The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-03
TIE JoHNsox-ovERsrREEr CONTEST.

report, which was signed by Senators Bell,
Fletcher, Sayre, Spann and Lockridge, found
that in the original complaint none of the
charges were sustained, and as TO the supple
mental charge of bribery on the part of Over
street, there was not sufficient evidence to
sustain it. Senator McCulloch signed the
minority report, which sustained the bribery
charge, and declared Mr.. Overstreet's seat in
the Senate vacant. Still another report was
that by Senator Voyles, which declared the
charge of bribery is possibly not sustained
by sufficient evidence to unseat the con-
testee, bnt do find that the whole proof in
the case established a sufficient cause to I'M
seat him" The various reports were dis
cussed at length by Senators Lockridge,
Voyles, McCulloch, Foulke and Sayre and
Senator Overstreet closed the debate. twas
the first speech he had made during the ses-
sion, and it commanded the closest attention
of the Senate. He reviewed the evidence in
plain and candid manner, attempting to
conceal nothing that had TRANSFERRED In
concluding, he said: 81 am to be Judged by
the evidence but 1 beg to be allowed to say
that before God and this Senate l am inno-
cent of these charges. | submit the case to
the deliberate and impartial judgment of this
body, and assure you that l will patiently
and submissively acquiesce in your decis-
ion." While Senator OverstFeet made no
attempt at oratorical display, yet his speech
impressed all who heard it as being the hon
est statements of an honest man.
The first vote was taken on the report
made by Mr.. Voyles, which was defeated by
vote of % to "a, Senators Bell, Fletcher and
Hostetter being absent and Senator Voyles
not voting. The McCulloch report was
next defeated by vote of 40 TO 3, and then
the question required on the majority re-
port, generating Mr.. Overstreet from all
charges. On this the vote was as follows:
Yeas-serators Atkinson, Bischowskl, Bundy,
Campbell, Fleming, Foulke Graham, Henry,
Hill, Keiser, LOckridge, Liudley, Mccartney,
Magee, May, Rahm, Ristine, Sayre, Smith, of
Delaware; spann, Van Vorhis, White, Yaneey
and Y0uche-724.
Nays-senators Benz Brown, Compton, David
son, Duncan, Ernest. Faulkner, Hilligass,
Hoover, Howard, Hutchinson, Johnson, John
aton, Marvin, Mcclure, McCulloch, Mcintosh,
mil, RICHARDSON, Smith, of Jay; Voyles and
Advertisements Bell Fletcher and Hostetter
Not voting-Senator Overstreet
The report, which was adopted, allows Mr..
johnson, the contestor, per diem and mile
age during the session.
An analysis Of the vote will show that
Seniors Magee, May Hill and Rahm voted
with the Republicans for the minority re-
port The absence of Senators Bell and
Fletcher occasioned the greatest comment,
and under the circumstances it is not calcu-
lated to reflect much credit on them They
were both members of the election commit
tee and signed the majority report which
was in Oyerstreets favor. When that report
came up for consideration however. il was
most natural to suppose that they would be
the first TO come to its support. But it
seems that since the reports were signed, the
Democratic caucus had agreed that Over.
street must be unseated as measure of
party necessity, although to the credit OF
several Democratic senators it can be said
that they refused to obey this decree. 1t
was different however, with Messrs Bell
and Fletcher. If they voted with their
party they would falsify their opinions
as expressed in the majority re-
port. There was but one alternative
and that was to absent themselves
when the vote was taken, and this they did
although they knew it was set down a
special order for o'clock yesterday. Sen
ator Bell was not present (nor was he eX-
cused) during the entire afternoon SESSION,
and Senator Fletcher went out Just before
the vote was taken. Their action in this re-
spect was denounced on all sides yesterday
as cowardly. and disgraceful, and lost for
them much Of that respect with which they
had previously been favored Senator
Brown made rather pointed allusiOn in ex-
planning his vote by saying: when this
majority report was first made l thought
would favor it but as the Senator from Allen
anu w HitlGJ NioellJ anu tlIe DSudtOT ITOUl
Marion Fletcher who signed it have shown
that they have abandoned it, by absenting
themselves when the vote was taken, I think
shall vote against il"
Mr.. JouNsoN's MODEST CLAIM
To use a colloquial expression, Mr.. Richard
n. Johnson, the defeated contestor for Sena-
tor Overstreet's seat, wants the earth" Last
night Senator Bell introduced a resolution tc
lou. I'll, Ill L.
contest, his modest bill being as follows;
Cash actually expended .--........- 800 OC
Expenses in Morgan county....... 218 50
Expenses in johnson county ....--..... 1l9. Is
Cash paid 6. W. Cooper. attorney 1000
Cash paid j. V. Mitchell, attorney. ..... 200 90
CropseJ Cooper, attoFneys--.-.-..-. 300. 0C
Per diem, sixty days at $6-....-.--..--. $4,000
Total. 81 ,99S. OF
The claim was referred to the committee
on elections. II it is paid the Journals legis
lative reporter desires 10 announce now that
he will be a candidate for State senator mex
year, and would prefer to be BEATEN so that
he may contest the right to the seat and be
paid Expenses"
ALLEGED BRIBERY.
At the beginning of the afternoon session
of the Senate yesterday, something akin to q
sensation was caused by Senator Foulke
arising to question of privilege and saying
81 have been informed by the Senator from
Crawford (Mr. Benz) that within the last
three days he has been approached by per
sons who offered him sum of money to vote
against the metropolitan police bill, and
therefore move that a committee of three be
appointed to investigate the matter. There
has been entirely too much of this attempted
bribery here this session." The motion was
carried and Senators Foulke, Youche and
Mcintosh were named as the committee
When questioned by a Journal reporter
about the matter, Senator Benz said Sam
Kerr came to me Tuesday night and told me
that Jim Cropsey had said that if [ would
vote against the police bill I could have my
own price for my vote. 1 refused, and told
him ii Cropsey or anybody else made such q
proposition to me Iwould knock him down"
When this matter became common talk