The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-14
NOW FOR MORE NEW Law
For the Legislature Has
Begun Its Work
But Little Trouble Over
the Organization.
A Little Squabbling in the
Upper House.
The McHugh Contest Under
Consideration.
Work of the House-Gossip Among
the Law Givers.

pointed to the hour of ten when Lieuten-
ant-GOvernOr Chase, toying %nervously with
his gold trimmed eyeglasses, slowly as
cended the steps leading to the presidents
table, and, pushing aside a huge cactus
that obscured the forty-two assembled
members of the upper house from his
view, raped sharply on the marble
topped desk, announcing at the same time
that the senate would come to order.
But" he added, eff the members de-
sire to take a recess OF fifteen minutes
they can do So"
This was exactly what the members de-
sired, and they signifed their approval of
the suggestion by the unanimous adoption
of a motion to that effect. The succeed
ing quarter of an hour was spent by the
members, or at least those who had never
met before, in making one anOther's
acquaintance. Democrats and republic
cans shook hands with a degree of warmth
that almost led one 10 the belief that they
were members of one political family.
But as the holdovers Of both parties laugh
ingly discussed the many bitter contests
in which they had engaged two years ago,
this impression was quickly dispelled.
State Librarian Dunn had assigned the
democratic members to seats on the west
side of the room, while the republicans
occupied the eastern section, with the sin
gle exception of Senator HAYS of Putnam,
who was separated from colleagues of his
political faith by several aisles. Through
a mistake he was given the desk that had
been assigned to Mr.. Magee of Cass.
At the expiration of the brief recess the
lieutenant-governor again made his APP
pearance at the presidents table, this
time accompanied by the Rev. ID. r.
Lucas, who, after the body had been called
TO order, invoked the divine blessing upon
its deliberations.
The minister had scarcely finished
speaking before Mr.. Shockney of Della
ware was on his feet with a resolution
against the admission of Messrs. Hol-
comb of Gibson and Posey and Kennedy
OF Martin and Daviess, as members of the
body. on the fimsy pretext that no va
cancy necessitating an election in their
respective districts existed in November
that the republican senators elected TO fill
~unexpired terms in 1855 in the aforesaid
districts should hold over for four years.
At this juncture Mr.. Burke of Clarke
fnterpOsed a point OF order to the effect
that as the new members had not yet
taken the oath of office there was not q
quorum present. He held that before
action could be taken upon any question
these new members should have taken
the obligation. There was considerable
quibbling, and finally the matter was
brought to a vote by motion to table
the resolution. 1t resulted in a vote OF
thirteen 10 nine in favor of tabling, only
the names of the holdovers being called.
When the vote was announced Mr.,
Burke demanded that the chair call the
new members forward and administer the
oath, but before the acknowledgements
could act the gentleman from Delaware
again bob0ed up with the request that he
be given leave to prepare a written protest
against the admission OF Messrs. Holcombe
and Kennedy, hat it might be spread
upon the records. Consent was given and
the new members filed up the aisles and,
stopping in front Of the speakers desk,
stood with uplifted hands while the lieu
t-enant-governOr administered the oath.
Although Mr.. Loveland of Miami county
had failed to bring his credentials with
him no objection was made to his being
sworn in.
When all of the new senators had been
made full-hedged members the body pro-
ceeded with the work of organization by
the election OF the secretary and assistant
secretary and doorkeeper, nominated in
"Wednesday nights caucus. The following
candidates, agreed upon by the republic
cans, were pushed forward to lead a for
lOrn hope: For secretary, Cyrus Wade
Randolph county; assistant secretary,
George b. Henderson, Parke county !;
doorkeeper, William A.. Dubois, Hamilton
county. These gentlemen derived the
glory, II there be any, in running for all
unattainable office in securing the votes of
the sixteen republican members. ,
After Secretary Eenton, Assistant Sec
rotary Peasants and DoOrkeeper Wells
had taken oath that they would faithfully
discharge the duties of their respective
offices, Mr.. Hays of Putnam, vino aspires
TO the leadership OF the minority, came to
the front with a lengthy resolution,
couched in the most fiery language, set
ting forth hat Librarian Dunn had arro-
gated TO himself more authority than the
occasion seemed to warrant in the seating
of members; that many of the senators
had by him been deprived of seats which
they had several DAYS previous selected.
Mr.. Burke moved to table the resolution
but the motion was subsequently with
drawn upon an agreement being reached
10 make the matter the special order Of
business for this afternoon.
Mr.. Howard of st. Joseph offered a res
OlutAJH plONiulhB iOI tuC appointment VI
a committee of five to prdmulgate rules
Tor the government of the senate.
The member from Putnam, anticipating
the introduction OF such a resolution, was
on hand with his little amendment,
which provided for ~thirty-fve standing
committees of seven members each, to be
appointed by the president of the senate,
but 1t failed to pass by a strict party vote.
The question then came up on the origi-
nal resolution and it was favorably acted
upon. A motion was also adopted pro-
vidingfo the appointment of a committee
of two to notify the governor that the
senate was organized and prepared to re-
ceive any communication that he might
see fit to make.
A lengthy resolution was introduced by
Mr.. HAYS setting forth that under the
statutes of 1881 the functions of the SEN
ate in the appointment of doorkeepers,
clerks, pages, etc, etc, were limited, and
that it could not, without deviating
from the law, employ more
than twenty-nine persons i'm all.
The resolution charged that the
senate of 1889 had plainly violated the
law by creating offices for altogether sixty
seven employees. The resolution further
provided for the employment of twenty