The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-08
A DRAMATIC D
1T OCCURRED IN THE SENATE NEAR
CLOSE OF THE SESSION.
Senate Brooks Opposed to "a Sus-
pension of Rules to Pass Senator
LAWYERS BiII-The Result.

The closing incident of Yesterdays ses-
sion of the Senate, from the standpoint of a
spectator, was probably more sensational
and dramatic than anything that has oc-
CURED during the whole session, and it all
came about by the introduction of a bill by
Senator LAWYER.
After the Senate had concluded the con-
sideration of the general appropriation bill
the session was prolonged in order TO allow
those who desired to call up bills on second
reading. so that they might be ready for
passage to-day. No general order was OBJ
served and several senators were on their
feet at the same time asking for recogni-
ton from the chair. Finally President Gill
bert recognized Senator LAWYER. who had
been standing quietly by his seat waiting
patiently for recognition from the chair.
The senator from Washington sent up a
bill and Immediately followed it with a mo-
ton to suspend the constitutional rules, so
that the bill could be put upon its passage.
He explained that the bill only sought to
legalize the acts of the School Board of
Crothersville, Jackson county,, and that
he realized if it was not passed at once it
might as well be withdrawn. Several of
Senator LAWYERS fellow-Democratic sem
ators Immediately began calling consent"
but the majority members of the Senate,
who some days ago at a caucus decided not
TO grant any suspension of the rules,
showed a disposition to oppose Senator
LAWYERS request. President Gilbert, who
seemed inclined to favor the motion offered
by Senator LAWYER, ordered the roll called
for a suspension of the rules. and it then
became evident that the Republicans, who
had been reminded of their caucus prom
ises by Senator Brooks, intended to abide
by the caucus at all hazards. When the
roll was completed there were not enough
senators who had voted to suspend the
rules. The Democrats insisted on the alb
senteeS being called, and then ensued a long
and tedious wait. In the meantime a num-
Der of the Republican senators tried to per-
suade Senator Brooks TO give in, but with
out avail.
When the Democrats saw that the Repub-
licans were not going to assist Senator
Lawler with his bill they hastily assembled
around Senator lnman and with one accord
declared that they would vote unanimously
against suspension OF the rules for the pas
sage of any bill brought up on second read
ing in the Senate to-day. Senator Inman,
tall and menaclng, stood In the center or
the sixteen Democrats who surrounded him
and audibly asked every one of his col
leagues TO abide by the caucus agreement,
and just as audibly each one replied II
will" The Republicans, knowing that Gov
ernOr Durbin would decline TO receive any
bills after tonight, and, being cOgniZant of
the fact that there were many bills on sec
ond reading which would require at least
one Democratic vote in order to secure q
suspension of the rules so that they might
be passed to-day, became very much
alarmed when they understood the import
of the Democratic caucus, and, notwith-
standing the protests of Senator Brooks,
who maintained his position TO the last,
hastily agreed among themselves to give
Senator Lawler enough votes TO suspend
the rules and pass his bill. The roll was re-
called. the rule suspended and the bill
passed just as Senator Brooks stalked from
the Senate chamber The action of the Re-
%publicans in voting for the bill partially
Modified the Democrats, and it is under
stood that the caucus rule will not be en-
forced against those senator's who voted
with them, but several of them declared
last night that the Republicans who refused
to vote yesterday would be sorry for it to-
day.