The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-12
ROBERTSON AT THED0OR.
THE DEMOCRATIC SENATORS LET
THEIR ORDER STAND.

Ha Makes an Effort to Go in but Finds
the Same Burly Doorkeeper in His
wav The Lieutenant Governor
Elect Inside in the Atternoon-The
Governors Message.
TND1ASAPoLIs, Jan. 1.-THE legislature
met at II o'clock this morning, and the
scane around the senate chamber was mild
repetition of yesterday. Lieut.. Gov. Rob
ertson. accompanied by Senator Demott of
VALPARAISO, approached the door leading
into the senate chamber, and Col. Robert
son came very near slipping in, " hen the
watchful door-keeper. Bulger, stepped be-
fore him and intercepted his passage Col.
Robertson again demanded admittance,
stating that he was the lieutenant governor
Of Indiana. But Bulger replied: Colonel =,
nv orders are to keep you out, and they are
still in force" Senator Demott passed in,
leaving, the rejected lieutenant governor
on the outside, where he remained nearly
the entire morning. The session was
devoted to trivial matters, such
As drawing for seats and dis
cussing and correcting yesterdays
journal. President pro tenn. Cox presided,
with protest from the republican mem
beers. At o'clock the Senate adjourned to
meet the House in joint session at o'clock
and receive the governors message. The
House was in session but a few minutes,
completing its organization, and then stood
adjourned until o'clock.
THE LIEUTENANT GovERNoR-ELECT IN.
At 2 o'clock the general assembly in
Joint session was called to order by Speaker
Niblack On motion of Senator Howard,
Lieut.. Gov.-elect Chase was unani-
mously invited to occupy a chair
beside the speaker. Lieut.. Gov.
Robertson was not present When
Gov. Gray appeared, escorted by the joint
committee, he was received with applause
The governors message took an hour in its
delivery. He treated at length of finances,
showing that the debt was now $6,670,60S.
DISHONEST ELECTIONS.
He dwelt at length on the reform needed
in election laws and said in part: 81 earn
estly invite your attention to the impera-
tive necessity for a REVISION of the election
laws, so as to guard more effectually the
exercise of the elective franchise, and secure
to the people fair and honest elections. 1t
is manifest that public faith in the purity
of our elections has become SHAKEN, and the
feeling is widespread that the decision
at the ballOt-box no longer reflects
the honest judgment of a majority of
voters. it is needless to say that the ballot
built our representative form of govern
ment, and in our ability to maintain its
purity lies the only hope of the popularity
of our free institutions. You can
render The state no more OK
allied service than to frame and
enact such laws as will, so far as legislation
can accomplish, prevent the use Of money,
preserve the secresy of the ballot, secure
pure elections, aud punish by the severest
penalties all who may be guilty of COM
hitting fraud upon the ballot box, of brib-
ing or attempting to bride any elector, or
corrupting in any manner the suffrages of
the people. The ballot should be
printed by the state and procured by the
voter only at the polling places under such
restrictions as will give every voter an OPP
portunity to select and vote the ticket of
his choice without Interference by others,
and congregating ana ecctiOneering about
polling places should be strictly prohibited.