JOURNAL OF THE SENATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. TUESDAY, December 5, 1820. THIS day, agreeably to the provisions of the Constitution, the Senate convened, Present thirty members. On motion, The returns of the election of members to supply the places of those whose term of service had expired, were read, by which it appeared that the following named persons were duly elected, to wit: For the district composed of the) counties of Washington and REES HILL. Greene, For the district composed of the counties of Mifflin and Hun- MICHAEL WALLACE. tingdon, For the district composed of the counties of Northumberland, U nion, Columbia, Luzerne and REDMOND CONYNGHAM. Susquehanna, For the district composed of the counties of Berks and Schuyl kill, For the district composed of the county of Lancaster, CONRAD FEGER. EDWARD COLEMAN. 4 For the district composed of the) counties of Chester and Dela- ISAAC D. BARNARD. ware, For the district composed of the county of Bucks, On motion, CYRUS CADWALLADER The senate proceeded to the election of speaker, (the clerks being first appointed tellers,) and upon ascertaining the votes William Marks had sixteen and William Davidson fourteen votes, by which it appeared that William Marks was duly elected. The usual oaths of office were administered to the speaker by Mr. Markley. The requisite oaths or affirmations were then administered by the speaker to the following new members, to wit: On motion of Mr. Breck and Mr. Cochran, Ordered, That when Senate adjourns, it will adjourn until 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. On motion, Mr. Raguet and Mr. Dickerson were appointed a committee to inform the House of Representatives that Senate is duly organised and ready to proceed to business. A motion was made by Mr. Markley and Mr. Winter, and read as follows, to wit: Whereas the pressure of the times, and the general embarrassment in the different branches of domestic industry, imperiously demand such a system of economy and retrenchment, in the expenses of the government as will have a tendency to relieve the burdens of the people, and comport with the simplicity of our republican institutions: Be it resolved, That a committee be appointed to enquire and report what reduction ought to be made in the pay of the members of the legislature, and in the salaries and fees of the several officers of this commonwealth. Ordered, to lie on the table. Mr. Davidson read a bill in his place, and on leave given presented the same to the chair, entitled "An act redu cing the salaries of the Governor and Secretary of the Commonwealth, which was read the first time. Mr. Davidson also read a bill in his place, and on leave given presented the same to the chair, entitled "An act reducing the pay of the Members and Officers of the Legislature" which was read the first time. On motion of Mr. Markley and Mr. Grosh, Ordered that all the rules of the last Senate be adopted by the present, until otherwise ordered. On motion of Mr. Breck and Mr. Piper, The following resolution was twice read, considered and adopted, to wit: Resolved, That each Member, the Clerk, Assistant Clerk, Sergeant at Arms and Door Keeper of the Senate be furnished with one daily news paper, or so many weekly news papers as shall not exceed the price of one daily news paper. Adjourned until 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. WEDNESDAY, December 6, 1820. Mr. Hubley presented two petitions of similar tenor from sundry inhabitants of Schuylkill county praying for a reduction of the compensation allowed to the members of the legislature, and the same were read and laid on the table. Mr. Raguet presented a petition from the Apprentices' Library Company of Philadelphia praying that pecuniary aid and that a charter of incorporation may be granted to them, and said petition was read and referred to the members from the city and county of Philadelphia. Mr. Leib presented a petition from the German Reformed Church in the Northern Liberties of the city of Philadelphia, praying to be authorised to raise, by way of lottery, the sum of seven thousand dollars, in order to discharge the debts they owe; and the same was read and referred to Mr. Leib, Mr. Cadwallader and Mr. Conyngham. Mr. Grosh presented a petition and documents from Samuel Fahnestock and Obed Fahnestock, agents of the several Seventh Day Baptist Societies in this commonwealth, stating that a certain Richard Sparks did, by his last will, dated the 14th of January, 1715-16, bequeath a certain lot, in the city of Philadelphia, for a burying-place for the use of the people or society called Seventh Day Baptists, and that no such society now exists in said city. The petitioners therefore pray that they, or some other fit persons may be authorised by law to sell or improve the said lot for the purpose of erecting a monument to the memory of said Richard Sparks, by erecting two school houses, one at Ephrata, and the other in Franklin county, where the poor children of the several societies may be taught gratis; and said petition was read, and with the documents referred to Mr. Grosh, Mr. Wallace, Mr. Barnard, Mr. Smith and Mr. Piper. Mr. Raguet presented a petition from the general conference of the Seventh Day Baptists, held at Piscataway, in New-Jersey, in September, 1820, praying that they may be authorised to dispose of a certain lot, in the city of Philadelphia, left to the society of Seventh Day Baptists, by Richard Sparks, deceased, by his will, dated January 14th, 1715-16; and said petition was read and referred to the last-named committee, and, on motion, Ordered, That Mr. Raguet and Mr. Cochran be added to said committee. The speaker laid before the Senate a letter from Thomas Leiper, on behalf of the electors of the state of Pennsylvania, now assembled at this place for electing a president and vice president of the United States, applying for the use of the Senate chamber, this day, at half past 11 o'clock; and the same was read and laid on the table. On motion of Mr. Davidson and Mr. Hurst, Ordered, That the request contained in the aforementioned letter be granted, and that the speaker inform the electors accordingly. On motion, Mr. Leib, Mr. Markley and Mr. Hurst, were appointed a committee, on the part of Senate, for the purposes expressed in the act, entitled, " An act to provide for the better preservation and increase of the library of this commonwealth." Ordered, That the clerk inform the House of Representatives accordingly. Mr. Coleman read a bill in his place, and on leave given, presented the same to the chair, entitled, "A supplement to an act, entitled, An act to provide for the erection of an additional court within the city and county of Lancaster," which was read the first time. |