The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-22


of police supported by the federal troops.
No person was permitted to enter the
State House, through the orders Of
Gov. Kellogg Within the bar of the
House were permitted only the gentle
man returned by the Returning Board,
and the clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms of
the former legislature, ten persons allow
ed TO the Conservatives as messengers,
who suddenly became Assistant Ser
geant-at-Arms and few other persons,
such as were admitted By courtesy to the
floor. Without the bar in the public
part of the hall stood the contestants and
other persons admitted. They number
ed by actual connt 127. Besides these
the door of the hall was kept by twenty
seven police. Wiltz maintained control
of the Assembly until some time after
he WAS chosen Speaker. When the Re-
publicans undertook to Withdraw from
the hall Mr.. Wilt gave instructions to
the Sergeant at Arms not to allow any
one to pass out or enter the hall. Then
the disturbance without the bar at once
increased, and pistols were displayed,
when at this juncture Conservative
member moved that the Speaker be re-
quested to ask Colonel De Trobriand to
preserve order. A Committee was ap-
pointed to wait on Colonel De Trobriand
and request his compliance. Colonel
De Trobriand soon came to the bar, un-
accompanied except by one aid, whom
he left thsre, and then alone approached
the Speaker. The Speaker requested
him to ask for order in the lobby. Col
onel De Trobriand did so, and order was
then restored. The Speaker thanked
him in the name of the House for hisl
courtesy, and he then withdrew
The action of the body proceeded for
an hour or so without interruption dur
ing which time committee on contest
ed seats was appointed, minor offices ap-
pointed and debate had, but no message
was sent to the Senate or to the Govern
or notifying them that the House was
organized and ready to proceed to busi-
land returned and stated he had orders
to remove the five members sworn in
who had not been returned by the Re
turning Board, and after the protest and
resistance of Mr.. Wiltz to the persons re-
ferred to, and after Gen. Campbell had
been sent for to point them out, they
were removed by the United States SOL
diers. Mr.. Wiltz then left the chair, as
Mr.. Vigers, to organize the House, be-
gan to call the roll made out by the Re
turning Board, and two Democrntic
members had answered to their names,
when Mr.. Wilt interrupted the clerk,
and called upon the Conservative mem
hall. The interrupted, over Mr.. Vigers
began anew his roll-call, and obtained
only fifty responses, but as the two Dem
ocratic members had just before answer
ed on the roll-call which was interrupt
ed, he assumed it right to announce that
fifty-four members had answered to their
names. Those who remained after Mr..
Wilt and his friends withdrew elected
Hahn Speaker by acclamation, and pro-
ceeded to the business of the legislature.
There was no subsequent roll-call by
which the number of those members
whose names were returned by the Re
turning Board, and who still remained
preseat at these deliberations, could be
determined.
Your committee have not been able to
agree upon any recommendation, but
upon the situation in louisiana as it ap.
peared before us we are all agreed.