The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-26
.naIe took 2 recess.


recess to suspend the constitutional rule
jected by yeas %, nays %.
Mr.. Henry moved to reconsider the vote by
which the Senate refused TO order the bill, 8. b.
NO. 2SI To be engrOssed.
The motion was rejected by yeas 81, nays 81.
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE BILL.
Mr.. McCulloch moved to suspend the special
order and take up engr0ssed II, b. No. 1873 and
read 1t second time, and concur on the report
OF the majority of the Judiciary committee there
on, and upon that he demanded the previous
question.
After discussion of points of order raised on
this motion, the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS decided
the previous question, if sustained, would go only
to setting aside the special order aud taking up
the bin.
The demand for the previous question was
seconded by yeas 26, nays g. The main ques-
uon was ordered by yeas %, nays 10.
Mr.. Henry demanded division OF the ques-
ton.
1be first part of the motion was agreed to by
yeas 90 nays 10, so the special order was set
aside.
The second part of the motion was agreed to
by yeas 26, nays 10, SO the bill was taken up.
The bill to provide for board of metropolitan
police commissioners in all cities vi $4,000 or
more inhabitants was read
Mr.. Van VOrhis said there is nothing In the bill
that will bring TO account any of this police
force for violation of their duties Suit might pos
sibly be entered in some the police
force COSTS with the closest economy nearly
$4,000 a year. Much has been said in the last
week or two about vicious legislation, bur of all
the bills that have been introduced in this or the
other branch of the General Assembly, this is by
the State except the city OF Indianapolis, and he
could not sit still without attempting to show up
some of the vicious provisions of this bill. IL
Will cost the city $4,000 more to manage the
city than heretofore IL is directly IN the inter
of few ward politicians of the CITY who,
among Democrats themselves, do not occupy
position of even ordinary responsibility, II has
passed the House and advanced far i'll this
Senate without the knowledge on the. part of
many members who have voted for it as to what
its real purposes He had sufficient conf
dence in the fairness OF many SENATORS on this
floor believe that if they knew Its vicious pro-
visions they would not support it. As for
meeting of the Judiciary committee, really none
was had on this bill. IL waited for no eousuta-
ton with the minority. A majority OF the menu
bers said they were determined to recommend
the passage OF the bil aud the committee ad-
iourned, and that is all the consideration this bin
ever had in the Judiciary committee. II IL
open secret that the senator from Allen aud
Whitley CIr. BelD is opposed TO the principles Of
this bil-that its provisions are in violation of
all fundamental principles OF self-government,
vet the purchase price for the immunity of
his own city Fort Wayne) he is ready to vote to
fasten the principles of 1t upon the city OF Indi
annapolis These are facts known To many sena-
tors this floor. Is that the principle upoa
which legislation is to pass through this General
Assembly, He was astonished that
his colleague allowed himself to be
controlled by the troop Of fellows
which have been thrOnglng this lobby in the in
terests of this biil. He asked senators to vote
according to their convictions of what is right
and what is just. It was with the greatest diff
Guilty he could Keep his patience aud keep with
III the bounds of what is parliamentary in not
using language that might be offensive TO sena-
tors who favor this bill. His opposition WAS not
entirely upon the IDEA that the bill is wrong in
principle, for were the principle right the bill is
of such character that it ought not to stand on
the floor of the Senate one minute II proposes
to deprive the city of indianapolis of seif-gOv-
eminent by putting its government into the
hands of three Democratic State officers, mani
testify fOr the purpose of controlling politics
of the city through the police. In all fair deal
ing, the city should have some right 10 protect
itself. As a Republican representative this
proposed police board, not man has been
mentioned who stands in position las he de-
clared before was the case with the proposed
Democratic representatives VINO occupies
position of even ordinary responsibility in the
Republican party. We would like TO have some
say to who shall represent the Republi-
can-party on this board. We don't want
drunken ex-cOuncilman or man who was at one
time connected With the police force and HIM
self had to be carried home by his own patrol
men. Such names have been presented to rep
resent the Republican party this board. No
better have been aud iG is doubt full if any better
will be presented. Nor did he believe Ii was the
intention to give any better representatives, on
the board Those who have been pushing this
bill, who have hung around the loDbes of the
Legislature and corridors of the hotels till mid
night have not always kept themselves in such IA
condition that their tongues were under proper
control and in their maudlin, drunken talk
we have got into the merits OF their Intentions
and designs. II there has been "A respectable
Democrat-respeetahle in his own party or
recognized respectable among Democrats
who has been furtherng the interests OF this bill
he has kept himself in the background and put
sary to secure the passage of this bill He APP
pealed to senators, il they intended to persist in
forcing this measure he wonld assist in perfect
ing it so 1t would give this city something that
VIII prevent its being robbed without let or
hindrance. There Is some honor and some prin-
chile left in gentlemen who represent the Dem
ocratic party on tins floor, and ne spoke with
the hope of calling their attention to the unjust
unfair ana vicious features in this bill and the
purposes which lie behind it, He would like TO
address the senators, but they gone-.their
seats are vacant. He predicted that repre-
sentative Republican would ever obtain a posi-
be given to milk-and- water Republican.
and everything would he left entirely in the con
trol OF Democrats. That will be about the size
of this matter. The constitutional uueStuu
against this bill is a well-founded objection He
felt sure the people would not tamely submit to
have this bill thrust upon them. Such legisla-
tion cannot he reconciled with the provisions Of
the constitution. When he concluded-at Sis
z. NJ
Mr. Fletcher hardly thought it necessary to ar
que the question further, expressing confidence
in the report OF the Judiciary committee, who
have examined Into the legality OF this bill. Be-
lleviug himself quite familiar with the feeling Of
the people of Indianapolis, he Yentured to speak
a few minutes. His colleague (Mr. Van V0rhs)
has acknowledged almost all he could ask as TO
the condition OF the police force OF this city at
this time and what it has been for several years.
when he said that a memberof the police board
has been constantly carried home drunk by his
patrOlmen-a business they were engaged in IA
great deal of the time. Aud his colleague has
denounced the present chairman of the police
board as public drunkard It is known
to everybod In Indianapolis that we have not
had fair election for ) ears-I may say from the
time saw troops marched from the Governors
Circle to the place where we now are and saw
them with my own eyes voted by the Republic
an party, they not beng citizens of this State,
but soldiers: and from that day 1 have never
seen an honest, lair ana open election IN this