The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-18
Five Republicans Bolt Caucus Action
and Nine Are Absent or Not
Voting.
HARRINGTON NOT A DoDGER
HE EXPLAINS THAT HE WAS KEPT
AWAY BY PRIVATE BUSINESS.
Democrats Voted Against the Measure
The Day in the House-Legis-
lative Gossip.

The stansbury bill creating state COM
mission to contract for supplies for all the
schools of the State was passed by the
House yesterday forenoon by the close vote
of 81 to 81. 1t requires fifty-one votes to
pass bill. and the Stansbury measure
consequently had but one vote to spare.
The bill had been made a caucus meas
ure by the Republican members of the
House, but five of the representatives on
the majority side bolted the caucus action.
The boilers were: Mr.. Kline of Kosciusko:
Mr.. Bearss, of Miami; Mr. Berndt. of Cass.
Mr. Lewis, of Clay, and Mr.. Schermerhorn
of Noble. Nine Republicans were absent
or not voting.
The Democrats had caucused against the
bill and every one of them who was 'pres-
ent voted in the negative Mr.. Scifers. of
Washington, who is i'll, was the only ab-
sentee on the minority side.
Mr.. Harrington, Of Marion, who was one
OF the majority members who was strongly
opposed to making the bill a caucus meas
ure, was one OF the absentees, but he .ex-
plained in the afternoon when he put in
an appearance that he had not 'dodged"
the vote, but had been detained at home
by some personal business matters that
demanded immediate attention. Had he
been present, he said. he would have voted
for the bill, but he would have explained
that he was voting against his individual
sentiments at the behest of the demands
of majority of the Republican members.
NO DISCUSSION OF MERITS.
There was no discussion of the merits
of the bill when it was placed on its pas
r1,, roll
aside from the explaining of their votes by
several members there was no incident out
of the ordinary in the passing of the bill.
Mr.. Boyd of Putnam. Democrat. was the
first man to explain his vote
II think that this is a good bill" said
Boyd. but unfortunately my colleagues ON
this side of the House do not Consequent
ly shall vote against the bill, but I want
to be recorded as voting mo- under protest"
Mr.. Kline was the only one of the boiling
He said that he regarded the bill, as purely
a business proposition, not a political one
so he would not abide by the action of his
colleagues. He voted no.
Mr.. Robertson, of Jackson, took a shot at
the bill in explaining his vote. ''If I be-
iieved all the township trustees and school
officers OF the oSd state Were % L3sues and pecu-
bill, but / don't. l regard them as honest
men, who have the best interests of the
schools at heart. L vote no."
Mr.. Salisbury. of Lagrange. was one of
the Republican members who took his
medicine urder protest. II do not he
lieye this is a good bill, but. like my friend
from Putnam. my colleagues Dc not agree
with n.s. 1 ask to be recorded as voting
ave under protest
Mr.. Sherman, of Decatur. explained his
vote somewhat enigmaticalIy. I'm the hone
of a glorious resurrection from the dead -
he said. II vote aye" Mr.. Sherman had
been discussing the problem of death in
Connection with the enbalmers' bill but a
few minutes before. and IT is possible that
he had become confused on the two meas
ures.
SLACK CUT OFF.
Mr.. Slack. of Johnson. the minority floor
leader. paid his respects to the bill In Wig