The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-12
THE FIFTY.SIXTH is NO MORE
After Doing All the Harm 1t Could, the
General Assembly AdjOurnsSine Die.
In the Closing Hours the Higher License Bill
Leads to Turmoil and Democrats Are Held
Down by Their Own Gag Rules.
AT THE END OF THEIR CAREER.
The Democrats Feel the Effects of the Rules
They Adopted.

forded great deal of entertainment for
several hundred spectators who crowded
the lobbies and galleries from IL o'clock
yesterday morning until the sine die adj
journment at o'clock last evening. Con-
siderable business, most of it unimportant :
though, was pushed through during the
closing hours. The Senate. especially, had
enough work to occupy its attention up al
most to the last minute. The feature of
the days work of that body was the pass
age of the Cullen higher license bill. A few
moments after the Senate had been called
TO order yesterday morning, Senator Hays
called up the dill, and asked that it be read
third time and put upon its passage. A
fight then began between its friends and
enemies, which held the session until after
] o'clock. The opposition to the bill came.
as on Saturday, from Senator'S Barrett and
Burke, who acted as spokesman for the
Democrats on the opposition side. The
announcement that another effort would
be made to pass the bill attracted very
large liquor element to the chamber Sa-
loon-keepers could be seen everywhere
about the Hobbies, and their paid agents
were active all morning attempting to pre-
vent the consideration of the measure.
Senator Hays had hardly announced
what he wished done before Senator Burke
moved to take up. instead, the constitu-
tiOnal amendment resolutions. Senator
Shockney moved to reject that motion, and
then the uproarous proceedings, brought
on by the action the Democratic Senators
began. In order to hasten the vote on the
bill Senator Shockney moved the previous
question on his motion to reject Senator
Burke's motion. The motion was rejected,
and by constantly moving the previous
he hxyf ha
eight Democrats who. voted with them,
constantly rejected dilatory motions, and
finally succeeded in getting the bill before
the Senate.
Senator johnson then moved the roll be
called on this bill. and upon that moved
the previous question. The Democratic
opponents of the bill saw their last hope
gone, and attempted to talk against time.
Senator Burke first tried to get the floor, but
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Chase refused to re-
cognize him because the previous question
had been ordered. Il want to know" called
out Burke in loud voice, ''if Senator is
floorp
Eyes. sir,n answered Senator Shockney,
"and by. the rules your own vote has
adopted"
Senator Barrett then undertook to brow
beat the Lieutenant-governOr by demand
ing an opportunity to speak. He was con-
stantly called down. by the Republicans,
and reminded that he was being given a
''Sit down aud take the medicine You
have been giving us all session." called out
Senator DeMotte, You realize now how it
is to have the gag-law applied: Swallow
your medicine and don't squealn
THE Chair will not show to the majority
favor he has been compelled to refuse the
minority this whole session. said the
Lieutenant-governor. You adopted the
rules, and under them you cannot speak
when the previous question has been de-
manded.o
IF we can't have our motions put we
will call upon the Secretary of the Senate"
said Senator Burke.
If yon do that he will put them at his
peril.n answered the Lieutenant-governor
with good deal of warmth.
You gentlemen are making splendid
fight IN the interest of the Liquor League
during the closing hours of the session."
said Senator johnson, land your cOnstit-
uents will, of course. commend you"
After an hour of disgraceful proceedings
on the part of Senators Barrett, Burke aud
urmston the roll was called on the .passag e
of the bill and itpassed by a vote of q to 20
The Democrats who voted with the Re-
publicans were Senators Ewing, Smith,
MullinIx, Andrew, Berry and Griffith.
After the bill had passed, the discovery was
made that the title was defective, and, in
accordance with the usual custom, it was
referred to the committee on phraseOlogy
tor. amendment. Before the amendment
had been made the vote by which the bill
ton laid on the table, in order to prevent
any further attempts to defeat the meas
IRE. Green Smith, IN making up
fact and hoping to kill notice the bill 5hs
he inserted in his message to the House
that the bill had been amended after the
vote had been recOnsidered and laid on the
yable; Senator johnson and others pro-
tested against this, and rightly charged him
WITH seeking to defeat the measure. After
a lengthy discussion the bill was delivered
TO the House. and that body, in the after
noon, concurred In the amendment mace.
The enemies OF the bill were still OH its trail,
and while 1t was passing from the Speakers
desk TO the enrolling clerks room it was
stolen, or. at least, disappeared. The
news of the disappearance of the measure
soon spread over both chambers, and a half
dozen. Senators and Representatives at
once began an investigation. In half an
hours time they were hot on the trail of
the thief, and, suddenly, the bill turned up
as mysteriously as it had disappeared. 1t
was enrolled, and delivered to the Governor
immediately, and a few minutes before
8 o'clock il came back signed by him.
During the afternoon the Senate passed
the following House joint resolutions,
proposing amendments to the Con-
stitution of the State: Amendment No. 4,
provided the militia shall consist of all
able-bodied men between the ages of eight
cen and twenty-five, thus striking out the
obnoxious word white" Amendment No..
y, hHdt thO VI at
torneys shall be such as are prescribed by
law. Amendment No. 2, providing that
every native male citizen over twenty-one
years of age. residing IN the State one year,
the township sixty days, the ward or pre-
clncO thirty days previous to an election
may vote: Foreigners, in addition, must
have resided in the United States one year.
Amendment No. 1, providing that county
clerks, auditors. recorders, treasurers, sher-
IFS and surveyors. after 1894, shall serve four
years, and no person shall be eligible for but
one term III any period of eight years.
Amendment No. 8, providing for the cleo
tion of a clerk of the Supreme Court BY the
people, III 1892, to serve four years there
after; eligible to but one term in any
period of eight years. Amendment No. 4,
providing for the election in 1892 of Secre-
fary, Treasurer, Auditor of State and At
torney- general for four years thereafter:
eligible for but one term in eight wears
Amendment No. 5. providing for the elec-
tiOn of Superintendent of Public lnstruc-
ton in 1892 Serving four years thereafter;
eligible To but one term in eight years.
Amendment No. 8. providing that mem
bers of the General Assembly shall re-
ceive a salary, and sessions shall continue
30 long rs the majority shall decide
Amendment No. 4, providing that the
kupreme. Court shall consist of not less
than five nor more than nine Supreme
judges. one-half, or near as may be, elected
ever four years. In accordance with the
provisions of the Constitutic.,, these pro-
posed amendments will have TO be sub
mItted TO the next General Assembly. and
II that body passes them they viii then be