labor of the convicts of the pentientiaries and inmates of the reformatory institutions of the State, and providing for regulating the employment of said convicts and inmates.

The House resolution was introduced on March 19 by Mr. Smith of Tippecanoe, a Republican, and not subsequently taken up.

[House Journal, Fifty-fourth Session, 1261.]

House Joint Resolution No. 3.

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Indiana, by inserting Article 17, forbidding the hiring out of the labor of the convicts of the penitentiaries and the inmates of the reformatory institutions of the State, and providing for regulating the employment of said convicts and inmates, having reference to the interests of the State and the reformation of the convicts.

Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That the following amendment to the Constitution of the State of Indiana be and the same is proposed, to-wit: Amend by adding thereto Article 17, so as to read as follows:

Section 1. The labor of the convicts of the penitentiaries and of the inmates of the reformatory institutions of the State shall not be hired out to contractors, corporations or private citizens; nor shall any law be enacted under whose provisions said labor shall in any way or degree pass from under the immediate control and supervision of the State and its officers.

Sec. 2. The legislature of the State shall provide by law in what manner and by whom the convicts of the penitentiaries and the inmates of the reformatory institutions shall be employed, having special regard to the interests of the State, and the reformation of the convicts.

386.

Qualifications to Practice Law (March 14, 1885).

Senator William Dudley Foulke, a Republican, introduced a lawyers qualification amendment on March 14, designed merely to strike out the existing constitutional provision and thus give the General Assembly unlimited authority to prescribe such regulations as might be deemed necessary. The resolution was referred to the Judiciary Committee and not further considered.

[Senate Journal, Fifty-fourth Session, 626.]

Concurrent Resolution No. 29;

Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, That the following amendment is proposed and agreed to, to the Constitution of Indiana, viz: Strike from said Constitution Section 21 of Article 7 thereof.

387. Code Commissioners (March 14, 1885).

On March 14, Senator William Dudley Foulke introduced a resolution to amend the constitution by eliminating the provision providing for the appointment of three commissioners to reduce the statute laws to a systematic code. The resolution was referred to the Judiciary Committee but not subsequently considered.

[Senate Journal, Fifty-fourth Session, 627.]

Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, That the following amendment is proposed and agreed to, to the Constitution of Indiana:

388.

Strike from said Constitution, Section 20 of Article 7 thereof.

Supreme Court Reports (January 19, 1885).

On January 19, Mr. Charles Kellison introduced a resolution in the House designed to effect an unspecified change in the section of the Constitution relative to the Supreme Court reports. On February 23, the resolution was indefinitely postponed.

[House Journal, Fifty-fourth Session, 178.]

Joint Resolution No. 3 proposing amendment to Section 6 of Article 7 of the Constitution.

389.

Constitutional Convention (January 13 and 19, 1885).

A bill was introduced in each house providing for the call of a constitutional convention. The senate bill was introduced by Mr. William Dudley Foulke on January 13 and referred to the Judiciary Committee. On January 16, the committee presented a divided report. The majority of the committee recommended indefinite postponement; a minority recommended passage. The reports were under discussion on January 22 and 23, and on the latter day the majority report in favor of indefinite postponement was concurred in by a vote of 16-29.

[Senate Journal, Fifty-fourth Session, 32.]

Senate bill No. 26. A bill for an act to provide for the call of a convention of the people of the State of Indiana, to make a new Constitution for said State, and to provide for submitting said new Constitution to a vote of the qualified voters of said State of Indiana, and declaring an emergency.

The House bill was introduced on January 19, by Mr. John A. Deem, a Republican, and referred to the Committee on Rights and Privileges. On January 22, the committee recommended indefinite postponement and the House concurred in the recommendation. On the following day an attempt was made to reconsider the vote of concurrence, but was lost by a vote of 32-57.

[House Journal, Fifty-fourth Session, 172.]

House bill No. 135. An act to provide for the call of a convention of the people of the State of Indiana to revise, amend, or alter the Constitution of said State, or to make a new Constitution for said State, and to provide for submitting said new Constitution to a vote of the qualified voters of the State of Indiana.

390. Duration of Legislative Sessions (January 12, 1885).

In his inaugural address, delivered on January 12, Governor Gray indirectly approved the 60-day period of the legislative sessions.

[House Journal, Fifty-fourth Session, 62.]

There is not much danger of erring on the side of too little law. The world is governed too much, and that was undoubtedly the principle that governed the framers of our Constitution in restricting the length of our legislative sessions.

