Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-23

ment of Judge Page being the special order for
to-day at II o'clock, Judge Campbell arose and
said he had examined the precedents and had
found that the reading of the testimony taken
before the committee was had in secret session
with closed doors. He accordingly made mo-
tion to that effect, which being put, was de-
clared carried and the House went into secret
session.
IN SECRET SESSION.
Upon the adoption in open session of the
fesolutlon Tor secret session, as elsewhere
noticed, everybody except members and officers
We're excluded, and the doors closed.
As soon as this had been done, Speaker Gil
man raped to order, and. in few moments
thereafter Mr.. s. L. Campbell called up the
resolution submitted by him on Tuesday last
Tor the impeachment of Judge Page: also for
the appointment Of a committee to prepare
articles of impeachment. A lengthy and ex-
citing debate followed which was par
tlcipated Ill by Colvill, Ladd and Others:
who denounced the summary Character of the
proceeding, and demanded the reading of the
testimony to the end that the House might
know what it was voting upon, and act intel
Ggently thereon. On the other side, Messrs.
Mead. Campbell, S. L., Campbell, w. NJ. Eel
Ter. and others, who urged that the call for the
reading of the testimony was simply to DELAY
action, and Messrs. W. NJ. Campbell and Eel
Ter both forcibly and strenuously alluded to
the improperly of trying Judge Page for two
Or three weeks In the committee room and
again upon the floor of the House. and winding
up with third trial in the Senate. They took
the position, and very ably enforced it, that it
was simply the duty of the House to ascertain
whether there probable cause of Page
being guilty of the charges alleged
against him, and that if there
was probable cause he should be put on his
trial at once. If there was not probable cause,
tl,o#,>
continued without further delay. The House
was not there to pass upon Pages guilt but
only to find out if he had probably committed
an offence for which he should be impeached
The debate continued for some time when Mr..
Bowler offered a resolution for the printing of
the testimony and laying it on the members
desks.
To this, Mr.. W. NJ Campbell offered a sub
stitute, providing for the reading of the testi
mony whenever called for by any member OF
the House, with proviso, however, that the
House by a vote of the majority should at any
time, decide whether the reading was materia
OF should be discontinued.
After some further debate, Mr.
Campbells substitute was adopted anC
the reading OF the testimony commenced. TIL,
Stenographer read from his notes wheneve
called upon, and ratified it off with railway
speed. The first testimony read was that o.
Lafayette French. Then came Davidson and
S. Wn1cn was followed by Hon. CIOrdOl
e. Coles, and T. A. Elders.
About this time Mr.. Mead rose in his place
| and offered resolution declaring in effect. thai
the further reading of the testimony except or
the side of the prosecution, should be discon
tlnued. and cited numerous precedents in sup
port OF his motion, and to the effect that Tho
present mode of procedure was an unheard O.
one.
Mr.. Laid followed on the other side but ad
| mitted that the weight of the precedents was
In favor of Meads proposition.
Mr.. Colvlll was the next speaker, and his re
marks were decidedly acrid and of somewha
personal nature, especially that portion il
which he spoke of a certain gentleman as tn,
paid attorney of a certain newspaper concer,
Of St. Paul.
Mr.. Laid offered a substitute for Mr.. Mead
| resolution. but as both were tabled no furthe
notice was taken of them, and the reading O
| the testimony was proceeded with. About Thu
| time general feeling Of drowsiness began t.
pervade the whole House The Jealous ser
geant-at-arms had closed every chink AM
Granny in door and window, and fearing tina
the stray ghost OF reporter might be hoverin,
| IN the cock-loft around the opening of the ven
tllator, kept that also closed as tight as bottle
Consequently the naturally ill-ventilated apart
| ment speedily became almost sutfocatino
and IN that condition remained throuo
the entire day. Here and there the drows
God claimed for his own some tired-out AM
disguised member. who rested his head npol
his desk. and calmly dozed away. Still tn
| monotonous sing-song of the stenegrapher bea
the poisoned air OF the chamber, when Mr.
Wiley, OF Ramsey, arose and moved that th
| reading of any more ties timony on either sid
| be dispensed with The motion, however. wa
! lost by decided majority.
| just before SIX o'clock Mr.. Hicks offered
resolution in favor of the admission of report
ers, when a spirited discussion followed. Som
OF the speakers opposed it outright. while other
We're disposed to favor it, upon the condition
that the papers refrained from editorial com
ments, and printed proceedings only. Still
others favored it, and they were the wise me-
OF the House, upon the ground that tn
| papers would get their proceedings an
how, and that it was only kickin
against the pricks to try to stop ii
One gentleman, III speaking of the folly of try
| ing to keep the matter secret said it was IittI
| use to keep the doors closed and go through tn
forms OF secrecy in the chamber, when. one
! outside. every mothers son of them would tai
| freely and tell all he knew and more besides
to any one who would listen or to the first on
he met, whether reporter not.
At this stage, Mr.. Giles moved to amend b.
| admitting the lobby. saying it was too muc
like Sunday around there and that the Hous
| needed little liyening up.
| The chair, Sabin of Saltwater. decided tha
the motion could not be made without s,ls
pension of the rules which he ruled could no
De done by less than two-thrds vote
! MIR. Robinson, of Winona, moved the previou
! question, which in the prevailing confusion, til
chair declared not ordered, after which tn
! House took recess to 1870 o'clock. Previou
| TO the recess, a motion was made that when tn
House adjourn, 1T djourn to Monday next, bu
! the mo ton was not pressed.
EVENING SESSION.
| AT the evening session, Mr.. Laid called 70
the reading of q. O.. Wheelers testimony. an,
again the stenographer stepped forth and com
menced to read. After this had been conclud
ed, another chunk of Lafayette French's eyi
dence was called for and read By this tim
| the entire House was in a state of pretty thor
ough somnolence, even that left optic of Sneak
er Gilman having begun to blink, when a mo
ton to ad journ to this morning at o'cloc)
was made and carried
Thus closed the session for the day, The re
suits of three sessions are outlined above bu
| as Will readily be seen, are not encouraging fo
a speedy conclusion of the proceedings. Yer,
little Roadway was made. and if fortune O
good luck does not come to its rescue to-day
the House Will then become so thoroughly dis
gusted that it would be rashness to attempt t,
guess what it will do on what viii be the out
coma of the affair
Tie F1u,ahing Pririlege Restored,
Tue Senate has at last fully restored th.
Thanking. privilege and if the House concurs
as 1t probably will, the old plan will be full,
In force again. The argument was tina
under existing laws those engaged in the ex
ecutlye department here can transmit thei1
correspondence free Of postage, while Con
gressmen have to pay large sums for stamps