Absent with leave: Messrs. Gilham, Knapp and Powers-3. A majority voting in the affirmative, On motion, The senate adjourned until 2 o'clock P. M., to-morrow. D. H. WHEELER, Secretary Senate. EIGHTEENTH DAY. SENATE CHAMBER, Thursday January 25, 1877. Two o'clock, P. 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, Chapman, Colby, Covell, Crawford, Dawes, Ferguson, Garfield, Gilham, Hayes, Hinman, Holt, Howe, Kennard, Knapp, North, Pepoon, Powers, Thummel, Van Wyck, Walton and Wilcox-29. Leave of absence was asked and obtained for Mr. Carns, until Saturday, January 27, 1877. Prayer by the chaplain. Journal read and approved. Mr. Brown asked and obtained the unanimous consent of the senate, to call up the resolution introduced by him on Tuesday, providing that the committee on finance, ways and means make certain investigations, and with authority to employ three accountants, etc. Thereupon Mr. Chapman moved to strike out so much of the resolution as authorizes the committee to employ accountants. A division being called for on the motion of Mr. Chapman, The motion was agreed to, and the resolution as amended was adopted and reads as follows: Resolved, That the committee on finance, ways and means are hereby instructed to investigate the management of the finances of the state for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not they have been kept and disbursed according to law; whether or not claims have been allowed and paid without authority of law; whether or not any officer of the state has assumed to contract debts in behalf of the state in derogation of law; whether or not the public records are accurately kept and exhibit a true statement of the finances; what is the amount of the indebtedness of the state in bonds, warrants, certificates or other written evidences, and in outstanding or unadjusted claims; what, for the last three years, has been the annual average of funds in the hands of the treasurer; how and where said funds have been kept; what interest, if any, has been paid on the same, and if paid, what disposition has been made of such interest moneys, and whether or not there can be inaugurated a more economical administration of the affairs of the state without impairing the efficiency of its government. And that said committee are hereby empowered to administer oaths, to send for persons and papers and to take testimony relating to the matters aforesaid. On motion, The senate resolved itself into a committee of the whole house to consider House Roll No. 33, A bill for an act to provide for the payment of the officers and members of the fourteenth session of the legislature, With Mr. Crawford in the chair. After some time spent therein the committee arose and by its chairman submitted the following report. Mr. President: Your committee of the whole house, having had under consid eration House Roll No. 33, A bill for an act to provide for the payment of the officers and members of the fourteenth session of the legislature, Report the same back to the senate, with the following amendments, and recommend that the bill pass, as amended. Strike out the words "general fund," from the second line of section 1, and insert in lieu thereof the words "sinking fund." Strike out the words "general fund" from the fourth line of section 2, and insert in lieu thereof the words "sinking fund." J. C. CRAWFORD, On motion, Chairman. The report of the committee was received and adopted, and the amendments to the bill were ordered engrossed for a third reading to-morrow. REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES. The committee upon finance, ways and means, submitted the following report: Mr. President: Your committee upon finance, ways and means, to whom was referred Senate File No. 8, A bill for an act to amend an act to amend section 5, chapter 22, of the general statutes of Nebraska, entitled "Fees," Having had the same under consideration, would report the same back to the senate, with amendments as follows: That the words "ten cents," in the sixth line on page two, be stricken out, and the words "twenty cents," be inserted. That the word "five," in the twelfth line on page two, be stricken out, and the word "eight," be inserted. That the word "twelve," in the twenty-second line on page two, be stricken out, and the word "fifteen," be inserted. That the word "eight," in the twenty-fourth line on page two, be stricken out, and the word "twelve," be inserted. That the word "one," in the seventeenth line on page three, be stricken out, and the word "two," be inserted. That after the word "sale," in the twenty-first line on page three, the words "for each deed," be inserted. That after the word "courts," in the eleventh line on page four. the words "when called upon by the judge or justice," be inserted, That the eighteenth to the twenty-third lines inclusive, on page four, be stricken out, and substitute "Shall be for each dollar not exceeding one hundred dollars, five cents; for each dollar above one hundred dollars and not exceeding five hundred dollars, two cents; for each dollar above five hundred dollars, and not exceeding one thousand dollars, one and one-half cents; for each dollar above one thousand dollars, one cent." And recommend that the bill do pass as amended. Chairman. The committee on engrossed and enrolled bills submitted the following report: Mr. President: Your committee on engrossed and enrolled bills would respectfully report that we have carefully examined and compared the amendments to House Roll No. 31, A bill for an act to provide for the payment of incidental expenses incurred during the fourteenth session of the legislature. And find the same correctly engrossed. GEO. H. THUMMEL, Chairman. The committee on miscellaneous corporations submitted the following report: Mr. President: Your committee, to whom was referred Senate File No. 78, A bill for an act to legalize the incorporation of the city of Columbus, Nebraska, Have had the same under consideration, and return the bill herewith, with the recommendation that it do pass. A. N. FERGUSON, L. W. COLBY. Committee. The judiciary committee submitted the following report: Mr. President: Your committee, to whom was referred Senate File No. 14, A bill for an act to repeal an act to authorize the election of county assessors in certain counties, Having had the same under consideration, report the same back, with the recommendation that the bill do pass. Also, Senate File No. 13, "A bill for an act to amend section 69 of chapter 57, title 5, and to amend section 911, of title 30, chapter 2, of the code of civil procedure, in regard to service of summons," And report the same back, with the following amendments: “A bill for an act to ament section 69, title 5, and section 911, of title 30, of the code of civil procedure, in regard to the service of summons." Also, Amend section 1 by inserting after the word "family," in the ninth line of said section, the following words, "over the age of fourteen years.' |