The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-26
THE sENATE's SESSIONS.
Report Favoring Joss Primary Elec-
ton Bill Adopted-Other Business.

ton Bill Adopted-Other Business.
The Senate yesterday adopted a report
favorable to the passage Of the compromise
primary election bill. synopsis of which
appeared in last Fridays Journal. The bill
accepted is a substitute for the Minturn
measure, the report recommending that the
enacting clause of the Minturn bill be
stricken out and that the JOSS bill, which
has been so amended as to make it's pro-
visions mandatory in all counties of $4,000
or over, be inserted.
The committee on elections returned three
reports on the Mnturn bill. A report favor
ing the indefinite postponement of the
whole matter was signed by Senator Still
we'll alone. A second report favoring the
passage of the Minturn bill was signed by
Senators Matson, -wampler and WoIcott.
and a third report favoring the passage of
a substitute bill was signed by Senators
Joss. Burns and Wood. 49,
Senator Stillwells report was defeated
by viva voce vote without discussion. The
report favoring the passage of the Minturn
bill was then read. Senator Matson. chair
man of the elections committee, obtained
recognition from the chair, and in support
of the measure said that he had signed the
report and was urging it's adoption for
many reasons. II was nominated and
elected" he said, upon a platform declar-
ing for primary reform. This bill is pat
they are being tried in other States, and
as it is only experiment at best 1T is
just as we'll that We try this one as any
other. Then, again, the stage of the pres
house. the Minturn bill is much more likely
to become a law than a bill that has not
yet passed either house." In conclusion
Senator Matson said he had pledged his
word both publicly and privately to support
the Minturn bill unless some other bill
should be made caucus measure. thus in
surfing its passage. while primary reform
wherever II is being tried the majority of
the reformers who have studied the ques-
ton seem TO favor the direct nomination
sidered i deem 1t my duty to my constitu-
ents to support the Minturn BILL
SENATOR JOSS'S STATEMENT
Senator Joss was opposed to the adop-
ton of the report. While he was in favor
of primary election reform as much as
any one, he did not believe the Commercial
Club or any other organization had been
"anointed by the Lord" to prepare a pri-
mary election bill.
Senator Thompson said he was for the
adoption of the report favoring the pass
age of the Minturn bill, and in explaining
his reasons therefor said: "When 1 first
began an investigation of this subject /
believed that a direct nomination system
was wrong. but have found that expert
ence shows that is more accurately regis
tiers the will of the people. The tendency
of recent legislation is for that system. I
have on my desk the opinions of compe-
gate convention system of that State is in
effectual. and that the law should be
changed The convention system does not
do away with the abuses of primaries such
as are complained of in this city. No sena-
tor who knows the situation in this city
will deny that the abuses in the primaries
are outrageous. The Minturn bill is not a
perfect measure, but il is long step for
ward Its two central propositions are d.
rect nominations and primaries to be held
on the same day and at the same place
but no repeating can be done under the
Minturn bill, while~it can be done under
the Joss bill. / believe in the controlling
propositions in the Minturn bill and plead
that they may be enacted into law
Senator Crumbaker favored the passage
of the Joss bill as amended, saying that
its provisions We're more reasonable than
those provided for in the Minturn bill.
Senator wampier said that he had signed
the report recommending the passage of
the Minturn bill because he believed that
1t was drawn along the lines demanded by
both parties in their platforms. Senator
Parks was in favor of the Joss bill and
was followed by Senator Brooks. who ad-
vocated the passage OF the Minturn bill.
DEMOCRATS CAUCUSED.
While the majority members of the Sem
ate had been discussing the merits OF the
different bills. the Democrats had been
caucusing. and had enormously come to
the conclusion that because there was an
apparent division among the Republicans
that they could defeat both bills. When
Senator Brooks had finished his speech.
Senator Bell moved the previous question.
and a vote the report favoring the
passage of the Minturn bill was defeated
by vote OF 81 10 Is. Those voting for
the adoption OF the report We're: Agnew,
Binkley. Brooks. Charles. Corr, Cregor.
Gard. Guthrie. Reyes. Layman, Mafson,
Ogborn. Thompson. Wampler and Wolcott.
Those who opposed II were: Bell. Barlow,
Burns. Conlogue. Crumbaker. Crumpacker.
Darby. Dausman. Fortune. Goodwine,