The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-24
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
A Spirited Discussion Over the Exec
utive appointments in the Senate.
The State University Endowment Bill-In-
PRODUCTION of a Number of Equally
Important Measures.
TIE EXECUTIVE Appo1NrMENrs.

tee on executive appointments on the nomi-
nations made by Governor Porter for trus-
tees of the benevolent Institutions. The ma
jority report recommended a postponement
of action until the 30th inst, $50 that the
Brown bill could be passed in the meantime)
and the minority report recommended the
Immediate confirmation OF the appointments.
The discussion of the reports did not begin
until afternoon and then consumed the en-
tire session, and it was characterized by
much earnestness and a considerable display
of forensic ability. 1t took a much wider
range than was anticipated, on accoun
pf a question asked by Senator Bell, under
the following circumstances: Mr.. Henry
was speaking very earnestly in favor OF the
minority report, urging haiti nominations
ought to be confirmed, because the nominees
were men against whose character or records
no objection could be raised. Mr.. Bell asked:
WAS not one of these (meaning General
John coburn) a visiting statesman in 1875.
and did be not assist in the preparation of
the greatest fraud of the age-stealing the
presidency?' and Mr.. Henry answered the
question to the satisfaction of everybody in
the house except the Senator from Allen and
Whitley. This led the discussion off into a
regular political channel, and Senator Spann,
who spoke next, made some altogether peril
lnent observations regarding the Senator from
Jackson (NTr. Brownl, whose record in the
Legislature in the early days of the war was
not marked by any especial manifesto
lions of loyalty to- the govern
iment. Mr.. Brown INTERRUPTED Mr..
spann. and asked him what particular
part of the rebellion he (Spann) had put
down. and the latter responded rather
warmly that he had carried a musket three
years as a private soldier, while Mr.. Brown
was at home denouncing the abolitiunists,
and he thought it you'd have reflected more
credit on him to have been the blacklist of
black abolitionists at that time, rather than
q sympathizer with the enemies OF this
country, which was then in such great peril
"a remark that brought out applause.
Senator Bell followed and frankly stated
ithat he for one would never vote to confirm
the nomination of General Coburn or any
other man who participated in the great
fraud" In fact, nearly all the speakers in
the Democratic side seemed to iud only that
objection to Mr.. CObuTn's appointment, and
very inconsistently, at the same time,
insisted that they were not
actuated by political motives. Senator
Graham spoke forcibly in favor of the
minority report, and Senator Brown argued
with much vehemence against it. Senator
Foulke followed in what the boys called "a
rafting speech" his arguments being peril
3ient and pointed, and the discussion closed
with short speeches by Senators Voyles and
May. The minority report was then re-
iected, and the majority report adopted by
the strict party vote.
1t was evident from the tenor of the de-
bate that party necessity was the actuating
Nrf,,ainla p,A tho narnnaEnto ~ rafttcinr
10 confirm the nominations, and that the
management Of the benevolent institutionsis
10 be no longer kept out of 1.-The dirty poclof
politics" 10 which the senator from Jackson
So elOquently referred some days ago. There
were a number of ladies present during the
discussion, and Governor Porter was an in
terested listener.
II JOINT CONVENTION.
The Senate and House met in joint con-
vention yesterday morning for the purpose
of electing a State librarian and prison direct
ors. For the former office Senator Brown
NOMINATED Miss Lizzie o. Calls, of Morgan
ny, and Senator Bundy nominated Mrs.
ccze . Winsor, of Putnam. The bollot re-
Sixteen Miss Calls SO, Mrs. Winsor 81, and
n ~ 20. -. az was declared duly elected. For
itri, I the Prison South Mr.. McMullen
ilts, unti' I'd w. d. Hunter, of Dearborn coun-
"hO DeUdtbT Oltuu HDlulElaleu MOTTlS
/ wnies nald, OF Floyd. The former was
elected by vote of 81 to Sc, and II. V. Nor
val, of Greene county, was elected for the
second dictatorship over William G. Young,
of Sullivan, by a vote of 81 10 So.
For directors of the Prison North, Henry
Morning, of Allen county, was elected over
". T. Hornie, of Lake, by a vote Of "a to 81;
George Major, of Benton county, was elected
over A. c. Beeson, of Randolph. by a vote of
50 to 81, and John C. Shoemaker, of Marion
county. was elected over Leopold Levi, of
Huntington, by a vote of SO to Sc, after
which the convention adjourned.
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
Two bills were introduced in the House,
yesterday, to repeal the State Board of Health
law.
Representative McClelland, of Lawrence
county, says he is going to introd ice a bill to
repeal the Acts OF the Apostles.
There is said to be a strong lobby here
working for the bill authorizing the removal
of the county seat of Jennings county from
''old'' Vernon to North Vernon.
The privileges of the floor of the Senate
were yesterday accorded to ex-senator
Wright, of Iowa, who occupied a seat by the
side of the Lieutenant-governor.
Senator Fletcher's bill, making the penalty
castration for rape, has created general atten-
ton. and the Endorsement of hundreds of
mothers comes in the shape of letters to the
author of the bill, urging its passage.
Representative Smith, of Tippecanoe coun-
ty, is making a determined effort to abolish
the contract system OF prison labor, and his
resolution and subsequent speech in the
House, yesterday, attracted much. atten-
ton.
F. w. Cook, a prominent brewer, of Evans
Vile, has written a letter to Senator Rahm,
urging him to use every effort In his power
to defeat the prohibition amendment in the
Senate, claiming that if it is defeated it will
have a beneficial effect on the Democratic
party, which will thus receive great acces-
sions from the liberal Republicans"
Senator Yancey seems to have grasped the
whole situation at one fell swoop, AZ he yes