The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-24
THE PROCEEDINGS In DETAIL.
THE SENATE.
An Investigation of the Treasury Is Ordered
The Constitutional Convention.

1
An Investigation of the Treasury Is Ordered
The Constitutional Convention.
The session of the Senate was opened with
prayer by Rev. DIR. Mcleod, pastor of the Sec
ond Presbyterian Church.
The debate upon Senator Foulkes bill for q
constitutional convention was resumed as the
special order for the morning. In speaking upon
| the BILL DIR. May said II think the question of
calling constitutional convention has been set
tied in a way binding upon majority of the
members of the General Assembly. While the
senator from Wayne (Mr. Foulke), in many of
his arguments, is in advance of the times, in
other propositions he is behind the times Fer
| instance, he is in advance of the times when he
urges upon the people that there ought to be a
provision in the constitution for woman suffrage
| His model government of England has never at
| tempted to go as far as that"
| Mr. Foulke (interposing)-Is the Senator not
| aware that in England women are entitled to vote
| in all municipal electionsl
| Mr. Navy omen in this State are allowed to
4 vote in district school meetings, but not in mat
tiers of national Importance. | am opposed to
following the civil service system of the English
| government The intention of American insti-
tutions is that the people are soverigns-that
they shall choose their officers from time to time
| and their terms are not to be perpetual. / can
see but two or three arguments urged by the SEN
| ator from Wayne in favor of his bill for con-
| stitutional convention. You might engraft into
a new constitution prohibitory amendment
and unless the people elect legislators in accord
with that provision no such Aegisla-
/ ton would be enacted. Can you show
me where the General Assembly has
acted under the new provisions of the Constitu
! ton in regard to fees and salaries2 The same
thing may be said of wonan's suffrage were g.
constitutional provision enacted. On these
| propositions the Senator is in advance of tho
| times. The question of calling constitutional
| convention has been settled by the people at the
| polls, and think the peoples voice paramount
/ to the Legislature l don't care how plausible
! the arguments are in favor of it, if the people
are against it we ought to stand by the people
who have voted against it, 1t is the duty of
every Democratic senator who represents 81
| Democratic constituency, or who is identified
with the party. to vote against the bill calling
| this constitutional convention. know my peo-
pie are opposed to it, and that is about the only
| reason have for saying what have said. / be-
| lieve it is the duty of senators to place them
| selves on the record on this proposition
l Mr.. Magee-The condition the two political
| parties find themselves in shows with what ia
cility we can change our opinions upon import
ant questions. Four years ago Democratic mem
! bers favored the calling of constitutional con-
/ vention, and the Republican members-and they
were in the majority-opposed it, In the last
1 campaign it was a direct issue made with the
! people, and upon that there has been judg-
| ment. I never thought we needed a constitu-
4 tional convention. Tne trainers OF that lnstru-
ment wisely put upon it aprovision that will meet
| every demand the progress OF Development Of
/ the State may require.
Mr.. Fowler demand the previous question.
! Mr.. Foulke--It seems to me that it would only
| be fair where an attack has been made on the
| Republican party, and where reference has been
1 made to my position personally, that should
be allowed, say FIVE or ten minutes to answer
Mr.. Fowler-For the purpose of allowing the
/ Senator from Wayne to answer anything he
| considers personal / withdraw the demand
| Lieutenant governor Manson-I am glad he
! has withdrawn it.
Mr.. Foulke-As to the argument in favor of
calling a constitutional convention, the Senator
| from Huntington Mr.. Hilligass] said yesterday,
4 that there were only three or four points in
which the constitution needed amendment in
accordance with my argument There are no less
| than eighteen, and not one of them has been
answered by any senator upon this floor
| Not in one instance in which have shown the
constitution needs revision has there been any
| argument in denial of that fact We are told
/ that Indiana has grown splendidly under the
| present constitution. Therefore, should
leave it as il is. That argument is like attrb-
utlng the prosperity of the United States to the
coinage of silver to the tariff or to trade
policy, or to things of that kind. The growth of
| Indiana has been, hot IN consequence of the
| constitution, but in spite OF it. These things
| tions imposed by the constitution that we have
| grown, and will continue to grow whether we
| call constitutional convention OF whether we
don't. We may do something to accelerate this
progress or we may do something to
retard it. We should give the people more
| power. we should trust the people more,
/ 1t is said that I desire to see Constitution in
| which prohibition and woman's suffrage may DO
maintained Whatever may be my personal
| views on either of these questions, my desire is
that the people of the State shall have an oppor-
| tunlty to determine whether or not the rights
| of suffrage shall be as broad as the world
| and as tree as the air we breathe. and that the
people shall have the right to determine upon
regulations for the liquor traffic in their respect
4 i've towns and townships. The best way to do
that IS TO submit these propositions to the people
| in separate provisions by a constitutional con
1 vention. 1t is said that am bringing my mod
/ els from England; that sometimes / am in ad
vance of the times, and at other times behind /
recognize that there are institutions in England
| which it would be a curse to transplant in this
| good, whether it be in Hindostan, China or
Japan am willing to adopt it.
Mr.. Fowler now renew my demand for the
previous question.
The Senate seconded the demand, and under
| its operation the motion to substitute the MINOR
ity for the majority report, was rejected by yeas
16, NAYS %.
| The majority report, recommending the in
definite postponement of the bin, was concurred
| In without division.
Petitions were introduced by Senators Mar
| shall, Duncan Of Upton, Willard, and Smith of
| Jay.
Mr. Sellers offered a resolution authorizing
the doorkeeper to employ five assistants in ad
| ditioE to those mentioned in the statute, and
| the Secretary of the Senate two additional
clerks. 1t was adopted by yeas 20, nays To-
Afternoon Session.