The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-27
THE PARTY MEASURES
REPUBLICANS OF THE
HOLD a JOINT CAUCUS.
AppOrtiOnment Confined to Ier.sta-
i've characterization Law Amend
ments Decided Upon.

The Republicans of the General Assem-
bly, held their first joint caucus for the
consideration of legislative matters in the
hall of the House last night. The matter
OF hrst Importance was the question of an
apportionment for legislative purposes.
which is always a troublesome one. and is
particularly so this year when there is such
a Slight majority in the House. 1t /. the
expectation of the party that the Assembly
VIII nrst clear up the apportionment situa-
ton by taking the ryman of 1885 off
the statute books and then pass a Iegisla-
tive apportionment bill so fair and equita-
bic that no objection can be found to it.
even under the stringent rules laid down
by the Supreme Court in it's recent de-
cisions. However, no matter how fair and
just the apportionment may be, ii is taken
Tor granted hat the minority in the House
will present a solid front against it and il
is necessary that the majority nave their
forces in compact shape in order TO pass
the bill through the House. Each member
usually looks rather TO the way his own
district is treated in an apportionment bill
than TO the general features of the meas
ure ana this causes a multiplicity of views
TO be harmonized. There is little or no
disposition to take up the question of re-
arranging the Congressional districts, and
this matter was definitely determined by
the caucus voting not to take up the sub
ject. The bill of Senator New, repeating
the gerrymander of 1885. was made a eau
Gus measure, and the following committee
was appointed to draft a legislative APP
portionment: Senators Hawkins. Hogate
and Watson and Representatives Littleton,
Smith and Babcock. They will report to
the caucus next Tuesday night, when all
other committees appointed last night will
report.
The question of amending election law
was taken up and discussed. There are
now three or four bills pending in the two
houses for amendments TO this law. One
of them provides for the use of a pencil
instead of the stamp and pad. another
changes the Republican ticket to the first
column on the ballot and another, besides
these two changes, provides for watchers
at the polls by minority parties, and
makes numerous changes in details OF the
law. There is a very general agreement
that the one feature contained in all of
them, namely, a clause that the name of
the same man as a candidate for the same
office shall not appear more than once upon
the ballot. shall be enacted into law. but
upon the other features there was consid-
cradle diversity OF opinion, and IL was
argued that any of the various other
changes mentioned would tend TO not a lit
tie confusion upon the part Of the voter.
The proposition to change the Republican
ticket to the first column was voted down,
but that of using the pencil instead of the
stamp carried. 1t was also decided to
nave q circle within the square surround
ing the device so that a straight ticket
can be voted by marking in this circle. 1t
will be surrounded by the words: ITO vote
a straight ticket mark within this circle"
Senators Newly, Houghton and Duncan
and Representatives Thomas, Willoughby
and Hart were appointed a committee TO
draft ia bill containing these provisions.
There was a successful effort made also
TO consider the subject of a bill to abolish
the Office of custodian of the statehouse
and substitute the position of superintend-
ent of statehouse and grounds. The terms
of the present custodian and engineer eX-
pire on March 6. and it was thought hardly
worth while to Dust them in the meantime.
Thus there was thought to be no great
hurry about it. In the new measure the
engineer will be known as superintendent
of machinery. Senator Hugo and Repre-
sentatives Nicholson and Linck were ap-
pointed to draw up a bill to this end.
An effort was made to bring up the
Shively bill concerning the prison boards
in order that il might be amended so as
TO provide that the boards should. be par
tisan. but Senator Shively and others OPP
posed it and it was voted down.