The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-01-10
much If dozen more OF our Illinois
statesmen took an equally correct view
of what they are best fitted for.
ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE,
of what they al

TAN the members were present, Rcpresenta
tive Brachtendor DEM of Chicago, beini
the only sick one, and he was conveyed t
the house on litter.
Caucuses for both parties for both house
had been held on Tuesday night, and nomi
nations made for next day But both il
the senate, where the republicans have
majority of one, and in the house, wher
the democrats have a majority of one, th'
supposed dominant party found itself II
trouble In the senate the republican
found an obstruction 10 smooth sailing II
the person OF Senator Ruger, of Chicago
who refused to vote for the caucus nomi
nees except on certain conditions EN
aCtly what allied the man, who had beer
elected as a straight republican and hat
always trained as such, was not openly pro
claimed, although privately II seems Il
be understood that the gentleman is II
pecuniary straits and was "on the make Il
enable his vote TO help him out, some go
ing 30 far as to say that his figure was
| $4,000 Whatever il was, however means
were found to satisfy him, for when, OR
Wednesday, the senate was called to order
and came to vote, Kruger was found to vote
for the republican caucus nominees, and
the senate effected its complete organiza
ton without trouble, electing Senator
Campbell president pro tenn, l.. F Watson,
| of kankakee, secretary; l.. A. Freer, of
Knox, sergeant at arms, etc, all the repub-
liCan caucus nominees.
Among the nominees of the democratic
caucus was +. S Yentzer of Ottawa, for
assistant postmaster, but of course he was
not elected. In the scrimmage between
the parties during these proceedings Sena,
tor Duncan was recognized throughout as
leader on the democratic side.
In the house things were more mixed.
The democratic majority Of one consists of
f. Nj. Haines, Who though elected as n
democrat and pledged to act as one recog.
nizes claim as much higher than that of
any party, and that is the personal advant-
age and qualification of +. NJ. Halnes him.
self. A man of fine abilities, and splendid
parliamen it was but natural that he
thought his aspirations to the speakership
of the house should be recognized by the
democrats without question or hesitation.
The democratic caucus, however, most
peryersely, by secret ballot, greatly to
Haines' disgust, nominated Representa-.
tive Cronkrite, of Stephenson, for speaker,
by vote of 80 to 32 for Haines. There.
upon Haines left the caucus in disgust,
saying the democrats had read him out of
the party
On the meeting of the house on Wednes
day, Secretary of State Dement, having
called the body to order, announced that
the first business WAS the election of a
speaker and clerk pro TEN. After a good
Zeal of skirmishing, the democrats voted
for Haines for temporary speaker, and the
republicans for Messick, of st. Clair, the
result being 76 votes for Haines, Is for
Messick, Haines voting for Varnell and
Messick for Hiatt. 1t was decided that as
IIaines lacked one of majority of all the
totes there was no election; and after an
lour or two of filibustering on the part of
he republicans the house adjourned 10
Thursday.
On re-assembling on Thursday, after IA
,rief preliminary skirmish, another vote
vas reached for speaker pro tenn, and this
line Sittig, republican from Chicago,
'oted with the democrats for Haines, which
ave him n votes and elected him Haines
vas escorted to the chair and mode short
peech, saying he would not have accepted
he position from one party alone, but as
le was elected by aid from the opposite
'arty he accepted The republicans, of
curse, are indignant at Sittig for his deser.
ion, but he says his only object was the
'atriotc one of saving time.
Whether, however, when itcomes to elect
permanent speaker the democrats will
esert their caucus nominee and vote for
LANES is another matter; and whether Sit,
IL in that case would vote with them. Is
lso by no means certain; besides which it
) said that O'Donnell, Dem) from Kane,
eclares he will in no case vote for Haines,
D that lIaines' election thus far, as much
5 that of Cronkrite, seems TO be out of the
uestion.
The senate being fully organized spent
fteen minutes on Thursday in attempting |,
, do some business, during which Senator
duncan presented bill to refund to GER
lin counties and towns along the line of
lie Ottawa, Oswego 4 Fox River Valley
abroad certain sums of money paid into
ie state treasury as interest on bonds since
eclared 10y the supreme court of the Uni.
ii States to be invalid and illegal
"
After being closed for a week or more
lie Illinois river bridge has been sufficient
repaired to permit crossing by teams
he loss TO business, especially on Satur.