The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-30

but the oaken door from the rooms of the
court did not open, as every body expected
they would do Five minutes passed be-
fore the delay came to be noticed by the
crowd. Then ten. fifteen. twenty and
thirty minutes flew by with no signs cf the
robed justices and the crowd became rest
less and speculative as to the meaning of
the long delay. The Republicans were dis
posed to regard it as unfavorable to them,
since it Indicated that discussion was GO
ing on in the council chamber of the court,
and dispute on party lines everybody
knew was fatal to tho Republicans, as tho
court stands five to two Democratic. 1t
was regarded as very significant to-day
that the court should not be ready
the hour to which they took q
recess. The Republicans assumed that the
chief judge was opposed to the stand taken
by the majority of the court in the Noyes-
rockwell case, and that he was endeavor-
ing to bring majority of the court 70 his
views. The Democrats in the crowd were
more eangulne as the time passed, until they
came to feel absolutely sure that the decis-
ION would be in their favor. No one re-
members when this court ever delayed as it
has done to-day. 1t is always regarded as
the model aud symbol of proInptness.
At o'clock the bench was still barren of
Judges Judge Gray was not present, as
1:32 p. NJ, the black robed Justices took
their places on the bench and handed down
bundle of legal documents, which were
carried at once to the office of the Secretary
of State, where the opposing lawyers fell
upon the mass of papers in an attempt to
learn what results lay within the $4,000
words of legal verbiage. And this Is the
way 1t seemed when the mass untangled.
Sixteen votes make q tie but the Lieu
tenant-governor's vote makes the Senate
Democratic.
The Fifteenth district, comprising Dutch
ess, Putnam and Columbia counties, has
been the subject of more controversy than
any of the other districts. The Democratic
candidate. Edward Osborne. was declared
elected by the county canvassers, who
threw out thirty five ballots which were
marked with printers quad and some
other irregular ballots. Since the election
Deane. the Republican candidate, has died.
In the Sixteenth district. in which Troy
is located, Colling. Democrat. contested the
election of Derby, ON the ground of fraud.
In the Twenty fifth district the question
at issue was the mixing ND of the ballots
by the county clerk, who sent them to the
wrong districts, thus enabling the Repub-
lican inspectors to ascertain how certain
persons voted and thereby destroying the
secrecy of the ballot. The Democrats did
not raise the question Of the citizenship of
Peck, the Republican candidate. Mr..
Nlcholls was the Democratic candidate.
In the Twenty.seventh district, compris-
ing Allegheny. Steuben and Chemung
counties. the Issue was on the eligibility of
SueTWoOO Juo hepuDilcau cauuluate, WHo
was park commissioner of HOrnellsville,
and whose ineli9ibility was promulgated
before the election by Attorney-general
Tabor. The Democratic candidate was Mr..
Walker.
The Importance of the Democrats con-
trolling the Senate is not only local, but
national. as it may possibly decide the
next election for the presidency, as there
will surely be reapDOrtonment OF the
State in the interest of the Democrats. Be-
Ina N hnr 10 a IA
deal of patronage in appointments OF OFF,
cials to places SO long held by the Republic
ans. such as health and quarantine commits
sioners. port wardens. railroad commits
siOEers, ciyil-service commissioners, State
assessors etc.
ACTION OF THE CANvAssERs.
A truce had been raised until the decis-
ions had been unraveled, and the State
Board of Canvassers deferred their meeting.
which had been fixed for P. NJ. until later
80 that they might act according with the
decisions handed down. The parley of the
men of law was SO protracted. however,
that the board did not convene until to-
night when they took the following action
upon the four cases In contest:
In the Fifteenth district the certificate of
election was awarded to Osborne. the DEM
OCratic candidate.
In the Sixteenth district the certificate
was awarded to Derby, the Republican
candidate.
In the Twenty-fifth district the certifi-
cate was awarded to Nichols, Democrat.
In the Twenty seventh district tSher-
wood'sl the board did not award any GER
tihcate, leaving the Senate to determine
whether any candidate was elected. in
Wow of the decision of the Court of Ap-
peals that Sherwood is ineligible. The
board then adjourned sine die.
Sherwood, the ineligib BILE, was the Repub-
lican candidate In the Twenty seventh dis
trict. With this district in allegiance. the
decisions rendered to-day and the action of
the State canvassers in accord herewith,
gave the Senate this complexion: Demo-
Gratis, 16; Republicans. Is; Twenty seventh
district (Sherwood's) III doubt, !. Total
Senate members. 81.
Thus. with the deciding vote OF Demo-
cratic Lieutenant governor Sheehan, the
Democrats will be able to direct the action
to be taken in the TweHt ty seventh district
where Sherwood, the Republican, Is de-
cided ineligible. This. upon the assump-
tion that n quorum was present. AquOrum
is seventeen. and the Democratic sixteen
(the Lieutenant-gove not counted for q
Qnoruml would not reach the quorum re-
quirement. Just here there arises pos
sible coup d'etat for Colonel Bliss, of the
Republican counsel, is authority for the
statement that if the Democrats attempt to
organize with but their votes. there will be
an exodus on the part of the Republicans
out of the reach of the Sergeant-at.arms,
and consequent lack of quorum