The Indianapolis journal., 1903-03-10
SENATE HAD QUIET DAY.


Glad that the weary grind of work was
over the senator's yet hated to say goodbye
to their colleagues and to bid farewell to
the chamber in which they had sat for two
eventful months. Just before President Gill
bert put the final question on which the
Senate was to vote during the Sixty-third
General Assembly two or three of the
members standing in the front part Of the
hall with newspaper friends struck up
"Auld Lang Syne." The old Scottish song
was sung through to the last word, and by
the time the last verse was reached the
whole chamber had burst into chorus.
There was a good deal of real sincerity
in the singing, for the association between
the members had been very close, not only
among the Republicans and among the
Democrats. but among the Republicans and
the Democrats.
II think" said the Lieutenant Governor.
that We ought to have some good singing %
Tudor jerks, one of the Senate pages, and
a boy with a remarkably good baritone
voice, was taken by President Gilbert to
the Presidents chair and the boy sang
feelingly two or three rousing patriotic
songs, to which the senators sang a ringing
accompaniment.
NOT MUCH HILARITY.
On account of the death of Senator
Thomas j. Gibson the life of the Senate
ebbed quietly. There was none of the up
roarious hilarity in which the House in
dulged. although good deal of quiet fun
was the order of business. Senator Stephen
B. Fleming, one of the most popular men,
bers of the Sixty-third General Assembly.
irrespective of politics. occupied the center
of the stage. While the Senate was waiting
the word of the Governor that the duties of
the Legislature were over for the session
of 1908 Senator Walter l.. Ball sent up the
following motion:
II move you, Mr.. President, that the
special order of business set for Monday
night at 8 o'clock be made the special order
for Monday afternoon at SIP o'clock, and
that the senator from Allen and Adams
be required TO read at the latter hour the
petitions bearing on the Luhring bill"
Several days ago Senator Fleming had
called the attention of the Senate to two
over seventy-seven thousand voters asking
that the Legislature repeal the blanket re-
monstranee provision of the Nicholson law.
Senator Fleming was very much in earnest,
but the matter was taken partly as joke
by the senator's. A half-serious motion was
made that he take up the gigantic task of
reading the petitions Monday night at Q
o'clock.
When Senator Ball made his motion Sena-
tor Fleming raised point of order. His
point was that the time of a special order
arrived. The President called his attention
to the new rule putting in the hands of the
Lieutenant Governor the entire direction of
the business of the Senate. The senator
from Allen and Adams was game
ANOTHER POINT OF ORDER.
Provide a pitcher of ice water and ]
will so ahead he said. Senator Ogborn
raised a point of order. He contended that
the Senate could not force upon a member
an unusual beverage.
Senator Fleming-I am perfectly willing
that the pitcher contain anything the Sen
ate may wish.
The great volumes were brought out by
the entire force of doorkeepers and pages
and laid on the clerks desk. Senator Flem-
ing was about 10 start his task when mes
sage from the Governor was announced.
The merciful interruption was welcomed
and the reading of the petitions was dis
pensed with for at least two years.
The Governor read his message In person.
1t was attentively listened TO. and as In the
House, he was applauded. although In a
more dignifed way. When Ii had been
completed. Senator Ball sent up the fol-
lowing resolution:
Resolved. That the Senate OF the Sixty
third General Assembly thank the reporters
OF the different newspapers for the tnvaris-
biz fair and courteous treatment accorded