The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-14
Advocates OF Nonpartisan system
boldly Fight Their Cause, but
Lose by n Vote of 40 to 20.
AGAINST THE FREE PASS
BILL ADVANCED TO SECOND READ.
ING ny THE HOUSE.
Senate Passes the Pension Fund Bill
Senator Cran0r Explains His
Fee Bili-Other Matters.


members of the Legislature participated in
the joint caucus called last night to settle
the political questions that this General AS
sembly will have to settle. President pro
tenn. Newly, of the Senate, called the eau
Gus to order at o'clock, and without much
ceremony the caucus launched itself into
the business at hand. The first question
taken up was that of the legislative appor-
tionment, and the Observation-Disclosures bill
and the Melendy bill were presented as cam
didates for caucus favor. The merits of the
first-named bill were set forth briefly by
Senator Wishard and Representative New
house, while Messrs. Merritt, Melendy and
Willoughby championed the Melendy prop
osition. The discussion lasted for two hours
and the debate at times rancorous. The
caucus finally got to a vote at 10 O'Clock,
and the Observation-Disclosures bill was accept
ed as the caucus measure by a vote of 62 to
10. Most of the members accepted the de-
csion with good grace and will abide by
the caucus action, and the bill in due time
will be enacted into law. Representative
Booher repudiated the action of the caucus
and declared his intention to vote against
the measure at every point
Representative Gibson was also inclined to
bolt the action taken, declaring privately
that he would not vote for the BILL Mr..
Gibson states that ever since 1858 his coun-
ty of Perry has been accorded representa-
tive, while the bill proposed attaches Perry
to Orange and Crawford and gives the three
counties two Representatives. He states
that Perry is but few hundred votes short
of the unit, and that in all fairness the
county is entitled to a Representative alone.
So far could be learned the detection
does not extend beyond these two members,
caucus will not endanger the bill. Mr.. Mer-
ritt wanted Lagrange to have Representa-
tive to itself and Mr.. Meendy wanted the
same thing for Steuben.
The legislative apportionment bone of con-
tention being disposed of, the caucus adj
dressed itself to the matter of the control
of the benevolent institutions. There We're
two reports from the special committee of
ten to which this problem n, was rsferred the
Bozeman. LaFollette, Robinson and Mer-
rift, recommend the passage of bill en-
the institutions of the State under the con-
troll of nonpartiSan boards, to be composed
of two Democrats and two Republicans, to
be appointed by the Governor and to serve
without pay. The minority report recon-
nlended clean sweep and a new deal 1t
was signed by Boyd. Watson. Holloway
and Moore. 1t proposed the passage of a
bill embodying the Haggard idea of a board
of three members for the control Of each
institution, not more than two members of
any board to be chosen from the same
political party. The appointment of these
with board to be composed of the Cover
lnor. Secretary of State. Treasurer Of State,
and Auditor of State. This of course means
the appointment of new boards, majority
each to be Republican. Senator
RcZemau qualified his signature OF the ma
jority report by the statement that so far
as the prisons We're concerned he was in
favor of the minority report but as to the
otner institutions he favored bipartisan
control.
After some discussion of the two reports 1t
IVES agreed that a recess of five minutes
should be taken in which the special COM
nlittee should be allowed to retire and see
Ii they could not agree upon some conf
promise They were gone half an hour and
returned with two reports before, with
this change: TIE majority conceded to the
minority the prisons, which should be
trolled by board of two Republicans and
one Democrat, who should receive $500 a
year. The minority stubborniy held to their
original report. The caucus was soon i'm
another turmoil The majority report was
advocated by Senator Lafolette. Mr.. Rob-
inson, Senator Shiveley. Mr., Leedy, Mr. Nc
Beth, Mr.. Merritt and others while the mi
nority was supported by Senators Haggard
Boyd, Baker and McCutchan and by Mr.
Moore, Mr. Holloway and others. Mr.
Moore. who represents an ordinarily Demo-
cratic district boldly proclaimed that he
wanted the Spoils. The vote resulted in the
substitution of the minority for the major
ity report by 40 to rs. while nearly score
or those present did not vote. Being late
many had left the chamber The spoils ele-
n1ent clapped their hands in great gee at
ther victory.
debate begged the caucus, as a last appeal
to take everything else, but leave the hospi
tails for the insane to be governed by nor
partisan boards SO as to save some vestige
OF the party pledges. The appeal these
leaders say, was in vain. A resolution was
then adopted in favor of a bill placing the
control of the Statehouse in tie hands of
a board composed OF the Governor. Score
tary and Auditor of State. A resolution was
cHered TO test the sense of the
be fee or salary system for
county officers. and this is stnl pending 1t
viii come up along with other matters for
consideration at caucus to be held at
said, In favor of the lee system.
Senator Newly expressed much disnleas-
ule after the caucus at the action taken
saying: Il feel that we have violated every
pledge of the party in the last six years
The action of the caucus is bad politics, ana
Is a catering to the spoils, element OF the
party MIR. Robinson, chairman of the
House committee on ways and means, said
the caucus had made bad mistake and the
party would suffer for it. Senator Shiveley
unWlSe and compromising in the light of the
party record and the party pledges.
The argument of the advocates of the mi
nority report was that the party is COM
mttted to the reform of the State instit1-
tons; that the party is now in position to
redeem the pledges it had made. and that
the opportunity given and not seized would
disgust the men who had given their time
and money to make possible the turning out
OF the crew that has been so long in posses
sion Representative Booher at one time at
tempted to speak. and was declared out of
order by the chairman, who stated that a
man who had declared that he would not be
bound by the caucus had no right in the
and left.
the, caucus decree apply 10 all the
States penal, reformatory and benevolent
institutions. This includes the PlsirfeId
Institution, the girls reformatorv. the
Knightstown home the institutes for the
blind. the feeble minded, and for the deaf
and dumb. and all the hospitals for the in