THE ORGANIZATION.
The Hon. Wm. K. Edwards, speaker for the late special Session, called the House to order at ten o'clock, A. M. He said: By an act passed at the last session, it has been made my duty to organize this House. The call of the members will be made by the gentleman from Knox (Mr. Cauthorn;) and as gentlemen are called, they will please respond and rise and stand in their places. The oath will be administered by the Hon. Samuel H. Buskirk, of the Supreme Court. The call will now be made.
Mr. Cauthorn, representative for the county of Knox, called the roll of names, by counties, and all the members of the House of Representatives of the Forty-eighth General Assembly responded, excepting Messrs. Barrett, Butterworth, Durham, Eward, Roger, Lee, Martin, McKenney, Shutt, Smith, Stanley and Woollen. The members all stood in their places while Mr. Edwards, of Vigo, introduced Judge Buskirk, at whose hand the oath of the constitution was administered to the members present, in these words: "You who swear do solemnly swear in the presence of Almighty God, and you who affirm do sincerely affirm, that you will support the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Indiana, and that you will honestly and faithfully discharge your duties as members of this General Assembly - you who swear as you will answer to God, and you who affirm as under the pains and penalties of perjury.
page: 20[View Page 20]The Speaker, Mr. Edwards, of Vigo, announced a quorum present and the House ready to proceed to the organization.
Mr. Kimball - I place in nomination for Speaker, the Hon. William K. Edwards, of Vigo county.
Mr. Richardson - I place in nomination the Hon. Henry S. Cauthorn, of the county of Knox.
Mr. Cauthorn, under the direction of the Chair, took the vote (assisted by the Hon. Cyrus T. Nixon) and announced the result: Edwards, 52: Cauthorn, 36.
Mr. Cauthorn - W. K. Edwards having received a majority of all the votes cast, I declare him to be duly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives for the present session of the General Assembly. The Speaker announced successively the order for the election of the principal clerk, assistant clerk and the doorkeeper. The nominations on both sides were made by Messrs. Kimball and Richardson. For Principal Clerk, Cyrus T. Nixon received 52 votes; E. M. Johnson, 36 votes. For Principal Assistant Clerk, Moses G. McLain received 52 votes; George B. Tobbs, 36 votes. For Doorkeeper, W. T. Lockhart received 52 votes; Francis Lehell 36 votes. The election of those receiving the majority of the votes of the House for those offices were duly announced by the Speaker, whereupon they came forward and received their oath of office at his hand.
