The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-01
WAS TT A sNEtzE:

y
which lad not been put on the regular
calendar of business, and scene which
frequenters of the legislative halls are
not in the habit of witnessing. When
Judge FERGUsoNs amendment to the
Capital bill, fixing the time for submit.
ting vote to the people, was Under dis
cussion, quite large crowd of specta,
tors congregated IN the hall, filing the
galleries and the lobby below. As was
to be expected, An uLusual interest
was manifested in the discussion
and decision of question Of such
great local interest. From what cropped
out in the discussion and from the ex-
pressions of members the idea prevailed
that the vote on the amendment would
to a great extent be test of the strength
of the opposing parties, and the Az
nouncment of the vote was listened for
with q great deal of anxiety. When
the vote had been takeu-the ayes and
nays having been demanded-and the
Speaker made the announcement, re-
sulting in the defeat of Judge FERdU-
soN's amendment, there was some little
demonstration of applause on the
ho,r and in the galleries.
Whereupon Speaker GIBSON in u
rather excited manner suppressed the
demonstration, and announced that if it
was repeated he would Immediately clear
the galleries. So far so good, but just at
that point started the difficulty. The
Speaker heard, or thought he heard, n
hiss in the galleries at this announce
ment. The msjority of persons on the floor
failed to hear this, even those who were
sitting near the Speaker, but we do that
gentleman the justice to say
that he was honest in his con-
viction that some one had hiss
ed. Parties in the galleries assert there
was no Kissing at the time, but the noise
the Speaker mis,ook for hiss was
only an old gentleman blowing
his nose. Immediately the Speaker
directed the Sergeant alarms with his
assistants to clear the galleries, to lock
the doors and bring tie keys to him.
This extraordinarily harsh measure on
the part of the Speaker excited universal
surprise But to add to the excitement,
the Speaker not being aware that it took
u good while for the immense crowd TO
get out of the two small doors leading
from the gallery, evidently Thought the
tardine:s of the crowd in getting out
meant q disregard of his orders, and
called upon the Sheriff of the county to
assist the Sergeant. at Arms, and made u
,equisition upon the Governor for the
State constabulary. This WAS all unneces-
sary, as the crowd in the gallery was dis
persing as rapidly as the narrow
exits and tie crowded stairway would
permit. Sheriff TISGLE then advanced
TO the middle of the floor OF the Hall,
and addressing the galleries, while not
exercising any authority, requested the
crowd rs pescesble citizens to retire rs
rapidly and quietly as possible. This
was done, but some of the more indls-
Greet INDUCED in u few Kisses, while n
few others gave cheer for TINGLE.
This was the extent of the demonstrs-
ton, except few strsgglers about the
hall ways gave cheer to Speaker GLIB
/ son IS he went out.
Mr.. MCFApDEN made motion
to adjourn while the excitement
was ut its height, but the Speaker
refused TO entertain the motion or
any other motion until he had
concluded the work OF clearing the
galleries. A good deal of excitement and
some bad feeling was engendered by this
extraordinary proceeding, which is to be
deplored. The Speaker undoubtedly has
the right " enforce the rules of tie
House and preserve the dignity OF the
body. bu, Whist excited the most unkind
feeling was bis chsrsc.erizing the crowd
in the gallery As mob. We sincerely
hope that there will be 40 future repeti-
tions of the scenes OF yesterday, as II
is well calculated TO lower the dignity
of the body and destroy its influence for
good.