The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-12

wished TO offer, and from that time on the
floor was scene of confusion. No oratory
was INDUCED in; the members saved their
breath TO do their best lobbying for or
against amendments and motions that. were
offered.
Mr.. kirkpatrick secured recognition and
offered an amendment which was virtually
a new bill, the distinguishing feature of
which was that, If carried. 1t would pro-
vide for the extension of the terms of the
men now in office in the several cities that
come under the scope of the bill.
CRAvENS TRIES TO KILL THE BILL.
Before vote could be taken Mr.. Cravens
sent up motion to strike out the enaeting
clause and thus kill the bill. Mr.. Morgan.
of Marion, promptly moved that Cravens's
motion be laid on the table and the ayes
and noes were. demanded. During the roll
call the confusion became SO great that
it was necessary for the speaker to call
the House to order number of times. 1t
was apparent that there was a very formid-
able array of members who were anxious to
kill the bill, but Morgan's motion prevailed
by vote of As to Al.
Kirkpatrick's amendment was then voted
GOWN by viva voce vote and the question
tees recommendation. Mr.. Bell, of Ran
dolph, secured recognition TO offer several
amendments which he declared were sole
ly of a technical nature. but which no one
of the bill, Mr.. Mummert, who said that
they were all right. They were adopted,
and again Mr.. Cravens came to the front
with his hammer. This time he offered a
motion to indefinitely postpone the consider
alton of the measure, which meant death
for it, only in slightly different form.
Morgan again onered motion to table
and again the ayes and noes were demand
ed, Statesman, among others, lifting his
stentorian voice in demanding roll call
and then a division. 1t was to no avail
L. oil iOnn rQd hn nj
declared the motion to table carried on a
viva voce vote, all of which was far from
pleasing to the gentleman from Miami, who
walked slowly toward the chair, with his
forefinger extended and a flush, that was
evidently not a flush of pleasure, on his
face.
STUTESMAN EXCITED.
THAT don't go!' he began, when he got
where the speaker could hear him. That
don't go any more. When there is a de-
mand for the ayes and noes like there was
just now we expect to get it!''
The speaker leaned over and made some
reply, and Statesman walked away, but
he was apparently still far from happy.
In the meantime. while this little side
issue occurred in the front of the ball, the
confusion on the floor was renewed, and
some one sought to relieve the strain with
a motion TO adjourn that was seconded by
a dozen lusty voices. The motion to adj
iourn was put and declared lost by the
Speaker, and Mr. Bell got in few more
minor amendments. Then the House voted
to concur In the committees report.
At this point Mr.. Muir, of the Marion
county delegation, who had been busting
about the hall ever since the bill was
handed down, evidently trying to work UP
some scheme offered a motion to post
pone further consideration of the bill until
o'clock next Tuesday. motion to make
special order requires a two-thirds vote
to carry and the roll call was ordered.
1t was during this roll call that the wild
est excitement of the afternoon was
who were In with him on his scheme, what
ever 1t was, were rushing madly up and
down the aisles, soliciting votes for the
measure and trying to get the men who had
voted in the negative to change their votes.
On the other hand there were half a dozen
members who were working just as indus
| triously to defeat the motion. In the end
the motion was lost by vote of 81 to 3D.
| 1t would have taken IS votes to carry 1t.
Mr.. Mummert moved that the bill be adj
vaneed to engrossmsnt and the the ayes ,s and ds
mand was not ignored and the roll call was
ordered. resulting in Al ayes and 81 noes,
defeating the motion.
| The fight had by this time lasted almost
| two hours. 1t was o'clock and there was
| every indication that the deadlock could not
| be broken If the members stayed there un-
| til midnight. While number of the mem
bers wanted to kill the bill. equal num-
, Der wanted to advance it to engrossment
and a smaller number which held the bal
nor Would 9Sey let the b be- 9
vanced until they had accomplished their
purpose. which was to secure further
| amendments. Another motion to adjourn
| was offered, and this time it was carried
| with hurrah.
| The bill is still before the House on Sec
ond reading. and it will be taken up as un-
finished business on the opening OF the ses-
| sion to-day.
| WHAT MIR WANTS
| After adjournment the secret of Mr..
| Muir's activity in leading the element that
held the balance of power, leaked out-he is
4 seeking to secure an amendment TO the bill
whereby it will apply to the city of Indian
apOlis and extend the term of Mayor Book
| walter. He realized that if such amend
| ment were offered yesterday 1t would be
| defeated. and he endeavored to make the
| bill special order for next week in order
| to have time in which TO line up follow
I ing for his amendment. Failing in this he
| was determined to keep the Dill on secono
| reading under any circumstances, and IN
| this he was successful. To-day he may Of
| fer his amendment or ne may seek again &c
| have the hall made special order Tor one
| day next week.
| When Muir was asked If he had such an
| amendment to propose he laughed and said
that he declined to be interviewed, but his
| bearing was such as to warrant the con
1
| fight. A few minutes later Muir was seer
| in close communion with Ed Logsdon, q
member of the Indianapolis Board OF Public
\ Works, who is regarded as the representa-
/ tive of the city administration
There was another fight during the after
noon, but IL was shorter and concerned q
| bill of such little general Importance that
/ Mr.. Yam Fleet, who introduced Ii, sought
| to have the rules suspended and the bill
| passed. The bill enabled the town OF Nap
| panee. Elkhart county. TO vote subsidy
| TO an interurban company. Mr.. Morgan. OF
| Marion county, feared that there was "a
| niger In the woodpile," and he endeavoret
| to have thee bill sent to the committee OF
| railroads after the House had voted TO sus
| pend the rules. He was unsuccessful, how
4 ever. and the bill was passed BY vote OF
80 TO Is.
Mr.. Branch. of Morgan. also created di
| version by offering a resolution providing
for the posting of list of the employees o
the House. showing their names, the coun
| ties they represent and the names or thu
| members who are credited with securing
their appointments. The resolution was re
| ferred to the ''plunder'' committee, com
| posed OF Statesman. Morgan and STAINS
bury. where it will probably die an igno
minious death.
SHERMANS FUNERAL GRAFTON.
OF the bills killed on committee reports
during the afternoon two were net meas