The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-11
PROCEEDINGS IN GENERAL.
Democrats Disregard the Lieut.-Governor
and Elect a Presiding Officer.

and Elect a Presiding Officer.
Senator'S holding over and Senators-elect met
in the Senate chamber, yesterday morning, and
were called to order at 10 o'clock by the Hon. ].
A. 8. Mitchell, one of the judges of the Supreme
Court, who, upon taking the presiding officers
place, asked to be informed if the Auditor of
State Mr.. CARR was present IA voice-"He is
PRESENT. Judge Mitchell invited him to come
to the stand, but he refused he did not feel it
his duty to do so, believing that Lieutenant
governor Robertson is legally the presiding
officer of the body, and knowing him to be at the
door asking admission that he may assume the
duties of his office
Senator johnson said he desired to read
communication from Lieutenant governor Rob
ertsOn''
His remarks were interrupted by protests
from Senator Barrett against the reading of the
communication. but Senator Johnson continued
Its reading amid much noise and confusion.
Senator Johnson said he hoped the rights ac-
\ ton would not be denied that officer He called
| for vote OH the adoption OF the resolution. 1t
| obtained hearty affirmative response from
the Republican side He declared the resolution
| carried.
Judge Mitchell called upon Senator's to be
seated sea anu requested senator urmston to can
the roll OF the Senate and newly-eected Senators
| to rise as their names were called and remained
| standing until the oath of office was admins
tinuing to speak and protest in behalf of himself
| and his Republican colleagues that Lieutenant
governor Robertson should preside.
Judge Mitchell administered the oath to Sena-
tors-elect while Senator johnson was protesting
against such proceeding.
| Senator Barrett said: Judge Mitchell, mas
much as there is vacancy in the Office of Lieu
| tenant governor move you that the Hon. James
| f. Cox, "A Senator from the counties of Morgan,
| Johnson and Brown, be elected President for the
OCCASION"
Senator Johnson protested, as did Senator
Dresser, who called for the yeas and nays
Judge Mitchell putting the question to the Sen-
ate. said: 1.-THE ayes have it. will appoint Sem
ators Barrett and Grose to escort the newly
| elected president to the chair"
Senator Crosse said: 81 decline to act" Laugh
| ter.
| Senator Barrett escorted President pro tenn.
Senator Johnson gave notice that at the proper
time he would prepare and present to the Senate
protest for himself and in behalf of his Repnb-
| lican colleagues against these prOOeedings-the
| swearing in of a man who has no more right to
| that chair than any other man in the State. He
denounced it as usurpation OF the rights OF
| the people
President pro tenn. Cox said, in order to expe-
dite the organization of the Senate, Il will APP
| point as temporary Secretary of the Senate
| AlonzO G. Smith, and as assistant secretary pro
| tenn. John ID. Carter.
Senator Gritfth-"I move that we proceed
| with the further organization by the election of
| AlOnzO g. Smith, OF Jennings county, Prin-
cipal Secretary for this sessi on" While the
| question was being put to the Senate Senator
| Johnson again protested against every step i'm
| this unlawful usurpation of authority.
:. The President pro tenn. Cox declared the mo-
/
| put in nomination for the position of permanent
Secretary the Hon. Alonzo g. Smith
| President pro tenn. COX-AlOnzO G.. Smith is
| placed in nomination for Principal Secretary of
| the Senate. Are there any other nominations
If not, the Secretary will call the roll, and as
| your names called yOu will announce your
| choice for Principal Secretary of the Senate
Senator Johnson again entered his protest
/ against these unlawful proceedings
| After the rOll-cal President pro tem Cox said:
"Alonz0 q. smith having received majority OF
all the votes OF this Senate declare him duly
now take the oath OfOfce." Senator Johnson gain
entered a protest, but the oath of Office adj
ln1nlstered TO smith by Judge d. j. Hebron, OF
| DavieSs county
The President pro TEN. declared the next
thing i'm order to be the election of an assistant
| secretary, which resulted in choosing John ID.
