the State, to be voted on, it shall be designated as Amendment No. 1.

338.

Governor Porter's Reference to Woman Suffrage (January 10, 1881).

The sentiment in favor of extending the right of suffrage to women was wide-spread in 1881. Memorials and petitions asking that a constitutional amendment be adopted extending the right of suffrage to women were presented from Henry, Howard, Boone, Clinton, Blackford, Gibson, Parke, Marshall, Fulton, Wayne, Huntington, Wells, Marion, Hancock, Shelby, Parke, Vermillion, Franklin, Ripley, Brown, Monroe, Bartholomew, Tippecanoe, Decatur, St. Joseph, Starke, Spencer, Perry, Hamilton and Grant counties, and from the city of Indianapolis. Several petitions from the citizens of the State generally were also presented. A joint resolution was likewise under consideration requesting the senators and representatives in Congress from Indiana to favor the passage of an amendment to the Federal Constitution "prohibiting the disfranchisement of citizens of the United States on account of sex," but this memorial failed to pass. On January 28, Mr. John W. Furnas introduced a bill in the House "to extend the elective franchise in elections for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States to certain classes of women therein designated." This bill was referred to the special committee on female suffrage which had been appointed on January 19. On February 9, the bill was reported back to the House with a unanimous recommendation that it pass and the bill was advanced to engrossment. On February 16 the bill came up for third reading in the House; a recess of one hour was taken "for the purpose of hearing the ladies on the subject." After addresses on the subject of woman suffrage were given by Mesdames Haggart and Gouger, the suffrage bill was taken up for third reading. By a vote of 49-35, the bill was postponed and made the special order for February 22, on which day the measure was rejected by a vote of 43-46.

[House Journal, Fifty-second Session, 87.]

All these ameliorations, so just and wise, which have affected society far more than many measures that have divided parties and excited party frenzy, have been accomplished without having once, it is believed, been accompanied by a party division, or by party strife, or by any public excitement. They have been merely the reflections of a more and more enlightened public opinion. Contemporaneously with these ameloriations, women have been admitted to a part in the management of educational, benevolent and penal institutions. The intelligence, fidelity and feminine delicacy with which generally they have performed their duties, are universally acknowledged.

The art or organization, of working with unity and efficiency in considerable numbers, has been learned by them, and this is one of

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the elements best fitted to prepare them, in the fullness of time, for the higher and more important public duties which may well be expected to be devolved upon them. I am informed that certain ladies of high mental endowments and large culture, whose lives and example, as wives and mothers, have won for them in the communities in which they live, the greatest possible respect, will ask to be heard by you in person in an application to have an amendment of the Constitution submitted to the people, which shall provide for conferring upon women the right of suffrage. Without desiring to obtrude an opinion upon you concerning the wisdom of such a provision, I trust that the most worthy and respectable ladies who will present the application, will be received by you with the gallant and generous hospitality to which their lives and character so justly entitle them.

339.

Conferring the Right of Suffrage on Women (March 15, 1881).

On March 15, Mr. John W. Furnas introduced a resolution in the House proposing a constitutional amendment conferring the right of suffrage on women. The resolution was referred to the special committee on female suffrage. On April 7, the resolution was reported back to the House and was passed by a vote of 62-24, and reported to the Senate. The resolution passed the Senate on April 8, by a vote of 27-18.

[Laws, Fifty-second Session, 721.]

House Joint Resolution No. 8 proposing an amendment to Section 2 of Article 2 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana.

Be it 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 hereby proposed, to-wit: Amend Section 2 of Article 2 thereof, so that it will read as follows:

Section 2. In all elections, not otherwise provided for by this Constitution, every citizen of the United States, of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, who shall have resided in the State during the six months, and in the township sixty days, and in the ward or precinct thirty days, immediately preceding such election, and every person of foreign birth, of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, who shall have resided in the United States one year, and who shall have resided in this State during the six months, and in the township sixty days, and in the ward or precinct thirty days immediately preceding such election, and shall have declared his or her intention to become a citizen of the United States, conformably to the laws of the United States on the

subject of naturalization, shall be entitled to vote in the township ward or precinct where he or she may reside, if he or she shall have been duly registered according to law.

Resolved, That in submitting this proposition to the electors to be voted upon, it shall be designated as Amendment No. 4.

340. Conferring the Right of Suffrage on Women (March 22, 1881).

On March 22, Mr. Simon P. Yancey, a Republican introduced the same woman suffrage amendment in the Senate. The Committee on Revision of Laws to which the resolution was referred reported favorably. On April 8, the resolution was considered in conjunction with House joint resolution No. 8 and the Senate resolution was laid aside and the House resolution matured instead.

[Senate Journal, Fifty-second Session, 693.]

Joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 2 of Article 2 of the Constitution.

Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, That the following amendment to the Constitution of the State of Indiana be, and the same is hereby proposed, to-wit: Amend Section 2 of Article 2 thereof so that it will read as follows:

Sec. 2. In all elections, not otherwise provided for by this constitution every citizen of the United States of the age of twentyone years and upwards who shall have resided in the State during the six months, and in the township sixty days, and in the ward or precinct thirty days, immediately preceding such election; and every person of foreign birth, of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, who shall have resided in the United States one year, and shall have resided in this State during the six months, and in the township sixty days, and in the ward or precinct thirty days, immediately preceding such election, and shall have disclosed his or her intention to become a citizen of the United States, conformably to the laws of the United States on the subject of naturalization, shall be entitled to vote in the township, ward or precinct where he or she may reside, if he or she shall have been duly registered according to law;

Resolved, That in submitting this proposition to the electors to be voted upon it shall be designated as Amendment No. 1.

341. Qualifications to Practice Law (March 22, 1881).

On March 22, Mr. Simon P. Yancey introduced a resolution in the Senate proposing an amendment to the Constitution prescribing the qualifica

tions necessary to practice law. The amendment proposed age, residence and character qualificiations only. The resolution was referred to the Committee on the Revision of Laws, who made a favorable report on April 5. The report was concurred in on April 7. On April 8, the resolution was referred to a special committee of three with instructions to strike out Section 21 of Article 7 of the Constitution. The resolution was reported back with the proper amendment but apparently no further action was taken.

[Senate Journal, Fifty-second Session, 694.]

A joint resolution, proposing an amendment to Section 21, Article 7, of the Constitution:

Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, That the following amendment to the Constitution of the State of Indiana be, and the same is hereby proposed, to-wit: Amend Section 21, of Article 7 thereof, to read as follows:

Sec. 21. Every person who is a citizen of the United States, and of this State, of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, of good moral character, and every person of foreign birth resident in this State, of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, of good moral character, who shall have resided in the United States for one year and in this State for the six months next preceding, and shall have declared his or her intention to become a citizen of the United States, conformably to the laws of the United States on the subject of naturalization, shall be entitled to admission to practice law in all courts of justice.

Resolved, That in submitting this amendment to the electors of the State, to be voted on, it shall be designated as Amendment No. 2.

342. Membership of the Supreme Court (March 22, 1881).

On March 22, Mr. Daniel W. Comstock, a Republican, introduced a resolution in the Senate proposing an amendment to the Constitution fixing the membership of the Supreme Court at not less than five nor more than seven. On April 7, the Judiciary Committee to which the resolution was referred submitted a favorable report. On April 8, a motion was made "to recommit to special committee of three, with instructions to amend Section 2 of Article 7 of the Constitution so as to read as follows:

Sec. 2. The Supreme Court shall consist of such number of judges as shall be fixed from time to time by the General Assembly, who shall hold their office for six years if they so long behave well, and a majority of whom shall form a quorum.

This motion, together with an additional proposal to fix the maximum number of judges at nine, was rejected. The original resolution then failed to pass by a vote of 18-23. On April 15, by a vote of 25-14, the vote on the pas

sage of this resolution was reconsidered. The resolution was then rejected by a vote of 14-25. Later the same day, another vote on the resolution was called for, and the measure passed by a vote of 33-7. As this was the last day of the session, the resolution was never reported to the House.

[Senate Journal, Fifty-second Session, 713.]

Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, That the following amendment to the Constitution of the State of Indiana, be and the same is hereby proposed, to wit: Amend Section 2 of Article 7, to read: Sec. 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 so long behave well.

343. Term of Prosecuting Attorney (April 15, 1881).

On April 15, Mr. John E. Thompson introduced a joint resolution in the House, by request, providing for the election of a prosecuting attorney for each county and fixing his term at four years instead of two. The resolution was referred to the Judiciary Committee but was never reported back to the House.

[House Journal, Fifty-second Session, 1489.]

House joint resolution No. 12, proposing to amend Section 2, Article 11 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana.

344. Membership of General Assembly (January 13, 1881).

Many people believed that the membership of the General Assembly was far in excess of what was actually required to efficiently discharge the duties of a law-making body, and that the expense incident thereto was unnecessary. In response to this sentiment, Mr. Charles Kahlo, a Republican, introduced a resolution in the Senate on January 13, recommending the desirability of a reduction of the number of members of the House and Senate. The resolution was laid on the table for reference.

[Senate Journal, Fifty-second Session, 86.]

WHEREAS, The present numbers of the General Assembly as fixed by statute is largely in excess of the number absolutely necessary for equally as good as well as less expensive legislation; therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Committee on Apportionment be and is hereby instructed to inquire into the expediency, practicability and constitutionality of reducing the number of State Senators to thirty and members of the House of Representatives to sixty, with a fixed salary per annum for each, and that said committee