The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-12
NO RESOLUTION SIGNED
SPEAKER LITTLETON TAKES ISSUE
WITH REV. MI. LAsBY.
The Lafter's Political Remarks
Heightens Interest I'm he
Contro1 ersy.

Frank L. Littleton. speaker Of the last
House OF Representatives. said last night he
did not sign a resolution passed by the
House and the Senate of the last Legisla-
ture allowing the Epworth League conven-
ton the use Of the Statehouse and its
grounds. II was a concurrent resolution, he
said. and such resolutions he did not sign.
He membered some such resolution being
passed. but he had nothing to do with 1t.
He did not believe Ii would be stronger than
the law which backs Mr.. Vest. custodian of
the Statehouse. in caring for the Statehouse
and grounds.
Rev. Charles c. Lasby, chairman of the
executive committee of the Epworth League
convention. said in an interview in the
Journal yesterday the committee wss deter
mined TO pitch the big convention tent on
the Statehouse grounds no matter what
Custodian Vest or the other state officers
said. The committee had been authorized
by the Legislature TO use the grounds. he
declared. and Custodian Vest was not
stronger than the State. Ii would not re-
quire the taking up OF more than twelve
trees, he said. Custodian Vest, in barring
the tent from the grounds. said twenty-one
trees would have 20 be taken up. Mr.. Lasby
continued that if the matter were forced
into the courts. Custodian Vest would be
responsible.
Indianapolis members OF the Legislature
who discussed the trouble yesterday said
the concurrent resolution passed was not a
law, whereas Custodian Vest was backed by
a law and was under bond TO care for the
Statehouse and its grounds. They said the
Legislature did not mean in the resolution
to allow the trees in the Statehouse grounds
to be taken up and the grass destroyed.
The resolution Is not in the compilation of
the acts of the last Legislature.
Mr.. Lasby intimated that Speaker Little
ton and Lieutenant Governor Haggard were
seen TO sign the resolution, and that ii was
spirited away by some interested person and
the resolution which now exists. and which
bears only the signature of the assistant
clerk of the House. was substituted.
Il made 1t a rule not to sign concurrent
resolutions" said Mr.. Littleton. II remem-
Der this particular resolution. / do not be-
lieve 1t would stand in the courts against
Custodian Vests decision. He Is authorized
by law to care for the Statehouse and the
grounds, and Is under bond. The Legisla-
ture did not contemplate allowing the trees
In the Statehouse grounds to be cut down
and the W destroyed. That IL nonsense.
IL might as well be said that the resolution
permitted the Epworth League TO tear out
a wall in the Statehouse. The trees once
taken up could not be made TO grow again
like they had before. Ii is foolish TO talk
Oh the signed resolution being spirited away.
l did not sign IL. Custodian Vest is right.
and the taxpayers should resist any attempt
to destroy the lawns or take up the trees on
the Statehouse grounds"
Tne story of the trouble between Mr..
Lasby, representing the Epworth Ieague
committee. and Custodian Vest was the sub
Ject or general gossip yesterday. Ii was
TAXED OF at the clubs and the hotels. Gus
todian Vest was generally commended. Mr..
Lasbys statements impugning the state ON
Gals and as to the probable effect of Gus
todian Vests action on the future of the
republican party heightened the interest In
the controversy. The next step in the mat
ter seems TO be looked forward to with In
teresr.