The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-17
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The House Unable to Get Quorum of
Its Members Together.
The Senate Drags Itself Through Another I'm
interesting Session, with Small Attend
ance-The Metropolitan Police Bill.

Again there was no quorum in the House yes
terday, and the day was wasted in an unsuccess-
full endeavor TO get together enough members to
proceed with business. When Speaker Jewett
called for order in the morning there were only
twenty eight out of the one hundred members
present, and after waiting an hoEr the number
had only increased to thirty. The faithful
thirty adjourned until the afternoon at o'clock.
When the House was called to order at that
hour, there were ifty-nine members present
which was seven less than quorum. The
Speaker ordered the doors locked, so that none
of those present could escape, and sent the SER
geant-at-arms out to make thorough search of
the city for stray members. The first brought
in was Representative Barney, who gave salts
factory excuse for his absence and was excused.
A few minutes later Representative McMichael
was brought in under arrest, and, in spirit of
fun, it was proposed that an example should
be made of him. After two or three motions,
and an explanation from the gentleman, he was
also excused. Representatives Kruger and
Dunn came in as late as $3.50 o'clock, having just
arrived in the city, and they were likewise ex
eused The regular order of business required q
quorum before it could be taken up and there
fore nothing could be done The members
their chairs smoking and talking until about
half an hour before adjournment when time
killing discussion of the bill to abolish the office
of recorder of johnson county was begun
There was no quorum in the Senate during the
morning, and. therefore, no important business
could be transacted. There was barely suff-
Gent number Of members present in the after
noon to proceed with business The proceed
ings were embarrassing, and the session was
simply dragged through the afternoon.
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE BILL.
The only thing that came at all near arousing
any interest in the Senate was motion to in
definitely postpone the metropolitan police bill,
which came up for consideration on second read
ing. Senator Benz, in behalf of the author of
the bill, Senator Schloss, who was absenS, OPP
posed any action upon the matter, and in his
characteristic outspoken way, came near divulg-
ing great caucus secret lie started to say
something about what agr cement had been
reached in the Democratic caucus in regard to
the measures, but dozen or more Democratic
senator's were Immediately on their feet object
ing. He succeeded in saying however, that
there were several Democrats who strongly OPP
posed the.metropolitan police bill in the caucus,
and they threatened that if it was pressed they
would oppose the apportionment bills, so the
agreement was reached that if the police bill
should be dropped they would support the APP
portionment He believed that if it was a good
measure before the caucus it was good measure
now. However, Mr.. Benz failed to explain why
he opposed the bill two years ago, and why he
favored it now. The motion to indefinitely posi-
pone the consideration of the measure was de-
feated by a vote of q to II, the yeas and nays
being as follows: