[Senate Journal, Fiftieth Session, 617.] Joint Senate resolution No. 5. A joint resolution proposing amendment to the fourteenth clause of Section 22 of Article 4 of the Constitution. Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, That the following amendment to the Constitution of the State of Indiana is proposed, to-wit: Amend the fourteenth clause of Section 22, of Article 4, to read as follows: In relation to fees or salaries, except that the laws may be so made as to grade the compensation of officers in proportion to population and the necessary services required. Resolved, That in the submission of this amendment to the electors of the State to be voted on it shall be designated as Amendment No. 5. Amendment No. 6 struck out the word "inferior" as applied to courts and made possible the creation of superior courts. The resolution was adopted by the Senate by a vote of 38-2, and by the House, on March 5, by a vote of 69-9. [Senate Journal, Fiftieth Session, 618.] Senate joint resolution No. 6. A joint resolution proposing amendment to Section 1 of Article 7 of the Constitution. Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, That the following amendment is proposed to the Constitution of the State of Indiana, to-wit: Amend Section 1 of Article 7 to read: Section 1. The judicial power of the State shall be vested in a Supreme Court, circuit court, and such other courts as the General Assembly may establish. Resolved, That in the submission of this amendment to the electors of the State to be voted on, it shall be designated as Amendment No. 6. Amendment No. 7 increased the membership of the Supreme Court and divided the judges into three classes so that one-third should retire biennially. The resolution passed the Senate by a vote of 41-3, and the House, on March 5, by a vote of 63-14. [Senate Journal, Fiftieth Session, 619.] Senate joint resolution No. 7. Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, That Section 2 of Article 7 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended to read as follows: Section 2. The Supreme Court shall consist of not less than five nor more than seven judges, a majority of whom shall form a quorum. They shall hold their offices for six years, if they shall so long behave well: Provided, That the judges elected at the first election after the taking effect of this amendment shall be divided by lots into three classes, as nearly as may be, the fraction being in the last class, and the seats of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of two years, those of the second class at the expiration of four years, and the third class at the expiration of six years. So that one-third thereof, as nearly as may be, shall be chosen every two years thereafter. Resolved, That in submitting this amendment to the electors of the State to be voted on, it shall be designated as Amendment No. 7. Amendment No. 8 extended the restriction of Section 6, Article 10, to cities, towns and townships and thus prohibited all minor political subdivisions of the State from subscribing for stock in any corporation or making any donations thereto or assuming any of their debts. The resolution passed the Senate by a vote of 38-5, and the House on March 5, by a vote of 57-19. [Senate Journal, Fiftieth Session, 619.] Senate joint resolution No. 8. Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, That the following amendment to the Constitution of the State of Indiana be, and is hereby proposed: Amend Section 6, Article 10 of the Constitution so as to read as follows: Section 6. No county, city, town or township shall hereafter subscribe for stock or become a stockholder or owner in whole or in part in any corporation, company or association; nor shall any county, city, town or township donate any money or property to, or assume any debts of, or give, loan, pledge, or otherwise extend its credit to or in aid of any person, association, corporation or company; nor shall the General Assembly ever, in behalf of the State, assume the debts of any county, city, town, township, person, association, company or corporation whatever. Resolved, That in submitting this amendment to the electors of the State to be voted on, it shall be designated as Amendment No. 8. Amendment No. 9 struck out the article concerning negro exclusion and colonization and prescribed a municipal debt limit. When the proposed amendment was under consideration, Mr. Charles H. Reeve proposed to fix the debt limit at 3 per cent., which was rejected. The resolution was then adopted by the Senate by a vote of 38-6. On March 13, during the special session, the resolution was rejected by the House by a vote of 40-35 According to the record, the resolution was not subsequently considered. On March 14, however, the Speaker announced that he had signed enrolled Senate joint resolution No. 9 and on March 15 it was announced that the President of the Senate had also signed this resolution and it is printed in the laws of the special session at page 85. [Senate Journal, Fiftieth Session, 620.] Senate joint resolution No. 9. Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, That the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended as follows: 1. Strike out all of the sections of Article 13, and in lieu thereof insert the following: Section 1. No political or municipal corporation in this State shall ever become indebted in any manner, or for any purpose, to an amount in the aggregate exceeding two per centum on the value of the taxable property within such corporation, to be ascertained by the last assessment for State and county taxes previous to the incurring of such indebtedness, and all bonds or obligations in excess of such amount given by such corporations shall be void: Provided, That in time of war, foreign invasion or other great public calamity, on petition of a majority of the property owners in number and value within the limits of such corporation, the public authorities in their discretion, may incur obligations necessary for the public protection and defense to such amount as may be requested in such petition. Resolved, In submitting this amendment to the electors of the State to be voted on, it shall be designated as Amendment No. 9. Amendment No. 10 fixed the duration of a regular session at 121 days and the special session at sixty days. It passed the Senate by a vote of 33-11, and the House, on March 5, by a vote of 55-19. [Senate Journal, Fiftieth Session, 621.] Senate joint resolution No. 10. A joint resolution to amend Section 29 of Article 4 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana. Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, That the following amendment be, and is hereby proposed to the Constitution of the State of Indiana, to-wit: Amend Section 29 of Article 4 to read as follows: The members of the General Assembly shall receive for their services a compensation to be fixed by law; but no increase of compensation shall take effect during the session at which such increase may be made. No session of the General Assembly shall extend beyond the term of one hundred and twenty-one days, nor any special session beyond the term of sixty days. Resolved, That in submitting this amendment to the electors of the State to be voted on, it shall be designated as Amendment No. 10. The resolutions, embracing the proposed amendments, were printed in the session laws of the fiftieth regular session beginning on page 159; and also on pages 162 and 166 and on page 85 of the laws of the special session of 1877; as there given the proposed amendments are identical with the resolutions as set forth in the journals. 296. Governor Williams Approves Adoption of Constitutional In his message to the special session on March 6, Governor Williams said: "I congratulate you upon the passage of the joint resolutions proposing amendments to our Constitution. They will doubtless commend themselves to the people and recommend you to their favor upon your return to your homes." 297. Date of Holding General Elections; Suffrage Qualification; Registration of Voters; Local Laws; Compensation of County and Township Officers (January 6, 1877). On January 6, Mr. Inman H. Fowler, a Democrat, introduced a bill in the Senate fixing the time for holding general elections, prescribing the qualifications for suffrage, authorizing the regis ration of voters and permitting the passage of local laws fixing the compensation of county and township officers. On January 9, the bill was referred to the Committee on Elections; on February 8, the committee reported the bill back to the Senate and recommended that it be indefinitely postponed "for the reason the same proposition was reported on by the Judiciary Committee and passed upon by the Senate," and on February 15 the report was concurred in by the Senate. [Senate Journal, Fiftieth Session, 38.] Senate bill No. 3. A bill amending Sections 2 and 14, Article 2, and Sections 22 and 23, Article 4 of the Constitution of the State, fixing the time for holding all general elections, prescribing who shall be legal voters, providing for a uniform system of registration of legal voters and providing compensation for county and township officers. 298. Date of Holding General Elections (January 4, 1877). Practically all of the foregoing propositions were introduced in the House, and considered prior to the submission of the Senate measures. On January 4, Mr. Theophilus Crumpacker, a Republican, introduced a resolution to change the date of holding general elections. On January 15, this resolution was referred to the Committee on Elections. On January 24, the Committee recommended that this bill pass. The resolution passed the House on February 2 by a vote of 72-5. On February 3, this resolution was referred to the Judiciary Committee of the Senate, which reported it back on February 8 with the recommendation that it lie on the table. There was no further action. [House Journal, Fiftieth Session, 372.] House joint resolution No. 1. A joint resolution proposing to amend Section 14 of Article 2 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana. Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That Section 14 of Article 2 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows, to-wit: Section 14. All general elections shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November until otherwise provided by law. Be it further resolved, That said proposed amendment shall be entered on the journals of each House of the present legislature, and the same is hereby referred to the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, to be elected at the next general election. 299. Registration of Voters and Residential Qualifications of Electors (January 6, 1877). On January 6, Mr. James W. Lanham, a Republican, introduced a resolution in the House to require a registration of voters and a residence of 60 days in the township or precinct to acquire the right of voting. On January 15, the resolution was referred to the Judiciary Committee, which on January 24 recommended that the measure be adopted. On February 2, the resolution passed the House by a vote of 67-9. The Senate Judiciary Committee, to whom this resolution was referred, made a favorable report, but on February 17 the measure was indefinitely postponed. [House Journal, Fiftieth Session, 373.] House joint resolution No. 3. A joint resolution proposing to amend Article 2, Section 2 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana. Section 1. Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That the following amendment to Article 2, Section 2 |