their respective powers and duties and matters properly connected therewith, and to establish township libraries, and for the regulation thereof."

Which bill was read a first time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Senate bill No. 106 was taken up-a bill to prescribe the qualifications of petit jurors in the several courts of this State.

Which bill was read a first time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Senate bill No. 140 was taken up—a bill to amend section 3 and repeal section 4 of an act entitled "An act prescribing who may make a will, the effect thereof, what may be desired, regulating the revocation, admission to probate, and contents thereof," approved May 31, 1852.

Which bill was read a first time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

House bill No. 344 was taken up, read a second time, and ordered to be engrossed.

House bill No. 340 was taken up, read a second time, and, on motion of Mr. Brett, laid on the table, and 200 copies ordered to be printed for the use of the members of the House.

Mr. Butterworth, from the Committee on Swamp Lands, submitted the following majority report:

MR. SPEAKER:

The Committee on Swamp Lands, to whom was referred Senate bill No. 88, for an act to authorize and encourage the construction of levees, dykes, drains and ditches, and the reclamation of wet and overflowed lands by incorporated companies, etc., etc., have had the same under consideration, and a majority of said committee have directed me to report the same back with sundry amendments, which they recommend to be adopted as necessary to the perfection of the bill if the same shall become a law.

Amend in section 1, third line, after the word "persons," by adding the words "residents of the State of Indiana."

Amend at the end of section 7, after the word "journal," by adding to the words "no officers or appraisers shall be allowed a compensation exceeding three dollars per day for the time actually employed."

Amend in section 13, line 7, after the words "signed by," by striking out the words "one-third," and inserting "a majority," in place thereof.

Also, amend in same section in line 11, after the words "proof that," by striking out the words "one-third of such land owners," and insert "a majority of such land owners interested in the proposed work," in place thereof.

Amend in section 15, line 34, after the words "they shall," by striking out the words "return to the clerks of the association," and insert in place thereof the words "deposit in the office of the recorder of the county in which they are appointed."

Amend in section 18, line 17, and in line 20, by striking out the words "increase or."

Amend in section 21, line 34, by adding after the words "party appealing the sentence:" "Provided, however, That no change of venue shall be allowed to any other county."

Amend in section 23, in line 14, after the word "assessment," by

adding the following: "but they shall not have power to order the payment of more than one installment until the construction of the work shall have actually commenced; and they shall not have power to order the payment of additional installments farther than is necessary for the continued prosecution of the work."

Mr. Gregory, from the same committee, submitted the following minority report:

The minority of the Committee on Swamp Lands, to whom was referred Senate bill No. 88, entitled, "An act to authorize and encourage the construction of levees, dykes, drains and ditches, and the reclamation of wet and overflowed lands by incorporated associations, and providing for the organization of such associations and prescribing the powers and providing for assessments of the costs of such improvements and the expenses attending the same upon the lands benefitted thereby, and for the collection of such assessments and repealing certain acts therein specified, and declaring an emergency," have had the same under consideration and submit the following report: That upon examination, they find that said bill does not contain any of the obnoxious features of the law repealed at the late special session of this Legislature, and in our judgment, this bill is politic and wise, and if it becomes a law together with the amendments, we propose herein, will be to the benefit of all the citizens of the State. We, therefore, ask that the bill be amended, by adding the following section before the section in the original bill numbered 31; and when the bill is so amended, we recommend its passage.

R. GREGORY,

JOHN MCCONNELL.

SEC. 30. In any case, in which persons have heretofore attempted to organize an association for the purpose contemplated in this act under prior laws in this State, and have in good faith taken such steps as were supposed by them to be necessary, to make and perfect such organization and have proceeded in good faith to the actual construction of all or any portion of their proposed work prior to the first day of November, 1872, and shall have failed or been unabled to collect assessments of benefits, because of any error, informality or invalidity in the organization of said association or in its proceedings, then in every such case, it shall be law

ful for such persons or any portion of them, not less than two thirds of all those, who united in the original undertaking together with such other persons as shall unite with them to sign and adopt articles of association, and become incorporated in the manner provided in this act, for the purpose of taking possession of the work undertaken and commenced by said former attempted association, and completing or keeping them in repair, as the case may require, and such newly organized company shall have the power to cause an assessment of benefits and injuries of lands, effected by said work to be made and collected under this act in the same manner, as if said work had been undertaken and done by said newly organized company in the first instance. Provided, That all persons assessed, shall have credit on their assessment for all payments made by them, on account of said work to the former association or persons composing it; And provided further, That the provisions of this section shall not apply to the case of any association, or attempted association, the main line of whose proposed work shall exceed sixteen miles in length.

Which bill and reports were passed over informally.

Mr. Walker was called to the chair by the Speaker.

Mr. Edwards, of Vigo, moved that the vote by which House bill No. 384 was passed, be reconsidered.

It was so ordered.

On motion of Mr. Henderson, House bill No. 349 was taken from the table, and read a second time and ordered to be engrossed.

House bill No. 414 was taken up, and read a second time and ordered to be engrossed.

Mr. Riggs presented a petition from sundry citizens of Vanderburgh county, asking for the passage of a temperance law, similar to the law of the State of Illinois.

Which was referred to the Committee on Temperance.

Mr. Willard presented the claim of George Whitman.

Which was referred to the Committee on Claims.

H. J.-26

Mr. Edwards, of Vigo, introduced House bill No. 466-an act providing for the publication of official matter in the German newspapers.

Which bill was read a first time and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Cobb offered the following resolution :

Resolved, That when the House adjourn, it be until Monday at two o'clock p. m.

Which resolution was adopted.

On motion of Mr. Cauthorn, the House adjourned until Monday next, at 2 o'clock p. m.

W. K. EDWARDS, Speaker.

MONDAY AFTERNOON.

FEBRUARY 10, 1873, 2 O'CLOCK.

The House met pursuant to adjourment with the Speaker in the chair.

Prayer was offered by the Rev. B. F. Smith, of Indianapolis.

The journal of Friday was read and approved.

Mr. Baker introduced House bill No. 467-an act to amend an act entitled "An act regulating foreign insurance companies doing business in this State, and prescribing the duties of the agent thereof, and of the Auditor of State in connection thereunto, and prescribing penalties for violations of the provisions of this act," approved December 21, 1865.

Which was read the first time and referred to the Committee on Insurance.

Mr. Baker introduced House bill No. 468-an act to repeal all laws and parts of laws whereby stockholders in corporations are held liable for the debts of the corporation.