Journals of the House and Council of Washington Territory, 1859-60 session

The printed journals, read in the archive.org full text (House Journal at https://archive.org/details/walaw-journals-house-1860-77378e). Used for House Bill No. 45, “An act to dissolve the bonds of matrimony heretofore existing between Crowell H. Sylvester and Harriet P. Sylvester”:

• House. Introduced “upon leave” by Mr. Weed in the first week of January 1860. A motion to suspend the rules for a third reading failed 14 to 11 for want of two-thirds; a motion to send it to a select committee also failed. It later passed.
• Council. Read and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, which reported it back “for the further consideration of the Council”; laid on the table at least twice. When it was taken up, a call of the house tied 4 to 4. “Mr. Clark moved that the testimony accompanying the bill under consideration be read for the information of the Council. Which was carried, and the clerk proceeded to read.” Further reading was dispensed with. “Mr. Burbank moved that oral testimony be called for. Which was carried.” The Sergeant-at-Arms was directed to procure the attendance of “the Hon. G. K. Willard.”
• On 13 January 1860 a motion “that the lobby of the Council be cleared for the investigation of the bill and examination of witnesses” was lost. The Council went into committee of the whole, which reported the bill back “without recommendation.” On a later day, on Mr. Clark’s motion, it was “taken up, read a third time, passed.” Enrolled 23 January, signed by the Speaker 24 January 1860. The session laws date it 17 January 1860.

The “testimony accompanying the bill” is not printed; the territorial bill files may hold it.