The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-24

be adopted. These political questions should be
disposed of as early IN the session as possible.
Mr.. Bell asked II one of these appointees was
one OF those persons who went and helped to
CONT ont Ivy fraud q President duly elected.
MIR. Henry-I answer no. am glad 10 know
II is the purpose OF Democratic To postpone these
nominations until the law Ia changed so the
Democrats can get themselves together upon "a
proposition that will change the mode of ap-
9olhtlnS THESE Ouleers. II mat lie the purpose,
why not rake mp Senate hill No. l and dispose oil
lit II that legislation is so important. ana above
everything else, let 1t be disposed OF without fur
ther delay. 1t has been conceded by Democrats
in this General Assembly that the present law
OF appointments is a proper one and, in their
opinion, no new places should be made for parry
applicants, II is worse than tossing up n penny
fOr choice to nave places filled by action of the
General Assembly. Ii is in the power Of the
Democratic side to defeat the nomination of an
Improper person. He hoped the present incum-
bents would ne allowed TO retain their places,
and not be upturning the management Of these
institutions every two years.
Mir. Spann understood senators on the other
side are divided on this question. Que of the
Governors nominees was what is called a
visiting stateslnan, OF whom it can he SAID there
Is no more honorable Inau in the State of Indiana.
III that gentleman Went to the South, it was In the
interest of a free ballot and a fair count. The
presidential electoral commission was a DamO-
cratic measure, and could have baen dsfeated by
Democratic votes. No objection can be raised to
the confirmation of these nominees but a parti-
san one. The helpless, unfortunate inmates of
these benevolent in Institutions reach out to some
2n,0OO families in this State, and yet the Demo-
'ANAt lhANg AbSO1o I Il AAtiu u
cock in politics. What single man in all these
lists of appointments hnt has a character above
SUSPICION aud who is pure, honest and capable.
Mr.. Bell-The question before the Senate Is
shall these appointments be postponed till the
3Oth of January. For several reasons they
should ne postponed. We ought to know what
legislation will be had in this matter. and wheth-
or there will he any niece ssity for filling these
places in this way or not.
Mr.. Graham understood there Is q purpose of
nndoing what was done by a Democratic Legis-
laiure Tour years ago. There is no honest reason
why these appointments should not he Instantly
confirmed by the Senate. What is tho objection
raised by the senator from Allen (Mr BelDf
Simply that one Of these nominees was what is
called a visiting statesman.
MIR. Brown would not he betrayed into the dis
cussion of questions entirely foreign to the one
before the Senate, which Is whether it is better
TO confirm the Governors appointments now or
wait until the Both of January. He then re-
viewed mis- bill, 8. b. No. /, for the better man
aeement of the benevolent institutions. 1t is a
Democratic maxim that the servants of the
people should be chosen by the people or by the
peoples representatives, and not appointed by a
single man who happens to occupy the guberna-
toriai chair, The term of the present incunbents
does not expire till the lat of February, and, II
the Senate should choose TO confirm them, 1t will
ne IN ample time. The proposition that the
General Assembly shall select these officials has
been the plan since 1855 until the past two
General Assemblies. The door of the lower
house should not be shut to "a participation in
the selection of these officers.
Mr.. FoulBe commended that it was the duty OF
the senators not to act as politicians, but to act
for the best interests o. the State of Indiana; and
yet no reason has been given for the postpone
ment OF action upon the Governors appoint
ments, except the desire on the part of the sena-
tors ON the other side of the chamber to act upon
a bill for the reorganization of the benevolent
institutions of the state. The Democratic party
in the last campaign posed as an advocate of
ctvil-service reform, and yet at the opening of
this session, on the first day, Immediately after
the organization OF the Senate, and before the
Senate was called for bills, a bin was introduced
by the Senator from jackson (Mr. Brown to
take away the appointing power from the Gov
eruor, and make these offices nothing more nor
less than the spolls Of Il political party and the
rewards for political ~preferuent. Is that the
kind of ciVil-service reform which the Demo
cratic party announced TO the people of Indiana
In It's late PLATFORM II there b. one thing above
all others which should be kept pure-even as
the Judicial ermine-it is the States exercise of
guardianship over her wards, and in doing that
there is only one thing we have a right TO con-
slider, and that is In what way may the best ap-
po1ntfnents OF such trustees be secured. He
favored concurrence in the report of the uni
nOrity OF the committee.
Mr.. Voyles opposed the confirmation Of the
Governors appOlntees because it would make a
revolution in the management of these iustitu-
tons, and because the appointees are such strict
paftlsans. The late management is entitled 20
credit, and the friends or the present manage
ment shenld be retained so as to eoatiauo to re-
fleet credit upon the State. The Senator spoke
at some length and demanded the previous ques-
ton.
The demand for the previous question was
seconded by the Senate, and under its opera
tons the minority report of the committee on
executive appointments was rejec1ed-Yeas Is,
nays %.
The report Of the majority OF the committee on
executive appointments, recommending the
postponemebt of further action till Jan. 80. was
concurred in.
And then the Senate adjourned.
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