Daily globe., 1878-02-24
THE STAR CHAMBER.
ANOTHER LONG SECRET SESSION
YESTERDAY.
Some of the Sensible Members Propose
to Admit Reporters--The Star Chamber
Refuses to Do It--Read ng of the Testi-
mony Resumed--OutsideS Speculations of
the Result.
House,.

/ lCs
House.
! That modern embodiment of Legislative
prescience, whilom, the Minnesota Leeisla-
ture, now sitting as 'sCouncil of Ten,'' or
as Star chamber of the 10th century. con-
vened yesterday morning, pursuant to agree
ment.
| At about $3.50 o'clock the body was called
to order, and the sergeant-at-arms instructed
to see that every crevice was barred, to the
end that no tell-tale whisper of the salubri-
GUS zephyrs within should perchance reach a
stray reporters ear. This done, the next
thing IN order was to get into regular out
and-out squabble over matter
which should have taken but few moments
to decide 1t affirmatively-th question of
the admission of representatives of the press
Ihe details of the squabble are to be found
below, but whether the matter is of sufficient
Importance or interest to repay perusal is
left to HE GLOBE readers to decide. It was
ten o'clock and after when the reading OF
the testimony commenced. Parts of the
testimony of Felch. Reilly, Rich and others
were read at various times and upon the cal
of different members who wanted to be sat
1shed as to points contained therein. Some.
how matters yesterday progressed slowly and
unsatisfactory before the modern Star
chamber. and it is doubtful whether
they themselves are satisfied with
what they have accomplished.
Ii they are. it is patent fact that no one
else is. and this of itself is enough to deter
mine the relative value of their transactions
AT the present rate of procedure, it is diff
cult to foretell the end of the impeachment
1t may last until Wednesday or Thursda,
and even later, or it may end summarily al
any time. Nor is it any easier to forecast
the result. Both sides appear confident OF
say they are confident, it will eventuate
IN manner exactly to suit them. Several
of the Page adherents assured the reporter
most positively, but yet confdentially. that
the House would not vote articles of i'm
peachment. The indications of this fact
he was assured, are sticking out, day by day
more prominently than ever. and even now
1t was settled beyond peradventure
! On the other hand the impeachers and
their friends most earnestly impressed upon
IHE GLOBE man that the matter was already
settled and that impeachment would be voted
by over two-thirds of the House. OF this
they were SO thoroughly assured that any
mlsadventure was absolutely out of the ques-
ton. AS one evidence Of this. they said
that Bowler. yesterday morning. when the
House was just entering upon the squabble
i'll which they squandered nearly two hours
OF precious time, moved to indefinitely post
pone the whole matter and could not even
get second. 1t is also claimed on behalf of
the impeachers, that many of those who are
now numbered among the Pageites, will vote
with them on the final adoption
of articles of impeachment. The reporter
was also assured that the reading of the evi-
dence is daily making converts to their side
for the reason that the evidence is SO much
stronger and darker hued than the report of
the committee, that the conclusion is irre-
slstlble that the latter is tame and q mere
whitewashing affair, which conceals rather
than discloses the hideous facts.
1t is not pretended, here, to say on whose
shoulders rests the mantle of prophecy
Certain it is, that both sides are confident
and believe that the outcome will fully JUS
! tify their anticipations.
Routine Report.
ST.. PAUL, Feb. 23.-The Minnesota LegisIa-
ture so-called, or rather the secret tribunal
which has now usurped its place, held anothe,
secret meeting yesterday. At 8 o'clock, the
hour to which the body had adjourned M
| quorum had shown up and some time elapsed
| before sufficient number put in an appear.
ance.
Upon the formal opening of proceedings
Mr.. Hicks offered a resolution, which was
adopted, that when the House adjourn, it ad.
journ to Monday next at 10 o'clock.
Another motion made that no specia]
order be made before Monday evening but the
motion fell through
/ Mr.. Muir moved to reconsided the vote where.
by the House proceeded to the consideration
of the impeachment Of Judge Page, but the
motion did not prevail.
/ MIR. Purdie next threw a firebrand among the
members of the Star chamber, by moving that
reporters OF the daily press be admitted Al
this the old GOOdhue war horse pricked up his
ears and was about to make deadly charge
when Lieutenant Edison rushed in with an
amendment, that the friends of the measure by
which he is supposed to have meant the i'm
peachers, be admitted to the gallery.
Mr.. Stone said, if the House wanted to do a
sensible act,it would order the testimony print
ed. AS it was nobody could make heads o,
tails OF the testimony as it was being read. TIE
whole proceeding farce as matters now
went.
Mr.. Bohan, contrary to the usual custom
OF SO sensible gentleman, went off half.
cooked. = and protested against admitting the
reporters, whom he said, certain gentlemen
would no doubt like to have there to write ut
their speeches.
Mr. Bowler made some very sensible rem arks
| III favor of their admission. He sup
posed every member, if he had read the
morning GLOBE convinced of the futlity
OF endeavoring to keep secret matters transpir-
ing there The newspaper men, it seemed
would get the news whether kept out or not
| and. for one. he preferred to have them present.
How they got it he didn't pretend to know, but
IT, as suspected by some, it was gotten up in
| the cock-loft, among the cobwebs and dust he
was not disposed to put them to SO much trou-
| BILE, and preferred having them in the room
At this point, Mr.. Colvll wanted to know
| 1t the House Che ought to have said Star-Cham-
berl wasn't seeking to reverse their action OF
the day previous in ordering secret session.
OF course, the venerable Colvill had such an
overwhelming veneration for precedents and
established forms that he couldn't think for a
moment of undoing what had once been done.