Hon. Elisha W. Keyes being called upon by the joint convention, appeared and spoke as follows: Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Joint Convention: I thank you for this call. There is no occasion here for me to occupy your time in making a speech. It is enough for me to say that I ratify what you have done. Hon. Edward G. Ryan being called upon by the joint convention, appeared and spoke as follows: Mr. Chairman: My friend Mr. Carpenter and my friend Mr. Keyes were living actors in the scene that has just been gone through with. I was only a figure-head, and I cannot say as Mr. Keyes has just said, that I ratify this whole thing. For I foresaw yesterday morning, and a little before that, that Judge Howe and Mr. Keyes and Mr. Carpenter were going into a confederacy to defeat me. I, however, thank the whole of this joint convention who voted for me or who did not vote for me, for the position you have given me as an opponent of so distinguished a gentleman. The objects of the joint convention having been accomplished, The president declared the joint convention dissolved. Upon returning to the senate chamber, On motion of Senator Richmond, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1879. Senate met. President in the chair. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Benson. The roll being called, the following senators responded to their names: Senators Andrews, Bailey, Burrows, Campbell, Chipman, Dering, Grimmer, Haben, Hathaway, Houghton, Hudd, Hyde, Kellogg, Loper, McFetridge, Paul, Price, Rankin, Reynolds, Richardson, Richmond, Sacket, Scott, Treat, Van Schaick, Van Steenwyk, Welch and Wolf. The journal of yesterday was approved. LETTERS, PETITIONS, ETC. By Senator Burrows: No. 47, S., To the honorable senate and assembly of the state of Wisconsin: The undersigned, late treasurer of the Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane, respectfully represents that, as such treasurer, there was paid to him by the late state treasurer a check upon the Bank of Madison, for the sum of $10,000, as part of the appropriation made to the said hospital for the year 1873. Soon after said check was collected from said bank, the bank went into bankruptcy, and suit was brought by W. S. Main, assignee of said bank, against the undersigned, as well as against many other persons, in the district court of the United States for the western district of Wisconsin, to recover moneys paid out by said bank during some of the last days it transacted business. Upon the trial of said suit, the undersigned set up in defense that the money obtained upon that check of the late state treasurer was the money of the state, and that under the bankrupt act, the state being a preferred creditor, the payment of the check was lawfully and properly made. From the evidence developed upon the trial of the case, howhis honor Judge Hopkins decided that the money deposited in the Bank of Madison by the state treasurer was not the money of the state, but the private funds of Henry Bætz, the maker of the check, and said: "That if the check had been paid to Henry Bætz himself, the payment would have been void under the bankrupt act, and that transferring the check to the treasurer of the hospital gave him no right to collect money thereon, which, under the circumstances, could not have been lawfully paid to the maker of the check himself," and thereupon rendered judgment against the undersigned for the money collected on such check; which judgment the undersigned paid in full, thereby leaving a deficit to the hospital on account of the appropriations of 1873, of $10,000; which deficit was made good to the hospital by appropriation in 1876. But inasmuch as the undersigned is still debited with the amount of said check as treasurer of the hospital, he would most respectfully ask that the proper officer be authorized to credit his account as such treasurer of the State Hospital for the Insane with a sum sufficient to balance the check so paid, as part of said appropriation, by the late state treasurer. All of which is respectfully submitted. SIMEON MILLS. Ordered spread upon the journal, and referred to the committee on Claims. RESOLUTIONS. By Senator Welch: Res. No. 15, S., Resolved, That the sergeant-at-arms is hereby authorized to place on his pay roll one man as gallery attendant, one man as committee room attendant and one man as custodian of cuspidores. Lies over. BILLS INTRODUCED, Read first and second times, and referred. By Senator Price: No. 40, S., A bill to amend section 1557 of chapter 69 of the revised statutes of 1878, entitled of excise and the sale of intoxicating liquors. To committee on Charitable and Penal Institutions. By Senator Kellogg: No. 41, S., A bill to establish a municipal court in the city of Wausau and county of Marathon, and to repeal chapter 146, general laws of A bill to authorize a certain credit to Simeon Mills, late treasurer of the State Hospital for the Insane. To committee on Claims. By Senator Paul: No. 43, S., A bill to amend chapter 201 of the revised statutes of 1878, relating to the state prison. To committee on Charitable and Penal Institutions. By Senator Scott: No. 44, S., A bill to appropriate two thousand dollars to the state board of health. To committee on Claims. By Senator Burrows: No. 45, S., A bill to amend section 8 of chapter 178, entitled an act for the division of the counties of Clark, Marathon, Lincoln and Chippewa, and the erection of the county of Taylor. To committee on Judiciary. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. The committee on State Affairs, to whom was referred Jt. Res. No. 2, A., Limiting time for the introduction of new business, Have considered the same, and report the same back and recommend it be concurred in. O. C. HATHAWAY, Chairman. EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION. STATE OF WISCONSIN, To the Honorable, the Senate: Executive Department, MADISON, January 23, 1879. I have the honor to nominate to the senate, the following named gentlemen for appointment as regents of normal schools, for the term commencing the first Monday of February, proximo: John Phillips, of Portage county; S. M. Hay, of Winnebago county, and James MacAlister, of Milwaukee county. WILLIAM E. SMITH, Referred to committee on Education. BILLS READY FOR A THIRD READING. On motion of Senator Richardson, No. 20, S., A bill to amend sections 850 and 851 of the revised statutes of 1878, entitled of town officers, Was laid over until Tuesday next. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Indefinite leave of absence was granted to Senators Grimmer, Campbell and Anderson. To Senator Scott until Tuesday next, and to Senators Swain and Anderson until Monday next. Senator Price moved that the senate adjourn. Which motion was lost. Senator Hyde moved that the senate take a recess of 20 minutes. Senator Price called for a division of the senate on the question of adjournment, which resulted: ayes, 16; noes, 7; and the senate took a recess of 20 minutes. 11:40 A. M. Senate called to order by the president. On motion of Senator Hyde, FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1879. Senate met. President in the chair. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Benson. The roll being called, the following senators responded to their names. Senators Bailey, Burrows, Chipman, Dering, Hathaway, Houghton, Hudd, Hyde, Kellogg, Loper, McFetridge, Paul, Price, Reynolds, Richardson, Sacket, Van Steenwyk and Welch. Journal of yesterday approved. Were granted to LEAVES OF ABSENCE Senators Treat and Van Steenwyk until Monday evening, and to Senators Morgan and Kellogg until Tuesday next. Senator Hudd moved that when the senate adjourn, it be until Monday next, at 7:30 P. M. Which motion prevailed. LETTERS, PETITIONS, ETC. By Senator Dering: Pet. No. 48, S., A petition of the Presbyterian Synod of Wisconsin, representing more than 8,000 citizens, in favor of an amendment to the consti |