The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-25
BowERs-MILLER CONTEST.
Surprising Report of the Majority of
the House Committee.

Yesterday was another day for that sort
of eoquence which seems to be always on
tap in legislative halls and to be had for
the asking. One or two OF the speeches.,
so the spectators thought, were decidedly
tiresome. The occasion was the report of
the committee elections in the Bowers
Miller contest from the district composed
of Dearborn, Ohio and Switzerland. Chair
man Crozier headed majority report,
while Reynolds and Binkley constituted
minority. The majority favored the seating
OF Bowers, the Democratic candidate, while
the minority found plurality of at least
one vote for Miller, the Republican. The
controversy hinged largely on three dis
puted ballots and when these ballots were
brought into the House, it was the opin-
ion of most of the legislators that the bal
lots should have been counted for the Re-
publican. Before action was taken by the
House, adjournment was had and the two
reports are held in allegiance.
The election board had found that Bow
ers, Democrat, had received 1905 votes and
Miller, Republican, 4,901. number of dis
puted ballots had been sealed and these
the election committee examined. After
throwing out some, the majority of the
Bowers had received 1901 and Miller 1905.
The majority threw out the three ballots
which the minority wanted counted for the
Republican candidate. On these ballots 1T
was evident that the intention of the voters
was to vote the Republican ticket. There
was no Republican candidate for county
treasurer and the election board had left
the space vacant on the Republican side
of the ticket, although a small square and
had stamped opposite the title of county
treasurer, and then seeing that there was
no Republican candidate Tor the office, ne
had, perhaps, stamped the square opposite
the Democratic candidate. All the other
Republican squares were stamped. 1t was
difficult to tell even If the voter had in
tended to stamp the square opposite the
Democratic candidate. There was slight
mark there and the majority of the COM
mittee held tina, ie was distinguishing
mark. The result of the seat would hinge
on this ballot AS it was so evident that
the voter intended to vote the Republican
ticket, the House was loath to give the
Democratic candidate seat. The ma jority
Moase and shey We're bropuh in nd
passed around. Mr.. Crozier thought it was
fair to bring in the three BALLOTS. as as,, the
largely on the same grounds. Mr.. Hollo-
way said he thought it was one of those
cases where a voter had failed to have
sufficient ink on his stamp. The commit
tee, from the reports, had agreed TO all but
these three ballots and he favored bringing
them in for inspection. Mr.. Statesman re-
marked that the committee mad refused to
consider other important evidence bearing
on the case. The Republican wished to
show that fourteen votes cast by inmates
of county asylum were counted. ftis OPP
ponent got the DeneIlt OF THESE. Ny. IoD-
lnson made a speech, explaining the situa-
ton very clearly and showing conclusively
that the Republican ought to be seated.
Mr.. Stotsenberg tried to have the minority
report laid the table but this failed.
Pending the discussion, the motion TO adj
journ came up, and the matter was dropped
for q Jay.
Further progress was made with some of
the bills during the session and the stage
of final passage will be reached with the
next CALL The second reading of bills be-
gan Immediately after the converting OF the
House. The State boiler inspectorship bill
was amended before 1t encrossed, but
in the opinion of several lawyers the amend
ment may carry down the bill. The amend
ment provides that steamboat boilers shall
ment regulates this inspection. The iegali-
cation of the acts of Crandall. Harrison
county, was agreed to, under a suspension
of the rules. Most of the bills were en-
crossed without opposition. The emergency
clause was stricken from the railroad bill
which makes companies receiving freight
responsible for its safe transportation, no
matter over what lines the freight may
afterwards be sent by the first company
The committee. by amendment, fixed maxi
mum demurrage charge of 81 a ear.
The militia bill with several amendments
by the committee. stands engroSsed. The
first amendment gives separate battery
to Fort Wayne and to Rockville it first
teams in these two places a united battery.
Another amendment gives the militia an
appropriation OF $4,000 available April l.
House bill No. %. permitting secret societies
and churches to elect trustees without CIV
ing the formal notice now required by law,
went TO engrossment after an amendment
allowing churches 10 elect nine trustees il
they chose.
There is fear on the part OF some MEM
bers of the House that the insurance COM