The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-13
MUNICIPAL BILL KILLED.



The bill providing that the terms of
municipal officers in cities less than $4,000
population shall be four years instead of
two was indefinitely postponed in the House
yesterday forenoon by the decisive vote
of 50 to 81 at the end of long fight that
occupied the greater part Of the aftrnoon
session Wednesday and an hour at the
opening yesterday. The defeat OF the meas
ure is attributed by it's friends to the eff
forts to filibuster against it until an amend
ment making it apply to Indianapolis and
extending the term of the present city ad-
ministration could be incorporated.
Representative Muir, of the Marion coun-
ty delegation, led a small force in this
movement that held the balance Of power
between the friends of the bill
and it's opponents, and he was
thus able to keep the House at
deadlock where the bill could neither
be advanced nor defeated; but in the end.
firing of these dilatory tactics, many of
his supporters deserted him and went over
to the element that wanted to kill the bill
and this was accomplished on the motion OF
Mr.. Statesman to indefinitely postpone.
Ed Logsdon. a member of the Indianapo-
lis Board of Public Works. and {. n. Eli
Oft city clerk. were on hand to keep in
touch with affairs in the interests or the
city administration, and 1T was very APP
parent that they were disappointed at the
death of the bill.
Mr.. Mummert. the author of the bill, says
that another measure of similar charac-
ter will be introduced at once, and an ef.
fort made to secure its passage. Inc Dill
which was defeated yesterday was indorsed
by the State Board of Commerce.
The bill was taken up on second reading
as unfinished business yesterday morning.
nd " e.
diately offered an amendment, which was
similar to that offered by Mr.. Kirkpatrick
yesterday in that it made the bill extend
the terms Of the present officials of the
cities that come under its provisions.
Mr. Bamberger moved that the amend
ment be laid on the table. and his motion
prevailed on an aye-and-no vote.
Mr.. Mummert then moved that the bill
be advanced to engrossment. and again
there was a demand for the ayes and noes
and the motion was lost. "a to IS.
Mr.. Mummert secured recognition and
said that he was satisfied that the mem
bers did not understand the bill, as 1t
he was anxious to have 1t receive fair
consideration. Therefore he, offered a mo-
ton that further consideration of the bill
be made special order for next Monday
at o'clock. This motion required a two
thirds vote, but there was barely one-third
in the affirmative, the roll call showing
Again Mr.. Mummert tried to stave off
the inevitable this time by offering mo-
ton to postpone action on the bill. which
would leave it in shape to be called up at
any time.
STUTESMAN'S HAMMER.
Then Mr.. Statesman came to the fore
with his hammer and moved to amend
Mr.. Mummert's motion by inserting the
word indefinitely before the word post
poned."
Mr.. Muir, who had been doing the busy
bee stunt among the members. promptly
offered motion to table Stutesman's mo-
ton. and he received dozen seconds and
a call for the ayes and noes, but his mo-
ton was lost by a vote OF 30 TO 55. The
question REQUIRED on Stutesmans amend