Referred to the committee on judiciary. The following senate files having been previously read a first and second time, were referred to appropriate committees, as follows: Senate File No. 1, A bill for an act to prohibit the taking, wounding, or killing of birds, and providing penalties therefor. A bill for an act to amend sections 55 and 56, chapter 66, revised statutes, entitled "Revenue." Referred to the committee on finance, ways and means. Senate File No. 3, A bill for an act to amend sections 1, 2 and 3, of an act of the legislature of the State of Nebraska, entitled "An act to provide short-hand reporters for the district courts." Referred to the committee on judiciary. By unanimous consent, Mr. Colby introduced the following resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, That the names of G. W. Covell and G. H. Thummel be added to the standing judiciary committee. By unanimous consent, Mr. Ambrose offered the following resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, That the senate chamber be put at the disposal of the state board of agriculture for the purpose of holding their annual meeting to-morrow afternoon and evening. By unanimous consent, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Carnes, which was adopted: Resolved, That the secretary of state be and hereby is authorized and directed to procure suitable rooms, and make the necessary arrangements for warming, lighting, and keeping the same in order, for the use of the committees of the senate. By unanimous consent, Mr. Covell introduced Senate File No. 37, A bill for an act to amend sections 308 and 311, chapter 57, of the general statutes, and to provide for the settling of bills of exceptions. The bill was read the first time. By unanimous consent, Mr. Birkhauser introduced Senate File No. 38, A bill for an act to regulate the fees of certain county officers therein mentioned. The bill was read the first time. By unanimous consent, Mr. Walton offered the following resolution, and moved its adoption : Resolved, That the secretary of state be instructed to procure, for the use of the senate, five three cent stamps per day for each member of this senate, including the president of the senate, secretary and sergeant-at-arms. The yeas and nays being demanded, Those voting in the affirmative were : Messrs. Aten, Baird, Powers and Walton-4. Messrs. Ambrose, Blanchard, Brown, Bryant, Birkhauser, Calkins, Carns, Chapman, Colby, Covell, Crawford, Dawes, Ferguson, Garfield, Gilham, Hayes, Knapp, North, Pepoon, Powers, Thummel and Van Wyck-22. Absent with leave, Messrs. Holt and Hinman—2. Messrs. Howe and Kennard-2. A majority of the senators not voting in the affirmative, the resolution was not adopted. Mr. Van Wyck moved to reconsider the vote by which the state board of agriculture were authorized to occupy the senate chamber to-morrow afternoon and evening. The yeas and nays being demanded, Those voting in the affirmative were : Messrs. Ambrose, Aten, Baird, Blanchard, Brown, Bryant, Birkhauser, Carns, Chapman, Colby, Covell, Crawford, Dawes, Ferguson, Gilham, Hayes, Howe, Knapp, Pepoon, Powers, Thummel, Van Wyck and Walton-23. Those voting in the negative were: Messrs. Calkins, Garfield, Kennard, North and Wilcox-5. Messrs. Holt and Hinman-2. A majority of the senators voting in the affirmative, The vote was reconsidered. Mr. Kennard moved To lay the resolution on the table, Which was agreed to. On motion, The senate adjourned until 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. D. H. WHEELER, Secretary Senate. EIGHTH DAY. SENATE CHAMBER, Wednesday January 10, 1877. Nine o'clock, A. M. The senate met pursuant to adjournment, and was called to order by the president. The roll was called, and there were present: Messrs. Ambrose, Aten, Baird, Blanchard, Brown, Bryant, Birkhauser, Calkins, Carns, Chapman, Colby, Covell, Crawford, Dawes, Ferguson, Garfield, Gilham, Hayes, Hinman, Kennard, Knapp, North, Pepoon, Powers, Thummel, Walton and Wilcox -27. Absent with leave: Mr. Holt-1. Absent without lease: Messrs. Howe and Van Wyck. Prayer by the chaplain. Journal read and approved. The president of the senate made the following assignment of the governor's message: Gentlemen of the Senate: The chair, in compliance with the resolution adopted yesterday, announces the following assignment of the topics of the governor's message to the standing committees of the senate, to wit: So much as relates to the state finances, To the committee on finance, ways and means. So much as relates to the support of the blind asylum, To the committee on public charities. So much as relates to the payment of the balance due on construction of the same, To the committee on claims. So much as relates to the expenses of the suit in relation to salt springs, To the committee on judiciary. So much as relates to the future development of the salt springs, To the committee on finance, ways and means. So much as relates to the ravages of the grasshoppers, To the committee on agriculture. So much as relates to the expenditures in connection with the centennial exhibition, To the committee on claims. So much as relates to banking and banking institutions, To the committee on banks and currency. So much as relates to usury, To the committee on judiciary. So much as relates to the newly created office of public lands and buildings, To the committee on public lands and buildings. So much as relates to the amendments of laws made necessary by the adoption of the new constitution, To the committee on judiciary. CENSUS-So much as relates to the expenses thereof, To the committee on accounts and expenditures. So much as relates to the amendments of existing laws in relation thereto, To the committee on judiciary. So much as relates to the committee on state prison, To the committee on state prison. So much as relates to public instruction and the normal school, So much as relates to the hospitals for the insane, deaf and dumb and blind, To the committee on public charities. So much as relates to county officers, To the committee on counties. So much as relates to the state university, REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. Mr. Brown, from the committee on printing, submitted the following report: Mr. President: Your committee on printing, to whom was referred the matter of printing the governor's message, and also to act with a similar committee appointed on the part of the house in relation to the same matter, respectfully report That they have conferred with the committee on the part of the house, and that the two committees have determined upon the |