The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-15

sumed during the session about $40 900, and al
though he has become almost intolerably dis
gushing to the Senate, his persistency, his eiger
desire to DO recognized as leader, his inordinate
coneeit can not be repressed. He speaks in a
strained and painful voice-he is prolix, redun-
dant and awkward in his language, bat he has
an admirable quality of the unblushing and in
vulnerable American ''cheek," which sustainS
him through all his mistakes ana houndering.
James S. Drake, the senator from Lagrange
and Noble, an exceptionally pleasant and affable
gentleman socially, has been rather modest
member. He has peculiarly nervous express
sion of face andrather erratic infections of voice,
but he is man of good abilities. He is one of
the new members, and he has, therefore, been
rather quiet but he possesses more than the
average merits of a senator
In every legislative body there is some watch
dog of the treasury" The ambitious desire for
this immortalizing Characterization has become
so common among novitiate statesmen that
every Legislature has one or more watch-dogs.
They do little, but howl II object" whenever
any expenditure of money is proposed They
are harmless fellows, often do some good by
their objections, and generally get themselves
very much disiiked. The watchdog in the SEN
ate is Inman H. Fowler, the member from Clay
and Owen. He is tall, lean and bloodless, with
more hair on his face than on his head. He
wears eyeglasses, and looks wise. He has a
he was just from Boston. He talks
nearly as much as Green" Smith. He almost
invariably begins ''Mr President, now 1 hope
that won't be done,' or MIR. President, / want
to say one word in explanation" or II object l
oJect; yes, sir, object" AS an economist he is
consistent, because ne objects indiscriminately
to all expenditures He is man of more sim
certify than Smith of Jennings, but they are
about equally garrulous Fowler's fault is that
he talks too much. If any one should call him
by telephone the answer would almost certainly
be: Hes talking now" He is man of many
faults, but of evidently good intentions and some
merits. He is the Holman of the Legislature. !.
Heber j. May, Of Spencer and Perry, Is one OF
the best men among the Democratic members.
He does not speak often, but he is capable con-
scientious and attentive to duty.
W. j. Davis, the Republican senator from
Elkhart, is among the quiet members who might
be more prominent by trying, but he seems to
take the sensible view that man can be as
good a legislator, or g. better one, by quietly
voting right than by talking continually.
DR.. David Mcclure, of Clark and Scott, and
DIR. James S. Shively, of Grant and Madison,
are two of the oldest members of the Senate and
they have both been in the Legislature several
terms They are unassuming, and the voice of
either IS seldom heard except in answer to the
roll-cas. Senator Shivey introduced the
bill which was defeated in the House, for regu-
lating the practice of medicine in Indiana, and it
brought him somewhat prominently to the front
in the eyes Of the doctors of the State
/. Another aged member is Lewis d. Atkinson,
of Howard and Miami His name is the first on
TIE folcaii, anu as ne Is always the urst 10 vote
on questions which require the yeas and nays, it
is necessary for him to be very attentive to the
proceedings. He speaks oftener, and takes a
more prominent part in the proceedings, than
any of the other older members.
Senator Rahm, of Vanderburg, is about the
size of the average boy Of sixteen years, and APP
parently, in summer attire, would not weigh
much more than 100 pounds. He is serving his
second term and the monument of his senatorial
career is the bill which authorized the erection
Of the three new insane hospitals, one of which
is located in his county.