The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-31
SENATORS REFUSE
TRIAL PAY FROM
GOVERNOR FUND
Legislators Bow to Wishes
of State G. 0. P. and
Administration.


Governors contingent fund on the
ground that there Is a legal appro-
priation for this expense and that
to accept would acknowledge the
contention of Governor Jackson that
the entire impeachment has been
Illegal.
They were:
Senators Thomas A. Branaman,
Joseph M. Cravens, Chester A. Per-
kins and Curtis H. Shake.
Vouchers Drawn
Vouchers which the State auditor
agreed to honor were drawn by Miss
Fern Ale, Senate secretary for four
days service and mileage. She will
complete the payroll for the other
days served today.
The four Senators declare that ac-
ceptance of the money from the
Governors fund, an offer made to
avoid special session, Is humiliat-
ing and illegal.
Action Illegal, View
They take the position that if the
pense is illegal then it is also illegal
to take money from the Governor
who has no right to pay State funds
for illegal purposes.
But the Governor and the int1u-
ences eager to avoid an extra session
draw no such distinction and the
other Senators accepted their
checks.
Bowling to the will Of the State
administration and the Republican
State organization, thirty-one Re-
publican and six Democratic Sena-
tors did an "about face" and voted
to accept Dcarth impeachment trial
pay from the Governors contingent
fund at a stormy session in the
Senate Chamber late Wednesday.
The action was despite the fact
that many Of the Senators had
privately promised never to re-
cede" from their position that ac-
ceptance of money from the contin-
gent fund would be an admission
that the Dearth proceedings are I'M
constitutional.
lu6 ICSulL ASLI i@lSdlCAldiiS Wv
ernor f. Harold Van Orman high
and dry on his announcement that
"the Senate must be recognized as
a distinct branch Of the State gov
ernment." In the face of desert
ing army Van Orman stood his
ground, maintained his previous
contention and came from the bat
tie as the outstanding figure of an
inter-party fight.
Despite the detection of six from
their ranks, nine Democrats voted
In protest and declared that "it
would be beneath the dignity of the
Senate" to accept the money.
Pressure eXerted by the Republic
an organization was seen several
days ago, despite the verbal assur-
ance by some Senators that 1--WE
mean to go through and show Jack
son and Attorney General Gilliom
where to get off,"
O'ROurke Weakens
The first to weaken visibly was
Senator Edward ! ORourke, FIT.
Wayne, who started the hostilities
when State Auditor Lewis S. Bow
voucher.
Senator James j. Nejdl, Whiting,
who cast the lone vote against the
Senate taking action in the Dearth
Impeachment proceeding and ac-
knowledged spokesman of the Repub-
,.,;. nj 10
that on advice of counsel the Audi
tor of State would refuse to pay the
trial expenses and salaries from the
appropriation bill, although the meas
ure contained q provision for such
payment.
Nejdl Makes Motion
Nejdl moved that the Senate ac-
cept the offer of the Governor to
pay the expenses from his contin-
gent fund, after Senator Luther
Draper read a letter from the Gov
ernor. The Governor promised in
his letter to see that the Indiana
Vegetable Growers get their $1,000
from his fund, and that the appro-
priation for the Butlerville Feeble
Minded Colony would be spent as in
tended.
Amendments covering these two
appropriations had been left out of
the enrolled bill. House Speaker
Harry G. Leslie assumed all respon-
sibility for the oversight"
Senator'S Howard Cam, Frankfort,
and Robert Moorhead, indianapolis,
Republicans, joined the Democrats
and said that a special session was
the only solution. Moorhead sug-
gested that the auditor be inundated
to pay the money. Cam and Moor
head led the fight against the pub
lie utilities throughout the recent
session. Both introduced bills which
would have abolished the present
personnel Of the commission.
Representative DELPHI L. McKes-
son of Plymouth. chairman of the
House board of managers, told the
Senate that he did not care whether
he ever was paid for his services or
where the money came from. "I
have considered this a public trust
and public duty" he said.
The eleven Senators voting against
the "whitewash" were:
Democrats-Thomas II. Brana-
man, Brownstown; Joseph M. Crav-
ems, Madison; James p. Davis, Koko-
mo; William V. Deogs, Cannelton;
Andrew Durham, Greencastle; Thur
man A. GottschalS. Berne; Anderson
ketchum, Greensburg; Chester A.
Perkins, South Bend; Curtis II.
Shake, Vincennes. Republicans -
Howard A. Cam, Frankfort; Robert
II. Moorhead, indianapolis. Absent
William p. Evans, Indianapolis;
Perry Johnson, Atlanta.
SPINACH AND WIVES
CIICtA GO--Pefnr Tra M nj Hl,nd