| Carter. the Republicans not voting, which they
| refused to do on all other elections. vertical
| which Edward Hamilton, of Morgan, was elected
| DOOr-keeper The President pro tenn. then de-
| clared the Senate of the Fifty-sixth Assembly
| duly and legally organized, and ready for the
! transaction OF such business as may be brought
| before it,
| Senator'S johnson and Griffith addressed the
Chair. The latter was recognized, and offered a
| resolution appointing committee to inform the
| House of the organization of the Senate. 1t was
| adopted. Senator Johnson said he recognized
| the occupant of the chair as such, under
| protest OH behalf of himself and col
Leagues, in order to get before the Sen.
| the right of Lieutenant governor Robertson to
| preside. On motion of Senator Barrett it was
1 /. -
| tor Dresser's protest.
Senator Urmston offered resolution de claring
| the Senate rules of 1897 to be the rules of this
| Senate until otherwise provided.
| Senator Johnson made an Intellectual motion to
amend by adopting the rules of the Fifty
| fourth Assembly.
| Senator Urmston's motion was agreed to- Reso-
| lutiOns were adopted providing for joint CON-
mittee on the part of the Senate on Joint rules,
| and to wait upon the Governor and inform him
| of the organization of the two Houses.
| Senator Johnson said Having laid my reso-
luton on the table relating to Leutenant-gov-
position to discuss the question involved therein,
! shall reduce the proceedings had here to writ
leagues of the Republican party, and will at
| some future time ask that it be spread upon the
| records of the Senate
President pro tenn COx-Very we'll
Senator UrmstOn offered a resolution rendering
the thanks of the Senate to Judge j. A. s. Mitch
| ell for services rendered in the organization OF
| the Senate. 1t was adopted by yeas 27, nays 2I
| Senator DeMOtt rose to q question of personal
privilege stating that on the first call of the roll
| he did not vote. and on at least two other roll
calls there had been return OF twenty seven on
| one side and twenty-three on the other, when it
| was known to a large part of the Senate that
had recollection of timeback when, for the pur-
| pose OF making record the minority were voted
here. he desired to call the attention of the SEN
ate to the fact that there be no safety except
| in a correct rOll-cali.
The President pro tem.-Does the Senator
Senator DeMott-I would like it to show that
there were but forty -nine members here How
| can fifty men be voted when there are but forty
nne?'
| The President pro tem-That might be mis-
take of the Secretary 1t shall be there
| Is any mistake.
| Senator DeMotte-SenatOr Afford has just this
| moment come into the Senate.
| Senator Dresser said that il was well known
that on the two first calls of the roll a certain
| Senator was recorded as voting when he had not
| been sworn i'll, and was not entitled to vote, and
| yet the announcement was made by the chair
| that there were 81 votes in the affirmative.
| The President pro tem.-I believe that was COR
| rected afterward.
| senator Dresser-There could be no correction
| of ii made.
Senator Mullinix-Nobody wants to make a
| false record here
| Senator Boyd offered a resolution relating to
| the distribution of seats by lot. 1t was made q
1 special order for tomorrow. Senator Foley
offered q resolution, which was adopted. appoint
| ing Leo Fitzpatrick mail-earrer. President pro
| tem Cox appointed Howard Henderson, Frank
| Harris and George Allison pages and, on motion
| of Senator Duncan, their appointment was con-
| firmed for the sessiOn-SenatOr Dresser making
| an Intellectual motion to strike out the words,
| for the session."
| Senator Griffith see the Hon. Ira j. Chase
| Lieutenant governor-elect in the room. I there
| fore move he be invited to occupy seat by
| the side of the President pro tenn, and that
| committee be appointed 10 escort him
| to the place." 1t was agreed To, and the Presi-
| dent pro TEN. designated Senators Griffith and
| Kennedy, who performed the service, when
| President pro tenn Cox said: Senators, L have
the pleasure now of introducing to you our Lieu