HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House met at 9 o'clock A. M , pursuant to adjournment - Mr. Speaker Stanton in the Chair.
The journal of yesterday having been read -
The SPEAKER pro tempore, ordered a call of the House to determine a quorum.
The Clerk again called the names of the qualified members. He then called the several counties and Representative districts - the result still discovering no quorum present.
Mr. VATER. Mr. Speaker: As we have no response from the counties and districts where the special elections have been held, I offer the following: And he sent up a paper.
Mr. COFFROTH. Mr Speaker, I object. I object to the reading for information. There being no quorum, we can do no legislative business
The SPEAKER The Chair holds with the gentleman that we can do no legislative business; but the paper can be read for information
The Clerk then read as follows:
WHEREAS, In accordance with the proclamation of the Governor convening the General Assembly in special session, we have met in the hall of the House of Representatives to transact such business as may properly come before us; and -
WHEREAS, The newly elected members are not present with their credentials to be qualified, and thus enable us to transact the business of necessary legislation; and -
WHEREAS, We do not know who are such members elected to fill the vacancies caused by the late resignations of Democratic members of this House; therefore -
Resolved. That the Secretary of State be and is hereby requested to furnish to this House, without delay, certified copies of the official returns of the several counties, or special elections for members of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, held March 23, A. D. 1869. Which are filed in his office.
Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker: As we have met and a call of the House has been ordered, and no response has been given from a number of the counties of the State in which special elections have been held, I hold that there is no organization; and that it would be well now for the House to adjourn sine die;
Mr. COFFROTH (in his seat). I second the motion.
Mr GORDON continuing - that we have no right to proceed with legislative business unless a quorum be present. And if none of the members newly elected from the late vacant districts respond to their names - if none of them offer their credentials here and are willing to be sworn in, we have no right to proceed. Then I hold that we have no right to take up this resolution or any business whatever, and that it is our duty to adjourn sine die that I there may be another election called that men may be elected who will perform their duties as members of the General Assembly. I do not offer this as a motion, but submit it as my sentiment.
Mr. STEWART, of Rush. Mr. Speaker, I rise to a point of order. The point is that the motion to adjourn sine die is not in order
The SPEAKER The gentleman from Spencer [Mr Gordon] did not offer the motion to adjourn sine die. He submitted a suggestion.
Mr. STEWART, of Rush. Then I will speak to the suggestion. We have no power to adjourn sine die; but we have the power - and that is all we can do - to adjourn from day to day for five days.
Mr. OSBORN. I rise to a point of order. There is nothing before the House.
The SPEAKER, The point is well taken.
Mr. MONROE then moved that the House adjourn till two o'clock P. M.
Mr VATER I would like for the gentleman from Jefferson to withdraw that motion for a few moments.
Mr MONROE adhered to his motion; and the question thereon was decided in the affirmative.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Chair having been resumed by Mr. SPEAKER STANTON, at two o'clock, P M -
On motion of Mr. BUSKIRK, a call of the House was ordered and proceeded with, discovering, as before, no quorum present, 57 members responding.
Mr. OSBORN Understanding that there are a number of gentlemen members-elect of this Legislature in the city and still hesitating to come forward and qualify, and wishing to give them the fullest opportunity to do so, he moved that the House adjourn till five o'clock this afternoon.
Mr VATER desired to amend the motion - to adjourn till to-morrow morning.
The SPEAKER The motion to amend is not in order.
Mr. Osborn's motion was agreed to on a division - 32 voting in the affirmative: So the Speaker declared the recess till five o'clock.
The Speaker pro tempore resumed the Chair at five o'clock P M
Mr OSBORN Mr. Speaker, I suppose it would be useless to go through the call of the roll again, whilst there is not yet a quorum present I therefore move that the House adjourn till nine o'clock to-morrow morning,
The motion was agreed to, and accordingly the House adjourned.
