The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-11


TO shake hands with friend or two when
the cue was given him TO go TO the Presi-
dents chair. The Constitution says when
the Auditor OF State Is C absent S one e Oh the
the Senate. AS the Auditor of State can
only act in that capacity when the Lieuten-
ant-governor is away or is acting as Gov
ernor. that officer did not appear
Judge Mitchell responded to the sign
given him, while Green Smith got his sand
bags ready. and, stepping briskly to the
Presidents desk, said: Twill any one in
form me whether the Auditor of State is
He present" said Senator Johnson, of
Wayne.
Il am here,n said Auditor of State Carr,
as he stood with hat in hand at the upper
end OF the second aisle; but cannot as as,
Senate. | know that Lieutenant-gOvernOr
Robertson who is the legal and constitu-
tioDal presiding officer of this body, is at
the door demanding admittance. Hence 1t
would be an unwarranted usurpatlon OF
power on my part TO assume to organize the
Senate
With that the Auditor of State bowed
himself out, aud, before Judge Mitchell
could utter word, Senator Johnson on the
Republican and Senator Barrett on the
Democratic side jumped TO their feet, the
action of the latter being prompted by that
OF the Wayne county Senator, who had Two
sheets of paper In hand. Green smith
bag, and Judge Mitchell stared helplessly
in the direction of the Democrats. Senator
Johnson went headlong into what he had
10 read, and in q. tone brought to the high
est possible pitch began alta twO-fOrty gait.
which he kept up i'll spite of
the increasing energy of protests from Sen
ator Barrett. When it was seen that john
son would be able to cry down Barrett,
Senator Mullinix, of Greene, rushed into the
breach with his little pop-gun of voice.
Another Democratic guerrilla tried TO get "a
word in, and still another came To the
rescue In an attempt 70 beat johnson down
with continuous shouting of protest. Il
protest. This thing is all out of order Mr..
President" and so on until Senator john
son had read the last words of the follow
ing and the preamble and resolution that
he offered in keeping with it.
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 10, 1889.
Hon. Henry u. Johnson, State senator:
have the honor to inform You that L am at
the door of the Senate, ready TO fulfill the duties
of Lieutenant governor presiding officer of the
Senate, but am refused admission TO the Senate
chamber. / request that you call the attention
of the Senate TO that fact, and inform it that
am present and able to attend and preside at the
sessions of the Senate. X. 5. ROBERTsOS,
Lieutenant governor OF Indiana.
The preamble and resolutions were as fol-
lows:
Whereas, The Senators are informed that, as
matter OF fact Robert = Robertson, the , duly NY
elected and acting ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. or the
State. is now at the door of the Senate and ask
ing admission TO proceed with the further organ
Hation of the Senate; therefore,
Resolved. That the Auditor of State direct the
door-keeper to admit the same Lieutenant-goy-
ernor upon the floor of the Senate, and that he
do preside in the further organization OF this
Senate.
Senator Johnson rounded off his victory
with, ''All in favor of the resolution will
say aye There was unanimous response
from the Republican side, to which Judge
Mitchell paid no more attention than if it
had been offered out in the corridor. He
ordered call of the new members of the
Senate, which again brought Senator john
son to his feet with protest He was re-
inforced by Senator Dresser, and this was
sustained until Green Smith, who was anx-
iOus to look for another sand-bag, got
through with the roll The door-keeper for
the occasion went to johnson and asked
him to please keep still Johnson continued,
with characteristic energy, to shout his
protest, when the door-keeper caught him
by the arm and said, keep STILL" The
a lower tone, when the door-keeper, hold
ing him by one arm, threw his right over
.Iohnson's shoulder, as if to use force, but
he did not. He contented himself with
saying. shut up" and then marched OF,
leaving the energetic Senator from Wayne
master of the situation.
The Senators were sworn in by Judge
Mitchell, two or three of the Republicans
taking the oath under protest and when
that was accomplished Senator Barrett
moved TO elect Senator j. +. Cox, of Nor
gan President pro tenn of the Senate. 1t
was carried with a shout. the Republicans
voting no. Judge Mitchell administered
the oath. and putting the gavel into Cox's
hand stepped out and was seen no more.
The Morgan county statesman pounded the
desk with the gavel as the Republicans
were getting ready TO protest again. and
Green Smith went after another sand-bag.
In order TO expedite matters" Cox said,
IL appoint as permanent Secretary, AlOnzO
Green Smith"
c. 80. 1o.r oG Gov
at0r
''Yes. that's it." said Senator Cox. Il
appoint him temporary Secretary pro tem.,
and as assistant secretary j. ID. Carter pro
tenn
1t was so arranged that all the hold-over
Senators of Democratic rating who partici-
pated in the row two years ago should have
a part in organizing around Cox, so Senator
Griffith moved that the Senate go into an
election of permanent Secretary. This was
carried, and the roll being called over, the
protest o. Senator Johnson, on the caucus
nominee, A. G.. Smith, Senator Cox
announced shat that tThsn5tys thaa had
twenty-three present and not .vot-
ing. Smith. forgetting all about
sand-bags for the moment, turned around
with uplifted hand to take the oath, ex-
pecting Judge Mitchell then to administer
1T. But the Judge had gone, SO some one
suggested Judge Hebron, who sat at the
foot of the steps leading. to the presiding
OmceF 3 ueSk. Il he hepuDllcsinS prOIeSteu,
and Senator Cox did not heed them. Green
Smith at once as sumed the duties of
Office by calling the roll on the election of
John ID. Carter as assistant secretary.
Senator Dresser protested this time, but
Smith went on, oblivious to everything but
the roll-before him.
Il protest" exclaimed Senator Dresser,
against the counting or twenty-seven
votes when only twenty-six voted for those
officers"
Senator Huston is now here" said Sena-
tor Urmston. HE can be sworn ill.,"
"Yet he is counted as having voted" re-
piled Senator Dresser.
AZ move, Mr.. President. that the roll be
called for verification." UrmstOn remarked.
ut is moved and seconded" said Senator
Cox, that the roll be called for ratifica-
tion.c
Notification, Mr.. President" shouted
Senator.
Eyes, verifcation,r Senator Cox an
swere1.
is it understood that the verification is
on the vote for principal Secretary" asked
some one.
Only on the vote for assistant secretary
for the present" replied Cox. But the roll
was verified as it was called in both in
stances
The other caucus nominees were voted
into Office aud then Senators Logsdon,
Francis and Sears were appointed to inform
The House that the Senate was ready for the
transaction of business. Senator Crmston
offered the resolution for that purpose and
WAS reeoQniZed in prefprenpe tn Senator