The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-08

nortiy in both legislative branches were
held last night. and at each one the pro-
gramme prearranged was carried out TO the
letter. There was not hitch in the pro-
ceedngs and the Legislature is now ready
to get down to the formal organization at
10 o'clock to-day.
The House majority caucus was held In
the hall of representatives at O'Clock.
Roscoe E. Kirkman. of Richmond. was
chosen caucus chairman. and Represents
tive Henry w. Marshall. of Lafsxet
duly selected speaker. Three Of the lie
as follows: Principal clerk. w. r. Reagan,
Indianapolis; assistant George ID. He'll
man. Evansville; principal doorkeeper. @.
f. Ogden, Wabash.
The official plunder committee was ap-
pointed, Representatives Statesman Of
Peru. Morgan OF indianapolis and Stans-
bury of Wiliamsport being chosen as had
been agreed upon. The committee has al
ready done part of it's work. but its report
will not be finished until tonight.
The Republican senators caucused In the
Senate chamber at the same hour, and the
scheduled slate was put through unani-
mously. Senator e A. Dausman, of Goshen,
was chosen chairman; Senator f. Z. Mat
son. of Indianapolis, president pro tenn. and
Senator w. A. Kittinger OF Anderson, joint
caucus chairman. The employees selected
were: Secretary. Harmon L. Hutson, OF
Indianapolis; assistant. Fred Snyder, OF
Angola, and doorkeeper, Clemar Pelzer, OF
Boonville. The qualifications committee.
composed OF Senators Wood OF Lafayette
Gochenour of North Manchester and Ball
of Muncie, submitted its report placing the
fifty-nine employees OF the Senate. The re-
port was approved. The committee on
rules, which have been made by the COM
mittee appointed by Lieutenant Governor
Gilbert some weeks ago, submitted its rec
concentrations, which were indorsed after
some little discussion.
The only new business brought up was
the announcement that former Senator w.
A. Guthrie will contest the seat OF James
Nj. Singer OF Versailles, the Democrat who
was elected while he was a member of the
town board of school trustees. This an
nouncement created some surprise, as il
had been understood by some OF the SEN
ators that Guthrie had decided not TO con-
test the seat.
The announcement came i'm the form of
a resolution which was offered by one OF
Guthrie's friends. providing that the no.
tice of contest, when filed in the Senate in
the regular order of things. be referred 10
the committee on elections. The object OF
the resolution was TO make the contest a
caucus matter, and to this several OF the
senator's promptly objected. There were
numerous speeches and motions and coun-
ter-motions TO the end that the caucus was
prolonged until almost 1890 o'clock and
no action was taken TO commit the senator's
to the contest.
Many of the senator's argued that no
contest should be made because while he
might be technically ineligible Singer was
clearly the choice of the people of the dis
trict. and If he were unseated the will OF
the people would be thwarted. One senator
even moved that IL be declared the sense
OF this caucus that contest should not
be made, but this motion was later with
drawn. IL was argued. on the other hand
that If Singer is ineligible under the Con-
stitution ne Is no more entitled TO his seat
than he would be III he had secured HIS
election by fraud The final action. or in
action, of the caucus left the case in such
shape that If Guthrie files notice of con-
test to-day il will have TO take the usual
course.
Former Senator Guthrie. when asked late
last night If he would file notice of con-
test to-day. said that he had not fully de-
termined on the course he will follow. IL
is understood that he has submitted the
case to an Indianapolis attorney. who Is
not a member of the Senate. who made a
careful investigation OF the facts and the
law and prepared a written opinion in
which he holds Singer ineligible and Guth-
rie the legally elected senator from that
district.
The minority caucuses were held al the
Grand Hotel At s o'clock the minority rep-
resentatives met and chose j. A. NJ Adair.
of Portland. caucus chairman. and j. Ert
Slack. of Franklin. floor leader. The mi
nority senator's met at the same hour and
put through Senator Fleming's slate with
out a hitch, electing Senator James w
Fortune. OF Jeffersonville. floor leader. or
candidate for president pro tenn: Senator
Will III Johnston. of Crawfordsvilie. eau
Gus chairman and Senator w. IA. o Brien.
of Lawfenceburg. joint caucus chairman.
Following these meetings the joint caucus
was held presided over by Senator O Brien
The only action taken at this meeting was
the Endorsement OF Benjamin +. Shively OF
South Bend. the minority's candidate
for United States senator