The fact that such provision has been so long sanctioned by the people without an effort to change it, argues well its wisdom as a measure tending to serve the best interest of all the people of the State. Hence it becomes a matter of duty for each member to diligently and earnestly co-operate with his fellow-members in perfecting and advancing the most important measures, and among the most important are those needed for the support of the State and its institutions. The passage of the general and specific appropriation bills should not be left to the uncertainties attending the closing days of the session. To provide for the public wants of the State is the paramount duty of the legislature. To wisely and economically expend the means provided, is one of the most important trusts confided to those clothed with the management of State affairs.

391.

Democratic Platform of 1886–Endorses Pending Amendment (August 11, 1886).

The Democratic State Convention of 1886 was held in Indianapolis on August 11. The General Assembly at its preceding sessions had adopted two Constitutional amendments fixing the term of all county officers at four years and admitting negroes to the State militia. The Democrats adopted the following resolution endorsing the proposed amendment relative to the terms of county officers.

[Indianapolis Sentinel, August 12, 1886.]

Resolved, That we approve the joint resolution proposing an

amendment to the Constitution making the term of county officers four years.

392. Republican Platform of 1886—Endorsing Pending Amendment (September 2, 1886).

The Republican State Convention of 1886 was held in Indianapolis on September 2. The following resolution was adopted endorsing both pending amendments.

[Indianapolis Journal, September 3, 1886.]

We favor the pending constitutional amendment making the terms of county officers four years, and striking out the word "white" from Section 1, Article 12, of the Constitution, so that colored men may become a part of the regular militia force for the defense of the State.

THE FIFTY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY (1887)

The General Assembly of 1887 was Democratic on joint ballot by a narrow margin. There were 19 Republicans and 31 Democrats in the Senate and 55 Republicans and 45 Democrats in the House. Very few constitutional measures were considered and none were adopted. The proposed amendments under consideration were designed to fix the terms of county officers at four years, to admit negroes to the militia and to call a constitutional convention. The militia and county officer amendments were adopted by the preceding General Assembly and were awaiting action..

393. Terms of County Officers (January 17, 1887).

The amendment fixing the terms of county officers was introduced in the Senate on January 17 by Mr. Inman H. Fowler, a Democrat, and referred to the Judiciary Committee. On February 26 the committee reported favorably and the resolution was adopted by a vote of 29-12. several senators being present and refusing to vote. A dead-lock between the House and Senate over the question of the election of a Lieutenant Governor was begun on February 23 and lasted until the close of the session. As a result, no communications were received and this resolution was not considered by the House.

[Senate Journal, Fifty-fifth Session, 798.]

Resolved by the Senate, the House concurring therein, That the following resolution, which was heretofore proposed and agreed to by the Fifty-fourth General Assembly of the State of Indiana, being the regular session of 1885, to-wit: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 2 of Article 6, of the Constitution. Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, That the following amendment to the Constitution of the State

of Indiana be, and the same is hereby, proposed and agreed to, to-wit: Amend Section 2 of Article 6 to read:

Sec. 2. There shall be elected in each county, by the voters thereof, at the time of holding general elections, a clerk of the circuit court, auditor, recorder, treasurer, sheriff, coroner and surveyor, who shall severally hold their offices for a term of four years from the 1st day of January after their election, and no person shall be eligible to either of said offices, except that of surveyor, more than four years, or one term in any period of eight years: Provided, That in case of the appointment of any one of such officers to fill any vacancy therein, such appointee shall be appointed to hold only to the 1st of January succeeding the next general election after such vacancy occurs.

Resolved, That in submitting this amendment to the electors of the State, to be voted on, it shall be designated as Amendment No. 1, be and the same is hereby adopted and agreed to.

The same amendment was introduced in the House by Mr. William M. Van Slyke, a Republican, on January 17, and was referred to the Judiciary Committee, and was never reported back.

[House Journal, Fifty-fifth Session, 133.]

Joint resolution No. 1 proposing an amendment to Section 2 Article 6, of the Constitution, approved March 7, 1885.

Resolved, By the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, That the following amendment to the Constitution of the State of Indiana, be, and the same is hereby, proposed and agreed to, to-wit: Amend Section 2 of Article 6 to read:

Sec. 2. There shall be elected in each county, by the voters thereof, at the time of holding general elections, a clerk of the circuit court, auditor, recorder, treasurer, sheriff, coroner and a surveyor, who shall severally hold their offices for a term of four years from the first day of January after their election, and no person shall be eligible to either of said offices, except that of surveyor, more than four years, or one term in any period of eight years: Provided, That in case of the appointment of any one of such officers to fill any vacancy therein such appointee to hold only to the first of January succeeding the next general election after such vacancy accrue.

Resolved, That in submitting this amendment to the electors of the State to be voted on, it shall be designated as Amendment No. 1.

Resolved, That the joint resolution providing an amendment