The Ottawa free trader., 1875-04-17
ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE.

lc,oy,,yctjre,y os Thursday morning of tbs
week, but ,caHy ON Saturday OF last week,
A. the last DAYS of this somewhat remarkable
session were unusually lively if not eventtul,
we may be justified in detailing the proceed
inrs with more than our wonted detail,
The first business before the house on the
9Th Friday was resolution to allow the
clerks pay for extra time beyond the close of
the session. 4 resolution (sad TO have been
prepared by the clerk HIMSELF was hastily
read and adopted which apparently allowed
him and his assistants pay for 30 days Sub
seouently it was discovered, however, on
closer scrutiny, that the resolution really re-
peated the outrage of the last republican ses-
sion, by contiauing the pay of the clerk, with
out anything to do, until the next regular scs-
sion Tnereupon, to the great disgust OF the
clerk, the resolution was rcconsdered, and
his extra allowance shortened to 10 days.
Before this reconsideration was reached,
however, the house had passed a number OF
Important bills One amending the revene
Ilaw, so as to prevent taxing the capital stock
for the next two years at $2.SOO,OOO for 1879
and S25O0,0O0 for 1876. Then the appropri,
alton OF $4,000 to complete the Douglas
monument was voted down amid disgraccful
confusion, and then there was an adjourn.
ment to dinner.
After dinner, it was understood that re.
port from the auditor was ready for presenta
tion giving a full statement the steal the last
Legislature had voted to their clerks. The
republicans were determined to prevent the
reading of this report, as it bore down heavi
Ily on Mr.. Culom. The ball opened on mo-
tion to vote pay to q page. Speaker Haines
put the vote uira roce, while the republicans
insisted that, as it was an appropriation Of
money, the yeas and must be called. llalnes,
as usual, WAS stubborn, and the confusion be
came intense, but was finally quelled by call
ing the yeas and nays, and the little page got
his pay. Then, as already mentioned, the
resolution voting the clerks little steal was
reConsdered and amended Then q resolu-
ton was passed to order $4,000 copies of the
new road and bridge law to be printed for
general circulation. The bill authorizing the
appointment of females as notaries was pass.
ed. The wheels ran smoothly now, and a
large number of bills were passed Indeed
all were so intensely bent on getting their
bills through, convinced that 1t was the last
hour of the session, that nobody had time to
engage in any more rows The house, after
doing a great deal OF work, adjourned at a
late hour to 10 o'clock next day.
/ SATURDAY. On opening this morning,
Connolly republican from Coles,) read Bit.
terly worded protest, signed by all the repub.
minority by the majority during the Ses.
sion, and particularly denouncing speak.
er IIaines. A long and angry debate
followed on the question Of allowing the
protest to go on the journal. In the course
of it Landrigan, Harrington and Jones
got into quarrel, which caused the widest
confusion. Then a motion was made to ad.
Iiourn to 3 o'clock, pending which a call of
the house was ordered. While the call was
proceeding the motion to adjourn was re.
ncwed, and Haines puting it to vote, against
the violent protest of the republicans, declar,
ed 1t carried, and putting on his coat and hat,
left the speakers chair Jones rose to a
point of order. Platter interrupted him, when
Jones hurled book at Platter Platter hnrl-
ed it back and was about TO follow 1t with
tumbler when he was seized by bystanders
Connolly, denying shat the house had ad.
Iiourned, moved that Jones take the char,
But Jones found it easier to be voted in as
chairman than To become such in fact. As
he approached the platform he found the
chair guarded by such an array of fists and
lcubs that he concluded not to take it. The
confusion was now at its height, when sever.
al policemen entered the crowd in the gal.
lery began to hiss and the ferment cooled of.
Then Jones apologized for hurting the book
at Platter and said he had no idea of taking
the speakers chair upon which there was
loud applause and the "mob" dispersed.
On Saturday night the members of both
parties seemed to feel that they had made a
sorry exhibition of themselves, and each par.
Ity holding caucus, 1t was decided to have a
quorum of the house present on Monday, if
possible to fix up and smooth over things.
Accordingly, at 10 o'clock on Monday, the
house was happy TO find itself with quorum
The first business in order was to dispose of
Fridays journsl the question pending being
on allowing the republican protest to go on
The record. Hlse and others made strong
and earnest speeches against it, The protest
was a miserable stump speech, full of mis-
statements, unsupported assertions and stuff
and nonsense" Finally, however, Cummings
presented n counter statement by the demo
Gratis, and the matter was compromised by
allowing both to go on the journal Then
speaker IIaincs made farewell address, de.