The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-08
SECRETARY OF STATE WAITED
DIR. PETTIT'S SPEECH IN TAKING
THE SPEAkERSHIP.
President Pro Tenn. of senate Elected,
Despite Lieut.. Gov. Nye's Ruling.
-GOvernOr's Message To-Day.

yesterday morning through a little mis-
understanding as to the time of convening.
The time fixed by law is 10 O'Clock a. ni.,
but the newspapers had stated that both
houses would assemble at II o'clock and
in consequence very few of the Republican
members were on hand at that time. Some
body among the Popocracy. however, had
discovered the point, and the members of
that persuasion were hustled together and
were in their seats at 10 o'clock sharp. The
scheme failed in the House, because the
Constitution requires that that body be
called together by the secretary of state
Mr.. Owen is Republican, who does not
go to sleep very often. When he saw that
the Republicans were not in their seats he
went upon the legal assumption that it is
10 o'clock until it is IL. and did not call the
House to order until the latter hour when
the Republicans had a majority on the
floor. The Senate, however. was called
together by Lieutenant Governor Nye. who
holds the office until next Monday and he
called il together sharply upon the hour
of 10. The Republican members. half a
dozen of whom were in the Senate cham
ber before that hour, became aware of the
scheme and began a sharp hustle TO get
eighteen members in their seats. enough to
overcome the Popocratic minority of sew
enteen. After the body was called TO order
it required little parliamentary skirmsh-
ing TO prevent the organization before this
could be accomplished. BY the time a Re-
publican majority was on the floor the
Popocrats had lost their anxiety TO organ
ize forthwith and the organization went
over until afternoon. Both houses were or
ganized sy the election of the nominees of
the Republican caucuses the night before,
as follows:
For the House.
Speaker-Henry c. Petit Wabash
CleTk-Ben II. Prather indianapolis.
Assistant Clerk. O. Lambert, Middle
town
Doorkeeper-Q. X. Groves Toblnsburg
For the Senate
Secretary-Charles r. Lane. Indianapo-
lis.
Assistant Seoretary-J. w. Egnew, La
Gro.
Doorkeeper-Clamor Pelzer. Boonville
The House was called to order by Secre-
tary of State owen. and prayer was offered
by Rev. Mr.. Pounds. of the Central Chris
tian Church. The roll was called by r. A.
Brown, deputy secretary of state. DR.. c.
p. Plew. of Sullivan Dem.). was the only
absentee Judge Comstock chief of the
Appellate Court. administered the oath OF
office.
The work Of organization was quickly
disposed OF. III. c. Petit. the Republican
/, nominee for speaker. named by Rep
.eSentative Harris, and Allen Swope, for
the Democrats. was named by Representa-
tive Downey. One of the Republican mem
bers had slipped out and Petit was elected
by vote of 81 to A.. The seven Populst
members had finally determined to vote witt
|
the stand by a committee appointed by
Mr.. Owen, composed of Messrs. Harris anc
Swope. and was received with applause
He spoke briefly as follows:
MR.. PETTIT'S ACCEPTANCE
1T is with feelings of the deepest graft
tude that l come before you to attempt tC
express to you my appreciation of the grea
| honor which you have seen fit TO bestov
| upon me. i'm choosing me as your presd
ing officer. On an occasion like this, he il
whom such confidence is reposed finds him
! self utterly unable to express in words ;
due appreciation of such a high honor anC
such complete confidence. And for this
will only say at this time that | thank yol
| frnrc the depths Of my heart.
But while l. like any other similarly sit
| uated. gratefully accept the position. | an
: sensible that with ii come heavy responsi
| bilities. care and public duty. 1t is human
| TO err. and no man ever lived whose life
was free from error. We all make mis-
| takes. | know that L shall make mistakes
| And, therefore. | beg at your hands tina
| patience. forbearance and magnanimity o
conduct during the hours of what NAV b,
an exciting session, will be al all times ex
| tended by you toward me- and | assure yol
| that If at any time there may appear undu,
firmness partialty exercised by tn,
| Chair, that IL shall be my constant en-
| deavor to faithfully serve the membership
OF this House with an earnest purpose t
| discharge conscientiously and impartialI,
| the duties of this position. The day vii
| soon be in American politics when bite
| partisan animoSities will be obliterated an,
| ther be my purpose TO recognize at al
times the rights of all the members of thi
! House
| while l cheerfu,iy acquiesce i'm the un
| questioned theory :hat the speaker is bu
| the mouthpiece and agent to do the biddini
| or the House, L cannot refrain from Sayin,
that upon many important public question
| that may arise In connection with pro
| posed legislation have settled convictions
| OF these L wish particularly 10 avail nv
| self or this occasion TO express here an
| publicly my deep-seated hope that | shal
| lind myself in full accord with the mem
| bers of the House on economic questions
1T is matter of common knowledge an
| experience that for several years last pas
| the people of Indiana have labored under
| most distressing financial depression. Val
| ues have shrunk and resources hav
| this condition. il is my earnest wish tha
the hour will never arrive in the hist ory O
this House, when taxes and burdens com
| 10 be levied upon our people, that a mos
| vigorous economy may not be preserved
| with this l shall close. Again thankin
| you for this great honor beg to say ar
| ready to be sworn in
Mr.. Pettit's address was applauded an
| after he took the oath of Office admins
! tered by Judge Comstock the organiZatio
| of the House proceeded. Ben H. Prathe-
| Republican, was nominated for clerk b
| Representative Littleton. while Representa-
tive Thornton performed this duty for n
| j. Carroll, the Democratic nominee Pra
ther was elected by vote of 81 TO Al J. {
| Lambert was named for assistant clerk b
| Representative Elliott. of Henry and wa
| elected over Richard Erwin. Democrat
| nominated by Representative Downey h
| 50 10 a.. Quintilian h. Grove Republican
| was nominated for doorkeeper by Repre-
| sentative Packard ana elected over NJ A
| Little. who was named for the Democrat
| by Representative Wallrath. by a vote G
| 81 TO a. The election of each man was rt
| ceived with applause. and each was Intro
| duced 10 the House by the speaker. The
all were lined up i'm front of the speaker
tered by Judge Comstock.
Upon resolution offered by Representatiy
| Swope. Messrs. Swope. Packard and HaI
were appointed a committee of three to In
form the Senate of the organization of th
House. Upon motion of Representatiy
Thornton. Messrs. McCrea and Thornto